A Sweet Guide to the Best Spots in Metro Manila with Unique Desserts

Address: Three Central Building, Valero Street, Makati City

If you’re a true-blue fan of anything Korean, chances are you might’ve heard of Kiss the Tiramisu. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Kiss the Tiramisu became a cultural phenomenon when a group of friends decided to turn tiramisu, a well-known coffee-flavored dessert, into ice cream. The result is a soft-served mix of vanilla ice cream made purely of milk mixed with mascarpone cheese, coffee sauce, and generous shavings of dark chocolate and mocha and chocolate cookie crumble. The decadent dessert, which is priced at PhP265, is served in a golden-rimmed plastic goblet that you can take home. If real gold is your thing, you can also order their Midas Touch (PhP295), which is topped with a flake of 24k gold.

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus going to Baclaran and head straight to Paseo De Roxas. After alighting at Paseo De Roxas, walk towards Three Central. You can also ride the MRT Line 3 and alight at Buendia Station. From Buendia Station, ride any bus going to Baclaran and alight until you reach Paseo De Roxas and walk towards Three Central.

Tsujiri is one of the leading matcha brands in Japan for over 150 years and it recently opened its first branch in Manila last year. Its founder, Riemon Tsuji, aimed to boost the tea industry in Japan using only the finest quality of green tea leaves for his products.

Today, Tsujiri is well-known for its wide array of matcha products from drinks to desserts. Those who crave for some real matcha drink can try Tsujiri’s O-Matcha (PhP130). Meanwhile, the Tsujiri Sundae (PhP285) is a world of its own. It contains matcha soft serve mixed with red beans, chestnuts, and toasted rice and topped with mochi (Japanese rice cake) and a cute cherry blossom rice cracker.

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride the bus with the sign “Mall of Asia”. Once you reach SM Mall of Asia, alight and walk towards S Maison. You can also ride the MRT Line 3, alight at Taft Avenue, ride the jeepneys going to SM Mall of Asia and walk towards S Maison.

Main Branch: 3rd Floor, Bonifacio Stopover, 31st Street Rizal Drive, Taguig

Summer for us Filipinos means eating our unique shaved ice and fruit dessert, halo-halo, but if you truly want to mix things up, try Korea’s version of a shaved ice dessert called bingsu. One of the dessert shops where you can get your bingsu fix is at Hobing. Its version of the famous Korean dessert is topped with various fruits, ice cream, and sweet syrup.

Hobing’s choices of bingsu ranges from the classic Mango (Regular PhP155/Large PhP260) and Matcha (Regular PhP195/Large PhP320) to more unusual combinations like Strawberry Cheese (Regular PhP245/Large PhP370) and Banana Berry (Regular PhP255/Large PhP380).

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus or the MRT Line 3 and alight at Ayala Station. From Ayala Station, you can ride any BGC Bus that will pass through the 3rd Avenue stopover. From the 3rd Avenue stopover, you can walk towards 31st Street until you reach Hobing.

Taiyaki consists of a fish-shaped cake filled with ice cream. It has been a popular snack in Japan which also became an Instagram trend because of its cute presentation. Luckily, there’s no need to travel to Japan just to taste this sweet and picture-perfect dessert as you can now get it in Manila thanks to Lucky JPMM Taiyaki Ice Cream.

Lucky JPMM’s dessert became famous for its fish-shaped cone made out of waffle and pancake batter which is made fresh when you order one. Its taiyaki (PhP75) comes in three flavors: vanilla, cheese, and a mixture of both. All taiyaki ice cream also comes with a chocolate dip and a wafer stick when you order one.

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus or the MRT Line 3 and alight at North Avenue Station. From North Avenue you can walk towards SM City North EDSA.

Address: Third Floor, Uptown Place Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Another international favorite that made it to our shores just last year is Gelare. The brand, which originates from Australia, is known for its airless ice cream. Did you know that typical ice cream is made up of 50% air? This means that the amount you get when it’s frozen depletes when it’s melted. Gelare’s ice cream, on the other hand, does not have air, so you get the same amount regardless if it’s frozen or not!

Customers can get a scoop (PhP120) or two (PhP199) or even combine two flavors when they order. Aside from airless ice cream flavors, Gelare is also known for its waffles and all-day breakfast sets.

