Bag of Beans is usually the first place we drop by to whenever we visit Tagaytay. We board a bus from Manila, wait out the comfy two-hour ride, alight at the road with the restaurant’s old signboard (right before going to Caleruega) and follow the mysterious steps that lead down to the al fresco café area.

Although known for their Alamid Coffee, which is made from the coffee seed droppings (yes, as in poop) of an Alamid cat, we really haven’t tried their version of that very expensive coffee yet. What we usually come here for is their breakfast, and more importantly their jungle-like garden ambience.

The place used to be small and intimate; gravel floorings outside, lots of private nooks, rough wood furniture and overgrown plants everywhere; it’s like we’ve gotten lost, when in reality, we’re just inside the courtyard. Inside their airy hut-like resto, not unlike your gramma’s old house, magazines, knickknacks, old furniture and what-nots abound.

It’s been more than a year since we dropped by the place and as we went down the familiar stones steps, it was   apparent that changes had taken place while we were away.

The gravel floor, which I so love before, had been paved with concrete tiles; the overgrown plants, trimmed down; the nooks, cleaned out (and some of them are now paid-only area, like your order has to reach a certain amount before you can occupy it); and the place enlarged. The intimate ambience that makes us come back again and again was gone. It seemed the place’s magic got sweeped out along with the clutter and even their talking bird that imitates a cat’s meow seemed silenced by the new surroundings.

A new wing was added on the far side of the café (available only during weekends) and so’s a new veranda that can be accessed on the ground level bakery. In fairness, they both looked nice, but it seemed to commercialize the place too much.

Changes had been made and I guess one cannot help but grow up. I just hope that through time, the old clutter that makes Bag of Beans so wonderful grows right back to this wonderful outdoor café that we dearly loved before.

 

We of course visited Bag of Beans for the food. We have a long day ahead and we needed all them carbs for all the walking we’d be doing that day.

We ordered the usual bread combo that we’ve been having ever since we discovered this place some years ago; a loaf of Braided Bread (Php85.00), Bacon Strips (Php95.00), two pieces of eggs (Php50.00) and Hot Chocolate (Php105.00). Php335.00 for two persons, not bad at all.The loaf was soft as a cloud and has a slight buttery taste, perfect for the crispy bacon strips and sunny side up eggs. The hot chocolate was so thick, rich and delicious that you’d agree with the resto’s not-so-large serving size. Too much of this may be bad for your health, hehe.

Our friends ordered Bacon & Eggs with Toast (Php175.00), Cheese Omelette with Two Buttermilk Pancakes (Php160.00), Sausage & Egg with Toast (Php175.00) and Lasagna (Php195.00). I was unable to try out their dishes since serving size was not that big (they ordered from the kid’s menu since they’re cheaper) and the price, expensive.

For bread lovers, the bakery on the ground level would definitely whet your appetite. Baked deliciousness wafts out of the door as you open them; and inside, breads, cakes and cookies of all kinds entices every visitors to taste them.

While Bag of Beans’ serving is on the small size, the dish’s flavors do make up for it (so does the place’s ambience). Ordering at the Bag of Beans can really put a dent on your wallet, so prepare a budget of at least P250.00 per person if you plan to visit the place.

Bag of Beans Tagaytay
Address: 115 Aguinaldo Highway, Mendez Crossing West, Tagaytay City, Cavite
Contact Number: (0922) 881-8265 | (046) 413-4356 | (046) 413-2724
Email: manager@bagofbeanstagaytay.net
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