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Romantic Getaways near Manila

Kara Santos

February is love month! If you’re looking for alternatives to dining out in mall-based restaurants in the city, nothing beats a scenic road trip for a romantic getaway. If you’re not the type who likes sleeping under the stars and camping outdoors, how about staying overnight in a cozy Bed and Breakfast or boutique hotel just a couple of hours from the metro?

Here are just a few romantic dining destinations and B & Bs I know of near Manila ideal for Valentine’s weekend, date rides with your significant other, intimate family getaways, girl’s day out bonding with friends or solo trip getaways where you can relax and recharge.

Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens Spa

When you think of romantic places to stay near the city, Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens Spa in Antipolo immediately comes to mind. The first and only hanging gardens and spa in the Philippines is set in a mountain resort just an hour’s drive from the metro. Visitors can choose from a variety of spa packages for day trips or stay overnight for a full staycation.

The resort is well-known for its pampering packages and amenities such as fish spas, a jacuzzi, sauna, and infinity pools where guests can enjoy views of Laguna De Bay and the Metro Manila skyline. The newer Greek-inspired Santorini and Mykonos Suites and Garden Suites offer more privacy for guests.

San Rafael River Adventure’s Treehouse of Love

While San Rafael River Adventure in Bulacan is known more for its team-building facilities, this nature-inspired facility about 2 hrs from the city, also offers several glass villas, glass cabins, glass bamboo huts, stilt glass cabins and other accommodations by the river ideal for overnight romantic getaways.

Photos from http://sanrafaelriveradventure.com/

For those who have the cash to burn and are looking for something really unique, the “Tree House of Love” built above three mango trees looks like an interesting choice that will ensure privacy from other guests. The room comes with an indoor heated pool and a circular bed draped with curtains to complete the romantic feel. Another unique option in the resort is their “glamping with a twist” experience with tents built on a floating raft.

Casa San Pablo

Casa San Pablo is a homey bed & breakfast lodging and country inn surrounded by pine trees, sprawling lawns, and flowering plants roughly 2.5 to 3 hrs drive from Manila. Popular for destination weddings and prenup photoshoots, this country getaway is an ideal place for couples and families looking for a quiet time and a change of scenery from the city. Casa San Pablo serves breakfast all day and Southern Tagalog delicacies.

No two rooms are alike here, as each room has a unique floor plan, different number of beds, and conversation pieces from the owner’s collections or contemporary artwork. The resort offers various room types including a few boutique, PWD-friendly and pet-friendly rooms. The most romantic room is a stand-alone casita with two sets of sliding glass doors opening to a view of the palm garden. The spacious room has a large bed, a small day bed, as well as a cozy sitting area.

Sulyap Bed & Breakfast

Sulyap (a Filipino term for a glimpse) Gallery Cafe & Restaurant is another boutique hotel, restaurant, art gallery, and heritage museum in San Pablo, Laguna (2.5-3 hrs away). The complex, set in a two-hectare lot, offers a “taste of the past” with its Spanish colonial-era ambiance, traditional Filipino dishes, and antique collections. Sulyap’s main attraction is the gallery cafe and restaurant which offers traditional Filipino Cuisine and beverages including native dishes from San Pablo.

Sulyap is known for its colonial-era hotel architecture. Four of its five restored casas are ideal for overnight stay for travelers and tourists. Casa Obando, Casa Alitagtag, Casa Del Remedio, and a portion of Casa San Juan will give you a glimpse of the past with its classical design of capiz shell windows, hardwood flooring and wooden furniture. Hotel guests can also enjoy a cool dip in Sulyap’s swimming pool located at the end of the lot’s garden.

Patis Tito Garden Cafe and B & B

Patis Tito Garden Café and Bed & Breakfast is a dining and lodging experience in San Pablo, Laguna roughly 3 hrs from Manila within the creative retreat of Filipiniana textile artist and heritage advocate Patis Pamintuan Tesoro. The romantic restaurant (formerly known as Kusina Salud) is known for offering slow-cooked Filipino favorites using fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

For those who want to stay the night, the restaurant also offers a cozy Bed & Breakfast on the premises, including a 1930’s room and the Luna room. Both dining (brunch, lunch, merienda, early dinner) and overnight stays are strictly by reservation as they are undergoing a major renovation. Please contact them directly for rates and inquiries.

