Tagaytay City 2022 – Where to go and dine?

Tagaytay City is one of the most-visited tourist spots here in the Philippines. It overlooks Taal Lake and offers views of Taal Volcano Island in the middle of the lake through various vantage points situated in the city. Now that everything is going back to almost normal now, people are itching to go to their favorite tourist spots. Given the hot and humid temperature of our country, we like to go to colder places like Baguio and Tagaytay. For me who resides in Makati City, it is convenient to be near the latter. Of course, I still want to experience the #BaguioFeels, but we will save it for later and we will travel to the nearest ones first. My co-workers and I went on a 2-day trip to the second Summer Capital of the Philippines. Here are the 10 places we went to that I recommend you to try!

PEOPLE’S PARK

If you want to experience drinking coffee in a very cold and foggy place, this should be it! Tagaytay City People’s Park or the Palace in the Sky is built during the Marcos era to host the visit of US President Ronald Reagan. However, work stopped when Reagan canceled his visit, and the incomplete scaffolding of the mansion remained intact. It was around 26 Degree Celsius at 8:30 in the morning when we arrived there. The surrounding on the way there were very foggy and cold, which I enjoyed the most. Around the entrance, there are some pasalubong vendors which you can buy snacks from. After paying for the entrance fee (Php 30/head), we took a 10-min walk going to the top where People’s Park is located. There are jeepney drivers too that offers a ride (Php 50.00) but we prefer to have a morning exercise.

Why should you go here?

• So cold! Feels like in Baguio!
• Overlooking views. You have to wait until the fog dissipates so you can see Taal Lake and Volcano.
• There are so many pasalubong vendors outside and inside the park.
• Very Instagram-worthy!
• Nice place to exercise and have breakfast. You can eat Silog while drinking a cup of coffee in the eatery and restaurant inside.

Helpful Information

• Entrance Fee: Php 30.00
• Parking Fee: Php 20.00
• Jeepney Fare (Optional): Php 50.00
• Opens daily from 8 AM – 6 PM

PICNIC GROVE

If you’re looking for horseback riding, zip lining, and cable cart riding in Tagaytay City, go to Picnic Grove! It is a very spacious tourist attraction where you can have picnic with loved ones while enjoying the overlooking view. They also have a lot of pasalubong stores around the area. If you don’t want to eat in the huts, there are several restaurants and cafes near the entrance. If you feel like having a sweet warm snack while enjoying the view, you can buy Taho (with regular and strawberry sweetener) or grab a coffee from the vendors around. You can also take photos with horses for Php 30.00/head only. Visitors can enjoy relaxing activities such as taking a stroll through the trail or simply hanging out by their huts and taking in the picturesque view of Taal Lake and the majestic Taal Volcano. This is definitely a must-visit!

Why should you go here?

• Overlooking views. You can see Taal Lake and Volcano clearly here.
• Great place for a picnic.
• Horseback riding and zip lining!
• There are so many pasalubong vendors inside the park.
• Very Instagram-worthy!

Helpful Information

• Entrance Fee: Php 50.00
• Parking Fee: Php 50.00
• One Way Zipline: Php 200.00 / person
• Two Way Zipline: Php 300.00 / person
• Opens daily from 8 AM – 8 PM

PARADIZOO

If you like to stroll in nature and want to have a close encounter with animals, Paradizoo in Tagaytay City should be your next destination! The Paradizoo Theme Farm is a 10-hectare rolling terrain land with various areas such as Farm Animals, Vegetable and Flower Garden, and much more. Paradizoo is the only theme farm concept in Metro Tagaytay, combining a zoo and a theme park. In here, we get to hand-feed animals like rabbits, goose, goats, pics, and horses! It’s funny how the geese keep on following us like they know already that we will feed them. They must be used to being fed by the visitors. Sometimes they would get really loud that seem like they’re yelling at us to give them food. We even saw a group of horses just running around the area with no leash! Definitely a memorable experience!

Why should you go here?

• You’ll get to see a lot of animals!
• You’ll get to hand feed animals.
• Very instagrammable. There are so many spots you can take IG photos from.
• Staffs are very approachable and informative.
• Your visit will help them maintain the place and provide food for the animals.

Helpful Information

• Entrance Fee: Php 149.00 kids, Php 199.00 adults, children 3 FT below free of charge
• Additional (Optional): Php 30.00 Bee & Butterfly Garden Entrance Fee
• Php 150.00 Animal Feeds (set)
• Opens daily from 8 AM – 5 PM
• Do not wear white shoes or light colored shoes, the place has muddy parts.

