Cebu’s BINTANA Café Immerses Visitors in Local Culture, Food, and Art

A window is more than just an opening in a wall; it is a portal to light, air, and the world. It relieves people and makes them feel less confined, even in small spaces. This concept of a window or bintana in Filipino, inspired Sarah Javier, the owner of Bintana Coffee House in Cebu City.

In Bintana, she created a unique space where different aspects of life come together–food, coffee, art, and local merchandise–each serving as a window to something bigger.

Bintana was not just meant to be another café-restaurant but a venue for people to gather and experience different forms of expression. It allows customers to immerse themselves in the richness of local culture, flavors, and creativity.

The café-restaurant reflects Sarah, an artist who believes in creating an avenue where people from all walks of life can connect through shared experiences. Each facet of Bintana–the food that nourishes, the coffee that revitalizes, the art that inspires, or the local products that support homegrown artisans–mirrors a part of the founder’s life journey. Weary of the hustle and bustle in Metro Manila, she moved to a less stressful Cebu City and never looked back.

Through FilipinoArtPH, Bintana also serves as a digital platform to showcase the works of Cebu, Visayas, and Mindanao artists, giving the world a glimpse of what local talents offer. In this way, Bintana becomes more than just a physical store; it also becomes a gateway to the region’s creativity and culture, which anyone can discover anywhere.

Now at Bintana Coffee House (181K Elizabeth Pond St. Camputhaw, Cebu City), “MASIDLAKON: Vibrant Patterns,” featuring the Cebu-themed artworks by FilipinoArtPH artists Peter Bruce, Ana Fe Ruiz, Diane Ortiz, and Pia Joy Salar, are on display until November 7, 2024.

Cover: Jilardon Bamba

— Toby Denise Concepcion