Road Trip Restaurants along Marilaque

For riders, cyclists and road trippers clocking in the miles, meals on the road often just consist of quick stops at fast food joints or meet-ups at gas station convenience stores before heading out. Most riders would be satisfied with cup noodles or hot coffee to warm up along the way. A few years ago, this was pretty much all there was along the Marilaque route (also known as Marikina-Infanta or Marcos Highway), the scenic twisting road traversing Marikina, Rizal, Laguna all the way to Infanta, Quezon.

During weekend rides, I’ve noticed a lot of new places to eat and a lot of other establishments being built along the route. Below is a growing list of old favorites and new places where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy the view along Marilaque. Manila East Road (specially in towns overlooking Laguna de Bay) also has a lot of interesting dining places that makes it great for road trips. This is arranged by distance coming from the Quezon City side.

Mang Vic’s Bulaluhan

Bikers swear by the bulalo in this no-frills roadside carinderia along Marcos Highway. Food is cheap and good enough (if you’re not a picky eater), with dishes like liempo and inihaw na manok aside from bulalo, papaitan and the usual carinderia fare. It’s a bit too near the metro for motorcyclists and those in cars for breakfast rides, but it’s a cheap pitstop for hungry cyclists who need to fuel up for the uphill ride ahead.

  • Mang Vic’s Bulaluhan. Marcos Highway, Antipolo, Rizal

Balconahe Resort & Resto Camp

Balconahe Resort & Resto Camp is a cheerful events venue and camping area in Brgy. Pinugay just along Marcos Highway. The place serves mostly as a vacation home rental, with glass cabana rooms for overnight stays, a small pool and camping grounds. The whole place can be booked for exclusive events space for get-togethers and parties. Regular rate for glass cabana rooms is P3,000/night but they have a rainy season promo of P1,300.00

They also run an open-air restaurant for breakfast meals in the space, where you can stop by for meals, hot chocolate or coffee. They serve Unli-Breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays for just P200/head, making it a good stopover for hungry riders and cyclists.

  • Balconahe Resort & Resto Camp. Bgy. Pinugay, Baras, Rizal
  • Contact number: 0917-6523544
  • Facebook page: Balconahe PH

Park, Rest & Dine

A garden restaurant that offers a pretty good selection of meals in a pleasant setting. Food is a bit pricier, but it’s one of the better restos along the route in terms of food quality and ambiance.

They serve unlimited brewed coffee for the whole day. So you can stop for coffee in the morning, and then have another one on your way back for the price of one cup. If you’re bringing up bicycles by car to other destinations along Sierra Madre, they have a spacious and secure parking lot where you can park before continuing by bike. This is also the nearest eating place if you’re visiting Palo Alto Falls.

  • Park, Rest & Dine Coffee Shop and Restaurant. Sitio Corazon De Jesus, Pinugay, Baras, Rizal.
  • Contact numbers: 09494151440 / 09393932530
  • Facebook page: Park, Rest & Dine

Silayan at Masungi Georeserve

Silayan is a sustainable restaurant within Masungi Georeserve that aims to help local farmers and producers around the area. They serve dishes which make use of locally sourced ingredients sourced within a 20-km radius. As of May 2017, the restaurant is currently on soft opening exclusively for confirmed trail guests.

Meals are served with black/red/brown organic heirloom rice, salads, appetizers and signature shakes with wild honey. The restaurant has a 360-degree backdrop of Laguna de Bay, the city and Sierra Madre mountains.

The Sierra Madre Resort

A family-friendly resort with a nice view that’s popular with locals for picnics and swimming. They have a zipline, hanging bridge, rope bridge, swimming pool and even a waterfall (Sto. Nino Waterfall) you can hike to from here. Most people bring their own food for picnics, but they have an in-house restaurant serving basic meals like corned beef and tapsilog.

The view deck and weather here is pleasant for a pit stop, but don’t expect anything fancy in terms of food. It’s one of the more popular resorts in the area, so it can get crowded on weekends.

