Viaje del Sol is the newest destination 2 hours away from Manila (besides Tagaytay). I checked out all the places already and I can save you the trouble of being disappointed in going to Patio Verde or the Laguna Lake. Sorry for starting this on a sour note, but we were disappointed because the Patio Verde is a hole in the wall grilled beerhouse and even if the food is great, the whole ambiance and crowd is not appropriate. The laguna lake on the other hand, is ugly, and I do hope they are able to revitalize this lake — soo sad 🙁
I’m glad that is out of the way, here are the best of Viaje del Sol:
Collete’s Original Store — This is big and you can say that you have bought your buko pie from the original store in San Pablo. You will see this immediately after entering San Pablo along the Maharlika hi-way. There are a lot of pasalubong goodies and they opened a new cafe beside it.
>> Casa San Pablo — Cozy Place for a retreat
Casa San Pablo — A writer’s retreat place. When you enter the main city of San Pablo, you would see this. Check out my detailed blog post on this with the link above. I’m checking this out and have an overnight stay on my next trip.
Contact Information/ Directions:
Gomez Compound, Barangay San Roque, San Pablo City, Laguna
It is along the main road going to San Pablo city proper (see website for map)
email: inquire@casasanpablo.com
website: http://www.casasanpablo.com/index.html
mobile: 0917-8126687, 0917-5268628
>> Quezon Culinary Night Cap @ Kusina Salud
Kusina Salud — Bohemian atmosphere with an excellent food. Patis Tesoro was the one who started this Viaje del sol concept and I’m glad that they marketted the whole San Pablo and Tiaong as one destination rather than competing with each other. Buffet lunch on the weekend and massage is one of the things you can enjoy here.
Contact Information/ Directions:
One you are in the main highway, Maharlika along San Pablo City, There are alot of signs going to Kusina Salud. You won’t missed it.
Mobile: 0921-7726985, San Pablo: 049-2466878, Manila: 726-5058/ 59
email: kusinasalud@yahoo.com
>> Carlito’s Workshop 1– Intimidating House with Surprisingly Hospitable Host!
>> Carlito’s Workshop 2 –Photogenic House with an Outstanding Garden 🙂
>> Carlito’s Workshop 3 — Carlito’s Coffee
Carlito’s Workshop — I was smitten by this place that I had to wrote a series on this. No food here, just plain coffee, puto and rambutan/lansones during this season. But it is a must to have a good chat with Carlito and that would complete your afternoon coffee break.
Contact Information/ Directions:
Just a word of advise, there are no signs from the maharlika highway going to Carlito’s workshop. If you are coming from Manila, after passing the left turn going to kusina salud, you will make a right turn to Brgy. Sta. Ana. The only landmark is a direction going to 3j foods corp. It’s a big road with alot of tricycles in that corner.
Carlito Ortega Cellphone # 0919-837 7755 or (049) 5620351
Open on Saturdays. For the rest of the week, please call to give prior notice.
>> Quezon Culinary Series 10: Ugu Bigyan’s Secret Pottery Garden
Ugu Bigyan — This is a winner by itself and you go here for pottery, food, and ambiance. I’m raving about this place so you should check this out if you decide to venture into Tiaong, Quezon
I don’t have the passion to blog about Villa Escudero not unless there would be something new or I’m accompanying a balikbayan. But, one of the last place I want to visit would be Kinabuhayan Cafe and I’ve heard alot about this place. Maybe this coming long vacation, we’ll take the opportunity to check it out. Good luck on your own adventure!
Contact Information/ Directions:
If you plan to go here, there are no signs along the national highway because Ugu wants it to be a secret. I made a mental note of landmarks along the national highway in Tiaong, Quezon which is the Ebreo Castillo Agri Poulty Supply, Lusaca highschool, and old Petron Station.
Ugu Bigyan
Telefax: (042) 545-9144
Mla. #: 250-8416
Hey Anton, could you list the addresses and contact numbers of these places, please? I’d love to go and visit. Thanks!
I just posted the addresses and contact numbers from the separate posts.
Are you going to bring me there when I come back this Christmas?
sure bro! Basta ikaw 🙂
thank you for featuring my hometown!! San Pablo, Laguna..I hope you could feature our week long fiesta celebration every January 15… the mardigras was often held and now cooking contests (using coconut stuff, milk, meat etc..) are a new addition to the week long celebration here…those were the highlights so i hope you could take a look at our fiesta..and you are welcome to come and have a decent meal at our house though we do not serve a high class cuisine here!!!haha!!!simple but decent that’s how i describe it!!! haha!! the lake on the other hand is a work in progress i think,you should have seen it 5 years ago,much a disappointment ( is it the sampaloc lake that you’re talking about?the lake situated near the city hall? because our city has 7 lakes all in all)…the sampaloc lake really needs revitalizing…it was really beautiful back then when i was a kid…i use to play there and my parents would take me for a walk there every afternoon and early in the morning…i live a few blocks away from there…anyway the other lakes are fantastic (looked untouched) especially the Pandin lake…and i’ll recommend to you also tahanan ni aling meding…great filipino dishes were served there ( heard from my mum)…palmeras…also great food, mostly filipino dishes…one of the best ambiance you could find a few minutes away from the city proper (been there loads of time,syempre libre)…tahanan ni aling meding,sitio amor and the forest club were cited by cosmo last december 2005…( the last 2 i haven’t been there but i read it was all worth the 2 hours travel from manila )..hope you could pay us another visit..
