Cycling has opened up so many opportunities for me to explore places that I otherwise would not notice if I were in a car. These opportunities happen to be out-of-the-way cafes, built from the ground up by people who have a strong love for coffee and providing third spaces that this city needs.

Solid Ground Coffee House in Poblacion, Makati was one of the first cafes I reached on two wheels. It’s gone through a few design transformations, and today it’s a bright and spacious hangout spot that gives off “Your favorite tito’s man cave” vibes.

How to Reach Solid Ground

Solid Ground is located just across the Poblacion Marketplace in Escuela St., Poblacion, Makati.

It’s easy to access by bike from two notable major roads:

1. From JP Rizal: Turn into Escuela St. The cafe will just be at your right.
2. From Kalayaan: Turn to Burgos St., then right at Gen. Luna St., then left at Escuela. For the anti-lusong lusong club, there’s a bit of a lusong, so gently hit those brakes as you descend.

The cafe is open Mondays through Saturdays, from 8am to 6pm, in time for and after work.

Bike parking situation

There is available space for bikes within the property, but the Makati Police Station discourages on-street bike parking (and ironically, but not surprisingly, allow car, motorcycle and tricycle parking), so the owner can only accommodate bikes hanging on the bar (I don’t exactly know what this is called) by the entrance.

Because my bike had double panniers on, I wasn’t able to hang mine, but lighter bikes can hang by the saddle.

Look and Feel

Before entering the cafe, you see several plants and a pair of rattan chairs greeting you, almost like a mid-century mini-lanai in the middle of a busy area (and it does get busy because of the talipapa across).

And once you enter through the sliding glass doors, you’re greeted with a warm and gentle masculine atmosphere, clinging to a wabi-sabi aesthetic at its core. The paintings and photos give a punky attitude, adding some post-apocalyptic pop to an otherwise rustic-industrial interior design.

What to Order

For a long time, I would only order my end-of-the-day glass of horchata, but after having breakfast and after-work snacks there a few times already, I think I can give recommendations.

I recently had their mango grilled cheese – the fruity twist adds a sweet note to the classic go-to sammy for cyclists here in Manila – paired with their bestselling Spanish Latte. Their three cheese toast is also easy to chow down if mango jam isn’t your thing.

They also serve non-coffee drinks here, and I tend to gravitate towards their Hibiscus Passion Tea, Matcha, and… well… Horchata.

One of My First Cafes as a Bikerist

Before finding Solid Ground, I didn’t know cafes were big in Poblacion, as that place is more known for its red light district in Burgos and the countless bars and restaurants that cater mainly to foreign backpackers.

So when I decided to meet with some bike commuters in December 2022 for an event there, I had a revelation: may iba palang mapupuntahan sa Pob na hindi kailangang malasing o kausapin ang afam.

Today, it’s the central hub where I meet my friends from Mandaluyong, and where I can find some peace and quiet away from the Central Business District.

Solid Ground has been serving up some great coffee since March 2022. If you’re in and around Pob and don’t exactly like the bar scene like me, this cafe is your place to go.

Hang your bike and hang around; when you’re in Poblacion, you’re definitely on Solid Ground.

About Best By Bike

Best By Bike is a fortnightly blog series dedicated to discovering the best cafés and restaurants that are accessible by bike and bike-friendly in Metro Manila.

If you own or manage a bike-friendly café or restaurant and want to be featured, I’d love to hear from you! Submit your establishment for a feature.