Pico de Pino Cafe & Restaurant

Opened in February 2016, Pico de Pino is another restaurant catering to bikers, riders and travelers. They have a spacious restaurant that can seat groups in the main building and a small parking area right along the restaurants.

pico de pino cafe restaurant tanay

It’s hard to miss with the large white sign painted on stones. An elevated portion leads to an outdoor seating area with an enclosed nipa-hut style cottage and some stone picnic tables under the trees where you can catch the breeze. They serve mostly Filipino fare, tapsilog, bulalo, rice meals, and desserts. They also have clean and well-maintained restrooms (non-customers are required to pay to use CR).

  • Address: Pico de Pino Cafe & Restaurant. Brgy. Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal.
  • Contact numbers: 0917 524 5197
  • Restaurant hours: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
  • Facebook Page: Pico de Pino Cafe & Restaurant

Camp Cafe Resto Bar (Ten Cents to Heaven)

Camp Cafe Resto Bar is the in-house restaurant of Ten Cents to Heaven Leisure Park, a resort in Tanay, Rizal. Camp Cafe is a pretty big restaurant with a scenic view overlooking an obstacle course and ziplines ideal for team-building activites. They have infinity pools and very relaxing cabanas if you want to stay for the afternoon. Fish pool spas are in the works.

They also claim to have the longest zipline in Luzon (1.2 km long). There’s a pretty good selection of Pinoy fare. However, most of the orders are good for 2-3 people, which is a downside if you’re on a solo ride. The free WIFI is good and fast, which is rare for the area. Decent restrooms.

  • Camp Cafe Resto Bar. Sitio Mayagay II, Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal
  • Tel: no: 5063675, 0999-9770026
  • Email: tencentstoheaven@gmail.com
  • Website: www.tencentstoheaven.com

Martessem Mountain Resort

Martessem Mountain Resort was originally conceptualized as a family retreat house in the chilly mountains of Tanay, Rizal. It is now open to the public as an events venue with a great view of the Sierra Madre mountain range 2000 ft above sea level. They offer guest rooms where visitors can enjoy a panoramic views of the highlands and valleys of the verdant slopes of Tanay.

They also run a restaurant that’s become very popular with motorcycle riders. Food is pretty basic, with the normal tapsilog type meals available, but the place is nice. They have ample parking space here for vehicles and stunning views.

  • Martessem Mountain Resort. Km 57, Sitio Mayagay 1, Tanay, Rizal
  • Contact numbers: +632 697 1170, 09103417009, 09174761934
  • Email: martessem@yahoo.com

Cafe Katerina

A restaurant with a cheerful Pinoy fiesta theme and a great view of the mountains. It’s one of the more popular restaurants for riders on the Marilaque route because of the view and affordable meals. They serve tapsilog meals, grilled combo meals, sandwiches, short orders & pulutan fare. They also sell some native souvenirs and trinkets.

Parking is secure and the price range isn’t bad. Their Katerina’s Lusog Silog (crispy talong, salted egg with tomato, Shanghai Fried Rice, Tapa) with Brewed Coffee for P150 is a pretty good deal. Other taspilog meals cost just P75. If you want to bring bicycles to other destinations in Marilaque like Daranak Falls and Calinawan Cave, but don’t want to padjakoldaway, Cafe Katerina is a good place to park your cars.

  • Cafe Katerina. Sitio Mayagay I. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal
  • Tel. no: (63) 09266314215 / (63) 09499186388
  • Facebook: Cafe Katerina

3 Springs Mountain Park

3 Springs Mountain Park (formerly Haranah Eco Park) is a refreshing events venue and camping ground along Marcos highway that has its own in-house restaurant for day trip visitors and checked in guests.

They specialize in healthy fare using fresh herbs and spices from their garden. Day Tours include set lunch with fresh coconut juice for P1,000 per guest. Prior reservations must be made for all visits.

