Cafe Naya At The Palace : Edgy Coastal Cuisine

 

When In Manila, you can start thinking of laid back vibes by a pool club within the city in Cafe Naya.   Located in the heart of The Palace Pool Club, it’s meant to transport guests to a serene setting with its coastal cuisine food concept.  Think Mediterreanean, Northern African and European island cooking.

The details & ambiance of the cafe exude the tropics and elements by the sea all at the same time.  Its spacious enough for small parties and cozy for some quiet lunch or after club unwinding.  Its also perfect for an after-work happy hour sunset session.

 

Lets coast some menu by the young and edgy Chef Mikko Reyes who is known for his unapologetic style in cooking.  If you’re in for a taste out of the ordinary, this is definitely a place to go.

Carabao’s Milk Burata (Php 455), solid cheese on the outside with cream inside makes for an unusual & surprising texture.  Mixed with thai basil, ripe mango, cherry tomatoes & picked shallot, this was a surprisingly special dish to start with.

Cafe Naya’s starter set looks really appetizing too with Blue Marlin Ceviche, Gazpacho, Raw Aklan Oysters and Thai Beef Tartare to name a few.

 

Uni and Ricotta (Php 295) is a must-try with a good mix of melt-in-your mouth and crunch at the same time.  Its ingenious to have brought these two totally different ingredients of different dishes together like this. Erwan Heussaff was right when he mentioned, Chef Mikko always looks to create dishes that are bold and ultimately well-balanced.

 

The Charred Octopus  (Php 389) is a good mix with chorizo vinaigrette, herbs, chili and ciabatta.  It had the right amount of saltiness and freshness.  Cafe Naya capitalizes on fresh ingredients, such as spices, citrus and herbs, and using straightforward cooking methods.

 

Their plates for sharing inlcude Grilled Skirt Steak (Php 1,598 ) served with chorizo pilaf, roasted vegetable salad and habanero chimichuri.  In this dish, the bold flavors were brought out.

 

Salmon (Php 576) on bulghur wheat is a healthy treat.  Playful and fresh as the rest of the menu.

 

When in Cafe Naya, you also have to try The Naya Burger (Php 595) made of blackmore wagyu, crispy prosciutto, foie mousse, arugula on ciabatta bun. Solid stuff here.

 

Cafe Naya has a delectable offering of sandwiches & wraps, pasta, pizzas, mains and all day breakfast.  They’ve got lunch menus as well as late-night specials starting 10:30pm  onwards (Arroz Caldos and late night breakfasts seem like the perfect after-party meal).

For deserts you can choose from Chocolate Mousse, Chocnut Pot De Creme (has whipped creme & pinipig!) and Yoghurt Panna Cotta.

 

When In Manila, the experience at Cafe Naya truly echoes that relaxed coastal vibe that people in the bustling Manila so long to feel.  I would definitely recommend trying out their modern edgy food by this young twentysomething chef who is currently at the top of his game.

 

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Speaking of coastal, check out the top beaches in the Philippines here.