113 Wagner Cafe in Baguio: A Picturesque Garden Eatery

Pop by for a visit to arguably the most beautiful and inviting garden restaurant in Baguio

Al fresco with a picturesque mountain view, complemented by the cool breeze and pine scent, is exactly what people look for when dining out in Baguio. But there’s one restaurant that doesn’t quite tick all the boxes yet manages to lure a lot of people in, most notably because of its lush and stunning plantscape.

From banana trees and Monsteras with a purple hue to uncommon varieties like the Anthurium King, Begonias and Rhipsalis, 113 Wagner Cafe boasts of a well-manicured garden that not only makes for a dramatic and Instagram-worthy backdrop but also sets the romantic mood for the restaurant’s comfort food.

Above This table comes with a scenic mountain view

Above Creamy seafood pasta

Opening her family’s home for dining is something owner Techie Maravillas Pantaleon didn’t really intend on doing, she confessed, but everything just organically fell into place, and the opportunity to once again entertain guests with her type of service and cuisine was just too hard to pass up.

“It took a while for me to accept the closure of Everything Nice in SM City Baguio,” she said. “It was our nicest store, and I took a loan for it. Everything was brand new. My kids were telling me to shut it down already [because it was suffering from the pandemic], but I held on to it as long as I could.” After a 16-month run, she finally gave in to her children’s plea and closed shop on April 2021. (Everything Nice Cafe in Ayala Technohub, Camp John Hay, remains open and is now being run by her son, Robbie.)

Above Fish and chips

Above Steak with chimichurri and vegetables

“I felt so depressed when I finally shut it down. It was my bread and butter, and I have seven kids.” What she didn’t know was that fate—and her late husband Roberto, she believes—already had something planned for her.

While dining in Bistro Lokal, she instantly fell in love with a beautiful dish garden, a pleasing arrangement of several different plants in a single container, on the table that she asked the chef to introduce its maker, Francis “Kiko” Villalba, to her. The two eventually meet, and being a self-confessed pandemic plantita since July 2020, Techie appreciated his craft that she simply had to ask him to work his magic on their home garden.

“My kids will eventually leave the house, and I wanted to have a reason for them to come back, so I asked him to fix the garden in phases,” she said. It was March 31, 2021, when the talented interior landscape artist first designed a small portion of the massive space by the entry. It made for such an inviting entertaining space that the idea of possibly hosting dinners was inevitable. Her children clearly saw it and encouraged her to turn their place into a restaurant.

She sought help from her former culinary instructor Rudolph Cabuay, for a family-style set menu composed of fish and chips, roasted chicken, and steaks. And on July 9, 113, Wagner Cafe welcomed its very first guests.

Above Owner Techie Pantaleon

Above A bowl of tomato soup

As time went by, the place bloomed into a more impressive and gorgeous restaurant—plants, vines and trees of varying height and colours were added; cobblestones from Bulacan were brought up to Baguio by her kids; a gazebo that was gathering dust in the storage was finally put to good use, and lights were installed to add more drama. What used to be just a storage space or tambakan has transformed into, well, an events space, something she definitely did not expect.

"The market dictated the type of restaurant they wanted Wagner to be. People come all dressed up, some even wear gowns," she noted. "We're not just providing food but a whole experience. We become a part of unforgettable happy moments in their lives." In fact, they recently played host to their 42nd engagement.

113 Wagner Cafe is located at113 Wagner Road, Military cut-off, Baguio, Benguet. Contact info: @113wagnercafe in IG, thewagnercafe@gmail.com, 0917-1658113

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Tatler Asia

This Restaurateur's Love for Family (and Plants) Birthed 113 Wagner Cafe in Baguio