Tenant Manila is a cafe and a surfwear shop in one

On the ground floor of Solace Hotel in Makati, there is a coffee shop, and just above it, a lifestyle boutique specializing in surfwear. It’s an unfamiliar, if welcome, amalgamation of the laid-back vibe of a neighborhood cafe, the stylish urbanity of the city, and the anything-goes attitude associated with going out to the water to catch some waves. How, then, has such a place come to exist?

Nearly 20 years ago, the designers Anton Lopez and John Esguerra met while working at Diesel in Italy before eventually going on different paths. “When John moved to Hawaii to surf and design, I moved to Hong Kong to work for Nike,” Lopez explains. “We stayed in touch and always spoke about the potential of developing our own brand and retail concept.” Despite their Filipino heritage, neither Lopez nor Esguerra grew up in the Philippines. This led them, Lopez says, to be “fascinated with the idea of coming ‘home’ and developing a unique brand that was based in Manila [and] had strong influences and inspiration from all the places we’ve lived.”

Quality Peoples statement tee. Photos by PATRICK DIOKNO.

Out of that fascination came Tenant Manila, a cafe-boutique opened in February that is, according to Lopez, “rooted in surf and beach culture,” something they felt was “a natural and authentic fit for a brand developed in the Philippines.” The coffee shop serves an array of drinks (aside from the caffeinated kind, they have tea, juices, and alcoholic beverages), snacks, and meals. Meanwhile, the second-floor shop sells everything from men’s apparel and accessories to surfboards and even books. “The idea behind merging a cafe and a retail shop was to blur the lines of what a retail experience is meant to be,” Lopez says. It’s a concept that they believe appeals to everyone: “We wanted to create a space where you can shop, design, meet, have a drink — multipurpose without any pretenses.”

Mollusk windbreaker, Saturdays NYC tee and H&M trousers. Photos by PATRICK DIOKNO.

Lopez believes that Tenant is distinct in its branding. “We believe we distinguish ourselves first by our unique brand partners,” he says. “Most of [them] decided to launch first with us in the Philippines.” The shop carries products by Saturdays NYC, Converse, Kapital, Mandala (making its retail debut), Mollusk, and Esguerra’s own Quality Peoples, to name a few. In addition, they are expanding the shop’s offerings within the year with new menu items, new brands, and events relating to art, music, and film.

The largest project will involve the development of an in-house brand with its own products this summer. “[It] will encompass Tenant culture,” Lopez says. “Good quality, attention to detail, relaxed and authentic clothing and accessories.”