ALL other “Most Instagrammable” cafes can sit down. This artistic gem hidden away in busy Divisoria is every Instagrammer’s dream. With brightly colored walls, plush pillows, and tropical flair, The Studio Art Cafe invites everyone to a visually pleasing (and gastronomically satisfying!) experience.
Opened in June of this year, The Studio Art Cafe is the creation of sisters Shiera Nicole Go and Marie Go. The cafe deserves to be called a work of art, not only because its walls are covered in artistic designs painted by the Go sisters themselves, but also because of the play of colors and textures which come together so flawlessly.
Customers can expect to see new vibrant art on the wall, as the sisters often think of painting new designs. The cafe’s changing interiors will give each customer something to look forward to every time they visit.
Walking inside The Studio Art Cafe, one would think that a professional interior designer had designed the space. But, every little thing, from the prints on the pillow cases to the art on the walls, was born out of the duo’s creative side. Nicole shared that the sisters had combined two of their interests, art and interior design, to create the cafe.
“We both like art and interior design” said Nicole, as she explained the concept behind the cafe. “But we also wanted to open a cafe, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we just open a cafe where we can incorporate both?’ We never really had a theme in mind, but everything just came together in the end.”
The Go sisters are very hands-on with their business. Aside from designing the entire space themselves, the sisters help run the cafe each day. In fact, you can find Nicole and Marie behind the counter, taking orders and preparing food as they make sure every customer’s experience is memorable.
Despite its appealing interiors, the success of The Studio Art Cafe didn’t happen overnight. Nicole shared that it took some time before people noticed that a new cafe had opened at the third floor of the Marcoso building. But, when someone posted pictures of the cafe on Twitter, they started getting more and more customers. Now, the sisters often spot familiar faces dropping by their cafe. It just goes to show that The Studio Art Cafe has become the go-to spot especially for college students.
“What happened was a ‘Twitter-famous’ blogger came here and took a couple of pictures. We were so surprised because, the next day, so many people showed up. Someone then explained to me that the blogger posted his pictures and that his post was trending.”
The Studio Art Cafe was made for students by students, which is why it isn’t surprising to see so many students flock to this cozy hangout. Large tables, comfortable couches, and even a conference room make this cafe the ideal place to hold after-class meetings and study sessions. It’s definitely the kind of place you would have wanted when you were still in college.
Having been students themselves, the Go sisters wanted to create a menu that was both budget-friendly and delicious. Today, The Studio Art Cafe offers everything from light breakfasts such as their cherry-topped Nutella pancakes, to full meals like nuggets with rice. Cafe-goers who need something to cool themselves down can choose from their wide selection of drinks, which includes milk and fruit teas, coffee and frappes. The newest addition to the menu are their Unicorn and Sakura Frappuccinos -- both very Instagrammable.
“We serve food that’s easy to prepare so we can serve our customers fast,” explained Nicole. “That’s because students like eating snacks that aren’t too heavy while they study and chat with friends.”
Affordable, visually pleasing, and delicious -- The Studio Art Cafe is doing everything right. There’s no doubt that the creative duo behind this hidden gem will continue to inspire its cafe-goers through their artistic endeavors and customer-centric approach.
So, what’s next for The Studio Art Cafe? The sisters shared that they are excited to show more art through their cafe, but on a larger scale, they would love to open more branches around Cagayan de Oro. When that happens, students can rejoice knowing that they have more vibrant places where they can study and chill without breaking the budget.
The Studio Art Cafe is open from 10 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday. Visit them at the third floor of the Marcoso Building at Corrales-Hayes Street so you can start filling your Instagram feed with all the prettiest flatlays.