🍽️Marin Brew Cafe

Marin Brew is the kind of place where the staff start your usual by the third visit. By the fifth they don't even ask. That's what locals end up mentioning when they recommend it.

The cafe opened in 2025 in Brgy. Tanza, a quick tricycle north of the Poblacion. It's a deliberate stop — you don't wander in from the cathedral or the heritage district. Once there, the setup is self-serve: order at the counter, sit, and they bring it over. Throws first-timers, but you have it by visit two.

What You'll Find

The drinks are why most regulars come back. The Iced Shaken series is the everyday go-to — espresso shaken with ice and sweetener — and the Biscoff Series is the one most people try first because of the cookie crumble on top, though the version that earns repeat orders is whichever signature cold brew is on the board that week. They rotate. On the matcha side they take it seriously, and they'll happily do oat milk substitutions if you ask. Frappes are on the menu year-round if you want something dressed up.

The food is the part that surprises first-timers, because the menu is wider than a cafe label usually suggests. Beef tapsilog and the other silog plates come with soft-boiled eggs and a generous portion of garlic rice. The aglio olio with garlic bread is a regular's order, and the lechon kawali plate is the kind of portion you'd want to share with someone. There are hand-formed burgers, fried-chicken silogs in the morning, and sizzling plates if there are two or three of you sharing — beef, chicken, ribeye depending on the day.

The Vibe

People sit and stay for hours. The cafe's online reviews tend to run long for a reason — one regular's review is literally titled "a love letter to Marin Brew." After a few visits, the phrase doesn't sound like an exaggeration. The seating is laptop-friendly, the music plays low, and the staff don't rush you out.

A Heads-Up

If you're substituting milk because of a dairy intolerance — oat for full cream is the common one — ask once more at the counter before the cup leaves their hands. Orders do sometimes go out wrong. They fix it fast when you flag it. Easier to head off than to send back.

Hours and Contact

Open 10 AM to 9 PM most days, until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. +63 962 620 9935 to call ahead about specials or to confirm a specific item before you head out.

Getting There

Tricycle from the Poblacion to Magsaysay Road in Brgy. Tanza, a few minutes out. If you're putting together a Boac cafe day, this is the north stop alongside 10 Y.O. Cafe at Balar Lifestyle District in the south.