Since the pandemic hit, I’ve been trying to avoid group rides and crowded places. While the number of al fresco restaurants and pop-up cafes along the main Marilaque highway has really mushroomed, the most popular spots tend to get crowded with groups of riders and cyclists. For date rides or solo rides, I prefer to go to hidden spots a little off-the-beaten path.
Checkpoints and other border restrictions are still in place in some areas, so I’ve been exploring more of the backroads and other areas of Rizal that motorcycle riders and weekend cyclists can still ride to and practice social distancing.
25th Hill Café is a relatively new resto along the Brgy. Pinugay Road in Baras that offers a cozy stopover for cyclists and riders who prefer to enjoy a nice quiet meal and good coffee away from the crowds.
Opened just last October 2020, this breakfast and brunch spot offers budget-friendly Filipino comfort food like all-day breakfast silog meals, goto, bulalo, and premium local coffee.
The cafe is easy to miss, as there’s just a small sign next to an Ynares waiting shed pointing to the entrance. I actually made the mistake of riding up the road right next to the sign, as I thought the cafe was in an overlooking spot before I doubled back.
The cafe is actually just along the road, with the entrance right behind the waiting shed. The dining space is right next to a small garden area. There are just a few tables and a couple of open-air huts surrounding the garden area. I found the place nice and quiet, with relaxing music playing.
Cyclists will appreciate the bike racks, where they can park their rides securely and in full view while they dine.
All-Day Breakfast Meals like Tapsilog, Tocilog, Chixsilog, etc. cost P75 each, while the Weekend Lunches good for two like Kare-Kare, Lechon Kawali, Sinigang na Baboy, etc. cost P150. The cafe also serves affordable Goto meals with optional add-ons for P25 to P50.
There was a time when the only coffee you could get while riding around the area was just 3-in-1 coffee. A lot of restos have really stepped up their coffee offerings, and 25th Hill Cafe has Drip Coffee (Sagada, Hazelnut, Macadamia, etc) and Roast Coffee (Lattte, Capuccino, Americano), etc. They also serve the 3-in-1 variety and Hot Chocolate.
The food I ordered was decent for the price, service was very friendly, and the restroom was clean and well-maintained. Overall, 25th Hill Café offers an alternative resto to the ones located along the main highway, with a more secluded feel for small groups of cyclists, weekend warriors, couples, and solo riders.
- 25th Hill Cafe, Brgy. Pinugay, Baras, Rizal
- Facebook: 25th Hill Cafe
- Instagram: @25thHillCafe