Paseo Rizal

Paseo Rizal is one of the nicest restos along the route in terms of ambiance. There are lots of outdoor huts and gazebos set amidst pine trees and landscaped gardens. The main dining space is very artsy and has a Baguio vibe, with rustic details and a fireplace. You can enjoy live music while eating here.

They have a wide selection of food and snacks. Good suman and hot chocolate though main viands could still use some improvement. Paseo Rizal also has a branch in Morong, Rizal. Very clean and well-maintained restrooms. They also have a nice gallery and gift shop on the ground floor containing paintings and sculptures by Rizal artists.

Pranjetto Hills Garden Restaurant

Pranjetto Hills is a mountain resort located in Sampaloc, Tanay, which has a nice view of Laguna Lake and the mountains of Sierra Madre. They run mainly a hotel and conference center, but they also have a roadside garden restaurant for walk-in guests.

You can enjoy the great view and cool breeze from the al fresco second floor. I haven’t really tried the food here beyond mami and goto though, but they serve mostly Pinoy food.

Mang Frank Bulalohan Silog

Across Pranjetto Hills is Mang Frank Bulalohan, a small eatery that serves bulalo, tapsilog and basic meals. You can tell this is a popular rider’s hangout because of rows of motorcycles parked outside especially during weekends, as well as the banners and stickers of different riding clubs decorating the place.

Good for a cup of coffee or hot milo for a quickie breakfast ride before heading back to Manila. They offer budget-friendly carinderia style meals.

  • Mang Frank’s Bulalohan. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal (right at the junction leading down to Tanay Adventure Camp)
  • Facebook: Mang Frank Bulalohan

BNK Cafe & Resto

BNK (Budbod ni Nanay Kaling) is a cozy restaurant that serves traditional Filipino dishes. From the highway the place looks small, but the multi-level space inside can accommodate large groups. The place has simple but homey interiors with a nice vertical garden.

Their specialty is Budbod or fried rice toppings, a specialty in the province of Rizal. The one on the highway right after Pranjetto Hills is their second branch after the main in Tanay town proper. If you’re staying overnight in Pranjetto Hills Resort & Conference Center, this is a good place to grab a late meal and beer.

Rambull’s Restaurant

Rambull’s Bakahan sa Tanay along Manila East Road is a popular carinderia-style restaurant serving mostly beef and pork dishes like bulalo, lechon kawali and baby back ribs. They’ve recently opened another branch along the Marilaque Highway in Brgy. Sampaloc, which you’ll pass after going down from Pranjetto Hills and before the intersection of Sampaloc.

  • Sitio Malapapaya Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal
  • For inquiries, call: 0917-89999-293, 0955-6823922.

Lutong Pugon

A very artistic garden restaurant that serves wood-fired pizzas, pasta and main meals. Food is pricier compared to other restos in area, but the quality and ambiance is very nice. Ideal for special occasions, dates, family trips and if you’re taking balikbayans on road trips. Not really ideal for those on a budget.

Their gourmet pizza toppings include Pepperoni, Chorizo Iberico, Beef Pastrami, Beretta Salami, Gambaretto, Posciutto and Jamon Serrano. Main dishes include Lamb Chop, Platter Butter Prawns, Smoked Salmon, Roasted chicken, Pork Belly with tomato salsa and the like. You can get your portrait sketched here by local artists.

  • Lutong Pugon Tiongco’s Garden. Masalat Road, Sitio Masanting, Tanay, Rizal.
  • Contact number: 0906-7607209.
  • Open daily from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
  • Facebook: Lutong Pugon Wood Fired Pizza

Kubs Mountain Resort

Kubs is a mountain resort and restaurant (opened in April 2018) overlooking Sierra Madre, that offers a getaway destination for family and friends. They have a large two-story native open air restaurant that serves Filipino food, seafood dishes with live music.

