Ang Dabawenyo

Last night, Ian (my Pilates guru friend) and I were looking for a place to hang out at — a relaxing place that was still open at 2:30 AM. Almost all coffee shops, clubs, restaurants in Davao close at 2 AM, you see. Good thing Ian thought of Karl’s Koffee Korner, the one in Buhangin. I hadn’t been back there in ages (although years ago it was a favorite getaway among my IT-industry friends).

At Karl’s, I was pleasantly surprised to find it slightly bigger, and with free wifi; the one in SM City, last I heard, charges for Internet access. What immediately struck me was the cozy ambience of the place. It doesn’t look very comfortable, what with the heavy iron chairs, but it was indeed relaxing for Ian and me last night. We parked ourselves in a Japanese-style booth — you squat in front of a low table — under an old ficus tree, and stayed there till 4:30 AM. They’re open 24 hours.

The brews at Karl’s aren’t all that inspiring. Just make sure to order the premium blend. The pan de sal sandwiches are OK, and the little cookies improve the taste of the coffee a bit. The charm of the place is the place itself, and the people. It’s primarily for small groups of friends, though. I think it would look rather odd for you to be there alone… Anyway, I’ve always found interesting folk hanging out there, and I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed.

On the whole, I like Karl’s in Buhangin. And I guess you would too, if you’re into uncomplicated and unassuming settings. Just don’t expect too much from their coffee.

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