There is another challenge for dining establishments these days aside from serving sumptuous food. Restaurateurs now have to cater to the Instagram-obsessed generation by creating a space with a unique character.
This concept café seems to have hit all the right notes, as since its inception over a year ago, it has been gaining a lot of attention from locals, diners, artists and style bloggers who enjoy each corner of this art-inspired hangout.
Buku-Buku Kafe is owned by mother-daughter-son creative trio Lyn Santiago, who heads the operations; Jessica Santiago, who handles digital marketing; and Nicholas Santiago, who spearheads all marketing efforts. It’s a coffee shop/dining hub/reading space/avenue for upcoming artists and musicians located at The District in Imus, Cavite.
The idea of putting up a concept café that offers a full dining experience came about when Jessica traveled to the US, where she chanced upon small street coffee shops with artistic vibes. She saw how these spaces allowed artists to do poetry reading and live session with bands.
Buku-buku is a Bahasa term for “many, many books” thus in its core, the hangout place serves as a book reading space where patrons can peruse books, comic books and zines while indulging in a cup of brewed coffee, cocktail drinks and food items inspired by the founders’s travels in Malaysia and Europe.
Music and visual artists who are looking for a stage, so to speak, to showcase their work are afforded more visibility at Buku-Buku Kafe.
“I think our partnership with young local artists and indie musicians works both ways. They’re pretty much in line with our brand vision; selling art pieces and having live performances from indie bands add up to the unique flavor of our café,” says Nicholas.
The Santiago trio further pushed their mission of boosting the art and music scene in the south as they opened the second Buku-Buku Kafe branch at SM Southmall in Las Piñas in December last year.
The 123-sqm Las Piñas branch boasts of industrial chic look. Every corner has been detailed and structured with a creative touch to make the whole place truly Instagram-worthy.
The wooden tables and light fixtures with floating books were present in the new branch, as these are some of the signature elements in the flagship restaurant. The huge wall mural and framed black and white vintage photos hanging on the staircase wall, meanwhile, are meant to catch the attention of any guest.
According to Nicholas, the second branch was designed to appeal to both the culinary and visual arts enthusiasts.
He shared, “With wonderfully simple and rather eclectic furnishings which match the industrial look, the focus is not just on food but the total experience. We want to inspire human emotions for sure.”
Taking the simplest form of space and transforming it into something unique, Buku-Buku Kafe is introducing a new and creative kind of hangout spot. —BML