Pick your poison: A Japanese listening bar or a cafe with a Porsche inside
A decent menu alone isn’t enough for a full food and drink experience. But when you knock it out of the park on that end, on top of a unique concept and atmosphere unlike any other, that’ll make it a establishment worth revisiting and traveling to.
Located at 131 Katipunan Ave., White Plains, Quezon City, 33 rpm and Flatsix Cafe are two new spots that have this figured out. The former being a Japanese-style listening bar with Japanese-inspired cocktails and snacks, and the latter, a homey cafe with a literal Porsche parked inside.
33 rpm: A Japanese-style listening bar
A quaint dim-lit speakeasy, 33 rpm makes for the perfect post-work day destress. Inside, you can enjoy your drink in peace as you unwind and listen to their selection of records from two massive speakers placed at the bar.
While modeled after Japan’s many listening bars, 33 rpm is a lot more casual and welcoming than those it’s inspired from, says partner and marketing head, Joey Panganiban. “In Japan, it’s more formal. They have rules like you can’t take photos or you can’t talk at all. Here, we wanted to adapt that concept into something a bit more lax.”
How? They also hold ‘bring your own vinyl nights’ where you can listen to your own record in their setup.
33 rpm takes pride in its Japanese-inspired menu. Unlike the sweetened concoctions we’ve associated cocktails with, their selection of drinks contain both savory options and unconventional combinations.
A Shiso Gimlet topped with sesame oil. An Oki Sour, which consists of rum, mezcal, dashi, and pineapple. The Wabi Sabi which is composed of gin, peach, and wasabi. And a Matcha-ta with Japanese whiskey, shochu, cream, and matcha.
Additionally, their bar chow includes familiar bites such as chicken karaage, wagyu sliders, chicken teriyaki, and curry fries.
Food isn’t the only thing you can order at 33 rpm. You can select which music to play from their vinyl catalog collection. Alternatively, you can also request a song from your Spotify library as well.
33 rpm is open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 6 p.m. to 12 m.n.
Flatsix Cafe: Dining alongside a classic Porsche
Just downstairs, whether you’re looking to gear up for a night of cocktails and music at 33 rpm, or wake up with a nice cup of coffee, Flatsix Cafe has several coffee shop staples guaranteed to give you your fill.
Their menu includes drinks like a Sea Salt Caramel Latte, an Almond Oat Latte, and a smooth and tangy Strawberry Matcha Latte.
Meanwhile, their food offerings include sandwiches like a Shrimp Toast with a honey glaze and spicy mayo on the side, and a Chicken Karaage Sandwich with togarashi and wasabi mayo. They also have rice bowls such as a Cabanatuan Longganisa Rice Bowl, and a Steak Rice Bowl with edamame and shiso.
And we haven’t even mentioned the main event—that is, the 1987 Porsche 911 Turbo (930) on display. Owned by one of the cafe’s partners, they placed the classic vehicle inside to reflect the owners’ love for both cars and coffee. Visitors are free to take pictures of and with the car as well as ask the staff about the vehicle.
Flatsix Cafe is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
