LOOK: This Intramuros Cafe Is in a 400-Year-old Water Cistern

Coffee and history? Sounds like a good plan.
by | March 27, 2023


No plans for the next weekend but don’t want to go outside the metro? Head to Intramuros and explore the Old Walled City. You’ve probably gone there for school field trips before, but new establishments have opened in the area, including cafes and restaurants worth discovering. From its pioneer branch in Makati, Papakape recently opened another branch in Fort Santiago:

 

Papakape in Intramuros

Fondly named Papakape from “papa kape ako”, first started as a passion project by Manu Reyes and his dad in Makati. It’s the famous Makati-based neighborhood cafe – a glasshouse built in their garage, where patrons have also found another home in the busy city. This quaint spot is surrounded by greenery and is known for its glass house and inventive menu, some of which include ginger-infused beverages and sweet and savory Pinoy dishes and pastries.

 

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The famous glasshouse found another home in Intramuros, which sounds like the perfect respite after a day of touring the Walled City. With the intense heat that we’re beginning to feel around the country, cooling off with one of their new drinks such as Gulaman Iced Americano, sounds ultimately refreshing. Pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen and her partner also had this unique drink when they visited!

 

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Papakape’s new Intramuros is in Aljibe de la Fuerza, a 400-year-old water cistern inside Fort Santiago. From providing clean water to the neighborhood four centuries ago, this cistern is now a history-filled venue for good coffee, conversations, and history.

 

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You may opt for the indoor seating for the ~aircon goodness~ when you’re tired from walking or go sit under the mango and tamarind trees outside, with the centuries-old establishments and cobblestones as your background.

 

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The menu

As of writing, the Intramuros menu has not been shared on Papakape’s social media pages, but here are their signature beverages and dishes from their Palanan branch. Their ginger-infused drinks seem a crowd favorite, including Iced Coco Latte (PHP150): ginger-infused coffee in coconut milk with panucha coffee.

 

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If you want to cool off, have a refreshing glass of Iced Fruity Salabat (PHP150), a concoction of passion fruit, orange, apple, chia seeds, and pineapple in ginger-oolong tea.

 

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Planning brunch in scenic Fort Santiago? Try their Kaya-Mo Toast, a Pinoy twist on the famous Singaporean dish, kaya toast. This comes with sourdough pandesal, kaya jam, and sunny side-ups with runny yolks and dark soy sauce.

 

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See their full menu here.

 

Location and Operating Hours

Papakape Coffee Shop is located in Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila.

The cafe is open on Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9 AM to 8 PM.

For updates and more information, visit Papakape’s Facebook and Instagram.

 

Looking for other places to explore? Join WindowSeat.ph’s official Facebook community What’s Your Trip PH for more recos!

When she’s not writing, Ina’s busy curating playlists that will save her when words don’t work, reading, annoying her cat, or thinking of her next meal.

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