Hanging around community-oriented places like Kapitolyo usually means there’s an abundance of third places like cafes and such. While this mostly residential barangay is severely lacking in people-oriented infrastructure, anyone living in the area is spoiled for choice to get their morning cup of coffee… or dirty matcha.

Loop Cafe Kapitolyo is one of the newer cafes worth visiting, not just for their matcha-oriented menu, but also for their bike-friendly spaces.

Loop may look small outside, but once you enter, it’s spacious enough to fit a whole gaggle of roadies looking for a cafe stop after doing a long ride. The interior is subtly lit, giving a relaxing ambiance. Its woodsy-green motif with touches of white is intentional: clean, restful and calm without trying too hard.

Weekday mornings don’t get too crowded, even at 9am, while on some weekends, you’ll find yourself sitting by the window, close to the entrance. Nevertheless, you’ll always find a spot to sit down and relax after a long city ride.

How to Get to Loop

Loop Cafe Kapitolyo is located in San Rafael St., very near the edge of West Capitol Drive. If you’re coming from Shaw Boulevard or around Estancia, enter West Cap and either pass through the (dismal) pedestrian crossing in front of Andok’s or make a U-turn, traffic permitting.

On the other hand, if you’re coming from BGC, best to climb up West Capitol Drive and make a slight turn to the right. You won’t miss the matcha green paint of the cafe on your left.

Bike Parking Situation

The cafe welcomes cyclists from far and wide with its shaded bike parking at the side. There’s no space for cars, unless the driver is willing to park on the side of the road. Be sure to have a lock to secure your front tire to the rack.

Foldie owners can bring their bikes, as long as they’re folded, inside the cafe.

Loop Cafe Kapitolyo Highlights Japanese Tea

Unlike other cafes in Kapitolyo that primarily serve coffee-based drinks, Loop offers something different: matcha and hojicha. Their matcha is ceremonial grade with three cultivars coming from Nishio, Japan, so while the price may be a bit steep for some, you know you’re getting good quality tea.

They don’t serve both teas in their original form (whisked matcha without anything added; hojicha steeped from roasted tea leaves), but they do have a diverse menu of lattes. I personally like sea salt matcha and match it with their sourdough waffles, or keep it simple and near caffeine-free with a classic hojicha.

Loop Cafe Kapitolyo offers diners a different vibe from the rest of the cafes in this part of Pasig; go and check them out when your hankering for Japanese tea with a twist.

About Best By Bike

Best By Bike is a blog series dedicated to discovering bike-friendly establishments around 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.