CAfe with a view

This month, Starbucks Philippines marks its 25th anniversary with the opening of Starbucks Reserve Hiraya in Tagaytay City. The new store will take customers on a visual journey .

"The name 'Hiraya' is a variant of the Old Tagalog term haráya, which translates to imagination, creativity or the power of the mind," shared Menchu Lopez, Store Development head of Starbucks Philippines. "By coming together with our customers and partners (employees), this store is a testament to what we can achieve with boundless imagination."

Starbucks Reserve Hiraya sits on the ridge that overlooks the Taal Volcano. The architecture complements the landscape by creating a thoughtful transitional space between indoors and outdoors, with flat rooflines, oversized windows and overhanging eaves. The nearly 500-sqm store features terraced seating to ensure an enhanced view of the volcano. The wooden entry doors are also adorned with intricate carvings of the coffee plant. Center stage is a signature Reserve Bar, brewing rare small-lot coffees on the Starbucks proprietary OVISO espresso machine, the very first one in the Philippines.

The use of local materials and artisanal crafts is intentional — from the look and feel of mahogany wood and lava stone used throughout the store to the woven rattan panels above the Reserve Bar. The unique wall art installation is designed by local contemporary artist, Aze Ong. Inspired by coffee origins and taste profiles, the bean-to-cup coffee journey is expressed through the artist's use of colors, shapes and weaving techniques.

Customers can indulge in a wide selection of freshly baked pastries, from flaky croissants to delicious milk and cheese rolls. For the drinks, one of the highlights is the crafted Hiraya Latte.