For
certified Manileños, a caffeine fix and a good
spot to unwind make for a cool chill-out hub. Granted
there are a lot of designer coffee shops all over
the metro, but finding one that pleases your palate
as well as your aesthetic sense may be a bit harder
to come across.
Well,
stepping into The Room Upstairs is like being ensconced
in a posh interior designer’s showroom. But
don’t let the extensive collection of classic
and contemporary furniture fool you. The Room Upstairs
is not only a furniture hub, it’s a coffee
shop as well.
Located at the second level of LRI Business Plaza
along N. Garcia St. in Bel-Air, Makati, The Room
Upstairs is a design slash retail slash coffee shop
rolled into one. It is a cozy cocoon for coffee
lovers who want good food and a swanky environment
to go with their java.
Owned and operated by the equally stylish husband
and wife tandem of Ari and Pinky Peralta, The Room
Upstairs is fast becoming the favorite watering
hole of arty coffee aficionados. It’s a good
combination of chilling out while you actually try
out the furniture for sale as a solo musician or
a cool band provides the ambient sound.
The design-retail-coffee shop becomes a tableaux
for both Pinky’s pieces and Ari’s recipes.
Being newlyweds, Ari and Pinky fondly call The Room
Upstairs their first baby.
The builder and the chef
Pinky is a sought-after interior and furniture designer
who has a decade of building and designing experience
under her belt. Ari, on the other hand, is a gourmet
chef whose love for good food is evident in their
ever evolving menu.
“The name The Room Upstairs came after we
found the place. We wanted a name that sounded neutral,
but would have an easy recall and encompass what
we offer, like food and furniture. More importantly,
the name has that ring of exclusivity to it, creating
a sort of hub for people who appreciate the finer
things in life and who get comfortable in this kind
of environment,” the couple enthused.
Since it seats only 25, The Room Upstairs promise
personalized service in a homey and casual environment.
Vintage
chic
When asked about the pieces on display, Pinky said
it’s all about vintage chic. “(It’s)
a very flexible theme as it runs the gamut from
those who love the classics, as well as the contemporary.
Aside from my designs, we invite co-designers to
contribute their work as long as they are rare.
In short, what we offer here are exquisite finds
(more) than furnishings that people could easily
procure from the malls. These are my collections
of one-of-a-kind pieces; things I love and endorse,
including the ones I’ve amassed from expositions
during my travels,” Pinky explained.
The stuff to look out for include a beautifully
framed standing mirror, divans and daybeds, tables
and high-backed chairs, framed photographs and paintings,
lamps and vases, an array of hand-crafted clocks,
dresser stools, wall sconces and a scene-stealer
lace-work drop light. It’s best to snap up
what one sees as the one-of-a-kind pieces may be
gone the next time you’re around. Pinky says
their display changes every month depending on the
turnover or her own of designing mood.
As for her husband’s ever-growing menu, Ari
offers all-day breakfast, hot sandwiches, appetizers,
soups and salads, pasta, desserts and lunch and
dinner specials, in addition to their extensive
choice of coffee concoctions. They akso serve wines.
“It’s a lifestyle of fine taste that’s
why we cater to guests who love to be pampered,”
says Ari, who mans the coffee counter himself.
So forget the chains. Get personal. Hoof it to The
Room Upstairs.
The
Room Upstairs is open from 9 am to 9 pm, weekdays,
and 9 am to 11 pm, weekends. For inquiries, call
(632) 899.9318.
