Session Road and Cafés in Baguio
Part of the Baguio travel guide — see every topic in All Baguio Guides.
Session Road is the main street of Baguio. It runs downhill from the top of the city to Burnham Park and the public market. It is lined with shops, bakeries, restaurants and cafés. Baguio also has one of the best café scenes in the Philippines, helped by the cool weather and coffee grown in the nearby mountains. This guide covers the street and where to drink coffee.
Walking Session Road
Session Road is about 1.7 kilometres long, and parts of it are steep. Start at the top and walk down, so the hill works for you. Along the way you will find old bakeries, bookshops, small malls and many places to eat. Side streets lead to more cafés and small restaurants. At the bottom, the road meets Burnham Park and the busy streets near the public market. In the evening the street is lit up and full of students and families. On some days parts of the road may be closed to cars for events, so check locally.
Cordillera coffee
Coffee grows in the mountains of the Cordillera region around Baguio, including Benguet and other nearby provinces. Most of it is Arabica, which grows well at height. Many Baguio cafés buy beans from local farms and say where the coffee comes from. Some sell bags of beans to take home. If you like coffee, ask the staff which farm or town the beans come from. Local coffee is a good, light souvenir, and buying it supports small mountain farmers. Some cafés also offer coffee tasting.
Cafés to look for
Baguio has many types of cafés, from small coffee bars to cosy houses in the pine trees. Café by the Ruins is one of the best known, with local food and a garden setting. Other cafés sit on the hills around Camp John Hay and along the roads out of the centre, with views over the valleys. Many are in old wooden houses with fireplaces or blankets for cold evenings. New cafés open often, so check recent reviews. At weekends, popular cafés can have long waits, so go on a weekday if you can.
Bakeries and sweets
Baguio is known for its baked goods. Visitors often take home ube jam, made from purple yam, and peanut brittle. Strawberry jam is another favourite, made from fruit grown in nearby La Trinidad. Several old bakeries on and near Session Road sell bread, cakes and pastries. The Good Shepherd shop is famous for its ube jam and is very busy at weekends. Buy sweets on your last day, so they stay fresh for the trip home. Jars are heavy, so pack them carefully.
Practical tips
Session Road is busy and the sidewalks are narrow in places, so walk carefully and watch your bag. Many cafés open in the morning and close in the evening, but hours change, so check before you go. Cards are accepted in many cafés and restaurants, but small shops and stalls often take cash only. Bring a jacket for evenings, as some cafés have open-air seating. If you want a quiet place to sit and work, go in the morning on a weekday.
Session Road and Cafés at a glance
| Getting there | Session Road is in the city centre, walking distance from most central hotels |
|---|---|
| Hours | Shops and cafés from morning to evening; check each place |
| Cost | Coffee and pastries are mid-range; bakeries are cheap |
| Best time | Weekday mornings for quiet cafés; evenings for a lively street |
| Bring | Cash for small shops and a bag for coffee beans |