They also have a swimming pool, with affordable rates (entrance/swimming (adult & children above 3ft) – P150/day and P200/night), cottages (P500), bahay kubo (P700) and AC rooms good for 6-8 for P2,500. They also have spacious camping grounds where you can pitch your own tents or rent from them. Camping tent – P250 (bring your own), P350 (rent).

  • Kubs Mountain Resort. Km. 80 Tanay Rizal (about 15 minutes past Regina Rica and before you arrive at Jariel’s Peak).
  • Restaurant hours: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
  • Overnight check-in: 2:00 pm to 12:00 nn
  • Facebook page: Kubs Mountain Resort
  • For booking inquiries, contact: 0917-100-0411/02-989-6447

Heaven’s Valley Cafe / Little Baguio Cafe

A small resto along the Marifanta route that serves basic meals. I haven’t eaten here yet, but we passed by it the last time we went to Jariel’s Peak. Looks like a nice place to stop in case you get caught in the fog or rain up in the mountains.

KM. 90 Eco Park and Restaurant

One of the newer restaurants along the highway is Km. 90 Eco Park and Restaurant, a log cabin style restaurant with good ambiance, good food choices and decent restrooms. The staff here is very friendly and accommodating.

The resto has its own small lake where you can go fishing. It also has a swimming pool and picnic grounds. The place is located in an area called Little Baguio and the weather here can get very foggy and cold. While it’s hot during the summer time, you can experience fog here in the late afternoon, evening and early morning.

  • Km 90. Eco Park and Restaurant. KM 90 Marcos Highway, Little Baguio, Santa Maria, Laguna.
  • Contact number: 0915 262 0074
  • Facebook page: Km 90 Eco Park & Restaurant

Jariel’s Peak

Jariel’s Peak is one of the most popular weekend spots for motorcycle riders based in Manila. They serve tapsilog meals, good coffee and hot chocolate, and some exotic fare like mountain snails.

Great mountain view, really cold weather, high chance of fog and lots of twisties to get here. There’s a waterfall nearby that you can hike to.

  • Jariel’s Peak. Km. 94 Sitio Baguio, Barangay Magsaysay, 4336 Infanta, Quezon.
  • Contact info: 09156521473/09189160228
  • Email: ariel_4972@yahoo.com
  • Facebook page: Jariel’s Peak

Marquez Bulalohan

Located a few meters past Jariel’s Peak, Marquez Bulalohan is another popular rider’s pitstop that serves affordable Bulalo, Gotong Batangas, tapsilog meals, carinderia food and some exotic fare.

There’s a scenic hill right across the road you can hike to for good photo ops.

  • Marquez Bulalohan. KM. 94.3 New Little Baguio, Brgy. Magsaysay (Marikina to
  • Infanta Road), 4336 Infanta, Quezon
  • Contact info: 0923-6548704, 0921-4762363
  • Facebook page: Marquez Bulalohan

D’ Hulk Resto Park

D’ Hulk Resto Park is the last main establishment you’ll come across before the damaged Querocep bridge leading to Infanta. Good view.

They offer budget meals in their open air resto, picnic grounds and have a swimming with a few picnic cottages right next to it ideal for picnics and group rides. There’s a large Incredible Hulk Statue right by the entrance, so it’s hard to miss. The view of the mountains here is amazing.

  • ‘D Hulk Resto Park. Km 97, Marcos Highway, Brgy. Bagong Silang (it’s 2 km away from Jariel’s Peak)

Do you know of any other good places to eat along the route worth checking out? Please let me know in the comments section! 🙂

54 thoughts on “Road Trip Restaurants along Marilaque”

  3. Pingback: Palo Alto Falls & Leisure Park in Baras, Rizal | Travel Up

  4. Thanks for very interesting and detail post Kara! . One of greatest thing of riding is you can visit anywhere at anytime to drink the awesome coffee, eat good foods, experience great things. That’s no doubt the joy of journey.

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  9. nice one maam.. ang galing ng blog mo … were also riders from sym moto riders club .. hope we can see u in person in one of your rides..

