An Introvert Visits Bialetti Caffe

A former old heritage home, Bialetti Caffe's new location breathes equally new life to the brand and the overall ambiance of the cafe. It's small, painfully so, but the interior decoration and intricate Spanish-styled panels beautifully make up for the space.

Despite it being a small cafe with only a few choice pastries for sale, their frappes and iced coffee were great. The pastries themselves, on the other hand, I wasn't very fond of. There were only three I could choose from upon my visit and I wasn't feeling up to spending my afternoon eating commercialized sponge and carrot cake so I settled with the Chocolate Mousse which was surprisingly really good.

Best of all was that I found this quiet little corner despite the cafe's size.

Bialetti Caffe closes earlier than most, only up until the early evening so be sure to get there before then! It usually isn't as packed but visiting in the evenings on weekdays is a preferred time. The staff are nice and quiet enough and they have WiFi, every introvert's best friend! (or a good book)

An Introvert Visits Chocoreich Cafe

If you love the smell of raw chocolate, Chocoreich Cafe is for you. Located in a quaint corner in Tagbilaran's center, you wouldn't expect to find such a sweet get-away to blow your senses with chocolatey promises.

Being Tagbilaran's first artisan chocolate shop, it was an instant hit amongst teens and young professionals. Not only do they make their own chocolates, which is 100% Filipino-made, mind you, they also serve an all-chocolate menu.

From hot dark chocolate drinks to white chocolate smoothies, there's something for everyone; even spotting some older customers enjoying a hot cup of chocolate in the late afternoons.

Granted, the place is still quite small and, during its peak hours, barely has any seats left for late customers which makes it a huge downside for the more quiet-loving people such as myself.

The good thing about this, though, is that the cafe owner herself is quite an introvert and knows the value of a good book and a peaceful corner anywhere. With that in mind, she plans to expand the space soon to cater to all types of chocolate lovers. I'm excited to see what they do with it so I've decided to leave off the full-blown review for the cafe until then.

Overall, Chocoreich Cafe is without a doubt a great place to hang and just enjoy the taste and smell of good chocolate. For optimal relaxation, I suggest visiting the cafe during weekdays or during late afternoons and evenings. They just recently opened so inflow of customers are sporadic.

Cafe Talk Cebu An Introvert's Cafe Review

Cafe Talk Cebu
Ground Floor Gaisano Country Mall Banilad
Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Mon - Sun: 10:00 am - 12:00 am
Downtime: 1-3 pm on Weekdays
Cafe Talk Cebu Facebook Page

First Impression

Located in the first floor of Gaisano Country Mall, I thought that the whole cafe would be teeming with people. I was lucky enough to go in at downtime when barely anyone was around. By the time I stepped inside, I immediately thought that the whole cafe looked really fancy. It had that vintage feel to it but then it was also mixed with a cute/kawaii theme.

I especially loved how this cafe was a cubicle type because it really felt like we actually had some privacy. The small tables and comfort foams looked clean and sturdy and a few stuff toys lay here and there as well which made the whole place seem quite comfortable. I was able to enjoy my drink peacefully since I stayed at the second floor (because no one else was around) and spent the whole time seated on a cushion.

From the entrance, you'll directly see the cashier on the left side so you can quickly place your order. The counter was surprisingly well decorated and it was obvious that they had a specific theme. The architecture was brilliant as well since they had beautifully arched windows, porch grills and many interesting designs. Not to mention that the staff was really nice too.

Their menu consisted smoothies, shakes and food dishes. I wasn't easily able to decide on which dish I was going to have since they all looked very appetizing and palatable. The food here might be a little too pricey but I can guarantee that all the money that you spent will be worth it. In the end, I was able to order a salad and a marshmallow shake. I enjoyed every bit of it!~

Look & Feel

The place was quite narrow since both sides were occupied with private cubicles from top to bottom leaving only a tight hallway in the center leading all the way to the opposite end of the room. I can say that it was the first time I've seen a unique layout in a cafe here in Cebu that has efficiently budgeted limited space to accommodate more customers.

