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Chill Spaces in Hidden Places

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Photo by Commune

If you’re in the mood to chill and heal – or just escape the madding crowds in the city – here are some apt spaces to take respite in the city.

1. IChill Theater Cafe – Manila

Feeling cheesy? Inspired? Crack open some smiles at the IChill Theater Cafe, opening the door to free snacks to go along your drink if you dare to hold your ground with the night’s crowd. Performers are welcome to perform at their theater venue on the second floor, just hit them up with an email!

Prices range from ₱100 – ₱300, filling and perfect for any wallet, offering a variety of items from pizza, to ramen, to delicious frappes. Hit up their Dracula (Choco Raspberry) and James Bond (Choco Mint) frappes or settle down with a cup of Will Smith (Cafe Mocha) and The Hulk (Green Tea Latte).

If you’re looking for a hip party venue, they offer a space with a karaoke KTV big screen for only ₱900/hr inclusive of aircon, electricity, and technical assistance. Bring all the snacks and drinks you want! Or get your food for free by booking it for ₱1,800/hr, budget-friendly. Gain confidence (and a great community) at IChill!

The Essentials

2. Commune

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An open letter from@the #CommunePh Team: Hi everyone, You might be wondering how things are at Commune’s headquarters in the now, tad quiet, Poblacion. We’ve put in a lot of effort on our online shop, roasting and deliveries. Thank you to those who have ordered #PhilippineCoffee from us. If you haven’t yet…clikck. Link. On. Bio. We’re also a small team (with Jake and Jez) that handles day-to-day takeout orders. That’s Monday to Saturday. 8am to 5pm. Everyone has had to, ehem, pivot. Sai, Nik and Marie have been doing deliveries around town. Whereas, they would normally be cooking, counting sales and serving amazing coffee. Mix is the guy you talk to on social media! He’s brushing up on community management but definitely missing our espresso machine. Everyone else makes up a logistical team handling your orders! Jonrey and Ros do the roasting. And I…I do a lot of the other things! I cashier, I dispatch coffee orders, I guard the @milklabco stocks and on really busy days, I do deliveries too. Some days, I stand guard! Mocha (the cat!) is busy keeping the books in order and answering some of your email and phone calls. We all try to keep busy so we can forget how much we miss you. Now, we’re getting ready to welcome you all back into the fold. Soon. With masks and social distancing and a lot of sanitizing. We’ve missed you! And we’ll see you soon. For now, I must take inventory before bed. Thank you for supporting Philippine Coffee and the Commune team 😽 Can’t wait to see you all again! Much love, Mirage (Oh yeah, and the Commune Team too) #MissingCommune

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For the coffee fanatics, sip tight and take in the New York coffee-shop atmosphere. A great space for work, hangouts or just craving for a good, premium roast. For the homebody, purchase some of their select blends, filters, and a variety of milk perfect for the perfect brew on a chilly day. The UPSTAIRS, Commune’s 2nd-floor space, welcomes gatherings for 60-100 guests for launches, meetups, book signings, and whatever the occasion is.

They also offer Coffee University classes by the Philippine Coffee Board and Commune that may help you appreciate the artisan quality of different roasts and drinks. Why not schedule a lesson for two and improve your knowledge of the bean?

The Essentials

3. The Four Strings

Experience the music of Filipino-made ukuleles together with experienced and novice musicians. They often sell pre-loved and vintage ukes of all shapes and sizes. Drop on by every Thursday at 6PM for a free tutoring session. If you’re up for a crash course, they offer three sessions for ₱2,500 and ten sessions for ₱6,000. Since each class is for an hour, you’d be able to master the basics in no time!

While jamming out, order some local coffee or tea from the second floor and sing the night away. With open mic sessions every Friday night prepare yourself for amazing artists sharing their craft and passion. Their only rule? Clean up after yourself. Enjoy your night and swing your hips to the rhythm surrounded by a great community.

The Essentials

  • Address: Cubao Expo, General Romulo Ave, Cubao, Quezon City
  • Contact Number: 0967 265 7428 / 0942 947 5090
  • Operating Hours: 1:00PM – 8:00PM
  • Google Maps Link
  • Facebook Link

CubaoMakatiManilaMetro ManilaQuezon City

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