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  15. Hi, it was such a big help to find your blog. My family and I were fond of doing a road trip. But we always travel by the dozen meaning my whole family in tow. We will definitely try all the places you have mentioned. Looking forward also to taste all the food. Thanks also for the tips!

  16. Hey, Ms. Kara I would also like to check cagbalete island. i was told it was in Quezon, can you give directions on how we can go to the place, just in case you gone there na.

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  21. sana po sinama din sa review ang marquez bulalo just after jhariels,. mas masarap at mas mura po ang food dun,.

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  24. Hello Ms Kara. We’ll be coming from Antipolo City na (dayo lang, from Paranaque me talaga.) and we’re planning for a MC ride this sunday. Balak ko sana sa Marilaque mag start then uwi daan ng pililia to see the windmills, then akyat ulit antips via Teresa/morong. what can you say about this iten? may tips ka pa po ba for us? san the best kumain? hehe and kaya ba isang full tank from antips to tanay (3liters hondabeatFI.) more power madam!

  25. Hi Imher. Kaya ng half-day yung IT na yun. Breakfast kayo sa Cafe Katerina para magandang view, tapos enter via Sampaloc road to get to Wind Farm. Pwedeng kumain ng lunch sa Kafe Paradiso or Bulawan Floating Restaurant along Manila East Road pabalik ng Antipolo. Check my tips on this post on the Wind Farm. Yes, kaya ng full tank yung Antipolo to Tanay and back. Enjoy the road trip! 🙂

  26. hello miss kara, since i love to ride alone my honda scoopy, i would like to know if marilaque route is safe for lone riders. i mean security wise.. tnx

  27. Hi Ansing. Since I got my scooter 5 years ago, I’ve gone to Marilaque on countless solo rides. It’s one of the best places for riders near the metro with great scenery, almost zero traffic (after Cogeo area) and lots of places to visit along the highway. Security wise, there’s no problem. Here are just some of the place you can visit along the way: http://www.traveling-up.com/tag/marilaque/and http://www.traveling-up.com/travel-guide-tanay-rizal/

  28. Just gone there last feb 11. I love the foods at Cafe Katerina also we have a shoot at Sierra Madre. It was such a great experience.

  29. Pingback: Masungi Georeserve in Tanay, Rizal | Travel Up

  32. Hello! I think I saw you earlier past lunchtime along C5 going southbound near Tiendesitas! Been reading your blog and saw that familiar scooter of yours. Was that you?

  33. Hi again, Ms. Kara. So far among the list of restaurants you mentioned, we considered Bulawan Floating Restaurant the best! It has been my family’s favorite stopover whenever we go on a roadtrip. Though we have yet to try the others, I am sure that coming from you, it must be good! Your tips really help me in finding places to eat. Thanks so much.

  35. Very informative and inviting! I’m Googling places to see in Antipolo but when read like 3 of your articles about Tanay, I think I prefer Tanay more. Keep writing more travel blogs please. They’re very helpful! Excited to traverse Tanay soon!! 🙂

  36. Yeah, Tanay is really great if you love the outdoors & have your own form of transpo. I’ll be adding a few more new restos to this list. 🙂

  37. Pingback: Haranah Eco Park in Tanay, Rizal | Travel Up

  40. mam we are coming from baclaran going to sierra madre resort for a photoshoot madadaanan po ba namin yun Jariel’s peak and Marquez bulalo? thank you for sharing keep blogging!

