I was in Baguio a couple of months ago, just a few days in after the New Year to visit my sister. She's in Med School and we've barely seen each other last year which is why I try to come visit any chance I get. And even if we just finished celebrating the holidays that time, I sorely missed her so I decided to go. We also weren't able to spend Christmas together (just New year), because she was on duty, sigh. Med School IS HARD but I know she really wants this so I'm just here giving my all-out 200% support. Okay, just wanted to let that out before I begin talking about my new discovery 'cause I'm missing her yet again, huhu. 

Anyway, during my visit, I didn't intend on going to any touristy spot. I only had 3 things in mind: 1) Spend as much time with my sister 2) Go ukay ukay shopping 3) and go on a food adventure. I was able to do 1 and 2, but not 3--well, not effectively at least. I had a list of places I wanted to try but I actually ended up eating at this small carinderia I used to frequent when I was in college. For the 3 days that I was there, I was probably at DJG Eatery for about 5-6 times, lol. I figured the 3-day documentation part ain't going to happen but at least I have a few photos from Yasuragi that I can share with you guys! Shall we begin?

It's no secret the Baguio is my favorite City. I've grown a fondness in calling it my City of Blinding Lights, with U2 references, of course. I'm always in Baguio that's why I find it hard to make an introduction when I blog about it. It's not like introducing a new destination as I wouldn't call it that. It's also not in any way similar to introducing one's home as it's more than my home. So maybe we can skip that part and get to noticing how I've learned a new skill with font manipulation? Hahaha! I hope that's a nice segue. 

A couple of weeks ago, the boyfriend and I went to Baguio. The last time we were there was around February to visit my sister, who's studying to be a doctor at SLU. When I was in college, my allowance was P1000 for a week and I'd survive with money left for alcohol, Saturday parties and Sunday Ukay runs. And no, I'm not THAT old; cost of living is just comparatively low. But during our last visit, I noticed that the place was riddled with restaurants I haven't seen in the past. And you guys know how I love food challenges, right? With that, I challenged myself to try and create a round up of restaurants, watering holes and secret eats in Baguio to help tourists, like myself, in finding the perfect place to eat. Btw, I hate referring to myself as a tourist because Baguio is home to me. But with all the high-rise buildings and new restaurants all over the place, that might just be the perfect description. *sigh* I'll post every now and then since I always go there every month or two anyway. Hope this helps your upcoming trips. Let's begin! The places we'll cover today are the ones we actually visited through the course of that weekend. 

To be fair, this isn't the first time I'm visiting this place. But I haven't made a decent review in the past that's why I'm including it in this list. Tsokolateria is owned by the same group of people behind Pamana. Recently, they've put up a branch in Tagaytay as well. The ambiance of the place is cozy, as most Baguio restaurants are. The only struggle with this place is the Igorot stairs. There's a steep, lengthy step of stairs that you have to go through before you get to place. Other than that, everything's perfect. All of their Chocolate drinks are worth trying! Each order is good for 2 people, but it doesn't just serve a cup. It can serve up to 3 cup refills, as far as I can remember. Other favorites would be Strawberry Waffle, French Toast with Bacon and Mushroom soup! 

Budget : P250 - P300 / person 

Location : Igorot Stairs, Upper Session Rd, Baguio, Benguet

I've been dying to try this watering hole the first time I've heard about it from friends! There are actually tons of new watering holes that I've read online but I made sure to prioritize this because of all the buzz around it. Baguio Craft Brewery boasts of beautifully created hand-crafted beer. You can check out the amazing story how it came to be a business venture. 

One good thing to note here is that they allow you to taste the beer before you order it. No need to worry about paying for beer you don't really like, because here, you can definitely taste it before you pay for it. They also have a comprehensive table on the bitterness and alcohol level of each beer, as well as the specific category in which it belongs. I thoroughly enjoyed Lagud (Strawberry Beer), Keywheat (Kiwi Beer) and English Man in New York. I would highly recommend the three, plus a side snack of Onion rings..ahh! Awesome night! The roof deck was my favorite spot. They also have a live band to boot! 

Budget : P250 - P400 / person 

Location : KM 4, Marcos Highway, Baguio City

Ha! You might be wondering why Mines View is on this list. Well it is, as a matter of fact, a foodie paradise. Shown in the photo are some of my favorites : Roasted Dried Squid, Corn on a cob, Green Mangoes with shrimp paste, chili powder and vinegar, Fresh Strawberries, Organic Chico and so much more! Of course there's the always coveted Strawberry Taho with real strawberry bits. You might want to visit some of the restaurants in front of the souvenir stands. Aside from having an amazing view of the mountains while having your meal, they also serve really good coffee. 

Budget : P50- P120 / person

Location : Outlook Drive, Baguio City

Baguio has always been my safe haven. It may be popular to a lot of people nowadays because, duh, it's the summer capital of the Philippines. Add to that the growing number of tourists who visits it to have a view of La Presa, which, for fuck's sake, is made-up name for the place. I'm mad at these people because just like Sagada, tourists lately seem to visit such places due to their association to movies or TV shows, not because they want to be immersed in the culture. I'm not saying everyone does that as there are still a lot of tourists who go to such places to appreciate and experience the culture, and for them, I'm very thankful. 

I love Baguio to bits. If I were to put it in a song, it would be All of Me by John Legend. Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections. I admit, Baguio is not perfect because it's now too crowded with people and filled with high-rise buildings, but it is perfect for me. Cold or not, it will always be my safe place. One of the things that made me fall in love with Baguio is the cost of living. I can live there for a week with only a thousand bucks, and I'll still have money left for drinks. In comparison to Manila, which is a hell hole when we talk about cost of living, you do get your money's worth. Especially when it comes to food. Again, I'm not saying this goes for all the restaurants in Baguio because there are some that aren't worthwhile. Which is why I'll be sharing one of my favorites, which will be worth your time and money. Guise, say hello to Canto. One of the restaurants from the amazing Ketchup Food Community. 

For those who know me, Baguio being my safe haven doesn't come as a surprise. Even my agents talk to me about the slightest Baguio-related stuff that they know about simply because they know I love the place. After college, I've mad it a point to visit the place once a month if my schedule permits, or every two months. The boyfriend also hails from Baguio so it's not really a hassle, we get to visit family when we go there. 

During the summer, Baguio was the perfect place to be for Manila was starting to become a hell hole or burning citizens. The heat was scorching and one can just wish they were in Baguio, so did we. We then decided to spend a few days of staycation, and the occasional visits to the best food places in Baguio--of course.