Coffee is a non-negotiable part of our mornings. Give us a good espresso, somewhere to sit for an hour, and we’re happy.
While most people head straight to General Luna for Siargao’s café scene, we discovered that Northern Siargao has plenty to offer too.
We spent nearly two weeks exploring the north of the island, trying a different café almost every day in search of great coffee, relaxing spaces, and places we’d happily return to.
These are the cafés we’d recommend without hesitation.
| Café ☕️ | Why We Loved It 💙 |
| Common Ground | Drinks, healthy food, WiFi |
| Manu Brew | Slow mornings, no WiFi |
| Cabanas | Opposite fav surf spot, good pizza |
| North Dirty Kitchen | Best view, great menu, great food |
| Matcha Mama Siargao 🍵 | Best Matcha, location, no WiFi |
If you also want to know what our top picks for restaurants are in General Luna, you can read Our Favourite Places to Eat & Drink After 4 Days in General Luna, Siargao
Common Ground
Our Order: Cheeky Monkey Cold Brew, Mango Mahlee, Coconut iced latte
Our Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
We unfortunately didn’t find Common Ground until later in our trip but once we did we were hooked!
Located just off the main road in Pacifico, it’s easy to drive straight past if you’re not paying attention. Keep an eye out for the sign, because once you turn in, the café opens up into a peaceful space surrounded by lush greenery.
We spent two weeks up in Northern Siargao and loved it. You can read all about it in our North Siargao Travel Guide: What It’s Like To Stay Beyond General Luna.
Common Ground has such a relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of healthy food and drink options. It’s also home to a guesthouse and yoga studio, which we didn’t get a chance to try, but if they’re anything like the café, I’d happily come back for both.
One thing that really stood out to me was the attention to detail. Every drink arrived topped with fresh flowers, and our coffees were served with the syrup on the side so we could choose exactly how sweet we wanted them. They’re tiny touches, but they made the whole experience feel that bit more thoughtful.
Another big plus is the WiFi. If you’re a digital nomad, need to catch up on some work, or simply fancy lingering over another coffee, Common Ground is one of the best cafés in Northern Siargao to open your laptop for a few hours. laptop, I think it would be a great spot.
Manu Brew
Our Order: Hazelnut Latte & Americano
Our Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
📸 We zenned out so much in Manu Brew, I forgot to get pictures!
Manu Brew is similarly on the main Pacifico road but unlike Common Ground it’s hard to miss it.
Some of my favourite mornings in Siargao followed the exact same routine: wake up early, morning surf at Bamboo Beach Surf Spot, then head straight to Manu Brew with a coffee and a book.
If you want to learn more about Bamboo Beach Surf Spot and our other favourite northern surf spots, you can read Our 3 Favourite Surf Spots in Siargao for Beginner & Intermediate Surfers.
Located right on the main road through Pacifico, Manu Brew has a relaxed, beach shack feel that makes it easy to lose track of time. There’s a small coffee bar at the front if you’re feeling chatty, while the seating tucked away at the back is perfect if you’re after a slower, quieter start to the day.
I must say that the hazelnut latte was excellent and while we didn’t eat, the food also looked really good.
One thing worth knowing before you visit is that there’s no WiFi here, and the service wasn’t particularly good. We loved that because it forced us to have a slow coffee, chat, or read our books. However, if you’re looking for a place to work this probably isn’t the place to go.
Cabanas
Our Order: Caramel Iced Latte & Margarita pizza
Our Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Cabanas is a guesthouse and restaurant located opposite a wonderful beginner-intermediate northern surf spot, Bamboo Beach Surf Spot. We actually found this surf spot by first stopping and having coffee in Cabanas and chatting with the owner.
We progressed our surfing a lot at the Bamboo Beach Surf Spot. If you’re also interested in progressing your surfing, feel free to learn how we did it in our Siargao Surf Progression Guide: How We Went From Beginner Waves in North Siargao to Cemetery in General Luna.
Although Cabanas feels more like a restaurant than a traditional café, we found ourselves coming back time and time again. Located directly opposite Bamboo Beach Surf Spot, it’s the ideal place to grab a coffee while keeping an eye on the waves before deciding whether to paddle out.
The upstairs seating quickly became our favourite spot. From there, you get a great view over the surf, making it easy to check the conditions without ever leaving your table. Even if surfing isn’t on your itinerary, it’s still a lovely place to sit with a coffee and enjoy the ocean view.
The caramel iced latte was consistently good, but what really surprised us was the food. After a couple of surf sessions, we came back for the Margherita pizza and were so impressed that it became one of our regular post-surf meals.
