Coffee and History
I had been curious about the Intramuros branch of Starbucks. So last Saturday afternoon, while waiting for my scheduled badminton games, I decided to hang out at the said coffee shop which was, luckily for me, a mere block from Feathers ‘n Strings, to have my favorite tall unsweetened hot latte. Located at Puerta Isabel II along Muralla St., this branch is one of the coziest and is in fact rather unique in the sense that it combines globalization and a bit of Philippine history. I’m not sure though if the dungeon where the shop is situated used to be a torture chamber for suspected criminals, spies and revolutinoaries. There are also talks of prisoners of war buried alive under the dungeon floors by the Japanese towards the end of their occupation of Manila.
Perhaps because it was a quiet afternoon, the absence of chattering students and noisy hangers-on added to the place’s charm.
Here be the pictures:
Starbucks is indeed everywhere.
Hey cool I was in Intramuros a couple sunday’s ago…I would have liked grab a cup of coffee at this starbucks jail…lol
Comment by Hans A. Koch — October 5, 2006 @ 1:00 pm
Starbucks jail…nice, hehe!
There’s another coffee shop, Mocha Blends, just beside Starbucks. I like the branch even if the thought that the dungeon used to be a torture chamber creeps me out.
Comment by Kaye — October 5, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
cool starbucks - my favorite one here is in Old Town Alexandria on the water next to the Working Art Gallery that was converted from a torpedo factory. Good trade !
Anyways, the starbucks is in an old stone building and so it sorta feels like you are inside a cave….I’ll take you there when you come over for training….
Comment by scott david — May 14, 2007 @ 1:11 am
You should try it on a weekday and you would think you’re in some foreign land. Immigration is just nearby that’s why.
Comment by Anonymouz — June 5, 2007 @ 10:41 am
Way to ruin Intramuros antiquity. This is a historic landmark for godsake! Whats next, an Intramuros SM shoemart?
Comment by Eddie AnoNuevo — April 21, 2009 @ 5:40 am