The Traveller's Magazine
Let’s get some contect: the Philippines, a former Spanish colony. Villa Escudero, a former coconut plantation founded in 1880 by Placido Escudero. Today this place is teeming with tourists awed by the village’s nature and by it’s… restaurant. The Waterfall Restaurant, we bet, is rated high on the refreshments scale.
A step back
The Republic of the Philippines, the pearl of the Pacific Ocean, was first discovered by Portuguese explorers and then Spanish ones. She was the Spanish East Indies for a while before she caught the attention of other countries like the USA and Japan. Bloody wars were fought until 1946 when the country finally declared independence.
From that point on the country was under huge reconstruction, under the command of a dictatorship government until 1986. The last 25 years have been marked by the passion of the local people and a huge surge in international tourism to some of the island’s most beautiful places, Villa Escudero included.
Villa Escudero
Founded in 1880 by Placido Escudero and Claudia Marasigan, his so-called “partner in crime”, Villa Escudero extends across the province of Laguna, a 3-hour drive from Manila. For a long time the village produced sugar cane and coconuts before establishing itself as one of the country’s leading tourist destinations, a more than perfect spot for a holiday in the Philippines.
The turning point really came in 1981 when the plantations first became open to the public. Still today you can visit the town museum dedicated to the history of the place and the importance these plantations.
These plantations which stretch for several kilometres, contain a small village called Mount Banahaw with an artificial lake created by a dam… and a restaurant with the most spectacular waterfall.
Waterfall Restaurant
The setting of this restaurant will certainly leave your mouth hanging open but be sure that fine food isn’t put on the back burner behind the decor and ambiance. This is Filipino food at its finest. Taste the adobo, a popular dish of stewed pork in a spicy sauce or pancit with fresh vegetables and shrimp, grilled to perfection. Local cuisine is a fresh mix of sweet and savoury, with a hint of Spanish influence. Is your tummy rumbling yet?
How about enjoying the endless culinary delights with your feet in the water? Complete that picture with a stunning view of water cascading off a cliff, surrounded by a tropical garden.
Have you ever been to the Philippines? Can you imagine eating at a restaurant like this?
If you’ve got a penchant for cool and interesting restaurants, how about these? The craziest restaurants in the world.
