The crawl that doesn’t rush you.
Photo from WIM in Davao
From June 5 to 29, Duaw Davao’s Kape at Tsokolate Crawl 2025 lines up 25 cafes and chocolate spots across Davao City.
When you hear “chocolate crawl,” you imagine sipping hot tsokolate at every stop. At least, that’s what I braced for. But here’s the beauty of it: some of the ten participating tsokolate establishments don’t require you to drink. Instead, you can buy chocolate-based products.
It’s part discovery, part support for local makers. And honestly, not having to down hot drinks at every stop made the crawl more doable, especially in the Davao heat.
Duaw Davao/ Facebook
What I Did on Day 1
I kicked things off on June 5 and decided that I wanted to try the Tsokolate Crawl instead of the usual Coffee Crawl. Davao has no shortage of coffee shops, anyway. Plus, my friend and I learned that the Tsokolate crawl allows you to try chocolate pastries, too. So, for Day 1, we traveled to Malagos Homegrown in Matina Aplaya to have our Chocolate fix. I ordered their Chocolate Freeze, crafted with the award-winning Malagos Chocolate and my friend had their Tablea Cake. Both were so indulgent and filling. The Tsokolate Crawl is such a good way to get to know Davao City, the Chocolate Capital of the country.
After Malagos Homegrown, we then proceeded to our next stop: Cake Galerie. Cake Galerie has been trending on social media for its Studio Ghibli-themed menu items. For the Tsokolate Crawl, they’re including Chocolate Cream Puffs, a Chocolate Fudge Cake, and their chocolate drink.
You Don’t Have to Drink Everything
I think that’s the best part about this year’s Kape at Tsokolate Crawl. You can choose not to drink anything at all, or you can alternate between drinks and desserts. I didn’t walk away super caffeinated or super bloated; I walked away full of stories and flavor. Plus, the mechanics are simple: you just need to buy one item to earn a stamp. Collect 10 and you get the prize.
But honestly? The stamp felt secondary. The entire crawl experience is rewarding in itself.
Tsokolate Tastes Like Davao
Duaw Davao/ Facebook
The Tsokolate Crawl doesn’t just highlight chocolate—it celebrates Davao’s identity. Our region grows some of the country’s best cacao and Davao City is the country’s Chocolate Capital. This crawl lets you taste that pride in different ways:
-
Chocolate-themed desserts from small cafe owners.
-
Creamy drinks that use locally roasted tablea
-
Snacks that layer cacao into pastries and drinks
Quick Tips If You’re Joining
-
Pick one to three spots a day—don’t rush it. It’s called a crawl for a reason!
-
Choose variety—alternate between desserts and drinks per cafe.
-
Ask questions—It’s your time to get to know Davao’s chocolate makers. Make the most of the experience and learn where the cacao comes from and how chocolate is made.
-
Bring support—Make it a group thing; bring the barkada, your family, or your co-workers. Bond over the experience and you’ll make memories that will last forever.
You Get to Support Local Without Overloading Your System
Another thing I appreciated? The pacing. You can split the crawl into multiple days. The crawl card is valid until June 29, which means you have weeks to complete it—no pressure to go all out in one day.
And if you’re someone who likes intentional buying, this format works. You can choose which products to purchase based on what you genuinely like. It’s a slow, intentional way to enjoy Davao’s best chocolate makers.
The Tsokolate Crawl Feels Personal
The crawl doesn’t shout. It doesn’t force. It invites. And whether you finish the crawl in one to two days or spread it across the month, you walk away feeling like you participated in something grounded in local pride.
If you’re in Davao this June, you’ll find that the Tsokolate Crawl is less about indulgence and more about insight—and maybe that’s what makes it such a sweet experience.
ALSO READ: This Matcha Cafe in Davao is Putting Filipino Ancient Salt In Your Drink
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad! We also share our stories on Viber, join us!
