Where to Eat in Tagaytay: Anya Resort Tagaytay
Tagaytay is no stranger to everyone’s travel itineraries. It’s almost like a default destination for anyone who lives in Metro Manila looking for a weekend getaway. And why not, right? It’s a short trip (only 1 to 1.5 hours) from the city that offers magnificent views, cool sweater-weather, and great eats. Precisely why we decided to do whisk away on a quick escape from the summer heat a few weeks back to explore a new gem budding in the area: Anya Resort Tagaytay.
A New Level of Luxury: Anya Resort Tagaytay
One of the only three Small Luxury Hotels listed in the Philippines, Anya Resort Tagaytay breathes a new level of luxury in Philippine hospitality.
Anya Resort actually represents the second phase of the sprawling 7.2-hectare Anya Resort & Residences development in Tagaytay City. The first phase is comprised of private residential lots while the third phase is set to offer 134 residential units in 10 low-rise condominiums. Anya Resort itself offers 88 spacious and elegantly-appointed suites spread across 11 guest villas. Anya Resort Tagaytay also offers three well-curated restaurants, a spa, gym, a library, two heated pools, and function rooms.
And elegantly-appointed our suite room was! We were lucky that despite the high occupancy that time, we were still able to secure a suite fronting both the garden and the pool areas. It was pure beauty: plush twin beds, a daybed, a veranda with a view of the pool, and a HUGE bathroom complete with a tub and his and hers sinks. And with Lifestyle Assistants on standby catering to your every whim, we knew we were set for a luxurious retreat at Anya Resort Tagaytay.
Curated Dining Options at Anya Resort Tagaytay
As Karla talks more about our stay, let me take you on a gastronomic journey with the curated dining options at Anya Resort Tagaytay. The resort boasts of three restaurants headed by award-winning and Relais & Chateau-recognized chef Emmanuel Stroobant: Samira, a fine dining outlet with a pool-side view, Anila Poolside, the resort’s pool-side deli cafe, and finally Amra Deli Bar, an alfresco cafe and wine bar.
Currently, Anya and Stroobant are developing cuisine concepts that will highlight the freshest local produce while offering a truly healthy yet indulgent dining experience.
Let’s go through them one by one, shall we?
SAMIRA RESTAURANT
A key to an excellent dining experience is freshness. From the ingredients that go into the dish, the way it is prepared, and to the gentle breeze to top everything off. And that’s exactly what Samira Restaurant offers: unique menu items that use only the freshest produce, prepared with passion and flair.
We got to dine in Samira both for lunch and dinner and both gave us excellent, albeit different dining experiences. During daytime, the place felt light and carefree, serving more of Mediterranean selections and those that highlight their farm-to-table produce. On the other hand, Samira Restaurant exudes a darker, more sophisticated vibe offering more refined, savoury options during dinner time.
Needless to say, we had a feast for lunch which was a crossover between items from Samira and Anila Cafe. Some of my notable favorites included the Lobster Bisque (Php 590.00), Mozarella di Bufala (Php 980.00), the Classic Bulalo (Php 850.00) and the Tartufo Brick Oven Pizza (Php 590.00). I’m big on cheese so I indulged on their Mango Cheesecake (Php 290.00) for dessert. The Choco-ffee (Php 230.00) was also a clear winner for me!
To open our appetite for dinner, we were served with a creamy bowl of squash soup together with soft rolls. I swam beforehand so I chose the meatier entree for our 4-course dégustation meal: Lamb Chops with Potato Gnocchi. If you’re looking to clink some glasses beforehand, Samira also offers Tapas Happy Hour for only Php 850.00. We paired our tapas with their delicious White Sangria while we enjoyed the sunset overlooking the pool.
Tip: Don’t forget to take a peek at their private dining room. A table fit for 10, it features the beautiful plate collection of the owner. :)
ANILA POOLSIDE CAFÉ
After taking a dip, plunge into Anila’s range of brick-oven pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. No need to set off. Take it easy, relish it by the Anila Poolside. In our case, since we had a long day before, we took our time relishing all the good food for breakfast at Anila Cafe.
We actually woke up quite late but was pleasantly surprised to find all food stations still brimming with food. Normally, this isn’t the case in other hotels and resorts when you wake up way past after everyone else. But perhaps because of Anya Resort Tagaytay’s promise of unparalleled hospitality, looking after the tiniest of details is part of their commitment.
I enjoyed the fact that Anila had a wide selection of breakfast food, taking into account the mix of local and foreign guests.
On one side, you have your spread of antipastos like cold cuts, salads, and finger foods. On the next station, you have your mains with both continental and local meats and dishes. And on the far end sits a big bread station that had a large mix of plain, sweet, and savory flavors. Coffee and tea are available, of course, as well as an assortment of cold drinks like chocolate and iced tea. Have kids in tow? Let them enjoy pouring their own milk and cereals or guide them over to order their preference of pancakes. Don’t forget the egg station too - sunny side up, omelette, or scrambled, as you please!
AMRA DELI
Still hungry? No problem, Anya Resort Tagaytay has your hunger-pangs covered. You can grab a sandwich, a salad, or that filling pasta in the al fresco dining of Amra Deli. We were also fortunate enough to dine at Amra Deli twice. First one was while waiting for check-in, leisurely done over a cup of coffee and their signature banana bread. And the second was for another round of dégustation featuring their best tapas and menu offerings.
Although the deli had limited space, it made up for its warm and inviting ambiance. Armed with a trusty flatlay-slayer @ricciosandy, our palates were delighted to an explosion of savory goodness. Of course it goes without saying that the Cheese Platter (Php 1080.00) was a crowd favorite, alongside the Mussels a la Marinera (Php 350.00), Iberico Platter (Php 1080.00), and Gambas Al Ajillo (Php 450.00). All the while being poured good wine by the Director of Operations himself, Mikel Arruiz. A true mark of world-class Filipino hospitality indeed.
Thank you Anya Resort Tagaytay for having us! It was truly a luxurious retreat, see you soon!
Been here? Share the Anya Experience and comment down your gustatory favorites!
CONTACT
Anya Resort Tagaytay
Location: Buenavista Ave, Tolentino West, Tagaytay City, Cavite PH
Contact: (02) 657 1640 or (0998) 577.9999
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