Escapes

Travel and hospitality stories about destinations, hotels, and experiences outside everyday and includes food destinations.

Mactan Cebu International Airport facade with wave-inspired roofline and timber accents

Mactan Cebu International Airport: A World-Class Terminal, Built with Heart

By Simpol

July 2, 2025

For years, many Filipinos felt a twinge of embarrassment walking through our country’s old airports—dated, dimly lit, and never quite world-class. But everything changed with…

Japanese wagyu hamburg steak set with rice, soup, broccoli, pickled radish with bonito, and onsen egg.

Filipinos Have Always Loved Burger Steak. Niku Niku Oh!! Kome Takes It to Gourmet Levels

By Simpol

July 2, 2025

You smell it before you see it—an unmistakable aroma of beef sizzling on hot steel, signaling the arrival of Japanese hamburger steak in Manila. Step…

Dry-aged and deeply marbled, the signature steak at Lobby 385 is finished tableside on a hot stone—bringing fire, flavor, and a touch of drama to every bite.

Lobby 385 Didn’t Go as Planned. That’s Exactly Why It Works.

By Tatung Sarthou

June 27, 2025

It didn’t go as planned—and that may be the best thing that ever happened. Lobby 385 started as a straightforward steakhouse idea. But through creative…

Love Just a Drive Away: Dreamy Honeymoon Escapes Near Manila

By Kitten Zapata

June 26, 2025

Planning the perfect honeymoon doesn’t have to mean hopping on a plane. Just a few hours from Metro Manila, you’ll find romantic destinations that feel…

Corner view of Fable by Kenneth Cobonpue showing sculptural chairs, soft lighting, and artistic interiors in Bonifacio Global City

Fable by Kenneth Cobonpue: A Filipino Design Wonderland with Flavor

By Spanky Hizon Enriquez

June 26, 2025

Fable by Kenneth Cobonpue isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a story told in sculpture, spice, and sensory detail—right in the heart of BGC. I first…

Night crowd at Papi Oli Katipunan enjoying tacos and street food under warm lights—a lively barkada vibe in Quezon City.

Papi Oli’s Birria Tacos: Where Barkada Nights Begin in Katipunan

By BaGed Cruz

June 22, 2025

Among Katipunan’s food stalls, one taqueria-style stand has quietly stayed the course, and that is Papi Oli. Tucked inside The Pop-Up, a container-van-based open-air food…

Morning brunch at Rustic Mornings with pancakes, coffee, and breakfast plates bathed in natural light—offering a warm and inviting start to the day. Rustic Mornings Marikina

Rustic Mornings Marikina: A Breakfast Sanctuary Rooted in Memory and Grace

By Simpol

June 19, 2025

“Whatever feeds the eyes also feeds the soul. And people can feel the love, even without words.”—Chef Portia Baluyut A Corner of Calm in Marikina…

Wagyu and Bone Marrow Paella at Cantabria by Chele — A dish that bridges two worlds: the rustic soul of northern Spain and the indulgent generosity of Filipino hospitality. The wagyu is seared just enough to hold its flavor, while the marrow melts into the rice like a secret passed down. It’s not just a main course—it’s a memory made edible.

Cantabria by Chele: A Homecoming in Every Bite

By Spanky Hizon Enriquez

June 16, 2025

Thirty floors above Ortigas, in the penthouse of the Westin Manila, a restaurant quietly redefines Spanish dining in the city. Cantabria by Chele is not…

A Slice of Italy in San Juan: Inside Francesco’s Kitchen

By Tatung Sarthou

June 14, 2025

The moment pizza dough hits the oven’s scorching stone floor at Francesco’s, an Italian restaurant in San Juan, it blisters and puffs. The airy lift…

A historical portrait of Don Tomas Morato, Quezon City’s first mayor, alongside the modern façade of The Tribute Hotel—standing today on the avenue that bears his name. Don Tomas Morato portrait beside The Tribute Hotel façade, a Tomas Morato boutique hotel in Quezon City honoring the city’s first mayor. tomas morato boutique hotel

The Tribute Hotel: A Tomas Morato Boutique Hotel That Honors Its Roots

By Simpol

June 11, 2025

In Quezon City, Tomas Morato isn’t just a street—it’s a thread. It connects Scout neighborhoods, weaving through lives and memories. For many who live nearby,…

There’s something magical about enjoying a meal with a view—especially when that view includes the iconic silhouette of Taal Volcano, floating like a dream above the cool mists of Tagaytay. At Rosario, an open-air dining spot tucked away in this breezy highland city, the experience is nothing short of breathtaking.

Where to Eat in Tagaytay: A Delicious Taal Experience at Rosario

By Tatung Sarthou

June 6, 2025

We head to Tagaytay for many reasons: the breeze, the escape, but mostly, we go for the view—the surreal image of Taal Volcano, the world’s…

Step inside Bistro Charlemagne and unwind—this polished yet relaxed space invites you to slow down and savor every bite.

Bistro Charlemagne: Where Filipino Asian Fusion Finds Comfort

By BaGed Cruz

June 5, 2025

Evolving from Little Asia—a pioneering Asian fusion spot in Quezon City, Bistro Charlemagne offers a more refined, mature take on a Filipino-Asian fusion dining concept.…