Open three days a week only, it is a reflection of its owner’s “pared down” aesthetic and his approach to life—and coffee—in general
Ito Kish—award-winning furniture designer, interior design consultant, and now, café owner—is very protective over things he holds dear. One cannot fault him for wanting to uphold and preserve a brand that he built from the ground up for the last two decades. His eclectic collection of globally sourced treasures ranges from Scandinavian originals to mid-century modern and Asian colonial, and the interesting knick-knacks from non-work-related travel that comprise his Neighborhood collection are all beloved pieces that come with a story. The furniture pieces he designs are named after important figures in his life—mostly women—who have moulded and inspired him, offering a glimpse into his cherished memories and creative journey.
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It pains him to have to somewhat restrict entry into his café, which enjoyed (or suffered?) some notoriety thanks to Tiktok when it newly opened in December 2023. For now, if a client wishes to visit the café (which has also been downsized), one must make a reservation through their Instagram account. “I do not want us to be cancelled,” Kish expresses, speaking in the vernacular that today’s young things understand, “but I felt that we had to return to what our original vision was for the café, which was to provide our clientele of interior designers, homemakers, and design enthusiasts with a quiet place to enjoy some alone time or nice conversations over coffee and warm bread.” This was done under a generous fringe of trees that were miraculously thriving in what is essentially something Kish himself calls “a windowless box.”
The invitation is for one to enjoy coffee the way Kish and his kin used to do in his hometown of San Pablo, Laguna, a ritual that very much agrees with how he generally wishes to live his life. “Drinking coffee in the province is really straightforward,” Kish explains, “which usually consists of freshly baked bread from the panaderia (local bakery). And the coffee is very simple… whatever is your instant coffee brand of choice mixed with hot water.” We carbon date ourselves as we chuckle over the different brands we remember our parents and grandparents used to imbibe, such as Sanka and Taster’s Choice.
Read more: Panaderia bucket list: Have you tried these 9 essential baked goods?