I couldn't help but think of France when I came in the cafe because the surroundings really did have that romantic setting just like what you see in movies and magazines. The place might looked cramped but I can assure you that it is well-ventilated because you can find numerous small exhaust fans hidden around in almost every corner of each cubicle.

This cafe is small and cozy, but their cubicles are even smaller. One cubicle can at least fit 3-4 persons without it getting all restricted. Let me remind you to always watch your head whenever you visit this cafe because you will surely be crouching a lot. If you plan before going to this cafe, then I suggest you wear footwear that is easy to remove because you have to take them off.

Staff

I was incredibly happy with the staff because the baristas and waitresses had smiles on their faces and they were accommodating and really friendly. Also, there isn't a need for you to ask them for the wifi password anymore because its actually already posted on their front door. I've got to say I was secretly happy.

Introvert's Corner

By far, one of the most introvert friendly cafes I've been in so far. Every cubicle can basically turn into your own personal space. On the first floor, you can lounge, watch a movie, and eat. The second floor is basically more of the studying area wherein you can quietly read through materials and occasionally crawl across the tiny bridges to get to the other side. Bringing your friends can be fun too. However, this place is not meant for people who are not comfortable with crouching or staying in tight spaces. Please be warned.

Downtime

This place would be perfect for introverts if you go here during Downtime. At around 1-3 pm from Monday-Friday, there is usually a very few amount of people present inside. Make sure you select an area wherein there no other customers sitting right beside your cubicle/space or else it might become a little bit awkward for you.

Conclusion

Cafe Talk Cebu gives you a uniquely themed cafe experience that lets you have your very own cubicle. The staff is always be ready to serve you their expensive but incredibly palatable food. If you are looking for some personal space to be away from certain people for a while then you should take a look and visit this cafe.

Rating

Sweet Home Cafe An Introverts Café Review

Sweet Home Cafe
Corner J. Borja & Remolador Street 
Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines 
Mon – Sun: 7:00 am - 12:00 am 
Downtime: 2-4 pm on Weekdays 
Sweet Home Cafe Facebook Page

First Impression

When I first walked in, I immediately felt the cozy and comforting ambiance surrounding the cafe's beautiful interiors. I approached the counter and was greeted with a warm smile coming from the waitress in front.  An array of delicious looking sweets and pastries were laid out and displayed, showing their glistening textures and expensive prices.

I couldn't really decide which one to get so I had that weird look on my face and apparently the lady behind the counter seemed to notice. I was relieved to know that she had somehow read my mind and was nice enough to give me suggestions. She started enumerating the popular orders and then ended with her own personal favorite.

After a few short glances at the gestured sweets, I was ready to place an order.  The next thing I wanted to do was to find the perfect introverted place to lounge and relax. I chose the lower right corner of the room near the huge glass pane window and settled down on the couch. I took a minute to take in the surroundings and appreciate the soft jazz tunes playing in the background.

Eventually, a waiter came in to serve my order. My Cookies n' Cream Shake and Sweet Revenge Cake arrived in under 5 minutes and it was great. They were perfectly set on top of the coffee table and I must admit that it tasted very delicious.

Look & Feel

The cafe is right beside the Mang Inasal fast food chain and it has two floors, the bottom one is an air conditioned room while the floor above is open air. I personally prefer to stay below since most of the days here in Bohol have incredibly hot temperatures but if you decide to go to the cafe at night, staying at the top floor would be nice because you can be greeted with refreshingly cold evening air.

But of course, the space upstairs is larger and that means it can accommodate more people but the only downside to it is that the second floor of Mang Inasal is also directly aligned with the open air balcony of Sweet Home so basically, it can get pretty noisy when a lot of people are around. I'm not one for coffee drinks and cappuccinos but if you're craving for some then Sweet Home definitely has something to offer for you.

They have a variety of hot and iced frappe drinks as well as coffee based shakes you surely cant get enough of. For non-coffee fans like me, you can also order shakes, smoothies and milk teas and decide to match it up with their yummy cakes and pastries. Not only do they offer these great choices but they can also serve you heavy meals too.

