Baguio City, Philippines – Why is Baguio popular among local tourists? Let’s admit it, most people come to Baguio to escape the sweltering heat of the lowlands and soak up in the city’s pretty cool weather. Others visit the city to break away from their mundane life, soul-search, go trek their way to nearby mountains or just go around Baguio’s pine forest trails to relax. Whatever varying reasons people have in mind in coming to Baguio, there is this common thing most agree on — that is a Baguio visit is incomplete if one doesn’t explore its cafe and resto scene.

The food and coffee culture in the city is an attraction itself. With each cafe offering unique experience, they have become a popular social gathering place offering cozy ambiance, palatine-satisfying gastronomic experience, and more.

There is a good number of coffeeshops in the city that are worthy of one’s time to visit. And Taza Coffee by Kayu is one of those pleasant spots to go to for their tasty and pocket-friendly offerings. Taza’s menu features an array of coffee blends and non-caffeinated drink options, wide selection of dishes from delicious ramen to all-day breakfast meals and more.

I have come to know about Taza when I visited and dined at Kayu, a Texas -style, al fresco barbecue restaurant and smokehouse that is slowly making waves in the food scene of surftown, San Juan in La Union. So, Taza is the coffeeshop sister of Kayu in Baguio.

Some of the drinks I got to try were their iced Spanish latte (which was soooo good), a cup of warm cappuccino (which is perfect on a rainy day in Baguio), and a glass of guyabano shake (a pleasant surprise since we don’t usually encounter this fruit in a cafe’s menu! Ugh, so many good options, too tiny stomach. 😄

For the food, we got to taste their Taza all-day breakfast which has bacon, sausage (I believe this one is the very same kind of sausage I had at Kayu in San Juan), beans, toast, and rice – it’s super loaded!!! Got to try also their waffles and chicken (while the waffle is the regular waffle one sees in most cafes, the syrup that goes with it is quite unusual to my taste). I don’t know if it was just me, but there’s a tinge of spice to my palate and I mean that in a pleasant way. Also, the boneless chicken that go with the waffle seems a perfect pair. I also love that they have ramen options which is perfect for Baguio weather. I told one of the service crew that how I wish they’d add more soup to the ramen. Nonetheless, taste is lovely and satiating.

Aside from the good food, another perk is that almost everything on the menu is affordable and really worth the price. That’s not very surprising as it’s location is very near 3 academic institutions in the city thus it has become a frequented hangout spot for university students.

Address: Ground Floor of Rex Hall Student Residences, Upper Bonifacio Street, Baguio City (a landmark one might want to look out for is the intersection going to Notre Dame Hospital/university of Baguio, which are near Cathedral).

In terms if aesthetics, the cafe may not be as artsy as with other cafes in Baguio but I actually like the minimalistic interior — ambient lighting, color palette is easy on the eyes, and a space that’s comfortable enough to enjoy one’s food.

Lastly, I’d like to personally commend the accommodating and friendly staff members. I have always believed that a cafe or a restaurant’s service crew sets a cafe’s vibe and tone. So there, yet another lovely cafe one could visit the next time you go cafe-hopping in Baguio City.

Taza Coffee by Kayu is on Facebook and Instagram. Follow their socials for more information. Take it easy.