Where to Eat in Baguio City | A City of Pines Culinary Tour



Some of my fondest memories of Baguio City always include food—well, and the company I was with. There’s Sarah giggling non-stop at Oh My Gulay, my former girlfriend Lauren giddily explaining to me the ingredients of Spinach and Chicken Galantine at PNKY Café (now closed already) and the heavenly face of another former girlfriend Monette, as she was finishing her plate of lomo ribs at Canto. These are just a few of my wonderful memories of Baguio where a foodie joint, café or a craft brewery played an important role. It seems that whenever I visit the City of Pines, going out on a food tour will always be my main agenda. To help you create amazing memories of food next time you head here, here are some where to eat recommendations in Baguio City.

Foggy Mountain Cookhouse


This Salmon Pie was one of the standout dishes in Foggy Mountain Cookhouse

This hilltop abode turned into a charming nook for foodies provides a lovely alfresco vibe. Set in a rustic house overlooking the misty city of Baguio—Foggy Mountain Cookhouse is owned by the jovial Chef Babes Reyes and requires guests to reserve a seat one day in advance. You can pre-order from a medley of cuisines Chef Babes learned from his world travels and fused with local taste such as: Greek Peasant Lamb, Crispy Squid Fries, Grilled Chipotle Pork Chop, Brick-Oven Roasted Lamb Leg, and more like my personal favorite the Salmon Pie.

Secret Garden

Pizza and Pasta are the specialty of Secret Garden
Want to carbo-load straightaway upon arriving in Baguio? If “Yes”, then this not-so-secret place anymore—thanks to its pizza and pasta good word of mouth reviews—should be first on your dining agenda. Don't leave without ordering the mouth-watering cheese heavy Quatro Formaggi 8.  The Vongole in Tomato Sauce leads their pasta roster while rice meals such as the Beef Belly Roast are also worth the try.

Lemon and Olives Greek Taverna


Even the food here are photogenic
Although it is already common to see old houses being turned into a restaurant in Baguio City, stepping inside Lemon and Olives Greek Taverna still summon a pleasant country vibe. While the many "Instagrammable corners" might appeal to the younger crowd, the food served here—raved as the closest one can get to eating in Greece—remains as the main reason why you must dine in this place. 

Cathy Kaiser of Escape and Diaries going loco at the IG spots inside Lemons and Olives
Elevated Greek staple food such as Pastitsio pasta, Souvlaki Pates, Pita Hummus, Athens Burger, and more—are best paired with their dessert and wine collections.

Oh, My Gulay


Vegan food + a splendid view of Baguio = Two thumbs up
As Baguio's first vegetarian restaurant, Oh My Gulay has become a food institution even carnivore-junky foodie include in their best of Baguio eats list. The creative and colorful dishes served by Oh My Gulay are enough to convince naysayers that becoming a vegetarian or a vegan-curious eater is a good thing after all.  The vibe of OMG screams of creativity because it also doubles as an art space for the emerging artists of the Cordillera region.

Tsokolateria


Tsokolate and Pancakes, what's not to like?
Tsokolateria—a small outdoor nook at the foot of Igorot stairs—is a good place to load up for the day. Serving a menu heavy on the chocolate side—sourced locally from cocoa farms in Cotabato, Davao and Baguio—Tsokolateria has successfully come up with both mouth-watering and exceptional combination of dishes. 

an order of Tsokolate eh and ah is good for 2-3 people already
Must-tries includes: the Tsokolateria Salad, Homemade Bacon Belly, Tablea Champorado with espada fish, Churros Bites and of course some hot servings of either the Tsokolate ah (sweeter) and Tsokolate eh (a bit on the bitter side).

Craft 1945


This Paella Negra is a winning order
A sister company of Baguio Craft Brewery, Craft 1945 is another gem of a place to dine in the City of Pines. Housed inside a two-story heritage house with alfresco garden, Craft 1945 serves a memorable set of fine dishes such as: Gambas Aligue, Tips Ala Pobre, Paella Negra and Marinera, Kalderatang Baka and more. 

Cafe 1945 also dishes a homey interior. Candid shot by Escape Manila
While waiting for your main course to be served, munch on a plateful of baby pandesal and pair your food with a glass of drink from their selection of local craft beers.

