Off the outskirts of Tagaytay City lies one of the best bed and breakfast place I have ever stayed at. A former coffee plantation, it has since been turned into a resort catering to people looking for a quiet getaway from the daily rush of the metro. Just when I thought I have seen everything Tagaytay has to offer, here comes The Coffee Farmhouse.

The farmhouse started out as a mere business acquisition for husband and wife Bert and Bebet Arenal, they purchased the land hoping to sell it again. Lucky for us, they were unable to find a suitable buyer and they had to resort to Plan B.

Plan B being what the farm is now; a hectare-large parcel of land dotted with wooden guesthouses along narrow paved pathways crisscrossing emerald lawns and low-lying coffee trees.

The Coffee Farmhouse experience actually starts not on the farm itself, but about five kilometers off it at the main thoroughfare of the Tagaytay to Nasugbu road. After boarding down the bus from Manila we were immediately greeted by Mr. Bert at the gates of Splendido. He immediately hosted us to his van for a direct ride to their place. Mr. Bert is quite the chatty guy, never missing a beat as we drove towards their place; subjects shifting from politics to tourism and to of course, coffee.

Once we got settled down at their place, we were invited to have a personal tour of the area. Winding paths and wide gardens, their swimming pool and bonfire places, hammocks under coffee trees, quaint wooden swings complete with authentic oil lamps; this farm seems to have everything you need for a quiet and relaxing time with nature.
 
Those looking for a more active environment need not worry though. Courts for basketballs, volleyballs and badmintons are available. They have a separate dart and billiard hall where you can hang out with your buddies. You can even have a game of air hockey at the side of their conference hall. And if you still have energy left after going through all those activities, you can also ride one of the many mountain bikes available to tour the farm either through the paved walkways, or for the more adventurous ones, through the off-road trails amidst the coffee trees.

All these actions would definitely take a toll on your stomach and the Coffee Farmhouse’s seven meals included on their overnight package (Php2,175.00/person) does the job perfectly to refill it. And with the free-flowing mild barako (Excelsa) coffee always at reach, your energy level can definitely keep up with all the activities available.

The farm can accommodate a total of 55 guests. These are broken down into two couple’s dorm, a two-story wooden structure that houses four bunk-type rooms, and two spacious rooms at the main hall. Their rooms are quite simple, almost utilitarian even. I would have preferred it though if they could introduce a bit more warmth into them through the use of wood, lighting and textures. But as Mr. Bert mentioned in one of our chats, the farm is still a work in progress.

Bathrooms are clean and with hot showers too. You would have to bring your own towels and toiletries though as those are not included in the room. If you forgot to buy your thingies, they do have some for sale at their honesty ministore (you just drop your payment at their payment box, a really nice touch.)

This has been one of the most enjoyable place I have been to in Tagaytay, well this is really technically not in Tagaytay but in Alfonso, Cavite, but you get my drift. Good food, friendly owners and staff, lots of outdoor and indoor activities, and of course the place itself. Really really beautiful in its simplicity as to how it blends man’s environment with nature. You can actually judge the farms pristineness with the number of birds, critters and insects still frequenting the area.

For team-buildings, out-of-town conferences, family gatherings, garden weddings, or for those wanting to just unwind from the daily grind of life, The Coffee Farmhouse will definitely not disappoint.  It’s like having a grand vacation on your favorite uncle’s farm for a day or two.

  

The Coffee Farmhouse
Address: 23 Palumlum-Matagbak Road, Brgy. Palumlum, Alfonso, Cavite
Contact Number: (0928) 555-5856
E-mail: thecoffeefarmhouse@gmail.com
Website: http://thecoffeefarmhouse.wordpress.com/

Getting There:
From Manila, board any of the Nasugbu bound busses [P90.00+] and ask the driver to drop you off at Splendido.
From there, they will pick you off with their van straight to the farm.