Another reason we kept returning was the reliable WiFi. More than once we’d spend the morning working with a coffee, head across the road for a surf, then finish the afternoon with lunch back at Cabanas. Honestly, it was one of our favourite ways to spend a day in Northern Siargao.
If you’re planning to surf Bamboo Beach or just want a relaxed café with great views, good food, and dependable WiFi – Cabanas is well worth adding to your list.
North Dirty Kitchen
📍Location in Alegria, Santa Monica
Our Order: The Dirty Nachos, Crispy Chicken Skin, Walnut & Chocolate Chip Cookie
Our Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
North Dirty Kitchen is an absolute must-visit if you’re exploring Northern Siargao.
Perched on a hill overlooking palm trees and the ocean, this café has one of the most relaxing settings we found on the island. We headed upstairs to the open-air seating area, where you sit on the floor, soak in the views, and enjoy the breeze.
The menu is creative, and thankfully the food lives up to it. We shared the nachos, Harry ordered the crispy chicken skin, and both were delicious.
We visited later in the afternoon and unfortunately they’d already run out of ice for their drinks, so if you’ve got your heart set on an iced coffee or smoothie, I’d recommend stopping by earlier in the day.
As we were leaving, they pulled a fresh batch of walnut chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. Naturally, we couldn’t leave without trying them…and they were honestly so delicious. Don’t skip them!!
One thing I also loved about North Dirty Kitchen is the story behind it. Their Instagram does a fantastic job of introducing the team, sharing the café’s journey, and giving you a feel for the relaxed community they’ve created. It’s well worth checking out before your visit.
Matcha Mama Siargao
Our Order: Iced Oreo Matcha Latte
Our Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
If you’re anything like me and can’t resist a good matcha, you need to make a stop at Matcha Mama.
Located right beside Locud Beach in Pilar, this little beach shack serves up quality matcha in one of the most peaceful settings in Northern Siargao.
Locud Beach itself feels like a hidden local hangout. When we visited on a Sunday, families and groups of friends were spread across the grassy area overlooking the beach, relaxing with blankets and enjoying the afternoon. It had such a genuine, local feel that made us want to stay much longer.
What made this café even more special was hearing the story behind it. Matcha Mama is owned by a local Siargao woman who discovered matcha during her recovery from cervical cancer. She found that it had such a positive impact on her wellbeing that she wanted to create a space where she could share it with others.
It’s a really inspiring story, and one that made supporting the café feel even more meaningful. They also have a great instagram — check it out here.
The Iced Oreo Matcha Latte was absolutely delicious, and if you’re a fellow matcha lover, I’d say this stop is non-negotiable.
FAQ
- Where’s the best café in Northern Siargao for Digital Nomads?
From our experience, Common Ground and Cabanas both had reliable WiFi and were great places to spend a few hours working. Manu Brew didn’t have WiFi during our visit, making it better suited for slowing down and enjoying a coffee.
2. Where’s the best café in Pacifico, Northern Siargao?
If we had to choose just one, we’d recommend Common Ground. It has excellent coffee, healthy food, reliable WiFi, and a peaceful setting surrounded by greenery.
3. Where can I get matcha in Northern Siargao?
Matcha Mama in Pilar is the place to go. Their menu is centred around matcha, and we loved the Iced Oreo Matcha Latte.
4. Is Northern Siargao worth visiting?
Absolutely. Northern Siargao offers a quieter side of the island with beautiful beaches, uncrowded surf breaks, great cafés, and a much slower pace than General Luna. See how we spent 2-weeks exploring Northern Siargao here: North Siargao Travel Guide: What It’s Like To Stay Beyond General Luna
5. Where’s the best café in Northern Siargao?
If we had to choose just one, we’d recommend North Dirty Kitchen in Santa Monica. It’s about as far north as you can go but so worth it for the peaceful location, amazing views, and wonderful food & drinks. Don’t miss the chocolate chip cookies!!
If coffee is as much a part of your travels as it is ours, we hope this guide helps you discover a few cafés you’ll love while exploring Northern Siargao.
If you discover a hidden gem we missed, we’d love to hear about it — we’re already looking for reasons to come back to Siargao. Happy café hopping!
Cheers and safe travels,
Julie & Harry
If you’re headed to the Philippines, you might also find our other guides helpful:
North Siargao Travel Guide: What It’s Like To Stay Beyond General Luna
Our 3 Favourite Surf Spots in Siargao for Beginner & Intermediate Surfers
2 Weeks in Siargao: Complete Itinerary + Where to Stay, Surf & Explore
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