  41. Hello. Malayo pa yung Jariel’s Peak and Marquez Bulalohan from Sierra Madre Resort Hotel. Nasa Infanta na yung Jariel’s, mga roughly 1 hour drive by private vehicle. Ten Cents to Heaven & Paseo Rizal medyo malapit pa. Check niyo rin dun if you have time, maganda for photoshoots 🙂

  43. Hello Kara,
    I enjoy exploring & discovering the Country by car or SUV, with family or friends. I did Marilaque a year or more ago alone. I went to meet up with a friend in Inanta. I left the Katipunan Loyola Heights area at 3pm, and arrived Infanta at 7 or 8pm. I realize now how much I missed! Fog was thick in many areas (it was late afternoon) it got dark soon and I started to get nervous as I was alone and unfamiliar with Marilaque, it was my first time. I was hoping to enjoy Marilaque and what it has to offer in terms of view and scenery, on my way back to Quezon City with my friend, 3 days later. However, it was closed to traffic because of landslides.
    Instead of the usual Tagaytay or Baguio, this time I thought I would take 3 of my sisters through Marilaque. That is this week or next. We like to travel middle of the week instead of week ends to avoid overcrowded places. We like to get out of Quezon City at 6:30am. I thought we would get breakfast in a nice and cozy place with a nice view, pleasant temperature and which serves good food & brewed coffee so we can just sit, share stories and enjoy the place for several hours. Going through your list of Restos, Is Paseo Rizal Masugay our best bet ? How far is it from Katipunan Loyola Heights ? What is the road condition ? Is the bridge that collapsed rebuilt already ? Is Marilaque now passable all the way to Inanta ?
    Thank you,
    Joey

  44. Hello Joey. The best resto on this route if you just want to hang out with nice ambiance (plus decent restrooms) is definitely Paseo Rizal Mayagay. It’s about 2 hrs from QC right before Pranjetto Hills and the junction going to Sampaloc. Road condition is very good up to this point. The bridge that collapsed in Infanta is still under construction as of Nov 2017. You can see recent photos from my ride 2 weeks ago there here.

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  46. Pero sana naman po hindi maiingay yung mga motor ang dami kasi umaakyat na riders maiingay mga muffler ng motor nila… nadi-disturb kasi yung wildlife dyan… sana bigyan ng konsiderasyon ng mga riders na mahilig sa nature tripping patahimikin mga motor nila ibagay lang sa peaceful na ambience ng lugar… suggestion lang po baka naman posible… Salamat!

  47. Hello. Agree ako sayo diyan. Mahilig ako magride para ma-enjoy yung lugar, mag food-tripp etc. Pero meron talagang ibang rider groups na ang hilig mag-karera at ang ingay pa ng loudpipes. Sana sa racetrack nila gawin at hindi sa mga ganyang lugar.

  48. Hi Ms. Kara. I plan to spend a quiet birthday with my family (I have 3 teenagers) high up in Sierra Madre. My wife and I are birders and plan to go birding very early, maybe 5am. Do you advise booking overnight in D’ Hulk? – Art

  49. Hello Art. I haven’t stayed overnight in D’ Hulk yet, but they usually get a crowd of riders during weekends for breakfast rides. The rooms there are sort of container van type rooms. If you want something a little more quiet, peaceful & exclusive or with more facilities, check out Haranah Eco Park (camping style set up) or Ten Cents to Heaven which are also in the same area.

  50. Thank you for this Kara.

    Operational pa po ba si Mang Vic’s Bulalohan? Planu ng bike group namin na pumunta dun this coming Aug 18. Any contact number?

    Thank you so much.

  53. Hi Kara, thanks for this entry. I’m not sure of its age since some comments are dated far earlier but the article is 2018. Planning to do a leisurely fun drive to Infanta and back in one day. I’m bringing a sedan that sits closer to the ground than usual (one day I will have my bike). Would you know if the entire road stretch to Infanta is okay to traverse with a car, or are some parts only for an SUV?

    Looking forward to trying some of the places you mentioned above. Thank you!

  54. Hi Paul, I wrote this originally 5 years ago with just a handful of entries, but have since updated it more regularly based on recent visits (hence the discrepancy on publication and comment dates). The whole stretch is paved and concreted, though there is one area nearing Infanta for a while because of a landslide. There was a makeshift bridge for a while but I think it’s passable again to all types of vehicles. It’s a bit on the steep side though.

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