The mere mention of the City of Pines immediately brings to mind images of hot chocolate, brewed coffee, ube jam, strawberry taho, and a lot of other iconic eats. Baguio City is an amazing destination for foodies, with a sheer variety of artistic homegrown restaurants to choose from serving all types of cuisine. In the past few years, Baguio has become a destination for beer lovers as well.
There’s something about the cooler temperature up in the mountains that makes it great to just chill out and grab a beer with friends. Apparently, the cooler climate helps in the fermentation process of craft brewers. Baguio’s local microbreweries, well-designed establishments, and unique concepts really elevate the drinking experience. Here are just a few places where you can get quality locally brewed beer in Baguio City.
Baguio Craft Brewery
For first-timers, one of the best places to check out the beer scene in Baguio City is Baguio Craft Brewery. Since they opened their tasting room in 2015, they’ve become a favorite watering hole among locals and tourists visiting the Cordillera region. Based on the crowds during my last visit, the bar is a popular hangout for barkadas after work or sightseeing.
Baguio Craft Brewery’s signature “mythic beers” including Pugaw (India pale ale), Lagud (strawberry beer), Kabunyan (American Wheat Beer), Dalom (brown ale), and Daya (Lager) are named after different realms in Ifugao mythology.
They also serve a wide range of craft beer varieties on tap like Keywheat (Kiwi Wheat Ale), Hop Attack (Imperial IPA), Englishman in New York (American IPA) and Zigzagger (Triple-Hopped Double India Pale Ale) to name a few. You can also buy bottles and cans of craft beer for takeout here. The bar serves good beer chow and appetizers like crispy dinakdakan, ribs and loaded nachos.
Aside from the main drinking area, Baguio Craft Brewery also offers a cozy speakeasy bar in the same building with a relaxed but sophisticated ambiance and a finer selection of drinks. The Tasting Room at Baguio Craft Brewery (formerly Speakeasy by BCB) was rebranded in July 2023.
This bar offers premium whiskies, exquisite wines, and authentic cocktails. along with premium craft beers. This is ideal for intimate groups or couples looking for a unique place to drink.
- Address: Baguio Craft Brewery, 4 Ben Palispis Hwy, KM 4, Baguio City
- Business hours: Monday to Friday 5:00 pm to 12:00 am; Saturday to Sunday 1:00 pm to 12:0 am
- Facebook: Baguio Craft Brewery
- Contact numbers: (074) 620-2278
- Baguio Craft Brewery is now open for educational brewery tours! Details here.
Craft 1945
For those who want a classier and quieter spot to eat and drink with family, Craft 1945, opened in late 2018, is the best choice. This is a collaboration between Baguio Craft Brewery and Casa Marcos, a Spanish restaurant that opened its doors for the first time in 1945.
Craft 1945 is located in a quieter part of Baguio City, adjacent to Baguio Country Club which retains that Old Baguio feel. It’s set in a beautiful 1960’s American-style wooden house, painted white with forest green trim that feels very classic and nostalgic. It reminded me of the old cabins we used to stay in at Camp John Hay when I was a kid.
Craft 1945 serves premium craft beer and Spanish cuisine. Bestsellers include Paella and tapas such as gambas, mushroom adobo and calamares. They also have good pasta dishes for sharing. Diners can sample the different beers on tap like Strawberry Beer and Ube Lager before ordering a glass, which adds to the dining experience. Craft 1945 is great for families and smaller groups.
- Address: Craft 1945, 8 Outlook Drive S, Baguio City, Benguet
- Business hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00 am to 12:00 am; Sunday 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
- Facebook: Craft 1945
- Contact numbers: 0906-2213615
Hōka Brew
Hoka Brew serves a range of international beer, local beers from microbreweries in neighboring provinces such as Cerveza Sagada and Pampanga-based Bulul Brewery, coffee and grilled Mongolian BBQ style food. Try their Vanilla Bourbon Stout if you want something a little distinctive.
Located in the same building of The Podium Boutique Hotel, this restaurant is designed like a modern log cabin, with wide airy windows that offer a great mountain view. It’s a great place for a chill inuman session and is just a few steps from Baguio Craft Brewery along the highway.
- Address: Hoka Brew, The Podium Boutique Hotel, Km. 4, Ben Palispis Highway (formerly Marcos Highway), Baguio City
- Facebook: Hoka Brew
- Contact numbers: (0999) 992 8006 / (0917)852 8006
- Email: thepodiumbh@gmail.com
Gypsy Baguio by Chef Waya
During our most recent visit (October 2023), we spotted a couple of new Baguio-inspired beers while dining at Gypsy Baguio Cafe by Chef Waya. Session Road Blonde Ale and Baguio Gold Farmhouse Ale are craft beers brewed and bottled by Monkey Eagle Brewery.
Session Road Blonde Ale is a sessionable easy drinking beer with a fruity flavor best paired with poultry, fish, and salads. Baguio Gold Farmhouse Ale is another easy-to-drink beer perfect for cold mountain weather that pairs well with the meals here.
The full-service restaurant offers flavorful food from around the world including vegan, no sugar, and low carbs options. Some of the food specialties include Mediterranean Dips, Indian Buttered Chicken, Beef Rendang, Smoked Duck and Sagada Orange, Tuscan Chicken, Pan-Grilled Pork Steak, and more.
Gyspy Baguio by Chef Waya, 6 Quezon Hill Rd 2 , Baguio City, Philippines
The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay
While staying in The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay, we noticed a small beer stall and snack bar from Baguio Craft Brewery at the mountain lodge’s front yard where you can drink under the pine trees and enjoy live music and a bonfire in a garden setting.
Unfortunately, the stall was non-operational during our visit (October 2023) because some renovations were ongoing at the hotel, but according to hotel staff, they might revive this soon in time for the busy holiday season. Normally, the beer kiosk is open from Thursday to Sunday, from 2pm to 10pm.
Front Yard, The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay, Loakan Rd, Camp John Hay, Baguio
Plakafé*
NOTE: Permanently closed as of October 2023
Plakafé is a proud Baguio grown coffee shop where you can enjoy local coffee, vinyl music and art. Every corner of this coffee shop makes use of recycled and upcycled materials from old doors transformed into tables, to chipped cups fashioned into a chandelier. Their menu is mostly Filipino food, including lumpia, pancit, rice bowls, and goto.
The family-friendly cafe makes a conscious effort to support local products which includes sourcing fresh Baguio coffee beans, Malagos chocolate, and craft beers from Sagada. The Gusi Violet Ale is brewed using balitinao heirloom red rice from the Mountain Province, which gives it its unique violet color and distinctive fruity taste.
Other varieties of Cerveza Sagada include a Coffee Stout (brewed with Sagada’s signature Arabica coffee), a pine pale ale, banana brown ale, wheat ale brewed with wild sunflower honey and orange zest and turmeric / wheat ale.
Got any other recommendations on where to drink craft beer in Baguio City? Let me know in the comments section below. You can also follow my beer Instagram account @beer.up.
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