We arrived at Sunshine Boy along Mahinhin Street at probably the most ironic time possible—just as the rain started pouring.
Not the light, cinematic kind of rain either. This was the kind that pelts you hard enough until you question every decision that led you outside in the first place. So scurrying towards a cafe called Sunshine Boy for shelter felt almost comical.
But I guess if there was ever a good place to get caught in the rain, a cozy cafe near Maginhawa isn’t really a bad option. But with the area’s seemingly endless rotation of places to eat, drink, and hang out, is there really a reason to check out Sunshine Boy, let alone stay?
For us, though, the rain had already taken care of the latter.
A Little Sunshine in Quezon City
Luckily, Sunshine Boy has interiors that make settling down easy. Cozy couches invite you to stay a little longer, while books scattered around the space make it feel more like a living room than a cafe you simply pop into for your typical cup of coffee.
While plants tucked throughout the space add lots of life to what could otherwise be just another cafe, it’s the big Palestinian flag above the entrance that really makes it clear that Sunshine Boy has more on its mind than coffee. The interiors are the same with a Pride flag, an art-covered wall, and plenty of little details that give the space a sense of personality.
One of my favorite details was the merch wall, which is filled with art and various anik-aniks from small, local artists. It’s fun to browse while waiting for your order, and it adds to the feeling that you’re in someone’s cozy, slightly eclectic living room rather than a cafe that was put together all at once.
There’s just a lot to look at without the space feeling too busy. Between the plants, books, artwork, and little things scattered around, Sunshine Boy feels like a place you can actually settle into—which, considering how hard it was raining outside, was pretty much exactly what we needed.
A Taste of Sunshine
By then, we were in no particular hurry to leave, so naturally, we started looking through their menu.
After getting caught in the rain, something comforting sounded especially good, so we started with the Classic Focaccia. It’s a pretty straightforward dish—a thick slab of bread baked with vegetables and paired with a savory, soy sauce-based sawsawan—but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. Warm, fluffy, and savory, it was an easy thing to tear apart while we settled in and waited for the weather outside to calm down.
It also felt like a fitting way to start the afternoon. Nothing too complicated, just something warm to eat while sitting somewhere dry and comfortable. And after the mad dash through the rain, I wasn’t really asking for much more than that, but Sunshine Boy’s drinks are a little less predictable.
We went for the Dirty Ube Latte, which brings together two things that most people already love in ube and coffee. It’s a pretty drink that arrives with three, distinct layers: a bubbly foam on top, a pastel purple on the bottom, and a beautiful brown in the middle to bridge them all together.
Sweet and creamy but not dessert-like, this is the kind of drink that’s perfect for someone looking to diversify their usual source of caffeine.
For those looking to avoid caffeine, though, they have a bunch of citrus-based juices too like their Tropical Refresh. Made with passion fruit juice, some sort of citrus, yogurt, and popping boba, it tastes like something that you’d throw together under a bright, sunny sky—not while rain was hammering down outside.
It’s refreshing, fruity, and quite honestly, the closest thing we had to sunshine that afternoon.
Soaking in the Sunshine
By the time we finished, the rain had finally stopped. The streets outside were quiet again, and we could finally leave without having to scramble for shelter.
What started as one of the most ironic ways to arrive at a cafe called Sunshine Boy ended up feeling surprisingly appropriate. We spent the afternoon somewhere warm and cozy, with good food and drinks, while waiting for the skies to clear.
And when they finally did, we realized that we didn’t have to wait for the sun to find a little sunshine after all.
Sunshine Boy is located at 57 Mahinhin St., Teacher Village West, Quezon City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunshine Boy is located at 57 Mahinhin St., Teacher Village West, Quezon City.
Alongside their thick, fluffy Classic Focaccia, Sunshine Boy also serves sandwiches and pasta dishes.
The cafe serves playful drinks including the Dirty Ube Latte and Tropical Refresh, among other beverages.
Sunshine Boy’s Dirty Ube Latte combines coffee and ube with distinct layers of foam, ube, and espresso for a sweet and creamy drink.
Tropical Refresh is a caffeine-free drink made with passion fruit juice, citrus, yogurt, and popping boba, resulting in a fruity and refreshing beverage.
