Pookaberry Cafe: From NYC to MNL

A new cosmic and artsy themed cafe opens in the Scout area.

I usually skip events on Sundays but I couldn't say no to Kuya Monsi (Philippine Business and News)'s invite for a cafe opening last May 5. I did a quick search on Facebook and what I saw intrigued me because of its quirkiness.

So after having lunch with a friend, I booked an Angkas to Quezon City.

Pookaberry Cafe is a two-story pop art coffee shop located along the quiet street of Sct. Ybarlozada, owned by Peter and Jeanette Marco. This is their first branch after their coffee shop in New York.

The wall to ceiling mural features colorful drawings depicting the fun-filled adventures of Ollie the Octopus and its imaginary friend, Pookaberry the Alien Baby, who lives under the sea. While it all looks cartoony, don't look past the uplifting messages.

Fun fact #1: it was painted by one of the owners, Peter, who is a famous pop artist in New York known as "Marco".

Fun fact #2: Pookaberry was born in 1998 as a part of the Swatch Fall-Winter collection.

The cafe offers hot and iced blended drinks plus treats such as cookies, cakes, and paninis. They also have some breakfast options.

Still full from lunch, I was only able to try a good cup of cafe latte 'Believe' and a slice of the Matcha Green Tea Cake. The cake was moist and the matcha ratio was perfect for those who don't like its strong flavor, with hints of citrus.

There's also a gift shop by the entrance if you wish to take home some souvenirs.

Got my mug doodled and signed by Peter Marco :D

Aside from the friendly staff and awesome ambiance, I look forward to another (longer) visit to get a taste of other menu items while writing/reading and also, to support their advocacies :)

Fun fact #3: a part of their sales goes to helping poor children in the Philippines through Project Pearls.

Visit Pookaberry Cafe at 36B Sct. Ybardoloza (corner Sct. Rallos), Sacred Heart, Quezon City. Operating hours are from 7:00am to 9:00pm. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @pookaberrycafe.