Starbucks Downhill

My mom has been frequenting Tagaytay the past year, well, technically it's Batangas she's after, but she drops by Tagaytay often to shop and eat whenever she brings us or her friends. These are all because my father, decided after a long term devotion to his career as a Seaman, to now command a vessel that only sails within Asia. Mama visits him during their scheduled route to Philippines which means he does not have to wait long to see Mama, or me, or ate or his apos (he loves his apos too much you know), he just have to order his crew to sail to the Philippines and duct in Batangas shores (if that's how it works, lol). Anyway, back to our past trips, I somehow witnessed the construction progress of the new Starbucks along Calamba road. It looked really big and conveniently positioned to have the best view of Taal Volcano, or so I thought. 

Last weekend, we went to visit Tagaytay to give a mini tour to our guest, ate Yonyon. She is our relative from Canada who came home to Bohol for a vacation and squeezed in a quick sojourn with us in Manila before flying back to Canada. By afternoon it was coffee time! Mama was convinced that we should try out this new branch downhill.

 Starbucks Facade facing Calamba Road

The Parking lot is impressive, it has a very steep entrance though.

Parking Lot

It was a little cloudy when we got there but a nice calm weather kind of cloudy. The interior could probably accommodate an entire village, but the design is consistent with all other SB stores in the Philippines; variety of comfy couches in different sizes, wooden chairs and tables under hanging dappled lights (nice for studying), floor to ceiling glass windows, etc,. I thought it was passe so I took a shot of the back facade of the building leading to a viewing deck instead.

Back view

I love the idea of a viewing area apart from the ones at the balcony, and the little extra details that came with it like the lights between steps considering the guests going in and out of the viewing area at night time. 

We snatched my uber kaduper childhood friend, Mae on the way. Hehe! You can see her admiring the obstructed view of Taal Volcano. Seriously, there is no sign of the volcano anywhere you turn. There are two or three story town houses standing a little lower, adjacent to the viewing deck. Perhaps the location was not elevated enough, but the entire scenery is not that bad. If  you really want to hang out, get coffee or tea in Tagaytay and enjoy a good view of Taal Volcano, I suggest you go to the old branch near Rotunda or get a nice seat in the second floor balcony of this branch (that we were not able to take a good look at the time), you might get lucky.

Uber Kaduper Childhood Friend and the not-so-bad scenery

The feeling and looking touristas: Mama and ate Yonyon so busy tabiing (talking) with each other. We got a pretty large table at the far end of the outdoor patio, and enjoyed a little privacy in a busy coffee shop.

Mama and ate Yonton, Outdoor Patio Seat

You think my young at heart mother would take a rain check on the opportunity to get a jump shot beside the largest Starbucks signage in the Philippines yet? Nevaaaah. It might always look like she is standing in one foot in all her jump shots but she will not let anything pass. XD

Lookie: ate Yonyon and Mama's Jump shot. Oha! Oha!

You want to see it for yourself?

Starbucks Calamba Road, Tagaytay         

Barangay San Jose, Calamba Road

Tagaytay, Cavite                        

(046)512-0124
Operating hours:

Monday to Thurday    8:00am - 1:00am

Friday                      8:00am - 2:00am

Saturday                  6:30am - 2:30am

Sunday                    6:30am - 1:30am