The Den Coffee & Contemporary Culture

The Den Coffee & Contemporary Culture opened in 2016 on the ground floor of the First United Building, the Art Deco landmark at 413 Escolta Street in Binondo. It was part of a wave of creative tenants, along with the HUB: Make Lab incubator and an artist-run bar, that moved into the building and helped bring new life to Escolta, once the main commercial district of Manila. The restored building itself won the Malasakit Gran Prix at the 2024 Good Design Philippines awards.

The Den is as much a cultural hub as a café. It hosts rotating art exhibitions that change every few months, so the walls look different from one visit to the next, and it is a relaxed place to see what younger Manila artists are working on. The space is casual and suited to lingering over a coffee.

The signature drink is The Berg's, a coffee made with muscovado sugar and coconut milk, named after Berg's Department Store, which once stood on Escolta and closed in 1982. It is a good way to try Philippine flavours in a coffee. For food, the Spam and egg sandwich has been a favourite, and there are simple snacks to go with your drink. Next door, Escolta Coffee Company, a roaster linked to the fair trade-focused Kalsada Coffee, sells freshly roasted beans by the bag.

The café has opened daily from 10am to 6pm, but check its social channels before you go, as hours in small independent spaces can change. Weekday afternoons are quiet, while weekends can bring heritage tour groups and event crowds. Bring cash in case card payment is not available.

If you are interested in the exhibitions, ask staff about the current artist and how long the show is running, as there may be events or talks linked to it. Photography of the art may be restricted, so check before taking pictures. The building's upper floors house other creative tenants, which adds to the sense of a small community working on the street.

The First United Building sits in the middle of Escolta, so The Den is a natural rest stop on an architecture walk along the street or after a food crawl through Binondo. Jones Bridge and Intramuros are a short walk to the west. It suits creatives, architecture enthusiasts, students and travellers who prefer independent cafés to chains. Take a moment to look at the building's lobby and façade on your way in or out.