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus or the MRT Line 3 and alight at Guadalupe Station. From Guadalupe Station, you can ride a Grab, Uber, or taxi going to Uptown Mall.

Farmacy might not be a name you expect a dessert shop to have, but it might as well be a real pharmacy because let’s be honest, dessert cures everything! Another project from the team behind Wildflour Café + Bakery, this café makes fancy ice creams and sodas.

Farmacy’s ice creams (Single Scoop, PhP150; Double Scoop, PhP190; Triple Scoop, PhP230) are made fresh at the store with natural ingredients and real fruits! The sodas (Small, PhP120; Medium, PhP145; Large, PhP155), on the other hand, are homemade and come in unique flavors you won’t usually expect from a soda like Turmeric Gingerale, Blueberry, and Calamansi. You can also have an Ice Cream Float (PhP270) combining your favorite soda and a scoop of ice cream.

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus or the MRT Line 3 and alight at Ayala Station. From Ayala Station, you can ride any BGC Bus that will pass through Net One Stopover. From Net One Stopover, you can walk towards 26th Street until you reach Farmacy.

Rita’s Italian Ice has its own take on ice cream: eggs are added to the mix and the resulting ice cream is called frozen custard (starts at PhP165). The new concoction has a thicker consistency and it comes in various flavors, too!

Another must-try when you visit Rita’s is their Italian Ice (Regular, PhP100; Large, PhP125; Quart, PhP250). It may look like typical shaved ice, but Rita’s process of making the Italian Ice is similar to that of the process in creating an ice cream, thus creating a smooth consistency without shards of ice like in usual shaved ice desserts. You can also mix the two together and get a Gelati (Regular PhP170/Large PhP190).

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus or the MRT Line 3 and alight at North Avenue Station. From North Avenue you can walk towards SM City North EDSA.

Fried goodies from Overdoughs are another dessert to add to your arsenal of sweets. Overdoughs is popular for its fried doughnuts called the Loukoumades (PhP120/box), which are native to the Greeks. The fried doughnut rounds are coated with honey to add a touch of sweetness. If bare fried doughnuts are not enough for you, you can always add a dip to make it more special.

Another fried favorite at Overdoughs is its Beignets (PhP120/box). The New Orleans classic also comes in bite-size form topped with powdered sugar. An additional dip (PhP20) to come with your beignets might also be a great idea.

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus or the MRT Line 3 and alight at Guadalupe Station. From Guadalupe Station, ride the jeep with the sign “Ayala JP Rizal Makati Ave Guad Ibabaw.” Ask to be dropped off at A. Venue Mall and from there you can walk towards Century City Mall.

Address: G/F BGC Corporate Center, Level G, Unit 4, 30th St cor 11th Ave, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Gelato is always a good idea to break the summer heat, and Gelatofix introduces a new version that is almost too good to eat—Sushi Gelato (starts at PhP75/piece). You can get the famous Japanese dishes with a sweet twist thanks to Master Chef Filippo Novelli who innovated the dessert.

Each sushi gelato also has a touch of different flavors like ginger, wasabi, and strawberry to give it its own personality. Aside from the sweets, Gelatofix also has savory dishes like pasta, pizza, and steak.

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus or the MRT Line 3 and alight at Ayala Station. From Ayala Station, you can ride any BGC Bus that will pass through the North Avenue Stopover. From North Avenue Stopover, you can walk towards BGC Corporate Center until you reach Gelatofix.

Address: Address: 80 Maginhawa Street, Diliman, Quezon City

If you think Maginhawa Street in Quezon City is not worth the trip anymore because of the congestion, another store popped up in the famous lane to lure you back! Under the Sea Café is a mermaid-themed café that offers more than yummy dishes. Here you can dress as a mermaid (you can wear fin-like skirts!) and take photos with cute mermaid and sea creature stuffed toys lying around the store.

One of the must-tries when you visit the place is the Sand Bucket Cheesecake (PhP100). The well-loved dessert is placed in a tiny bucket with a shovel. You’ll want to take a photo of the dessert first before eating it!

How to get there: From EDSA, you can ride a bus going to SM Fairview. Ask to be dropped off at PHILCOA and from there you can ride tricycles going to Maginhawa Street. Just ask to be dropped off at Under the Sea café.

Make sure to visit Yoorekka to learn and find out more about the best spots in Manila to get a unique dessert.