A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Taal Vista Hotel is the oldest hotel in Tagaytay and the second oldest in the Philippines. Officially opened in 1939, the historic property overlooking Taal Volcano and Taal Lake has managed to survive WWII, volcanic eruptions including the most devastating eruption in January 2020 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The coffee and cycling culture has really boomed in the Philippines. Since the pandemic hit, pop-up coffee kiosks coffee and minimalist roadside cafes serving good coffee catering to cyclists have become destinations on their own for weekend rides. You can find a lot of minimalist and pop-up roadside cafes situated in scenic spots along biker’s routes like Antipolo, Timberland, Boso-Boso, Marilaque, offering relaxing spots to rest during longer rides.
But for those looking for a destination for quick city rides, there are plenty of cool coffee shops in and around the metro that you can check out as well. Here are just a few cafes in my own Maginhawa neighborhood where bikers can grab a good cup of coffee and snacks for those chill Tambike sessions.
Continue reading “Bike-friendly cafes in the Maginhawa area”UPDATED: November 2021
With most tourism establishments still closed and travel still generally restricted, going to a restaurant to eat out is one of the few allowable activities people can do in the city. Dining out gives people a semblance of normalcy and a break from staying home and cooking the entire week.
While it’s still safer to get food delivered compared to dining in, if you do choose to eat out for special occasions or in between errands, it’s best to choose places with outdoor seating and good ventilation. A lot of restaurants in the area have evolved with pandemic times and changed their dining set-up to cater to meet the restrictions.
Maginhawa Street in Quezon City is popularly known as an “Eat Street” because of the number of restaurants in the area. Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of new street art and murals around the neighborhood made by local artists who live in the area. Some serve as decorative elements adorning gates or walls outside food parks, restos, or other business establishments.
With the closure of many bars and restaurants everywhere because of the pandemic, more people want to drink in the safety of their homes. While groceries and minimarts have stocked up on the usual staples of mainstream beer brands, sometimes you just want something different for special occasions, but you also want to avoid going out just to get your essential liquor supplies. It’s now more convenient than ever to get quality craft beer delivered straight to your home.
Here are few craft beer delivery services and breweries based in Metro Manila where you can easily order your stash online and get beer delivered straight to your doorstep.
NOTE: Due to government regulations and travel restrictions, some online stores can only service areas in the NCR not covered by liquor bans. Provincial deliveries may be delayed.
Continue reading “Craft Beer & Liquor Delivery in the Philippines”Tokyo, Japan’s vibrant capital, offers an amazing blend of the traditional and the ultramodern. Historic temples can be found right next to neon-lit skyscrapers. Japan is a dream destination for many people, offering a unique experience when it comes to culture, history, architecture, and food.
Since the pandemic started, people have opted to stay safe indoors and get food delivered at home instead of dining out. But for those who are out on errands or bikers on exercise rides looking for a bite to eat, the safest option for dining in is at al fresco restaurants with outdoor seating. Dining with members of your own household offers a relatively safe option compared to dining in mall-based and enclosed indoor establishments.
Here are just a few restaurants with al fresco dining and safety protocols in place where you can enjoy a pleasant meal in Marikina.
Continue reading “Outdoor dining and al fresco restaurants in Marikina”Crescent Moon Café is a long-running establishment in Antipolo. This artistic restaurant known for their Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine and pottery products from the studio of Lanelle Abueva-Fernando has been around since 1997. I’ve written about this place several times before, but with all the travel restrictions these days, there’s been renewed interest in accessible and open-air restaurants near Metro Manila, so I though I’d share more photos and details about the place from visits over the years, before and during the pandemic era.
Antipolo has its fair share of restaurants and cafes that offer stunning views overlooking the city. Kaulayaw Café is one of the newest dining destinations along the Antipolo ridge, specializing in locally sourced coffee. Because of the ongoing pandemic, open-air dining destinations with nature views are much more preferable for dining out rather than enclosed indoor restaurants in malls.
Batala Bar in Intramuros recently reopened! Right before the lockdown restrictions in March 2020, I met up with good friend Mica of Senyorita for a “business meeting” in the area and we spent a chill afternoon with mugs of local craft beer here. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed random meet-ups with friends over drinks and it’s nice to know that more establishments are finding ways to reopen with the proper health and safety measures, like contact tracing and health declaration forms in place.
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