Ricardo’s Vista del Cielo in Tanay, Rizal

The Marikina-Infanta Highway or Marilaque in Tanay has always been a favorite for solo breakfast and date rides during weekends. With all the Christmas madness, I find myself just wanting to get away from the city, even if it’s just to drink coffee or have breakfast with a view of the mountains, away from all the cars and traffic of Metro Manila.

I’m always on the lookout for new places to eat along Marilaque during road trips. Last weekend, I found another beautiful dining destination for weekend rides. Ricardo’s Vista del Cielo is a newly opened restaurant where you can enjoy the cool and fresh air and a good meal with stunning views of the Sierra Madre mountains.

I spotted the place on the way to Cafe Katerina to join a Kymco Unity Ride event, but since there were a lot of people attending it was hard to order food, I decided to just leave early and have breakfast here instead.

Located along Marilaque Highway, right after Martessem and before Cafe Katerina, Ricardo’s Vista del Cielo is a welcome addition to the dining options along the popular road-trip highway.

From the outside, I wasn’t sure if it was a restaurant or a resort at first. The sign in red handwritten script and the name “Ricardo’s Vista del Cielo” which means “Sky View” in Spanish made me curious. It looks like something you’d expect to see in Tagaytay.

I was pleased to find that Ricardos’ is a private home that was recently converted into a restaurant with both outdoor and indoor dining areas. From the road, you wouldn’t think the space would be big, but the multi-level restaurant is larger than it looks since its located on a slope.

There are a few native gazebos set around the gardens where you can enjoy the natural view outside. The interiors are beautiful, with pretty tiles in the hallway, and lots of wood furniture, lots of plants and other artistic touches.

I loved the small details like scarves tied to the backs of chairs and decorative cloth bird mobiles that decorated the space. The cozy seating areas just invite you to just relax or chat with companions. Dining here feels like you’re being welcomed into someone’s lovely home.

The restaurant has a covered roof deck with several large tables for groups and a couple of hammocks hung up where guests can enjoy one of the best views of the mountains. From here, you can see the bend in the road and Pilillia Wind Farm in the distance.

The restaurant’s menu is a mix of Filipino favorites like bulalo and sisig and a few Spanish dishes. Most main dishes are served family-style and good for sharing among 3-4 pax, but they also have pasta dishes and silog meals for those dining alone. I’ll make sure to return with companions so I can try the other dishes.

While having breakfast, I ended up having a nice chat with the owner, Ricardo himself. They originally planned to buy property in Tagaytay decades ago, but serendipitously found the space in Tanay, and have been thankful for that decision ever since.

According to Ricardo, they’ve lived in the area for over 17 years, but only decided to convert their private home into a restaurant in 2019 after being encouraged by friends. The restaurant opened just two months ago, but it’s been getting a slow but steady stream of clients and walk-in guests like myself.

Since there are only three of them (Ricardo mentioned his wife and youngest child) who live there, they welcome visitors. They enjoy meeting new people and welcoming them to their house. He says the place feels more lively when guests come around.

Ricardo mentioned that he suffered a stroke at the age of 43 yrs. old, but his family’s decision to settle in Tanay helped him recover throughout the years. Now at 60+, he’s able to move around and welcome guests at the restaurant.

There’s really something special about the cool climate, view of mountains and natural scenery in Tanay that’s a testament to nature’s healing powers. Every time I go here, I always wish I had invested in property way back. But for now, I’m glad I have the highway and lovely getaways like this that I can escape to during the weekends.

Address & contact information

• Ricardo’s Vista Del Cielo. Marcos Highway, Mayagay 1, Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal
• Facebook: Ricardo’s Vista del Cielo
• Contact number: 0916-7773282