Ranging from burgers, sandwiches, spaghetti, and even steaks, your stomach's happiness is guaranteed. Although the price range may be a bit more expensive compared to other cafes, their servings are surprisingly bigger than what you'd expect them to be so I guess the cash you spent was worth it after all.

Staff

Surprisingly, they weren't a bother at all. The staff were very sweet and approachable, perfect for shy introverts like me. One thing I really liked was when after I placed my order, the waitress immediately told me the password to their wifi and it was like she read my mind again (which is incredibly awesome by the way).

Introvert's Corner

To be honest, I couldn't really find that "perfect" spot but I just chose the area in the bottom floor and sat in one of the corners of the cafe that had comfortable looking couches. Beside me was a huge glass pane window that clearly showed the people passing by so it kind of made me a little bit uncomfortable since you get unwanted stares. But nonetheless, the place was pretty nice and I'd love to go back there again.

Downtime

If you've read my Introvert's Introduction, you may already know what this means. But for the sake of the viewers who have not gone to check it out yet, I will be giving a brief definition just for you.

Down Time is basically that time of day wherein a certain cafe has the least amount of customers currently spending their time there. This is a good sign for introverts since they enjoy being alone and left alone. No unnecessary noises, no talking, no one else pacing around, its just you.

For Sweet Home, its downtime would be around 2-4 pm during weekdays since most students wont be around at that time because they have classes to attend to. After 4, it can get a little bit more rowdy since most of them eat at Mang Inasal and that's bad news for the people staying on the second floor of Sweet Home.

Conclusion

Sweet Home has this comfortable and pleasing ambiance that every introvert will love. Their staff is also just as equally as amazing because it seems like they can read your mind. The food is good, the drinks are good, I don't see a reason why you shouldn't go there really. The only problem I had was looking for a spot to stay in without having to attract unwanted glances.

Rating

An Introvert's Introduction

Have you ever wanted to go outside but also wanted to feel like you're staying inside? Well then welcome to the club, my friend. You have come to the right blog.

We all know that it's hard being an introvert living in an extroverted world, with all the constant interactions and socializing, you barely have enough time to recharge. I'm sure a lot of you reading this right now are eager to find a cozy little corner where you and your cat can snuggle and eat tasty pastries all day and that is basically the reason why I have created this blog.

My name is Haku and this is my personal introduction. That little fella over there is named Binky-chan and together, we will scour the universe for the best introvert-friendly cafés ever!~

So what makes a café introvert-friendly? Well, I have managed to create a criteria for judging and rating various cafés near my area.

First off, what makes any place introvert friendly? Obviously, it should have NO people but that wouldnt be good for business now, would it? So let's bump it down to "a few people". 

No matter how popular a cafe, or any other business establishment for that matter, is, there always has to be a few hours of the day where you can enjoy your cup of coffee and a little parfait by the window all alone to your heart's content. That time is what I call the "down time". 

It's when the hustle and bustle of the shop considerably stops and you are left with peace and quiet. This usually happens in the middle of the day so the staff may be tried (but hopefully still friendly). And the most important thing is that there are no customers other than you. 

Another factor could be something I call "the introvert's space". It doesn't necessarily have to be that corner at the back near the cafe restroom but maybe an alcove or a well-lit nook good for one in the shop would be a huge plus for me.

A lot of people don't think about this but I guess, as an introvert, the staff's chitchattiness, although welcome at times, can be a bit too overwhelming.

Of course, there are other factors that come into play as well, like the food's quality or the ambiance or even the attentiveness of the staff. We will talk about all of that as we go along. But in this blog, what's most important to me, and hopefully to all of you, is how less the interactions we have to make while we enjoy our time in these comfortable public places.

I hope you enjoyed reading through this post. Once again, this is merely an introduction to the actual posts that I plan on putting up. I will be giving out reviews to the cafés in both Bohol and Cebu (that's in the Philippines, if you didn't know. Look it up!) for the mean time. Expect another one soon. Thanks and see ya!~