Sometimes, you have to dig a little deeper to get to the good parts – as is the case with Rustic Mornings by Isabelo. Tucked within a quiet neighbourhood of Marikina City, the cafe is located down an alleyway lined with walls covered in creeping ivy – easy to miss if you’re not familiar with the area. Still, the place has a good following among the city’s affluent and young urban professionals, thanks to its hearty food and Instagram-worthy settings.
Look out for the banner/entrance behind the Marikina Shoe Museum.
Quaint and charming, the restaurant feels more like an artist’s cluttered home/studio than an actual cafe. The spacious outdoor dining area, divided into several sections and gazebos, overflow with potted plants, flowers and trellises, as well as tastefully hung lamps and decorations.
Seashell ‘curtains’ tinkle in the breeze.
A beautiful light piece, decorated with pine cones and vintage-looking lamps.
A dining section filled with vintage paraphernalia and paintings. The tables and chairs look straight up out of an English tea garden party.
Colourful, well-scrubbed tiles glimmer in the morning light.
For those who prefer dining in air-conditioned comfort, the restaurant has an indoor area which is equally charming. Exuding comfortable, homely vibes, the space sports lots of wood accents, with snowy white curtains fitted to tall windows, cupboards housing various knick knacks, blue and white floor tiles and delicate plates of china adorning the walls. Reminds me of being in the home of a sweet English granny or a favourite aunt. 🙂
Blue and white porcelain pieces, cups, mugs and other memento.
The food is a mix of Western and traditional Filipino flavours. The Bacon, Eggs and Herbed Hash Browns (PHP180) came in a hearty serving – a mountain of fluffy scrambled eggs with diced tomatoes, two strips of crispy bacon, and two large deep fried crusted hash browns patties. Tastewise, I liked the hash browns best as they were crunchy and salty, but the eggs were bland, so I had to load them with salt and pepper.
Also got a side of Pork Tocino (add on PHP60). A little on the oily side, but I loved the fat and juicy bits of pork served in a sweet sauce. Would be great with rice!
The Three Mushroom Omelette (PHP250) consists of generous chunks of fresh button mushrooms, portobello and shiitake, served with two warm and toasty slices of ciabatta bread, herbed butter and fruit jam. The herbed butter is absolute garlicky goodness!
It’s easy to see why Rustic Mornings has gained a fan base, despite its somewhat hidden location. The food is good, generous and feels home-cooked, and one can easily spend hours chilling in the cosy environment, surrounded by lush greenery. Perfect place for families or those looking to impress a brunch date – you won’t be disappointed.
RUSTIC MORNINGS
11 I. Mendoza St, Marikina, 1800 Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 425 8610
Opening hours: 8AM-4pm (Mon-Sun)
Yes indeed it takes a little uncovering, the act of discovery to be surprised with what you find! Herbed hash browns, sounds like a good balance between healthy and carbo heavy!
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It’s great if you have a local bringing you around coz they can bring you to all these hidden spots. But uncovering a gem on your own is priceless! 🙂
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Indeed. We went to the Intramuros with our friends who are based there. So it was good as local!
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