A Trip Worth the Drive to Clad Cafe: The Newest Café in Town Overlooking Mt. Arayat in Pampanga

How willing are you to grab a cup of coffee that is almost 40 kilometers away from your location? We did not think twice when my friend, Darby, asked us if we would like to have a second round of coffee in Arayat, Pampanga.

The last time I went to Arayat was for a bike ride to Bale Batu. During that time, I was looking for a nice coffee shop that we can perhaps visit to relax a bit. Unfortunately, I have not found one. Yet nowadays, coffee shops are indeed quite a hit and are found everywhere, be it in the busy streets of the city or even in places you would never think someone would dare to open one, just like Clad Cafe.

Clad Cafe is located in Brgy. San Nicolas, Arayat, Pampanga. Thinking it’s just nearby the border of Arayat, we drove all the way to Arayat from Angeles City even though it was nearly getting dark.

According to Cherrie, one of the owners of Clad Cafe, it started with the words “laro tayo”, which she remembers telling her cousin while they were in a coffee shop. It’s as if saying, “nothing serious and no pressure, laro lang tayo.” For her, it was a leap of faith opening a coffee shop together with her cousin in the middle of a pandemic and in a location that is far from the city, thinking if customers would come and stop by.

CAFÉ INTERIOR

Clad Cafe has a very welcoming vibe, not just because of its aesthetic, but also because the owners and staff are very cool and friendly. Upon setting our foot inside the café, we were delighted with how nice and cozy the ambiance is. Everything is mostly made of wood. It matches very well with the color of the wall and the lighting.

Near the door entrance, there is this kind of a mini “reception area” where you can have your photos taken with the Clad Cafe name on the background. Every corner of this café is definitely worth your Instagram feed. It’s actually perfect for those who love the combination of wood and white. That said, I suddenly thought of the very famous Facebook group, Home Buddies, who I think can relate especially to those who are Team Puti and Team Kahoy as they call themselves.

If you prefer to stay outdoors, then Clad Cafe has the rooftop for you. It’s good as well for bigger groups like when with your barkada. If you wish to see and have your photos taken with Mt. Arayat on the background, then the best time to visit Clad Cafe is during the day. Sadly, it was already night time when we arrived.

Honestly, I am lost for words on how to describe this café further, so I guess let me just leave some of these photos here and let them do the talking. But all I can say is that this café has a homey vibe. I found a café in Arayat that suits my preference.

By the way, here’s a thing that you should know. The family actually owns a furniture business named Chrislai Furnicraft. No wonder why the concept of this coffee shop is dominated with furniture that are made of wood. So, calling all Team Kahoy Home Buddies out there…

Kidding aside, their works are nice. If you are interested, you might want to check them out at Clad Concepts. Their physical store is located at the lower level of Clad Cafe.

WHAT THEY OFFER

Clad Cafe uses coffee beans that are sourced from the Province of Kalinga. Aside from coffee, which is by the way really good, they also have food such as nachos, pasta, quesadilla, cakes, and pastries.

I would recommend trying their Tinapa Pasta. It contains tinapa in olive oil, sundried tomatoes, and olives. Legit! We like it very much that we ordered another one. The nachos and quesadilla are good too.

I can’t wait to come back and try their Barista Special that is new on their menu. I heard it’s good. By the way, I believe they now offer chocolate drink as well. Perhaps little by little they would add “other than coffee” drinks in their menu for those who are not into coffee.

Clad Cafe also offers fun games such as Uno Stacko, Uno Cards, Jenga, Pick-up Sticks, and more. Something you can enjoy with your family and friends while having a sip of coffee. Oh! I saw recently that they now have some of their personal books on the shelves too.

MY THOUGHTS

Clad Cafe might be your newest hangout coffee place in town. Our sudden trip to this café in Arayat was worth the drive. So, if you happen to visit Arayat, Pampanga, you might want to consider stopping by at Clad Cafe for a cup of coffee. Interior and ambiance wise, it’s nice and worth your Instagram feed. Coffee and food are affordable. It’s a perfect place to chill and catch up with your friends or loved ones. By the way, just in case you ask, yes, there are available parking spaces too.

CLAD CAFE & CLAD CONCEPTS

• 103 Purok 1, Brgy. San Nicolas, Arayat Pampanga
• Café Hours: MON-SUN | 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Contact Number: +639172759619
• Clad Cafe: Facebook | Instagram
• Clad Concepts by Chrislai Furnicraft: Facebook | Instagram