LA VERYOL’S KAWA BATH

Ever tried getting a hot bath with a very beautiful view in Tagaytay City? If not, then check La VeryOl’s Mountain View Garden. It is a family-owned and operated garden spa known for its kawa hot bath experience. The name “VeryOl”, was derived from the parents’ names — Ver and Yolly. They also offer full body massage, ventosa, and hot stone for those who wanna have some extra relaxation. For those who want to stay longer, they have private rooms available for booking. My suggestion is to be quick on taking photos because 45-mins kawa bath duration will feel very short. You can also request add like extra milk bath, Himalayan Salt, Facial Collagen Mask, and Bath Bombs. If only we didn’t have to go to other places, I would have stayed more and have the full body massage. Definitely a must-visit and must-try!

Why should you go here?

• The place is very relaxing and the smell of the surrounding is very nice.
• The staff and crew are very friendly and accommodating.
• Great place for dates, honeymoons, or just simply pamper time.
• Unique experience.
• Great ambiance.

Helpful Information

• Day Tour Rates Kawa Hot Bath: Php 399.00 Full Body Massage: Php 599.00 Dry Massage: Php 999.00 Ventosa or Hot Stone: P1,099
• Kawa Package A (Kawa Hot Bath w/ Full Body Massage): Php 900 Kawa Package B (Kawa Hot Bath w/ Ventosa or Hot Stone): Php 1,400.00
• The duration for Kawa Hot Bath is 45 minutes. The duration for all body massage services is one (1) hour.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your schedule.
• A deposit of Php 200.00 is required for the use of towels and robes. You may get the refund after use upon check out.

MAHOGANY MARKET

If you’re staying for a few days or if you’re looking for the freshest ingredients for your Bulalo, you should check out the Mahogany Market! This is a famous Market in Tagaytay City where you can buy all the freshest produce and beef meat in a relatively low price in the area. Almost everything that you might be looking for is here. They have 3 buildings separated solely for Fruits and Vegetables section, Meat and Seafood section, and Pasalubong section. What I like about this place is that there is a lane for Bulalo eateries on the second floor of the Meat and Seafood section. This area is one of the most visited spot in this market. I suggest bringing extra money when going here because you’ll be tempted on buying a lot due to its affordable prices. Definitely a must-visit place in Tagaytay City!

Why should you go here?

• There’s so many choices to buy from.
• Plenty of parking spaces!
• Shop and dine!
• Products are affordable.
• You can still haggle.

Helpful Information

• Parking Fee: Php 20.00
• Opens daily from 6 AM – 5 PM
• Address: 10 Mahogany Ave, Tagaytay, Cavite

TWIN LAKES

If you’re looking for a great stop-over spot in Tagaytay City, Twin Lakes is probably by far the best. The Twin Lakes is the Philippines’ first vineyard community and Tagaytay’s first master-planned eco-tourism estate. At first glance, it appears to be a straightforward collection of coffee shops and snack establishments. There are a lot of food places to choose from if you feel like hanging out with your loved ones. You can eat at a variety of restaurants, including the well-known Starbucks and Mary Grace. This picturesque setting and view also make it an ideal or romantic date location. If you want to stay longer, you can also book for their accommodation and lodging. We only stayed here for a stroll before heading back to Manila. I would go back here next time to dine with my loved-ones. Definitely a must-visit in Tagaytay City!

Why should you go here?

• Ambiance is so relaxing and breezy.
• Overlooking stunning view.
• So many food places to choose from.
• Romantic and aesthetically pleasing especially at night.
• They accept lodging and accommodation.

Helpful Information

• Address: Tagaytay – Nasugbu Hwy, Laurel, Batangas
• Opens daily from 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Contact Nos.: 0917 846 1389 / 0917 853 7468
• Email Address: reservations@twinlakeshotel.com.ph

PASALUBONG CENTER & FRUITS AND FLOWERS MARKET

Before going back to Manila or wherever your hometown is, of course, it would be nice to have some snacks to bring home. Before we head back to Makati, we went to one of Tagaytay City’s busiest areas – the Pasalubong Center and Fruits and Flowers Market. If you’re looking for freshest produce at relatively low price, this is where you can find it. They also sell colorful freshly picked flowers from the local farmers in the same location. These are best during Valentine’s Season or when you’re on a date with someone. Just across the Fruits and Flowers Market, you can see different famous pasalubong shops like Rowena’s, Cecilia’s, Colette’s, and Leslie’s. Most of these shops are known for their Buco pie and tarts of different flavors. You shouldn’t miss this out when going to Tagaytay City!

