Saturday, June 15, 2019

Where To Stay in Tagaytay: Taal Vista Hotel

A quick stay at Taal Vista Hotel's newly refurbished Mountain Wing!  



Finally back at Taal Vista! It's been a long while and I'm so glad to be staying at their newly refurbished Mountain Wing this time around! For those who don't know, Taal Vista was built in 1939, which means they turn 80 this year! The English Tudor Mansion-style hotel is one of the Philippines' most popular tourist destinations and to be honest, it's really top of mind whenever I think about Tagaytay.

We go there to enjoy the cool weather, the huge space where kids can run around and play, and of course, the majestic view of the Taal Lake and volcano. But before anything.. LUNCH! :)

Lunch at Veranda
Our first stop is Veranda where we feasted on numerous authentic local dishes as well as a variety of international food items. Despite avoiding carbs, I was still able to fully indulge and enjoy the restaurant's many offerings from their lunch buffet.
After the extremely filling lunch, we headed over to the Mountain Wing. It was my first time staying there and can I just say, I immediately fell in love with my room!!

Deluxe Room at Taal Vista's Mountain Wing
Deluxe Rooms at Taal Vista Hotel's Mountain Wing are situated on a higher floor, giving you a better view of the ridge. It features a single King-sized bed, comfy duvet and fluffy pillows for a relaxing sleep. It's really one of the best rooms I've ever stayed in. I wish I could've stayed longer.
I mean, check out this view, guys! Super ganda! And I had it all to myself!!
I also liked how the simple and clean the bathroom looked. And yes, it has both rain shower and hand held shower heads! Sarap maligo!
BTW, thank you for the welcome fruits, Taal Vista!
Spent the rest of the afternoon working on my laptop. I also tried to squeeze in some reading but got distracted so I decided to walk around instead.
My first stop? The pool. To tell you the truth, I didn't know that Taal Vista had one, I just stumbled upon it. Good to know though, so I can bring my swim suit on my next visit. Aside from that, the hotel also has a spa, a fitness center, a game room and kids' club, a gift shop, and banquet/conference rooms for events. There's so much more here than what we usually see, so it was a good chance for me to learn more about the hotel.
Next, I headed to the View Deck for some fresh air. The view deck is probably the most visited area here at Taal Vista. They've actually started offering picnics this summer, so if you're heading there, make sure to book one to make your visit more memorable.
 Rates for picnics are as follows:

* Family (Php 1,690)
good for four persons; includes mini Pan de Coco, Bibingka, cheese bread, Churros con Tsokolate, Mango Panna Cotta, Pandesal, Caramel Custard, tinapa spread, Quezo de Bola spread, and canned sodas

* Couple (Php 2,800)
good for two persons; includes cheese and cold cuts platter and your choice of a bottle of house wine, wine of the month, or sparkling wine

* Kids (Php 1,290)
good for four persons; includes sliced cakes, cupcakes, fresh fruit skewers, mini pizzas, assorted cookies, and chocolate milk shakes

Rates are inclusive of service charge and all applicable taxes
I really enjoyed hanging out here and taking photos of this awesome view while the sun is setting. Too bad we weren't able to avail of the picnic since they have a 5pm cut-off. No worries though, there were other things in store.. like enjoying sunset cocktails at the Veranda Fireplace! My drink of choice? The Frozen Margarita!
Nibbled on some really delicious finger food, too, but controlled myself since dinner at Taza was just a few minutes away.

Taza Fresh Table
Dinner at Taza Fresh Table was one to remember. Every time my family goes to Taal Vista, we always end up at Veranda, so yes, this was another first for me. It was a meal to remember not only because of the great food, but the awesome company as well. When the day started, I only knew two people in the group, but by the time dinner rolled around, everyone was already sharing stories and laughing about random things together. And Taza is such a nice place to do all that - it's intimate but not intimidating like with other places. I'd definitely love to go back here with my husband. :)
We started off with some salads. On the left, we have the Caesar Salad while on the right, the Beet and Citrus Salad.
To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of beets, so I avoided that and just enjoyed the rest of the salad which was basically Davao pomelo and baby arugula mixed with dalandan vinaigrette. The Caesar Salad was a hit, mostly due to the local ricotta cheese, homemade pancetta, and of course, the Caesar dressing.

For the pasta, we tried Taza's Smoked Fish Tagliatelle. It's a mix of home-smoked mackarel, cherry tomatoes, basil, aged ricotta, and tagliatelle pasta. But, as much as I loved the tagliatelle, I enjoyed this Duck and Mushroom Lasagna more. 
I don't think I've ever heard of a Duck and Mushroom Lasagna before. This one has Laguna duck, trio of Tagaytay mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, and button mushrooms), bechamel sauce, and parmesan cheese. So simple yet so very delicious. I also appreciate the fact that Taal Vista supports local by purchasing ingredients from their nearby markets. 

The Grilled Turmeric Chicken was a surprise because healthy things don't usually taste good, but this one is the exact opposite. It's made with yogurt, fresh turmeric ginger, cilantro, tzatziki, and coconut rice. These ingredients complemented each other in terms of flavor and texture. 
Last but not the least is the Tomahawk Pork Chop which they elevated with caramelized onions and bananas, salsa verde, and pork jus. Okay, I admit it, I waited for this one to come out and it was well worth the wait. Perfectly cooked - thank you, Chef!! :) 
The chefs of TĀZA Fresh Table take great care in preparing dishes with no shortcuts. Guests can expect garden-fresh herbs and vegetables, slow-cooked smoked meats, handmade pasta, and made-from-scratch sauces.
Will I go back? Yes! 100% YES! :) Still hoping to get a chance to have a picnic at the view deck. Crossing my fingers I get to go back before rainy season. A huge thanks to Taal Vista Hotel for the warm welcome :) 
Taal Vista Hotel is located at Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City 4120, Philippines

Telephone No.:  +63 (2) 917 8225 / +63 (46) 413 1000 
Mobile No.: +63 (917) 809 1254 (For Room Reservations) 
Fax No.:  +63 (46) 413 1225
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