Libraries commonly bring to mind thoughts of homework and research, of whispering to friends when you do need to talk. There normally isn’t much in the way of socializing or eating, lest you want a scolding. But The Lib at 287 Katipunan Avenue is not your typical library, nor are the sisters behind it—Pia and Ana Beatrice “Bea” Trinidad—the stiff librarians of movies. Instead, Katipunan’s newest café is something of a millennial paradise, what with meals, snacks, reliable Wi-Fi, a whole lot of charging stations, and seriously Instagrammable interiors.
Pia and Bea are just 22 and 28, respectively. The Lib is an entrepreneurial passion project alongside their marketing jobs for the Cravings Group at the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA). Before it became a café, the space was, in fact, CCA’s library, and the sisters thought it was a shame that only a few students were visiting for the books: “So we decided to revamp it...to make it look like a [library] that you’d actually want to hang out in,” Pia recalls.
Hustle in style
December 2017 was spent envisioning the café as something far from the dark, industrial feel of many other workplaces. Together, its elements added up to the Trinidads’ dream office. “A lot of light, and a lot of greens,” mentions Bea. “We think it’s more conducive [to work] when there’s sunshine.”
A mere three months later, The Lib had its breezy aesthetic on point. Sunlight filters go through glass walls, and other surfaces are in muted blues, grays, and whites. Chic meets enterprising when most furniture is secondhand, or when Pia and Bea adopt the suggestions of customers—like serving drinks with eco-friendly metal straws, which they started doing about a week into their March opening. More importantly, the space is also functional for the busy student. You’ll find sockets everywhere, from the walls near the individual tables to strategic points on the café floor.
The concept of The Lib, however, wasn’t meant to stand on its own—to begin with, at least. The café was to be packaged with Pia’s other project, The Rooftop, an outdoor bar next to The Lib which has since moved out of CCA. “We wanted the two spaces to be like, work then play,” she explains. “To complement each other. But then when The Rooftop decided to move, we had to tweak The Lib.”
It’s for the best now that The Lib sees itself as a place to not just work, but to work, learn, and meet. The cozy atmosphere lends itself to people either accomplishing tasks alone, with groups of friends, or even with newfound ones. “I love staying here because sometimes people come alone, then later in the afternoon others will drop in,” Bea says. “I don’t know if they’re chitchatting or brainstorming, but it seems that people meet when they want to be creative.”
Lib bites
In line with the vibrant atmosphere which The Lib offers, their food showcases consistency with the theme. Their dishes are a delight to look at and even greater treats to indulge in. They have an assortment of beverages, offerings such as Iced Milo Dinosaur, and the usual kinds of coffee are sure to please those searching for either a sweet treat or a caffeine boost. The main attraction, however, is the wide variety of fares which range from breakfast favorites, sandwiches and pastries, and bite-sized bar food, ensuring that one finds something that suits their craving.
One of these eye-catching dishes is the Tropicana Smoothie Bowl—a wonderful combination of muesli, fresh fruits, and smoothie which comes in kale, banana, or strawberry—served with chia seeds soaked in milk. Aside from the bowl’s unique appearance, one’s interest is immediately piqued due to the bright hues displayed by the respective smoothies alongside the selection of strawberries, kiwis, and bananas for fresh fruits. The smoothie bowls are a haven of texture—the crunch of the muesli accompanied by the tender fruits and the well-balanced, mellow smoothie create an enjoyable eating experience. For those intimidated by such health foods, they can rest assured that these bowls are not only filling, but also palatable for those unaccustomed to such dishes.
Other noteworthy menu items are the Crispy Chicken Sandwich—a crunchy, flavorful, and amusingly whimsical dish due to its airplane-like appearance, and the Tapsilog, which honestly could use more meat, but was still an enjoyable combination of savory tapa and well-seasoned, garlicky fried rice.
With a price range of about Php 100 to 200 per dish, the hefty price tag compensates with fresh ingredients and healthy offerings, and ensures a full stomach.
The future envisioned
Given how both Pia and Bea had a clear-cut vision for how The Lib should come to shape, its future is also on their horizons. As mentioned earlier, The Rooftop unfortunately had to move to a new location. Despite this, they now intend to utilize it as more of a venue for events, possibly like an outdoor cinema night or their recently concluded artists’ exhibit.
This meant, however, that the sisters had to focus their efforts on making The Lib’s identity even more robust. One of these efforts is to organize and offer an array of workshops, ranging from how to become a social media influencer to an essential oils class. As Bea says, “We want it to be a mix of serious and light.”
Since they are also currently in the works of adding a new area, creating a member-only co-working space is another part of their plans. They intend for it to be a space where people can socialize and meet, possibly even be a business address especially for start-ups that often have no offices of their own. Pia envisions it to be “like an upgraded version of The Lib for members that want to be in the community.”
A space for everyone
Although admittedly still in its fledgling phase, The Lib is a promising contender among the other cafés along Katipunan. The passion of both Pia and Bea comes across in the well-thought-out arrangement of the space as well as their awareness of what their clients enjoy and look for.
When asked whether they consider themselves as a study café or a co-working space, the sisters had different thoughts. For Pia, “[It’s] actually the same, because students now, you could be studying one day, but the next day working on your passion project.” To sum her side up, she believes that “[it’s] just a space for you to be productive.” On the other hand, Bea thinks, “[It’s] definitely a learning café, because to me, the connotation of study is quite serious, with grades and things to worry about.”
However, what one can be assured of is that The Lib is ready to accommodate those who need a space to be productive—may it be for academics or passion projects.