The Giving Café Opens 2nd Branch in Owner’s Ancestral Home in Mandaluyong
In a heartwarming blend of nostalgia and purpose, The Giving Café (TGC) has opened its second branch inside an ancestral home built in the 1950s — the very childhood home of owner Michael Harris Conlin.
Located at 858a A. Mabini Street, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City, this new TGC branch offers a space that feels both familiar and meaningful. While condo living is now the norm in Metro Manila, this bungalow-turned-café invites guests to step into a cozier, more personal atmosphere — one that encourages connection, comfort, and giving back.
A Café with a Heart
TGC has long been more than just a coffee shop. Since its first branch opened in Sheridan in 2017, TGC has worked closely with coffee farming communities in Benguet and beyond through the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence. Through its ongoing advocacy, #IndulgeInGiving, each visit helps fund programs for Filipino coffee farmers — from education to healthcare and sustainable farming training.
Michael Conlin’s decision to turn his grandfather’s home into TGC’s second location was inspired by love and legacy. “This house was filled with decades of memories,” Conlin shared. “It only felt right to open it up to more people, to create new ones.”
The ancestral home, originally built by Conlin’s grandfather Juan Bautista Lee — a former street vendor turned Asian Games medalist — remains largely untouched architecturally. The interiors were thoughtfully restored, filled with heirlooms and preserved wooden furniture, creating a timeless, elegant environment for every kind of visit.
Rooms Tailored for Stories and Celebrations
Each room in the café offers a distinct vibe and menu:
Angkong’s Room is perfect for working lunches and intimate meetings, with dishes like lengua, sweet and sour chicken, and pancit bihon.
Mom’s Room is designed for afternoon tea with bibingka, turon rolls, and champorado in antique tea cups — a tribute to Conlin’s mother’s childhood dreams.
Baby Shower Room features pastel tones, cupcakes, and farfalle — ideal for welcoming new life.
Celebration Nook is a cozy corner for wine nights, with egg tarts and sparkling wine.
Barkada Area comes complete with a billiards table, riblets, sausage bites, and Negroni — just right for laughter-filled nights.
Buffet Hall transforms a garage into a full buffet venue, perfect for reunions with caldereta, seafood, and iced Timpladong Puti.
More Than Just Coffee
Beyond events, the space also serves as a co-working and study-friendly café — with photogenic corners perfect for portraits and casual moments alike.
With the values passed down from his grandfather — kindness, humility, and generosity — Michael Conlin ensures that every cup brewed at The Giving Café supports a bigger purpose: a sustainable, inclusive future for Filipino coffee growers.
As Conlin beautifully puts it:
"Success at TGC is not measured by profits but by the kindness we give and the connections we make. We hope that every visit feels like coming home."