The last time I stayed in The Farm at San Benito was around 2015. This 52-hectare healing sanctuary in Lipa City, Batangas made me realize that tranquility is within easy reach, just a 90-minute drive from Manila.
Aside from being surrounded by nature, I remember immensely enjoying the vegan dishes served during my stay. I couldn’t stop raving about my experience to my family, but I knew I couldn’t bring them there as they only served vegan food—at that time.
Fast forward to 2024, and my friend and former colleague, the resort’s Director for Marketing & PR Kathy Solis, updated me that The Farm at San Benito now has four restaurants. Alive! is their vegan restaurant, and Prana serves Indian vegetarian dishes that are inspired by the Ayurvedic health concept. The next one is Pesce, which didn’t exist yet during my last stay. As the name suggests, this third restaurant offers organic pescetarian food, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fish.
The fourth one is The Upperdeck, which opened in the second quarter of 2024. This outdoor restaurant serves whole foods and uses the freshest and unprocessed ingredients harvested from the establishment’s own farm, just like the other three restaurants. What sets The Upperdeck apart is that its menu includes seafood and pasture-raised chicken, providing more options so that families can enjoy their stay without sacrificing food preferences.
This restaurant has an extensive Mediterranean-inspired menu that ranges from starters, salads, soups, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, mains, desserts, and the option to order side dishes. Some of the items that I got to try were Gambas Al Ajillo (garlic shrimp cooked in olive oil, herbs, and a hint of spice), Beer Butter Fish & Chips with Salad, Caprese Salad (layers of ripe juicy tomato with mozzarella cheese slices and fresh basil drizzled with olive oil and glazed with balsamic), Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Pumpkin Seeds & Pesto Oil (purée infused with herbs and spices with a hint of cinnamon and sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds), Truffle Mushroom Chicken Pasta (pasta and tender pieces of chicken breast tossed in creamy mushroom sauce infused with truffle oil), and Roasted Eggplant Moussaka with Chicken (fluffy quinoa grains with fresh cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, onion, olive, and feta cheese tossed in lemon vinaigrette). All of these dishes were both flavorful and satisfying, delivering indulgence without any guilt.
For the drinks, I had Fresh Lemon and Tarragon from their “Fresh Fruit and Herb from The Farm To Table” menu. It was a choice I didn't regret, with each sip providing a refreshing, soothing effect. I’m also eager to try other intriguing combinations from the list, such as Watermelon Basil, Mango Wild Berry Fruit Rosemary, Orange and Dill, and Green Mango Tamarind. They also serve staple dining drinks such as iced tea, fruit juices, mocktails, cocktails, and a wide variety of tea and alcoholic drinks. And, yes, wine and even champagne.
The staff highly recommends the Homemade Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich (homemade chocolate chip cookies with a scoop of ice cream flavor with choices of vanilla, ube, mango, avocado, pistachio, chocolate, or cheese). It’s a pretty hefty serving that can be shared.
My dining experience was made even more memorable with the restaurant’s peaceful surroundings. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with live serenading for guests who dine at night. It also has a private dining room that’s good for up to 15 pax with a consumable amount of P20,000 net. The whole restaurant can also be booked for private functions and celebrations.
“The restaurant is a response to requests and our goal to cater to the multi-generational market. Some guests are not yet ready for vegan, vegetarian, and pescetarian diets, which is why management said yes to add this to the dining options, making sure it is aligned to our ethos of wellness,” explains Kathy.
All four offer wellness cuisines, serving dishes rich in phytonutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants. Regardless of which restaurant you choose, you can expect wholesome and nutritious meals that nourish the body and boost the immune system. One important thing to note is that the food is sourced with a strong emphasis on farm-to-table practices and sustainability principles.
Previously, dining at the resort’s restaurants was exclusively available to guests with room reservations. Kathy shared the good news that all four restaurants now accept day guests of all ages and their pets as well, with no minimum purchase requirement. To book a table, simply call their front office at +63 917 701 6501. “For security reasons, we need the vehicle details of all guests to grant entry to the premises,” she explains.
It’s noted that non-checked-in guests are welcome to dine and stay within the restaurant’s premises only. If they wish to enjoy the resort’s amenities for the day, they can opt for the “A Day of Wellness” package worth P7,320 net. This includes a refreshing welcome drink, a 30-minute Cellular Health Screening at the Holistic Medical Sanctuary, a 30-minute Relaxology session at the Healing Sanctuary Spa, participation in Mindful Movement and Functional Fitness activities, and the use of swimming pools, meditation pavilions, and the Pure Energy Gym. Lunch is included, with options from a five-course nutrient-rich vegan meal at Alive!, a vegetarian meal at Prana, a two-course pescetarian meal at Pesce, or a two-course Mediterranean meal at The Upperdeck. This offer is valid until March 30, 2025.
Thanks to these diverse dining options and add-ons, I’m excited to bring my family to The Farm at San Benito. Every aspect of this multi-awarded eco-wellness resort is thoughtfully designed with holistic health in mind, providing a wonderful opportunity for us to introduce healthier dishes—and lifestyles—to our loved ones.
Visit https://www.thefarmatsanbenito.com/