Wow thanks for all these information! It got me excited to go back
here. I know aling meding and it is already in my list to go back
places…. but how about sitio amor, forrest club and palmeras, would
you have contact information about these places?
by the way on the jan. 15 fiesta, I’ll take up your offer next year I
guess it would be on Jan. 14 Sunday? As long as the food is authentic
home cooking then ok na yon 🙂 Thanks for the offer really and I’ll
be glad to feature your fiesta…
anton
Thanks for the advise re viaje del sol! We did the trip over May 1 long weekend and had a great time. Food was great at Kusina Salud and Ugu Bigyan’s (value for money + sarap!). Carlito was a great conversationalist, I felt like we visited a relative.
Was disappointed though with the P450 dinner buffet of Casa San Pablo – food was only 3 viands, supply ran out and the line was looong, they should set up more buffet tables. I slept there overnight before and it was good, but now that they’ve expanded it’s not as good value for money – sad.
Hi! Thanks for the very informative narration you gave. Question, for Viaje del Sol, do you go there by yourself or is it an arranged tour?
Hi Anton! My girlfriend and I are planning to make a Viaje del Sol trip for her birthday, we’ll be going there on Jan. 13-15 for the whole trip. May I ask for a brochure? We’re already excited to go there. Thank you very much for creating your blog, we always visit your site for places to go. Thanks!
hi there! my group and i went on a viaje del sol tour last month and we had a great time. we only chose 3 stops (Kusina Salud, Ugu Bigyan and Kinabuhayan Cafe) but they were good ones and we totally enjoyed the Tour!
Kinabuhayan Cafe was quite a treat! excellent food and wonderful company 🙂
more of san pablo…try folcon bakeshop!!also my friend’s Fusion spa and cafe located at joeltown subd.,san pablo city.also try going to liliw,laguna,and visit arabella’s they serve super yummilicious pasta,fudge brownies and pizza!
thanks to your blog i have visited a lot of places.
recently been to Casa San Pablo. The place is great but was quite disappointed with the Buffet. Food was good but just wasnt what i was expecting BUFFET to be. There was no selection of food to choose from. They just served inihaw na tilapia and baboy, Lumpiang shanghai and ensalada talong, with corn soup and halaya ube. And the price of the Softdrink in Can at P50 is way too much.
Will try Kinabuhayan Cafe next.
i was searching the net for viaje del sol and this page was on top the list. there’s a new spot in san pablo, it’s Sulyap Gallery Cafe. It’s a restaurant with an antique gallery opposite it. The cafe is actually an old house that was transferred and restored in the Old Cocoland Compound, Del Remedio (Wawa), San Pablo City. The ambiance is tops especially at night. You should try their Kulawong Talong and Puso ng Saging, same with Tulingan Pasta, Kare-kareng Sugpo, and Beef Sirloin in Red Wine Sauce. for more details e-mail me at bcarreon@irrialumni.org
hi anton :)i would like to ask if there’s a specific agency or let’s say a specific tour wherein all the spots on the viaje del sol map will be visited? thanks so much and keep up the great work!:D
would you recommend any of these places to visit/ stay the weekend if you have a 2 year old with you?
Hi Anton,
I love your reading OAP!
My husband and I need your help. We’d like to take the Viaje del Sol tour and was wondering if you could tell us where we can secure a map. We’re celebrating our first year wedding anniversary next month.
It would be wonderful if we receive a copy of your reply through my email address. Admittedly, I sometimes get lost in the numerous comments of each of your articles. 🙂
Thanks so much in advance and more power to you.
Hi Lady,
I don’t have an extra updated copy anymore. If you are going on a day trip,
I would suggest: Kusina Salud Breakfast , Coffee at Carlito’s and Lunch at
Ugu. Be sure to be home before 4pm to avoid the traffic.
anton
Thank you! We’ve been to Ugu before. We’re thinking of staying overnight at Casa San Pablo.
More power to you!
hi, my husband and i would like to try out the viaje del sol. may i know whre i can get the map? many thanks and more power!
I don’t have the latest copy anymore… but you can get them in the Viaje
del sol area 🙂