Ili-Likha Artist’s Village


This Balbacua dish at Urban Kamote stall in #Baguio is another must try
Because we mortals also need to feed our soul, filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik—the mind behind Ili-Likha Artist Village—has come up with a food park that also doubles as a continuous artistic canvass. Housing several kiosks serving a fusion of cuisines from all over the country, Ili-Likha dishes an eccentric vibe composed of an eclectic mash-up of installation art works. The interior is plastered with mosaic tiles, sculptured glass, paintings and sketches, handwoven fabrics, and other synthesis of artworks such as the ones depicting the Philippine flag and Jose Rizal.  

Café Yagam


Coffee and Books
Specializing in local Cordilleran cuisine such as pinuneg, binungor, pinikpikan and Cordilleran Arabica coffee, Cafe Yagam also brims with a rustic and homey ambiance perfect for Baguio's chilly weather. My friend Lauren (different Lauren) took me here one time and I was instantly smitten by the interior filled with wooden antique furniture and stacks of books over the fireplace.

Tsokolate de Batirol



Veiled by the tall pine trees of Camp John Hay and a walking distance from the out-of-place mansion of fragrance entrepreneur Joel Cruz, hides a cozy nook known for its cup of bittersweet hot chocolate. Tsokolate de Batirol practices the traditional manner of making their signature chocolate drink. Using a copper pot and a wooden beater called "batirol", the chocolate is whisked until it reaches a thick texture. Be sure to partner your hot chocolate drink with some of their merienda treats like Suman sa Lihia and Bibingka.

Café by the Ruins

Built from the wreck of the 1990 Baguio earthquake, it was feared by many to reduce to ruins after a fire razed the establishment a couple of years ago. Cafe by the Ruins re-opened a few months later and is now continuing its culinary legacy in the city of pines. Retaining its signature facade, Cafe by the Ruins bid adieu to its old bamboo and cogon shingles and now possess a modern vibe by infusing an industrial theme where ambient lighting seeps through the large glass ceilings and windows. It still serves old favorites like champorado with crispy espada fish, beef mami, cheese lumpia straws, classic pomodoro, duck confit, lola pilar's sandwich, ginataang bilo-bilo, camote bread and more.

Strawberry Shortcake. Photo credit: Cafe by the Ruins
Please check out its other branch at Upper Session Road called Cafe by the Ruins DUA. Cafe by the ruins is a shoo-in in every where to eat in Baguio City articles. 

Café Sabel @BenCab Museum


Have a sip of hot coffee or chocolate while you stare at the surrounding forest and duck pond here at Cafe Sabel. This in-house coffee shop of BenCab Museum—owned by painter Benedicto Cabrera was named after his favorite art muse Sabel. Serving the freshest ingredients sourced from an organic farm, this is a good place to unwind after you experience a visual feast ogling at the many artworks displayed at BenCab Museum.

Great coffee and a winning dessert at Cafe Sabel

Baguio Craft Brewery


This is also a good place to bring a date for some cheery good time. 
This beer joint is an automatic inclusion in almost all Where to eat in Baguio city listicle. This place was smaller when I first visited it. But due to the popularity of its craft beers inspired by Ifugao Mythology, it has expanded to offer more space for beer drinkers in search of bold new flavors. If you are having difficulty in choosing what beer that suits your taste, you can order a platter consisting of six small glasses filled with different variants. You can also order the bottles and keep it as a collection since the packaging are artistically done.  

Canto


Lomo Ribs taken at Canto's old location in Wright Park
Canto used to be the most popular joint at the now defunct Ketchup Community in Wright Park. Many people were saddened when a new commercial establishment replaced the whole food park. Good news though, after a few months—Canto re-emerged in a new location along Kisad Road. Rebranded as "Canto Bogchi Joint", it now has modern interior and a bigger space for diners to enjoy their signature dish "Lomo Ribs". Grilled to perfection and partnered with creamy mash potato, fresh vegetable side dish and a savory barbecue sauce, a plate of Lomo Ribs shall surely take you to epicurean heaven. 

Kuya J’s at Azalea Residence


Kuya J is known as a fine example of a local hole-in-the-wall that became a nationwide chain. Credit goes to the always well-cooked Filipino dishes that fits perfectly in every setting—much more in the cold climate of Baguio City. Enjoy a double dose of convenience in Bagiuo City by staying at the cozy Azalea Residence and dining at their in-house restaurant—a branch of Kuya J—where you can enjoy all-time Filipino food favorites like: Sinigang na Baboy, Kuya J Bulalo, Pochero Tagalog, Sizzling Sisig, Bicol Express and more.