Despite being a very commercial tourist destination, I have yet to find a Starbucks or Seatle’s Best Cafe open up on the island, but with such an established place like Cafe del Sol already having a bit of a following in Boracay, I don’t mind at all. Cafe del Sol is probably the closest thing you can get to a Starbucks-like environment on the island.
Their dining and lounge area isn’t that big, but in the mornings, they do use the tables and chairs of their adjacent and co-owned restaurant, Aria. However, if you’re lucky enough, you do get a front-row seat with direct access to the view of the beach (and the passing public).
If you’re the type who wakes up early even when you’re on vacation and would want to sample something else aside from the complimentary breakfast of your resort, you should definitely try out this cafe. They have a bunch of sandwiches, drinks and other dishes that might seem light at first, but is tasty and filling enough to last you until lunch.
We chose to eat their primarily because we wanted something different from the usually fried Filipino or American meal. We ordered two sandwiches or otherwise known as paninis. I got the prosciutto with eggplant and cheese, while my girlfriend ordered the one with mozarello and pesto. The ingredients and size might not compare to those gigantic sandwiches and burgers Americans like to make, but mind you, this is much more flavorful minus the grease. We ate there at around 9:00 am on our first day in Boracay. It was so filling that we ended up eating a late lunch.
Similar to Aria, the prices are a bit on the high side, but the quality, choice and freshness of ingredients somewhat justifies it. This is probably not for everyone, but then again, you probably won’t find anything quite like Cafe del Sol in Metro Manila as well. Try it out for yourself when you get to visit the island of Boracay to know what I’m talking about.
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The Good:
Simple yet filling dishes in a laid-back setting
The Bad:
Limited dining area, and a bit expensive
i discovered the triple chocolate layered brownie…definitely the best brownie i’ve had considering the price
is there another cafe del sol in manila?
@rhodes: I don’t think they have any other branches except for the one in Boracay