The Girl Behind the Pen

casa san miguel

December 30, 2021 Zambales, Philippines

CASA San Miguel: The Restaurant in Zambales Where You'll Experience Hospitality at Its Finest

We all have that one favorite place that we always find ourselves coming back to—in my case, it's CASA San Miguel in Zambales.

If you haven't read my previous post about CASA San Miguel yet, it serves as the home of the world renowned violinist Coke Bolipata, and a community center that includes a school for the arts and music, art gallery and museum, cafe and a bed and breakfast facility. CASA also means two things: first is home, and the other is Center for the Arts in San Miguel.

From family retreat house to community center

CASA San Miguel Zambales was just a family retreat house at first since its completion in 1921. But come 1993, Coke Bolipata established the CASA San Miguel Foundation. The foundation aims to “integrate culture and community development” in Zambales. This is one of their ways to preserve the cultural heritage and quiet side of San Antonio. They have done several programs and workshops to hone and showcase the artistry of the locals. And up until now, we see little kids walking in the mango orchard with their little violins on their back.

CASA San Miguel Zambales restaurant cielo fernando

Hospitality at its finest

Having been working in the hospitality industry for years, I know for myself that hospitality is a difficult thing to achieve. Sure, some may be available to tend to you 24/7 but that doesn't mean they are already hospitable.

CASA San Miguel Zambales cielo fernando birthday

Satin Cowl Dress from Silk Maison

In the words of New York Times food critic Tejal Rao, "hospitality is both invisible and formidable — it surrounds you. You can find it at a rest stop on the highway, and miss it at the host stand of a fine-dining restaurant. You feel its presence, or you don’t."

Sitting under a tree with the fresh air brushing my hair, I blissfully indulged myself in some of CASA San Miguel Zambales' best-sellers, a mix of both my favorites and new ones I haven't tried. Blissfully because it was as if I was the only person in the place. The staff was making me feel comfortable from the moment I stepped into their gate to the time I went out. And this didn't even happen for the first time. When I went there in 2019, they have already impressed me.

It was the afternoon of December 12. I didn't even tell them it was my birthday that day. So I was really surprised that they remembered my special day. I thought it was going to be just another brunch day out, but my 27th birthday turned out a lot more special than I anticipated it would be, thanks to CASA San Miguel Zambales.

At CASA, I felt cared for and this is something only a few establishments have made me feel. I wouldn't mind driving 4 to 6 hours again just to get a bite of their pizza.

CASA San Miguel Zambales

So now, I will be listing all the details you need to know about CASA and some of my food recommendations.

Address: Evangelista St., Brgy. San Miguel 2206 San Antonio, Zambales

Budget for meals: PHP 1,000 for two

Food: 8.5/10

Overall look: 8/10

Hospitality: 11/10

Is CASA San Miguel Zambales open now? Yes they are open

Kids allowed? Yes!

Contact information: info@casasanmiguel.org | (+632) 8551 1003

Food we tried at CASA San Miguel

Classic Carbonara (PHP 500) good for sharing
10-inch pan-style Zambaleño pizza (PHP 568) - This pizza includes egg and longganisa
Breakfast longganisa

If you want to know my experience with their other food offerings, read this: CASA San Miguel: Home Away from Home

CASA San Miguel Zambales pizza food cielo fernando

CASA San Miguel Zambales food cielo fernando

This was CASA San Miguel Zambales then and now

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July 1, 2019 Zambales, Philippines

CASA San Miguel: Home Away from Home

Under the canopy of trees lies a bed and breakfast facility that also functions as a school for young boys and girls, some are fishermen's kids, who play their violins.

This place is called CASA San Miguel, owned by the world renowned violinist Coke Bolipata. It serves as his home and a community center that includes a school for the arts and music, art gallery and museum, cafe and a bed and breakfast facility.

THE ROOM

The rooms are designed with classic style giving you a mix of old and modern Filipino home experience. Our room has high ceilings which make it more breezy. And one thing that surprised me is how affordable CASA's rooms are compared to other hotels and bed breakfast facilities in town.

Our room has a huge window where we can view the garden and the Backstage cafe. It also has a porch where we can sit and relax.

BACKSTAGE CAFE

If there's one place in Zambales that will give you a rich gastronomic experience, CASA San Miguel's Backstage Cafe is the best spot. I loved everything that was served to us. Their pizzas are really something! Their breakfast, one meal you shouldn't miss while you're there.

And last but not the least, their famous carbonara. I've read so many good reviews about it so I got curious how it tastes. Lo and behold, the news is true. CASA's carbonara is one of the bests I've ever tasted. It satiates your appetite with its rich and creamy flavor which will not get you fed-up. They also have different varieties of carbonara. During our stay, we had the classic carbonara with bacon bits and carbonara with tuyo. Both pastas are mouthwatering.

Apart from building a bed and breakfast facilitiy and cafe, the owner also built a foundation. So proceeds from the cafe helps fund Coke's advocacy in helping his scholars. Since the 1990's, Coke has been helping the underprivileged kids in town to fulfill their dreams and learn about music. This is his way of giving back, thus, the birth of his program Playing it Forward.

One corner of the gallery has a display of the children's artworks

This is where the concert takes place

Overall, my stay at CASA made me feel at home. The staff is very accommodating, the place is cozy, the food is great and the advocacy and story of CASA is definitely worth-sharing.

How to get to CASA San Miguel: From Manila, ride a Victory Liner bus to Iba, Zambales and alight in front of San Antonio Public Market (3-4 hours). Then take a tricycle to Casa San Miguel.

CASA San Miguel is located at Evangelista St., Brgy. San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales.