(SPOT.ph) It’s a charming character of residential neighborhoods transforming into hubs of leisure and activity: each time you turn a corner, discovery awaits—a house turned restaurant serving an heirloom recipe, a whimsical shop filled with knick-knacks created by artistic residents of the community. Pasig’s Kapitolyo is no different. Several years back, there was talk it was going to be the next Poblacion, the metro’s latest hip dining and nightlife destination, but with the low-key allure of unhurried surroundings. And then the pandemic happened, pushing many businesses that pinned their hopes on that promise to close. 

But things, it seems, are picking up again: with cafes leading the revival, thanks to their winsome concepts, quirky decor, and serious brews. They’re waking up Kapitolyo’s side streets and building communities that can only benefit neighboring establishments. Meanwhile, the older, independent restaurants—Warung Kapitolyo, Haru, and Cafe Juanita among others, they who have stood the test of time by doing things differently and doing it with love—continue to lend this urban village once lined with narra trees a kind of distinguished elegance and homey charm. They're the ones who make sure it never loses the two things that separate neighborhoods like it from the rest: heart and soul.

Welcome to Kapitolyo of 2025. Surprises await at every corner but here are 12 that have earned our stamps of approval.

Also read:  10 Fun Things to Do In and Around Kapitolyo, Pasig City The Hidden Gems of Kapitolyo Haru Sushi Bar & Restaurant If you’d like a little break from your oh-so-minimalist Japanese dining spots, we urge you to step into the maximalist wonderland that is Haru. Filled with all kinds of Japanese antiques, decor, and various collectibles—from dolls to teapots, masks to cameras—there’s always something to engage the eye in this house-turned-restaurant created by Boy Vasquez. (Vasquez’s life is just as rich—hacienda-raised and gifted enough to be in med school at 14, he would later become an OB-GYN and work with the legendary Dr. Manahan at Makati