Celebrating one year with well-loved Davao food

Looking back, Montemayor started Habi at Kape while negotiating with the management of a newly-opened Abreeza Mall aiming to give a ‘home’ for the Davao Ecocrafts Association that will highlight local crafts of Davao at a friendly price.

The mall agreed under one condition that she will also put a café.

Nine years later, Montemayor opened two more branches within the city, including the branch at Rogen Inn, which was established amid the pandemic.

Habi at Kape - Rogen Inn branch has been able to highlight many

Davao dishes with a fusion that has been only available in catering.

“Opening the café was as if rediscovering my first love but the cafe back then was not the same as the cafe we have now. We envisioned a cafe that doesn’t only serve coffee but tells a story about the Mindanao culture,” she said.

Focusing on the entrepreneurial virtue of “Kaayo,” which means “kindness,” “the extra mile” and “for good,” Habi at Kape continues to elevate the Davao experience through food and beverage and collaborations with local suppliers and farmers to showcase cuisines and create a fusion that tells the story of the complexity of Davao’s history and the various cultures that found their way to Davao.

Montemayor recently received the Habi Inspirational Tourism Entrepreneur Award during the Ministry of Tourism and Go Negosyo Tourism Summit in Cebu City, which recognizes outstanding establishments and their owners who excel in food tourism.

Habi at Kape at Rogen Inn is open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM and is available for exclusive functions and catering through Villa Margarita Catering Services.