Picture this: you find yourself in a whimsical space in the middle of the city that somehow feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. You run your fingers through books that show signs of having been cherished by many hands, while someone at the piano plays notes from The Phantom of the Opera.
Your tote bag, with spontaneous keychains dangling as you walk, carries a book you started reading last summer. Yet you’re distracted by the overwhelming array of books surrounding you, so you pick up two titles that catch your eye: one for its gorgeous cover and the other because it’s poetry.
Then you take a sip of your Tequila Sundown cocktail. It starts off sweet but soon brings the words to life as the tequila saturates and the fruity components slowly fade into the background.
You would think this is all fiction, right?
Let me prove you wrong. A local bookshop and bar just opened its door for introverted readers who like it a little tipsy. Owl Stories and Spirits, located at Atúa Midtown, just might be your new comfort place in the city.
The First Chapter
Owl Stories and Spirits came about as a passion project of a bookworm and a cocktail hobbyist. The co-owners wanted to build a sweet escape from the daily hustle through a good concoction of light drinking, reading, and choosing music.
It offers a good place for those who crave solitude or simply enjoy their hobbies outside the comfort of their own homes. Also, those with a good ear for music are welcome. One of the shop’s main displays is a classic piano for anyone to play sweet melodies that reverberate throughout the place.
All Reads Are Good Reads
Avid readers know the need for more indie bookshop options, especially as prices for new releases climb. At Owl Stories and Spirits, you’ll find nearly a hundred titles from the owners’ personal collection, all for you to browse as you settle in. It’s a place where reading doesn’t come with a high price tag.
Readers of every genre can find something of interest, including classics, philosophy, nonfiction, and even today’s fantasy and retellings. Works by Agatha Christie, Emily Brontë, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Ernest Hemingway sit alongside contemporary favorites like R.F. Kuang and Madeline Miller.
Read whatever you want here. No judgments, no side-eyes. As they say, “In the clurb, we all fam.”
Additionally, fans of local Filipino and Southeast Asian literature have something to look forward to in the near future, as the owners plan to include books from these countries to diversify the shelves.
Drinks to Pair Your Favorite Book With
Currently, Owl Stories and Spirits offer five cocktail options you can choose from in accord with your taste: Jager Sangria, Cucumber Gin, Tequila Sundown, Malibu Libre, and Strawberry Mojitos.
The Tequila Sundown is their best-seller, which is an amalgamation of orange, blueberry, and lemon juice, tequila, and grenadine syrup. Careful, this has a subtle kick.
For the love of rum, you might like their criminally underrated drink: Malibu Libre. This is a mix of white rum, coconut infusion, lime cola, and calamansi extract. I assure you, its taste lies behind intimidation.
You can easily place and pay for your orders using the QR codes located on every seat, with your drink delivered through a small door. Additionally, they have scattered bookmarks that serve as a menu for you to hand to the bartenders. This Japanese Ichiran-inspired ordering system is perfectly designed for introverts, allowing for a comfortable and unique experience.
Catch more from Owl Stories and Spirits on Instagram. They are open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
Photography Kyrra Kho