Eat, Pray, Love LEAGUE TAKES YOU TO THE HEART OF COFFEE AND LOMI, AND SO MUCH MORE.

Eat, Pray, Love Lipa” is the official tourism slogan of Lipa City, Batangas. And for good reason: there is so much culture and heritage just waiting to be experienced here.

So take a picture, take a bite, and take a breather as League highlights the best of Lipa City.

THE FARM AT SAN BENITO

A holistic medical wellness resort, The Farm at San Benito has 60 exclusive suites and villas. Optimize health with detox cleanse, weight management, and yoga & raw food retreat programs. Rediscover wellness at the holistic sanctuary, meditation labyrinth, and waterfall pool. Or explore its 52-hectare grounds, where ducks, geese, and peacocks freely roam. There’s also an organic vegetable garden near its helipads, where its vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian restaurants source their ingredients.

OLD GROVE FARMSTEAD

Experience nature like nowhere else at Old Grove Farmstead. Feed sheep, goats, and Japanese chicken, and see other animals at the mini zoo, featuring various birds, a python, and a crocodile. Its barn and windmill are the perfect backdrop for prenup shoots, weddings, and private functions. An old water tower offers a stunning view of the farm and Lipa, especially during sunsets. Gather around a bonfire with loved ones before retiring to one of the private villas to complete your relaxing staycation experience.

TAGBAKIN BOAT CRUISE

A scenic way to see Taal Volcano, Tagbakin Boat Cruise takes one to one and a half hours to reach the attraction, depending on weather conditions. There is also a grotto at the rightmost part of Barangay Tagbakin where people can offer their prayers.

AQUAMARINE HOTEL

Hosting an important event in Lipa? Make it more special at Aquamarine Hotel. It features a tropical exterior with aesthetic interior design and spacious hotel rooms. There are also conference rooms, event spaces with stage, karaoke and gaming rooms, swimming pools, as well as indoor basketball and volleyball courts spread across its compound.

CATHEDRAL OF SAN SEBASTIAN DE LIPA

Lipa’s first bishop and apostolic nuncio, Giuseppe Petrelli, chose Lipa City as the seat of Batangas’ diocese because of its cold climate and safe distance from Taal Volcano. Constructed in 1865, Cathedral of San Sebastian de Lipa is named after St. Sebastian, the patron saint of soldiers and athletes. His ex ossibus (a first-class relic), a five-tier belfry, silver carrozas with life-size holy images, and a German pipe organ can be found at the cathedral.

OUR LADY OF PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE PARISH

LODLOD A Marian church, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish was fully redesigned in 2018, taking two years to complete. A work of art, its modern design welcomes the faithful to a massive altar where the Blessed Mother is located, flanked by two angels blowing a trumpet. The spacious church has multiple pews in the middle and at the balcony where the choir is also located. There will also be a cemetery right behind the church for its parishioners.

LIPA CITY MARKER

A picturesque landmark that welcomes everyone to the “Little Rome of the Philippines,” Lipa City Marker incorporates Lipa City’s religious (the belfry of San Sebastian Cathedral), Spanish (crown), and cultural (clock tower) heritage. Shining yellow when its lights are turned on at night, the marker is a perfect spot for a groufie.

TESSIE’S GOTO AND BULALO

Since 1980, Tessie’s Goto and Bulalo has been the go-to goto (Filipino beef tripe and rice congee) and bulalo (beef shank) restaurant for many Filipinos, not just Lipeños. They are one of the first establishments to sell goto and bulalo in Lipa City, renowned for their tender beef and flavorful broth. To achieve such quality, they start preparing at 1 am, slowly cooking their meat for four hours.

LIPA GRILL

Famous for its kare-kare and crispy pata, Lipa Grill is a must-visit for those looking for quality Filipino food in Lipa. Bistek na bangus (bangus beef steak), roasted spareribs, inihaw na pusit, inihaw na tuna panga (grilled squid, grilled tuna jaw), bulalo, and lomi (egg noodle soup in thick broth) are also certified hits. What started as a twostory house with only three staff members is now a full-scale restaurant with 70 employees. Its menu has grown by 50% after its acquisition by Andok’s, added a pasalubong corner, and opened a new branch in Mexico, Pampanga. The restaurant accepts advance reservations for birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.

2.0 BY LOMI KING

Enjoy authentic Batangas lomi at 2.0 by Lomi King. It adds Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino comfort food alongside Lomi King’s menu. Managed by the To family which created the Batangas lomi recipe, 2.0 will soon serve lomi with premium ingredients, like crab and squid. For those with an insatiable sweet tooth, Maira To’s Sucree Bakery offers mouthwatering sans rival, cookies, and made-to-order specialty cakes, in-store or online.