More than buko pie: Sweet treats to eat in Los Baños as recommended by a local

You can’t go wrong with the ubiquitous pasalubong pie of course, but there are many other desserts and pastries you can also enjoy

Photos by Samantha Ong

The municipality of Los Baños, Laguna, resting on the slopes of Mt. Makiling, is known for many things. Most tourists may recognize it for its wealth of hot springs. It was actually because of these mineral springs that the name Los Baños came to be, as friars in the 1580s established public baths and bath houses in the town.

Los Baños, colloquially called LB or Elbi, was also declared a special science and nature city of the country in 2000, in recognition of its position as a municipality that fosters “learning in the various fields of human knowledge such as the arts, humanities, ecology, socio-economics, and most notably science,” the official proclamation states.

But aside from its scientific, natural, and even historical significance, another reason to visit and explore Los Baños lies in something simpler but no less important: food!

Aside from the ubiquitous pasalubong, buko pie, Los Baños is also home to several bakeshops and cafes. Here are a few must-tries according to locals.

Croissants

Silly Lily Bakehouse

F.O. Santos St. cor. Pearl St., Umali Subdivision, Los Baños, Laguna

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

*An assortment of pastries from Silly Lily*

Silly Lily is the other half of Seoul Kitchen in Los Baños. They offer beautiful Korean-style cakes and pastries, like the eye-catching ddalki or strawberry croissant and matcha pistachio wheel. You can order the pastries by piece or by the box.

Coffee

Common-Grounds

Left Wing Centtro Mall, E. Lopez Ave., Los Baños, Laguna

Mondays to Fridays 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Closed on Sundays

*For a much needed coffee break, make sure to stop by Common-Grounds*

Located near the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, Common-Grounds is a quaint minimalist coffee shop where you can try classic brews as well as unique flavors concocted by their baristas. Seating is limited though; customers can share space at the large long table on one side of the cafe.

Local bread

Jerico’s Bakeshop

10467 Lopez Ave., Los Baños, Laguna

Open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

*Jerico’s has been an Elbi for both students and residents alike*

Elbi locals are also quick to recommend a stop at the local panaderya. As in many municipalities, bakeries are a dime a dozen. But one of the most popular is Jerico’s, which sits at a corner of the busy Lopez Ave. They have an assortment of almost all the essential panaderya fare.

Buko pie

Lety’s Buko Pie

4030 National Highway, Los Baños, Laguna

Open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

*Ask any Elbi local for a buko pie recommendation, and Lety’s will most definitely be an answer*

You can’t go home from Laguna without some buko pie. Lety’s is one of the go-to buko pie brands in town, with several branches. They sell their pies quickly, so you might have to queue or even wait a bit for freshly baked pies to come out.

Buko pandesal

Mr. Asado Bakeshop (Buko Pandesal Bakeshop)

National Highway, Los Baños, Laguna

*If you’re feeling peckish for a quick snack, there’s always buko pandesal at Mr. Asado Bakeshop*

*Patience is key to make sure you don’t end up burning yourself because the pandesal is always served hot and fresh*

For a buko pastry that’s easier to munch on on the go, look next door to the Mr. Asado Bakeshop, which sells steaming hot buko pandesal. The pandesal is soft, filled with mildly sweet chunks of buko meat inside.

Chocolate cake

Mer-Nel’s Cake

Multiple branches

*Mer-Nel’s is an Elbi classic when it comes to chocolate cakes*

For something a little more celebratory, the go-to cake is Mer-Nel’s. They’re known for their chocolate cakes, which come in various sizes and shapes. The cakes are decorated with the classic piping and flowers, with a customizable message, too.