August 25, 2008

Lovely restaurants

During our trip to Baguio City, my husband and I made sure that we ate each meal at a different place. No, I'm not going to post photos of all seven because I didn't take pictures of all of them. You've already seen one in the first of my Baguio series: the Baguio Country Club's Verandah, where we had breakfast on the first day. Neither am I going to post food photos—because I forgot to take pictures (again!) before we started eating. I'm only posting two pictures this time, and it's because I love how these restaurants look. Except for a few touches of bamboo, PNKY Café looks more like a European country cottage than a Filipino restaurant with its colorful murals and paintings. I love how the bright colors contrast with the warm wooden furniture. It wasn't our first time to eat there, and we think that their food is really good. The rice that they serve is organic red rice grown locally in the mountains of Benguet. The café is in a small structure beside a house, where PNKY has a bed and breakfast, and a shop with lovely handcrafted furniture and home accessories.

PNKY Café in Baguio City
Café by the Ruins is new to us, though it's been around since 1988 and is always in people's lists of places to eat in Baguio. It is across City Hall and the property used to be where the home of Baguio's first American civil governor was located, but the house was destroyed during WWII—hence the name of the restaurant. Many of its regular customers are members of the Baguio Arts Guild and some of their paintings are displayed near the entrance. Our breakfast was very good, but I won't be able to say it's a good restaurant until we get to try their entrées. I have to say, though, that I wasn't impressed with the service—we saw the waiters hanging out at the empty tables reading the newspapers which had just been delivered! But the place—gorgeous! When you're inside the café, you can actually forget that you're in the middle of the very busy city center. BAGUIO CITY SERIES #7

Café by the Ruins in Baguio City

9 comments:

Profile Not Available said...

Hilda, it is indeed beautiful! I can't wait to hear how the entrees after you've been there for dinner!

Olivier said...

il est très beau ce restaurant, j'aime beaucoup la deuxième photo, cela doit être un endroit romantique pour un repas en amoureux.

it is very beautiful this restaurant, I love the second photo, it must be a romantic place for a romantic meal.

Eki said...

The garden and the lanterns in this photo look fabulous, Hilda. I imagine I could sit there for hours with the good food you describe.

I also like the the photos in yesterday's post (Commerce in Burnham). The people's faces and the things the sell look so familiar to me.

Ken Mac said...

Really unusual artwork on the ceiling. Looks abstract, modern. Nice pic!

Unknown said...

Both atmospheres look ideal to have a nice meal;
The second is my favourite because of sunlight and plants. Lovely!

Debbie Courson Smith said...

In these instances, who cares about the food. Ambience gets big credit.

Layrayski said...

I hope to visit baguio in the near future. I'll remember to check this place out. Seems nice.=) (and boo for the lack of food pics--hahahaha just kidding)

Lynette said...

Well, I never! Reading the newspaper instead of waiting on customers. The photos are very nice, though. Maybe on a second visit things will go better.

About the stroller/trailer behind the bicycle, I see them here often. Usually there is a toddler wearing a helmet in them, sometimes two. I myself would be scared to do such a thing, no matter what city.

Saretta said...

Look like nice places to eat. The ceiling lamp in the second photo is especially interesting!