MANGILAO – At first glance, locally owned Guma’ Tåsa appears to be a typical café. However, if you take a look inside, you may find yourself admiring the artwork that lines the walls or the pool table situated inside of the café.

But what would probably most surprise you is that this “café” has an entire bar selection behind the counter.

This not so typical café also happens to be not your average bar either and that’s because Guma’ Tåsa combines the best of both worlds to bring their customers an unforgettable experience each time they decide to grab a quick bite or have a round.

Starting back in 2013, Guma’ Tåsa was founded by Denise Mendiola as a business idea with her father. She liked the combination of a café and bar, and she liked latte stones. This led to the birth of Guma’ Tåsa, which literally translates to “house of cups.” The latte stone theme can be noticed as part of the architecture in the café. Mendiola’s passion for her business venture is to keep it Chamoru and to keep it local. Those beliefs transcend into the popular menu items they have to offer.

They order their produce from Grow Guam, which they incorporate into the popular paninis, wraps, and smoothies they serve daily. Mendiola takes pride in knowing, as a local businesswomen herself, that she supports other local businesses as well.

The popular menu items include their turkey spinach wrap and teriyaki mushroom panini. These are paired with flavored beverages, including coffee specialties such as the Kaduku Mocha and Caramel Haze. The one thing that keeps customers in line and hungry for more is Guma’ Tåsa’s famous garlic dressing, which is served with almost all their sandwiches, wraps, and salads.

“I’ve never tried anything like it anywhere else on Guam,” says Aubreeana Taylor, a senior at the University of Guam and a customer of Guma’ Tåsa.

“Anything I order, I have a side of their garlic sauce.”

Guma’ Tåsa also offers a 10% student discount to UOG students and students from the Guam Community College.

Mendiola says they cater their menu to offer budget-style food that is also healthy and provides energy. She understands the struggles many college students face financially and hopes to ease the burden by providing a menu that fills their stomachs without emptying their wallets.

She also offers her café as an environment for any college student to spend the day. Guma’ Tåsa’s space is large enough to serve as meeting places for group projects and there is also free wifi for their customers. In fact, customers can spend the whole day there and get exactly what they need from breakfast to lunch and snacks in between.

Well into the night, you can still find Guma’ Tåsa lit up and hear music flowing out their doors. That’s because they also offer nightly entertainment throughout the week.

Andrea Grajek, barista and marketing personnel, mentioned that they are restarting their open-mic Mondays, which had been definitely a crowd drawer previously.

You will also find different bands playing during different days between Wednesday to Friday, including R & R, G Strings Aloud, and The Vetones.

So whether you are looking to do homework or looking to relax after a day of working, Guma’ Tåsa can provide exactly what you need. Check them out daily or nightly in Legacy Square, Mangilao, behind Kentucky Fried Chicken.