Maginhawa Place guide

For the curiously hungry backpacker, Maginhawa is a legendary place for a food trip around the metro. Plenty of restaurants around the area have all sorts of cuisine to fit every culinary craving, featuring small family-owned restaurants, and ambitious entrepreneurs looking for a way to break into the restaurant business with a comfortable yet appealing aesthetic. With a large gathering of independent restaurants, Maginhawa is the place to be if you don't know what to eat, but you definitely want a unique and delicious gastronomic experience like no other.

If you want a little bit of everything, check out The Zone/Z Compound, with stalls that have shawarma from Lebanon, Vietnamese and Thai street food, Italian delights such as pasta and pizza, vegetarian options, Japanese food, soul food and even beer and cocktails. If you'd like to experience playing board games and other fun things while eating, try out Snacks and Ladders, a board game cafe. It has a large variety of board games, includes a foosball table, and right outside is a gigantic chess set. Definitely, try out their Crispy Liempo Rice Bowl--it's really delicious.

If you're the type of person who enjoys drinking tea and reading, there's Antithesis: Books and Brews that offers just that. They also have pillows on the floor, for those who read while lying down or those who endeavor to find their perfect reading spot on the floor. It's great for afternoon tea, with snacks and delicious desserts. You can also try out Tomato Kick, which offers filling appetizers, pasta and rice meals paired with good local beer.

To get to Maginhawa street, you first look for a jeep, FX or bus that's going to Philcoa. Then get down and walk towards Mini-Stop to ride a tricycle. When you ride the tricycle, tell the driver to drop you off in Maginhawa Street, or the name of the restaurant you want to eat at first. Snacks and Ladders are open from Tuesday to Thursdays: 3:00pm - 11:00pm, Friday to Sunday 3:00pm-12:00am, and it's closed on Mondays and is located at 188A Maginhawa street. The Zone/Z Compound is found in 33A Malingap Street. Antithesis is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 1:30pm to 10:30pm and is closed on Mondays. Tomato Kick is open from Monday to Saturday 12:00nn to 1:00am, and Sundays 5:00pm to 12:00am.