Fresh fruits, most of them organic, can be bought at the roadside stalls in Tagaytay.Where to stay, what to eatThere are those who can afford to build their vacation houses along the ridge so that they have a place to stay in Tagaytay City. And big time developers like SMDC, Ayala and Robinson have started building condominiums for those who wish to have a small piece of the city on weekends.But for many who do not have their own space in Tagaytay, the options for lodging are plenty. On top of the list is the city’s premiere hotel, the Taal Vista. It is as old as the city itself as the original lodge was built in 1939. This 261-room hotel now operated by the SM group is equipped with all the modern amenities you expect from a high-end hotel. Its premium rooms boast of balconies that offer breath-taking views of majestic Taal Volcano.Other hotels in the city include Summit Ridge, The Lake Hotel, One Tagaytay and Days Hotel.Another cool way to experience the city is to stay in one of its many bed and breakfast hotels. Hotels like Joaquin’s, The Boutique, Sonia’s, Casa Marcosa, The Inn at Cliffhouse, Lazea, ChateuBeatrice, Chateau Hestia, T House and many more, are where visitors can enjoy a comfortable stay with complementary breakfast of Tagaytay favorites like fried rice with beef tapa or crispy tawilis.Tagaytay is a haven for food lovers where food choices ranging from traditional Filipino to Asian to Continental are available. But for those who want to try everything, the weekend buffets are recommended. The best place to try buffet is at Taal Vista Hotel’s Café Veranda where weekend offerings of Continental and Filipino dishes are enjoyed with a Filipiniana dance performance. Other hit weekend buffets in Tagaytay are offered at Josephine’s and Bag of Beans.A visit to Tagaytay is also not complete without trying the specialty dishes of the highlands: beef bulalo and crispy tawilis. These two are available at LZM, Leslie’s, Diner’s, Pamana’s and Tootsie’s. But for those who wish to try them in home-cooked style and at affordable prices can head straight to the second floor of the new Mahogany market, where several local eateries prepare them with the ingredients directly sourced from the nearby market.Another Tagaytay staple worth trying are the home-made burgers at Mushroomburger, the organic salad of Gourmet’s farm, the tarts of Rowena’s, Jacobina cookies of Noceda and the Tawilis in Oil of Good Shepherd’s.Despite all the developments that are turning Tagaytay into a modern city with all the comforts of urban living, the main attraction remains – that magnificent view from the ridge of one of the world’s smallest volcanoes sitting on the beautiful lake that is surrounded by awesome mountain peaks!
