Whether you are an avid coffee drinker or not, I’m going to bet that you have been to a Starbucks on more than one occasion. There are branches to be found almost everywhere you go, so it’s a convenient place to get a sandwich or a beverage when on the go. Every mall has at least one, some even have quite a few branches within one building as people like to go into Starbucks to work or study. The air conditioning is always reliable, the seats and tables are a decent size and are comfortable to work on, there are usually charging outlets to be found, and of course, the air smells like coffee!
The one thing I will say about Starbucks is that it is reliable in the sense that the quality of your beverage and food will be the same every time. The staff are friendly and if they happen to create the wrong drink for you which has only happened a couple of times in my experience, they will happily take it back and re-create the right one with no fuss at all. The area is also kept clean, you won’t see tissues on the floor or straws left at the table, it’s always well kept and so are the bathrooms too. Those things added all together is probably why people keep coming back.
I’ve been to plenty of Starbucks branches all over the world during my travels. Whether a small one at the local mall or airport, by a promenade, or in a quaint looking town, I would have to say this takes the cake! The Starbucks Reserve Hiraya in Tagaytay has the best setup I’ve seen so far. It’s in a prime location with an unobstructed view of the Taal lake and volcano.
From the outside driving in, it doesn’t look very large. However, as soon as you get through the front doors you’ll realize that looks can be deceiving and it is in fact quite grand on the inside. It has high ceilings and is mostly lit up by natural light coming from the panoramic window. There are many spaces to choose from when it comes to sitting down and enjoying your coffee. If you want to be where the hustle and bustle is then the central area is great for chit chat and taking in the ambience. If you want somewhere a little more quiet you may choose to sit behind the coffee bar by the panoramic window or to the right side which is just around the bathrooms. If you want to take in the view or maybe get some fresh air, there are also plenty of seating options outdoors.
You may be wondering what the difference is between a regular Starbucks and a Starbucks Reserve since they have been popping up here and there in the last few years. Well, a Starbucks Reserve is a more upscale coffee experience. They have baristas with higher expertise when it comes to creating coffee concoctions, and they also offer other beverages and food that you won’t see at a regular Starbucks. For example, the Starbucks Reserve Hiraya offers beverages such as a Hazelnut Bianco Latte, Dark Chocolate Mocha, Cold Brew Float, Nitro Cold Brew Float, House Affogato, Americano Con Crema and many more. They also had other pastry options that looked appetizing and would pair well with a great cup of coffee. From croissants to a Pain Au Chocolat Extravagant, to banana breads, cakes, and of course their classic breakfast sandwiches such as the Turkey Ham, Egg White and Fontina Cheese, Roasted Vegetable FRittata, and my personal favorite, the Spanish Chorizo, Egg and Mozzarella. There’s something for everyone whether sweet or savory.
There are a couple of things you should note before visiting Hiraya. Firstly, if you are able to visit on a weekday, I suggest you do so. They fill up very quickly and the lines can get extremely long on the weekends. They do have someone who does crowd control at the door, so there’s no need to push your way in. The lines are kept organized and so everyone gets their fair turn. Even on a weekday, try to get there as early as you can so you can still choose where you’d like to sit for the next couple of hours. If you arrive late, you’ll be forced to take any seat that you can get since it will be packed with people. Secondly, the parking area is quite limited too, so if the lines are long then the parking will most likely be filled up already. You can probably find other spots to park that are close and you can just walk to Hiraya instead. If you are able to park in the premises, you will be given a parking ticket which is good for two hours that you can have validated at the cashier when they take your order.
