Here's a little detailed review of the Top 5 Cafes in Baguio City (as of Nov 2020).
Type in Top Cafes in Google and here are the Top 5 results (crossing out cafes that have closed down):
TOP 5: CHOCOLATE DE BATIROL
Located inside Camp John Hay, just beyond Pacdal Gate, you will find a cozy little house with lots of plants and trees covering it.
Be warned, don't depend on the schedules Google is saying. With all the craziness and the pandemic going on, it is better to message them on their Facebook and ask for their updated schedules.
They are very rustic in design with all the wooden tables, chairs, and light features.
We ordered their Longanisa Vigan (P250), Boneless Daing na Bangus (P260), Bibingka (P140), Suman (P100), Turon (P110), and, of course, their Hot Chocolate Traditional Blend (P130).
Their restaurant is named after the way they prepare their hot chocolate. They said that this traditional process can make the hot chocolate last years at room temperature.
Their food is actually not bad considering it is on the bottom of the list. Vigan Longanisa is not pure Vigan as it is not garlicky enough. Their boneless bangus is okay too but their turon, bibingka, and suman is super delicious! Turon is the authentic one. The one you can imagine your mom cooking in the kitchen. It is then drizzled with chocolate for added satisfaction of your sweet tooth. Bibingka is also authentic as they said that they are using rice flour (or glutinous rice flour, I think. LOL. Ask the waiter if you visit this place to be sure).
I'm actually surprised to see this cafe at the bottom of the list considering they have really good food and amazing ambiance but maybe it's because it is inside Camp John Hay which makes it hard for tourists to access the area.
Chocolate De Batirol Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chocolatedebatirolbaguio
Chocolate De Batirol Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolatedebatirolbaguio/
Chocolate De Batirol Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ZwNBjn6fE4tvkWYF8
TOP 4: CAFE BY THE RUINS
This was once my favorite cafe in Baguio because the first time I walked in, there was an "atu", plants and trees everywhere and all the furniture are wood. I immediately fell in love with the place and their food was amazing albeit expensive.
Today, they renovated and their interior became more modern. Their dining area is now on an upper floor which contains around 7-8 tables.
I only ordered their best sellers which are their Banana Turon (P140) and their Ruins Ice Tea (P110).
Their turon is a restaurant version which means the wrapper is much thicker and strips of langka are included inside and then plated prettily and drizzled with two kinds of sauce. Their house-blend ice tea is not powdered and is really made with tea leaves (just don't forget to mix it really well as the honey tends to settle at the bottom).
Cafe By The Ruins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafebytheruinsph
Cafe By The Ruins Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafebytheruins/
Cafe By The Ruins Location: https://goo.gl/maps/qr969FAogXRYdsRm7
TOP 3: TSOKOLATERIA
I was very much surprised to know that Tsokolateria has merged with the Pamana restaurant. The first time I went to this cafe, we have to go down on the Igorot Stairs, and midway through the stairs, there's a little pocket of garden where the Tsokolateria cafe is located. Sadly, maybe because of the pandemic, it has merged with the Pamana restaurant to save restaurant costs.
It was my first time to enter the Pamana restaurant in Baguio and the interior design is very intimidating. With all the black and gold trimmings, I can't help but feel that I am walking into a very very fine restaurant, which I'm sure Pamana is, but my goal is the Tsokolateria cafe so it's kinda confusing.
Their menu is still the same, thankfully, and still very quirky.
They have two basic hot chocolates which are Tsokolate ah and Tsokolate eh. Tsokolate ah is their sweet version while the Tsokolate eh is for people who like their chocolate bittersweet.
We ordered their Tsokolate ah (P190) which is already good for 2-3 people and their Calamansi Souffle Pancake (220). The waiter said their bestseller for the Souffle Pancake is the Bibingka but I'm not quite fond of salted egg in my desserts so I opted for the Calamansi Souffle Pancake.
