Alma Jones

Holly’s Coffee is now in the Philippines! As they say, it’s all about location – and Holly’s Coffee in the Philippines hit jackpot when they set up camp beside De La Salle University in One Archer’s Place, Taft Avenue.

Holly’s Coffee is a new coffee shop franchise, founded in Korea. They boast of a romantic space, with cozy cushioned chairs and tables. They offer the usual coffee options such as caffe americano, cappuccino, and many others, whether on ice or served hot. However, they also offer a few Korean-inspired drinks, such as the Yuza Tea and the Sweet Potato Hollyccino.

Their food options include pastries, cakes, and sandwiches. One of their bestsellers is the Croque Monsieur, a ham and cheese sandwich, which I ordered.

The sandwich was prepared beautifully and sprinkled with herbs. It tasted sweet, but perhaps I have yet to learn to love Korean food. After all, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches were my favorite, but this one did not particularly capture my fancy. Maybe I should try their other sandwiches and find the right match for my taste buds.

Their coffee tastes great, which came as a relief. I was already falling in love with the store’s interiors, so I wanted their food to be something I wanted to come back for. Although the sandwich disappointed me, I am sure I shall find the menu option that would serve as the clincher for me.

Service was okay, especially with their beeping UFO gadgets. These gadgets beep and light up when your order is ready, making it convenient for customers to claim their orders.

I was hoping to get a free mug as promoted on their Facebook page, and I did! The mug is worth PhP220, being offered for free for the first 1000 customers. However, I’m one of the last lucky customers because they have run out of the mugs.

I am also waiting for the store to install their free WiFi. It’s going to be one of the things that coffee shop goers will be looking forward to, I’m sure. The store is laptop-friendly, with outlets available for those who decide to bring in their Macs and netbooks while sipping coffee.

Holly’s Coffee also has a second floor, offering more seats for customers. Sure enough, this new Korean coffee shop is going to be a hit. Holly’s Coffee in Manila should make it to the list of coffee shops to go to – it sure made it in mine.