One of our earlier dates, titus & I, was in Arabela’s Café in Liliw, Laguna, with my chaperon/brother nicko hahha. Arabela Café serves pastries, steaks, pizza, cakes & coffee in an intimate setting. Intimate because the café only has several tables, less than 15 tables if I remember right in a real tight space but cozy atmosphere. You have to stoop if you are tall as you enter for the ceiling is low. Soothing music usually bossanova plays inside lulling you to just relax and take your time. While waiting for your orders, you can pick-up magazines or read the framed write-ups about the cafe on the walls or check out the many knickknacks, vintage signages and various photographs that are scattered all over the place.
A favorite: Pasta Marinara
I have seen how this café change from using simple computer print-out menus to it’s current professionally done menu cards. Unfortunately prices of everything from gas to ingredients have gone up and so has the choices in Café Arabela. Titus favorite Pasta Marinara used to cost only around P170.00 but last January a plate already cost P250.00. Arabela is still the most frequented dining place by Liliw visitors for the café is located in the town center & just a block away from the stores selling liliw sandals & slippers. It’s a source of unexpected pleasure for tourists for it is unusual for a typical Philippine countryside to have a cozy restaurant with European bistro flare. Arabela’s location definitely added to its allure.
Pasta Alfredo Affordable at P80! Yummy Too!
One of the reasons why Arabela has gathered such following over the years is because their dishes are really delicious and reasonably price if compared to their Manila counterparts. Although as I have said there had been changes to their menu prices this year. Bummer. Now i only get to eat once in awhile in Arabela as i am on tight budget lately 🙁 good thing Chef Mau Luto Ni Tatay Sa Bungkol is always there and continuous to be very affordable.
An advice, before you start your Liliw shoe hunting trip you may want to reserve your seats if you plan to take your lunch in Arabela as the restaurant is really popular and it gets filled up in no time at all! By the way please take note Arabela Café is closed on Mondays .
A tourist can do so much in Liliw – shop for footwear, brave the cold springs & river, drink lambanog :), buy native delicacies like Laguna’s uraro and espasol, visit their picturesque church, and dine in Cafe Arabela & Chef Mau.
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