It really looks appetizing and pretty when it arrived. It even has two sauce which is calamansi and chocolate flavor. But I was quite disappointed when I took my first bite. It was very mushy and dense in the middle and I felt like I was eating a ready mix dessert. But their chocolate drink is an experience already. They served it with a metal pitcher and a batirol where you have to mix the hot chocolate by twirling the batirol between your hands. It's good enough but it's too grainy for me.
Tsokolate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsokolateria
Tsokolate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsokolateria/
Tsokolate Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VDmy4EETDNeD2Eo66
TOP 2: HALF-CUP
Half-cup is not technically in Baguio but it is located in La Trinidad, near the Strawberry Farms.
They have very precise steps for you to take upon entering and you can watch it here.
This is actually a huge area for a coffee shop and I can imagine students and teenagers easily filling up the space since it exudes a very airy and relaxed vibe.
They even have this space covered with fake-grass where people can sit and lie on the floor. Sadly, they have to close it temporarily for sanitary purposes.
I ordered their Roasted Oolong Milk Tea (P115), Strawberry Chicken Basil (P120) and Creamy Pesto Bacon (P145).
Their Roasted Oolong Milk Tea has the usual bobba pearls all milk tea have but it also has one healthy ingredient which made me order it. It has chia seed! They also use edible straw which is very eco-friendly. Watch my experience with it here.
For the sandwich, they let you choose what type of bread you want and I chose the Multi-grain bread. I ordered their strawberry chicken sandwich because I wanted to taste this weird pairing. It's not bad but it's not something I would eat again. LOL
But their Pesto pasta is AUTHENTIC. The pesto is so fragrant and so creamy that I don't have any problem finishing it up.
Half-Cup Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfCupBakeshop
Half-Cup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halfcupbakeshop/
Half-Cup Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Yk5G4RHKZokDnUV18
TOP 1: HATCH COFFEE
We went here twice and the first thing I have to tell you is TO MAKE A RESERVATION! Their space is very limited and as they want to maintain the peace and calmness their customers want, they are on a reservation basis. You can try to walk-in and if you're fortunate enough to have a free table, then they will accept you. But that didn't happen to us. We went there not knowing their reservation basis but sadly there were no open tables. So we have to leave and make a reservation for tomorrow on their Facebook page.
This cafe is the homiest and coziest vibes. It's like having your coffee inside someone's beautiful home.
They have a window for taking your order and beside this window is a place where they call your name for you to pick up your orders.
I ordered their best sellers: Dirty Horchata (P140), Grilled Cheese (P190), and Hatch Burger (P240).
It was my first time to taste a Horchata. It was even my first time reading it and hands down, I was blown away. It will make any coffee-haters a believer of the power of coffee. It was that good. If you still can't believe me, here's proof: We order a second cup.
Their Grilled Cheese is also a huge thumbs-up! They are not using those fake square cheeses that you can buy in the supermarket. They are using real authentic cheeses!
I did the cheese test and I noticed that it also has something other than cheese inside it. I haven't had the opportunity to ask them what it is but it's either caramelized onions or cured meat.
Their Hatch Burger is also delicious. Their beef patty is made with real pure beef added with spices and smashed on the grill giving the appearance of a very rustic burger. They also used caramelized onions and Hawaiian buns among the usual burger ingredients. Each ingredient complemented each other which makes this a very delicious burger.
Hatch Coffee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hatchcoffeeph
Hatch Coffee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hatchcoffeeph/
Hatch Coffee Location: https://g.page/hatchcoffeeph?share
MY TOP 1: HATCH COFFEE
After visiting 5 cafes in Baguio, Hatch Coffee is definitely my winner. Not because it's the most expensive one but because of the food (which is 5 stars), ambiance (5 stars) and service (5 stars).
All the food we ordered is delicious and well-cooked while I have nothing more to say about their ambiance as it is already perfect. Their service is also 5 stars because their staff is very friendly and accommodating. We are one of the first customers that arrived and there was no grumpy staff but everybody was willing to serve and give us the best time.
Kudos Hatch Coffee!
Remember! MAKE A RESERVATION when you want to visit Hatch Coffee!
Here's a 2-part vlog about this topic:
PART 1
PART 2: