Looking for a reason to take a trip to the historic street of Escolta? The Den may be a perfect excuse. The cafe recently renamed their place as The Den Coffee & Contemporary Culture in an effort to develop a hub for local artists and coffee enthusiasts. It’s actually quite hard to find the place if you don’t know what you’re looking for because it’s embedded deep inside HUB: Make Lab, a marketplace for creative startups on the ground floor of the iconic First United Building.
The Den has a special beverage, “The Berg’s,” which is named after the old department store that occupied their current space in the 30’s. The beverage is a mix of espresso, coconut milk blend, and muscovado syrup. It’s served hot, but we recommend getting the chilled “iced berg” variant for a more refreshing coconut flavor. We commend The Den for holding the fort, giving homage to what was once the shopping district of Manila. They’ve done a great job keeping the history of Escolta alive and making it relevant today by forming their own retail and shopping community.
