Visited 14 cafes over three weekends specifically to put this list together. My criteria: rig quality, food menu variety and taste, hourly pricing, general vibe, and — this one matters — whether the staff actually play games or just work there.

The full tier list:

S-Tier: Pixel Ground BGC — immaculate rigs, actual ramen on the menu, staff that know every game in the library. Slightly pricier but worth it.

A-Tier: LAN Zone Katipunan — solid community regulars, great tournament space, food is mid but the atmosphere makes up for it. NextLevel QC — newer spot, aggressive pricing, good high-refresh monitors, improving their menu.

B-Tier: (fine, nothing special) GameBase Makati, CafeRig Ortigas

C-Tier: (avoid) Two establishments I won't name — overpriced, rigs are outdated, food is prepacked.

Full breakdown with photos in the replies.