For a first visit to St. Louis in BGC, order the Classic Affogato: artisan vanilla ice cream topped with hot espresso, ₱290 on the current menu. Add a scoop of artisan gelato, which is handcrafted daily, or the ice cream croissant. St. Louis is a European dessert cafe on the lower ground floor of Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, open 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and until 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
St. Louis Philippines is a European dessert cafe and gelato house on the lower ground floor of Bonifacio High Street Central, BGC, Taguig. It serves espresso drinks, fresh-made gelato, churros cooked to order, waffles, an ice cream croissant, and brunch plates. If you've just searched for a coffee shop in BGC and want to know what's actually worth ordering, this guide walks you through the menu, the space, and when to go.
Where Exactly Is St. Louis in BGC?
St. Louis BGC sits at Unit 104-A, Lower Ground Floor, Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. That puts it on the covered lower level of the High Street strip, which keeps you out of the afternoon heat. If you're coming from the Serendra side, walk toward the 7th Avenue end and head downstairs. The lower ground level is quieter than the open-air stretch above, which makes it a decent pick for a long coffee catch-up or a working afternoon.
Hours are Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Friday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM (source: stlouis.ph/locations/bgc). The later Friday and Saturday closing makes it an easy post-dinner stop on weekends.
The Coffee: What to Actually Order
St. Louis is a European dessert cafe first, and the specialty coffee is made to go with the desserts. The drinks pair well with the sweeter items on the menu, which is the point.
The affogato is the one drink that crosses both categories: a shot of espresso pulled over a scoop of in-house gelato. On the current menu the Classic Affogato is ₱290, with Nutella and Frangelico versions too (source: stlouis.ph/menu). It's a short, cold-hot dessert drink that works better here than at most Manila cafes because the gelato is made fresh daily on-site rather than scooped from a commercial tub. If you're visiting for the first time and you're not sure what to get, the affogato is the most honest single-item summary of what St. Louis does well.
For a straight coffee, the standard espresso-based drinks are on the menu alongside the dessert options. The BGC branch is open from 8:00 AM, so it also covers the morning coffee crowd before the dessert rush begins around midday.
Gelato Made Fresh Daily: What That Actually Means
Gelato is made in-house every day at St. Louis. That's not a marketing phrase here: it means the texture and flavour are tied to that day's batch rather than to a frozen stock that was made a week ago. Italian-style gelato is churned at a warmer temperature than standard ice cream, which gives it a denser, creamier texture and a more direct flavour.
St. Louis traces its origins to Adelaide, South Australia, where the brand started as a European dessert house. The BGC branch carries that same production approach. Flavours rotate, so what's available on a Tuesday may differ from a Saturday, but the core flavours tend to stay consistent week to week.
For a first visit, ask the staff what was made that morning. That's the most reliable way to get the freshest scoop rather than guessing from a printed board.
Churros, Waffles and the Ice Cream Croissant
The churros at St. Louis are cooked to order. This matters because churros that have been sitting under a heat lamp for twenty minutes are a different product entirely. Cooked-to-order means you wait a few minutes, but you get them hot, crisp outside, and soft inside. They come with melted milk chocolate for dipping and pair well with any of the gelato scoops on the side.
The waffle menu is a strong option for groups that want something more substantial than a single dessert. Waffles here lean toward the dessert end rather than the breakfast-savoury end, so expect sweet toppings and gelato as accompaniments.
The ice cream croissant is the item most people photograph on a first visit. It's a freshly baked croissant filled with your choice of gelato, which sounds simple but works because both the pastry and the gelato are made with the same care as the rest of the menu. It's a good choice if you're visiting between breakfast and lunch and want one item that covers both.
The menu also includes brunch dishes, so St. Louis covers more than the dessert-only crowd. A table of four can easily mix brunch plates with gelato and coffee without anyone feeling like they ordered from the wrong menu.
BGC High Street: How This Spot Fits the Area
Bonifacio High Street is one of the denser stretches for cafes and restaurants in Metro Manila. The strip includes both the open-air ground level and the lower ground covered section where St. Louis sits. Foot traffic peaks on weekend afternoons and Friday evenings, which matches St. Louis's extended Friday and Saturday hours.
The lower ground floor location means the space isn't immediately visible from the main high street walkway, so first-time visitors sometimes walk past it. If you're meeting someone there, send them the 7th Avenue Lower Ground reference point rather than just "Bonifacio High Street."
For office groups from the nearby BGC business towers, the 8:00 AM opening covers a morning coffee run, and the weekday 10:00 PM closing leaves room for a post-work dessert stop.
Planning a Visit: Groups, Events and the Alabang Branch
St. Louis BGC is a walk-in cafe, so for a larger group it's worth contacting the branch before you go. For private events, the cart hire service is the more practical route. St. Louis offers gelato, coffee and affogato carts for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, brand activations, holiday gatherings and private dinners anywhere in Metro Manila (source: stlouis.ph/cart-hire). The lead time for booking a cart is two to three weeks. To inquire, email [email protected] or call the BGC branch on +63 956 918 5135.
If you're based in the south, the Alabang branch is at Unit 18A, Molito Lifestyle Center, 4 Madrigal Avenue, Alabang, Muntinlupa, reachable on +63 2 8631 3098. The menu and hours are the same across both branches.
A third branch has been announced, though the location hasn't been confirmed yet.
First Visit in 90 Seconds: The Short Version
- Go to the lower ground floor of Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue.
- Order the affogato if you want one item that shows what the cafe does.
- Add churros if you want something hot and shareable.
- Ask what gelato was made that morning and get a scoop of that.
- Come on a Friday or Saturday if you want the extra hour at the end of the night.
- Book a cart two to three weeks out if you're planning an event.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cafe on the high street in BGC?
Yes. St. Louis Philippines is on the lower ground floor of Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, BGC, Taguig. It opens at 8:00 AM daily and stays open until 10:00 PM on weekdays and 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The space sits in the covered lower level of the strip, which keeps it cooler than the open-air walkway above.
What is good to order at St. Louis BGC?
The affogato is the most representative single item: espresso over fresh in-house gelato. The churros are cooked to order and are best ordered hot. The ice cream croissant is the most photographed item on the menu. If you're visiting as a group, a mix of waffles, gelato scoops and coffee covers most preferences without anyone compromising.
Does St. Louis BGC serve brunch?
Yes. St. Louis BGC has brunch dishes on the menu alongside the dessert and coffee options. The kitchen opens at 8:00 AM, so it covers both the morning meal crowd and the afternoon dessert rush. A table can mix brunch plates with gelato and coffee in one order.
Can I hire a dessert or coffee cart from St. Louis for an event in Metro Manila?
Yes. St. Louis offers gelato, coffee and affogato carts for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, brand activations, holiday gatherings and private dinners anywhere in Metro Manila. Book two to three weeks ahead. Contact the BGC branch on +63 956 918 5135 or email [email protected].
Is there a St. Louis cafe in Alabang?
Yes. The Alabang branch is at Unit 18A, Molito Lifestyle Center, 4 Madrigal Avenue, Alabang, Muntinlupa. It keeps the same hours as BGC: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday to Thursday and 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Call +63 2 8631 3098 for inquiries.