MANILA, Philippines – Banana pudding ice cream, anyone?

M Bakery just opened its first café concept with a new café-style menu in September at OPUS Mall in Bridgetowne, Quezon City, which is its biggest Metro Manila branch yet.

Unlike its other branches, M Bakery’s new café features OPUS-exclusive ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes, desserts ala mode, and loaded dessert jars.

The new items were specifically curated for the Filipino palate, the brand said, with special flavors and local ingredients exclusive to the country.

In 2022, M Bakery redesigned its branding to update its image, while preserving its New York-based heritage. The new look is reflected in the clean, fresh, and modern interiors of its newest store at OPUS Mall, while maintaining the neighborhood bakery’s classic appeal.

What your sweet tooth can expect

M Bakery’s new ice cream selection includes classic flavors (vanilla bean, chocolate, strawberry); specialty flavors (pistachio, banana hazelnut, lychee sorbet); and unique ones (fruit and nut, ube with white chocolate, banana with chocolate hazelnut, burnt butter). There are even ruby chocolate and banana pudding flavors!

There’s also the new OPUS-exclusive Coffee Affogato on the menu, as well as Salted Caramel Skillet, Chocolate Chunk Skillet, Double Fudge Skillet, and Apple Crumb Skillet. 

M Bakery’s Loaded Jars come in Ube White Chocolate Coconut, Chocolate Lovers, Roasted Strawberry, Apple Pie, and Ruby Chocolate flavors.

There’s also a more extensive coffee menu here — M Bakery’s Coffee Series include espresso-based drinks like Caramel Macchiato, Filipino-inspired Chocnut Latte and Tablea Latte, Campfire Latte, Cinnamon Oat Dolce Latte, Peppermint Latte, Tres Leches Latte, Tablea Espresso Latte, and Lotus Biscoff Latte.

There are also non-espresso drinks like English Breakfast Tea Latte and Matcha Green Tea Latte, and even Babyccino.

M Bakery’s signature pastries and best-selling cupcakes will also be available at the OPUS branch.

Since arriving in the Philippines in 2018 at One Bonifacio High Street, M Bakery has expanded to locations at Power Plant Mall, Mitsukoshi Mall, and SM Megamall.

The iconic New York-based bakery first opened its doors at a small storefront on Bleecker Street in West Village in 1996. It has since made its way to Los Angeles, Dubai, Mumbai, and Istanbul. — Steph Arnaldo/Rappler.com