There's just something dreamy and relaxing about dining in a garden. Maybe it's because it checks all of our cottagecore and plantita boxes, perhaps it’s our desire for simpler, slower living in a highly urbanized world, or possibly because gardens just possess the power to heal and soothe psychologically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Or all of the above!

While we rarely see patches of green in Metro Manila, there are a dime a dozen of lush garden cafés and restaurants near the metropolis for a quick road trip. Now that the National Capital Region has eased into Alert Level 3, we recommend you check out these garden restaurants and cafés near Metro Manila to experience dreamy al fresco dining.

Patis Tito Garden Café – San Pablo, Laguna

Experience Philippine heritage through food, art, nature, and architecture with Patis Tito Garden Café in San Pablo, Laguna. Established in 2011, the restaurant is named after Patis Pamintuan Tesoro and Tito Tesoro and is actually a café and bed and breakfast. Patis Tito Garden Café is a homey, verdant establishment that serves slow-cooked meals using only locally sourced and fresh ingredients

It is open for dine-in during the COVID-19 pandemic, but only through reservations. You'll love this café’s lush garden, which is the perfect setting for a casual and romantic lunch or dinner! It is also dog-friendly, so you don't have to leave your fur babies at home to dine here.

Planthropist Garden + Café – Santa Maria, Bulacan

Planthropist Garden + Café in Santa Maria, Bulacan, is a gorgeous spot brimming with foliage. Apart from being a café, it is also a plant nursery and gardening store, so feel free to bring home a pot or two of Monstera peru or Philodendron hastatum, among others, to dot around your home.

Enjoy café specials at Planthropist, from Beef Salpicao, Special Fried Chicken, and Sizzling Gambas or sample a cuppa from its range of coffees, such as its Black Coffee, Cold Brew, and Caramel Macchiato!

Planthropist is open for dine-in on Sundays, from 3 PM to 9 PM!

Chateau Hestia Garden Restaurant – Silang, Cavite

Chateau Hestia Garden Restaurant is a slice of paradise in Silang, Cavite. A garden restaurant, bed and breakfast, and events venue, Chateau Hestia is the perfect place to go to for a short out-of-town trip for lunch or dinner, or for holding intimate celebrations like weddings and birthday parties.

Its extensive wholesome and European-inspired menu boasts a myriad of offerings, from appetizers, salads, soups, and pizzas to pastas, entrees, steaks, and desserts.

For a full-course meal, we recommend going for its Mushroom Fritters (appetizer), the Hestia Garden Salad, its Chistorra Gambretti pizza, and Pan-Fried Salmon (entree), topped off with a slice of Burnt Cheesecake!

Char's Garden Café – Tagaytay, Cavite

You can't go wrong with Char's Garden Café if you're after mouthwatering food and a relaxing experience without breaking the bank. This garden cafe in Tagaytay serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which includes Pinoy favorites like sinigang na hipon and the OG bulalo, because what's a trip to Tagaytay without the latter? For something more sinful, then you shouldn't miss Char's bagnet!

This garden café is the place to be for some tranquility and repose that we rarely get in Manila.

Lutong Pugon Tiongco's Garden – Tanay, Rizal

It would be a shame to go all the way to Lutong Pugon Tiongco's Garden without sampling its homemade pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven, which is what it's known for.

This lush and balmy restaurant in Tanay, Rizal, just opened for dine-in and takeaway last Oct. 14, 2021, so make it top of your list should you go on a road trip sometime soon! We recommend its Margherita pizza and Chilli Prawn pizza (if you want something spicy!), as well as its Vegetarian pizza for plant-based peeps, all of which come in a generous 13 inches! Those allergic to gluten can also opt for a gluten-free base, so’s not to miss out on Lutong Pugon’s heavenly pizzas.