Crate Cafe is a cool hangout in Cebu

It created a buzz in social media when Crate Cafe first started to advertise for their 8 February 2016 opening in Cebu. Simple, for jaded Cebuano cafe goers who are used to hip and cool airconditioned interiors, here comes a charming and cute cafe that looks like a big crate situated just beside a road with great views of the city and the surrounding mountains. And it is al fresco. For those who go up or down this part of Cebu, either as joggers, cyclists or driving their own vehicles, one is easily surprised at the sight of this quaint looking structure. Its location is a good stopover too and especially during late afternoon till dusk, inviting.

Diane Kristel de Jesus, the operations manager says,

We did not expect to get a lot of attention during our first month. We were preparing ourselves for a slow start thinking that there will be few customers since the foot traffic in the area is low. We were surprised to know that our posts in our Instagram and Facebook page even before opening stirred curiosity and anticipation for a tiny coffee shop up in the mountain. People loved the novelty of the coffee shop and the location as well.

And its more than just the location and novelty. When I talked to Diane, she told me that the cafe structure itself is a big playhouse that was transformed into what it is now by Dominique Ismael, one of the owners and an interior design graduate. Initially, they wanted to introduce to the city a cafe made from shipping containers, a design (and practical) trend said to be sweeping Manila where the owners come from. But the thought of high costs in bringing a heavy metal container into the boondocks made them think of other ways. The idea of crates stuck and they eventually decided to go with a wooden crate concept.

READ MORE: A playhouse transformed into a unique and charming cafe

Crate Cafe offers coffee and lattes. Freshly roasted beans come from Baguio while fresh milk is sourced locally in Cebu. They also offer italian sodas, made from scratch. Hot teas will be added soon. They also serve different kinds of pastries like cakes, croissants, macarons, breads and cookies. Diane recommends the Banana Coffee Caramel, Caramel latte and White Mocha Latte, both hot and iced for their drinks. Authentic Black Moist, Almond Croissant and the Chocolate Croissant for the pastries are best sellers.

Check them out if you’re in Cebu.

Crate Cafe
Veteran’s Drive, Lower Busay
Cebu City
+63995 128 7466
https://www.facebook.com/cratecafeph/
Tuesday-Friday: 1300H-2200H
Saturday-Sunday: 0700H-2200H
Closed Mondays