MANILA, Philippines—Its proximity to the city, cool climate and idyllic setting makes Tagaytay the ideal weekend destination for urban dwellers looking for a quick escape. With extended weekend holidays looming over, treat yourself and your loved ones to a one-of-a-kind Tagaytay food hunt.

Go beyond the Ridge and rediscover the country’s most popular weekend destination with new dining spots that will have you eating like a true Tagaytay local.

San Antonio Pizzeria

If you’re craving for authentic Italian pizzas, start your food adventure at San Antonio Pizzeria located at the Rogate Center. Ran by the Rogationist priests, San Antonio Pizzeria favors the authentic wood-smoked, stone-baked Roman style pizza (pizza Romano).

Pizzas are freshly baked made from homemade dough and herbs taken from the priests’ garden; wood is also from the trees around the property. Their mouthwatering and crisp, thin-sliced pizza is something you wouldn’t want to miss.

Nurture Wellness Restaurant’s healthy food. CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

Nurture wellness village

The second stop is at Nurture Wellness Village. Nurture has always been a Tagaytay must-visit, but with the opening of their new restaurant wing called ‘Gabriela’, health enthusiasts will have something new to enjoy and look forward to.

Featuring a new salad and herb garden, guests can pick their ingredients and have it served fresh. Located in Magallanes Drive, the whole stretch of Nurture Wellness Village features a restaurant, farm and spa which make for a perfectly relaxing respite from big city worries while sampling these staples in their menu: Fresh Salad & Tea, Chicken Arroz Caldo, and assorted Filipino rice cakes.

Lime & Basil

The third destination is Lime & Basil, a Thai restaurant located in Alfonso, Cavite established in 2012 by owner and head chef Sigrid Sarmiento, who is a proud Tagaytay resident.

Open from Thursday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 9 pm, Lime & Basil offers a casual, relaxed Asian dining experience with a homey feel since guests can tour and walk around the herb and vegetable garden.

Head chef Sarmiento also orders spices and ingredients from Thailand to give Lime & Basil dishes its signature authentic Thai flavor. Customer favorites are Fresh Spring Rolls, Pad See Iew, Sate Chicken, and Tanglad Juice.

Café Carmencita

The final stop is at Café Carmencita, owned by the husband and wife team of Gerry and Kathleen Manzano. This bakeshop and restaurant puts you at ease with its homey family dining vibe. Established in October 2013, Café Carmencita is actually a family house with a built-in café that serves gastronomic delights with a home cooked stamp.

Café Carmencita is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 8 pm and from Friday to Sunday, 10 am to 10 pm. Bestsellers are Salted Caramel Cheesecake, Turtle Pie, Roast Beef served with rice or bread, all best accompanied by a tall glass of Fresh Dalandan Juice or the local barako coffee.

Beyond the picturesque view of Taal Volcano and the Batangas mountain range in the horizon, Tagaytay weekenders and visitors are in for a lot more, particularly the food attractions and options from Tagaytay’s new and waiting-to-be-discovered restaurants that offer farm-to-table dining with fresh and organic produce grown from their own farms and gardens.

This list originally appeared in Avida Serin Food Hunt. To know more about the restaurants mentioned in this list and Avida Food Hunt, just visit avidaland.com, call 848-5200 or drop by the Glorietta Showroom at the second floor of Glorietta 4.

‘Avida Food Hunt’ discovers great finds in Manila