Why should you go here?

• There are so many options to choose from!
• Very accessible.
• You can haggle, but haggle reasonably! Prices are already low.
• Buying from the locals will help them a lot.
• Products are high-quality.

Helpful Information

• Address: 4XGJ+W78, Tagaytay, Cavite
• Opens daily from 8 AM – 6 PM.

ACIENDA DESIGNER’S OUTLET

If you enjoy taking Instagram-worthy photos of yourself and your loved ones, this mall is for you. Acienda Designer Outlet is an open-air mall on Tagaytay-Cavite (Silang) road where you can buy discounted designer items. Its old European-style windmills, broad shaded walkways, Guardians of the Galaxy characters like Groot, and vintage bicycle and swing area are ideal for family and group photos. They give visitors at least 30% to 70% on fashion brands, enjoy a variety of restaurants, bars, and a food court, and have fun in the themed outlet mall. Ideal for pasalubong! However, while I appreciate the large spaces provided, it should be noted that the fashion brands carried are quite limited. I’m guessing a lot of stores closed down during the pandemic, but they might add up new ones that things are getting back to normal. Still worth checking-out!

Why should you go here?

• Cheap parking fee, only Php 30.00 flat rate. Parking area is also SPACIOUS.
• Social distancing is not a problem here, the area is very wide.
• Very IG-worthy!
• They have cafes so you can get some snack after shopping.
• They’re on sale almost every day.

Helpful Information

• Address: Acienda Designer Outlet, Unit 115, Unit 58, Emilio Aguinaldo Hwy, Silang, 4118 Cavite-Tagaytay Road
• Opens everyday from 10 AM – 7 PM
• Contact No.: (046) 419 8833

BULALO CAPITAL

Of course, the Tagaytay experience is incomplete without eating the local warm and tasty Bulalo, right? The place’s cool weather invites for a sip of hot broth! If you’re looking for a restaurant that offers this with an IG-worthy and overlooking view of Taal Lake and Volcano, then check-out Bulalo Capital! They have 2 branches and we went to the second one (main branch). This restaurant offers more than 30 different recipes of Bulalo. We tried one of their best-sellers which is the Sizzling Bulalo and we don’t regret tasting it! The meat is so tender and it tastes so meaty. I recommend you guys trying it as well. If you want something extra to do here, you can try their KTV rooms and grab some drinks with your family and friends. Don’t forget to take photos on their 360 degree rooftop, just show your receipt!

Why should you go here?

• They’re open 24 hours.
• So many IG-worthy spots.
• Their Bulalo is *chef’s kiss*
• Spacious parking space.
• Wide range of menu.

Helpful Information

• Address: 3WXF+RCV Beside Total gasoline Station, Tagaytay – Nasugbu Hwy, Tagaytay – Cavite
• Contact No.: 0930 224 1414
• Email Address: cruzat_76@yahoo.com
• Open daily 24 hours

SALAKOT ALFRESCO DINING & CAFE

If you’re looking for a unique rustic dining experience in Tagaytay, then you should try Salakot! Salakot Restaurant is a Filipino-themed outdoor restaurant that serves both local and international cuisine. It has an open-style nipa hut in various sizes and designs for a one-of-a-kind and private dining experience. The restaurant also accommodates large groups for special occasions such as weddings and birthdays. The greatness doesn’t stop with its unique set-up but continues with the food. Everything we ordered were very delicious. Although the staff and crew can get busy and might not attend to you immediately, they were still very friendly and accommodating. It took some time for them to serve the food but we assume it’s because of the huge volume of customers. You can use the bell hanging on each huts if you need to call the staff (very smart). Nevertheless, we definitely enjoyed our lunch here.

Why should you go here?

• Plenty of seats! The place is very spacious and VERY instagram-worthy.
• Each hut has mosquito nets so it adds up to protection and privacy.
• Looks very romantic especially at night.
• The food is VERY DELICIOUS.
• They can accommodate huge groups.

Helpful Information

• Opens daily from 10 AM – 9 PM.
• Address: 47 Lalaan 1st, Silang, Cavite-Tagaytay road
• Email address: salakotcafe@yahoo.com