Ugu Bigyan Potter’s Garden

Ugu Bigyan Potter’s Garden is a private residence showcasing traditional pottery and earthenware products in Tiaong, Quezon. Popularly known as a dining destination and venue for pottery workshops, guests can now stay overnight in Hele Bed and Breakfast on the premises as well. The B & B located about 3 to 3.5 hrs from Manila, is ideal for couples and small families.

The Bed & Breakfast offers 4 tastefully-appointed rooms where guests can enjoy the chill vibe along with home-cooked food Quezon cuisine served on the potter’s plates and tableware. Because of the limited availability of rooms, prior reservation is recommended.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is an open-air museum and heritage park featuring restored Spanish-Filipino houses in Bagac, Bataan, roughly 3 to 3.5 hrs from Manila. The whole complex transports guests to Old Manila’s glory days and showcases Filipino craftsmanship through the architecture and design. While most visitors come here for day tours, if you have cash to burn, you can opt to stay overnight in one of the hotel’s 217 rooms or in one of the luxurious private casas.

The heritage houses are designed with colonial-period fixtures highlighting the old-world charm complemented by modern-day amenities, such as a television with cable channels, full granite bathroom with separate bathtub and shower. Private casas have options for beach-view or plaza-view rooms. For guests who want even more exclusivity and privacy, there are three villas overlooking the mountain and the lake situated in an area cut off from the rest of the property.

Sonya’s Garden

Sonya’s Garden is one of the most well-known dining destinations in Alfonso, Cavite, near the vicinity of Tagaytay. The restaurant serves organically grown, pesticide-free veggies and edible flowers daily picked from their 5 greenhouses. Aside from the restaurant, Sonya’s Garden also has Bed and Breakfast cottages inspired by the simple country lifestyle, named after flowers and herbs. The B & B is ideal for romantic getaways, honeymooners, balikbayans or tired urbanites looking for a place to rest and recharge.

The uniquely-styled cottages do not have air-conditioners or TV sets, but guests can wake up to nature’s splendor in full view right outside your window. Breathe in fresh, unpolluted air from the abundant trees that surround the property. Experience the serenity of country living and just get away from it all. Each stay comes with a complimentary early dinner or lunch, with full breakfast.

Chateau Hestia

Chateau Hestia is a hidden bed and breakfast garden restaurant in Silang, Cavite near Tagaytay City. Named after the Goddess of the Hearth, the restaurant is situated within elegant country-style surroundings where guests can enjoy authentic European cuisine and wine. Chateau Hestia offers cozy loft cottages, suite cottages and bamboo casitas with luxurious amenities.

​Chateau Hestia offers a lovely getaway especially for couples, groups, and families who want to share the exclusivity of the place while enjoying a uniquely European dining experience.

Villa Escudero

It doesn’t get more romantic than dining by the foot of a waterfall. Villa Escudero is one of the oldest and most well-known resorts near Manila that offers this unique experience. This coconut plantation and riverfront resort in Tiaong, Quezon is a top draw especially for couples, families, foreigners and balikbayans who want to experience the allure of the country life and soak in traditional Filipino culture and heritage.

Villa Escudero offers a tranquil getaway from the city, where you can commune with nature, and enjoy recreational activities like rafting, fishing, swimming, biking and bird watching. Aside from being a good day trip getaway, the resort offers cozy cottages with rustic designs where guests can stay overnight. Longhouse and riverside cottages are available in non-aircon and aircon options.

Prado Farms

Prado Farms is an eco-resort in Lubao, Pampanga that blends whimsical art with sustainable farming. Guests can enjoy an all-organic feast, architectural and farm tour, and learn more about biodynamic agriculture here during day tours. The surroundings are vintage and romantic, making it popular for destination weddings and pre-nup shoots.

Prado Farms also runs a 22-room boutique hotel facility for those who want to stay overnight. While staying here, you can ride around on a wooden cart pulled by a carabao (water buffalo), hop on the bicycles scattered about or go on foot to explore the farm. The farm destination is ideal for those who want to just enjoy simple provincial living.

Let me know if you have other suggestions. Happy Love Month, everyone!

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