The Panagbenga Festival in Baguio is the city’s annual tribute to their abundance of flowers. Started in 1990, the festival was also their way of uplifting the public after the devastating earthquake that hit Baguio that year. For a city that’s a certified tourist trap, Panagbenga will definitely draw more people up north during this month-long festival that starts on Feb. 1. So if you and your loved ones ever find yourselves there to celebrate, I have a few Baguio spots to suggest from my recent trip to the City of Pines.
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Consider a stay at Easter Home Baguio, a Department of Tourism-accredited bed and breakfast that feels a lot like staying with family while on vacation. Rooms are simple, clean, and include a common kitchenette for days you feel like staying in for meals. For a big group, I suggest renting out the whole place and making a home out of it. Accommodations start at ₱1,600 per person, which includes breakfast at Hatch Coffee next door, which offers a short but robust menu of food and drinks.
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My personal recommendations at Hatch Coffee are the grilled cheese, the Loco Moco (their take on burger steak), the longgasilog, and the iced horchata.
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Besides the usual, beloved Baguio haunts, I suggest a visit to Chaya Restaurant for Japanese fare (the sukiyaki is a must-order). Their main branch along Legarda Road is a repurposed old house, and has the best cozy Baguio vibe.
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Chef’s Home is great for Thai food. The crispy papaya salad is worth going to Baguio for, but the place has other excellent dishes: the tom yum gum, roti with curry, and green curry. For dessert, the mango sticky rice and roti with ice cream are fantastic; I suggest splitting dessert because the servings are quite generous.
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New kid on the block Rebel Bakehouse is great for a heavy merienda. My personal picks are the almond croissant and the kimchi fried rice. Rebel’s warehouse-inspired space allows ample natural light in, and is the perfect backdrop for their delectable pastries.
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With Panagbenga in full swing after years of no celebrations, it would be wise to plan your itinerary and reserve early, because you wouldn’t want to visit Baguio without hitting any of these spots.
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