The Podium Boutique Hotel in Baguio: My Honest Review (2026)

My friend and I were headed to Baguio for the first time in a few years to explore the city’s culinary scene, so we wanted a comfortable Baguio accommodation to come back to after a day of eating our way through the city.

I usually stay at Microtel Baguio or Peredo’s Lodging House when I’m in town, but this time I wanted something different. I’d seen that a few hotels were attached to restaurants featured in the Ibagiw Creative Festival, and that’s how I first came across The Podium Boutique Hotel.

I’ll admit, I almost skipped it. The reviews weren’t stellar. But when I actually read through them, most of the complaints weren’t dealbreakers for me.

Having been to Baguio more times than I can count, what I wanted was simple: an artsy Baguio vibe, an area where we could enjoy the cool Baguio breeze for hours, easy access to a good and affordable restaurant, a private bathroom with strong water pressure, on-site parking, and easy access to Grab. Walkability to the city’s landmarks wasn’t a priority since I’d already visited the top Baguio tourist spots so many times.

So we booked. And it ended up matching, maybe even exceeding, what I expected.

📱 Booking The Podium Boutique Hotel

I booked directly with the hotel, although I’d recommend checking Agoda instead. Booking with Agoda seems to be a more seamless process, and the rates may come out cheaper.

The direct booking process with the hotel wasn’t the smoothest. Responses to my questions weren’t prompt. We paid a 50% downpayment upfront and settled the rest at check-in, where we also had our PWD discount applied.

📍 Location: Is The Podium Boutique Hotel Easy to Find?

My friend and I drove from Quezon City and found the hotel easily along Marcos Highway in Bakakeng. There’s ample parking both in front of the building and in the basement, with a security guard on duty, and an elevator that takes you straight up from the basement so you’re not hauling luggage up flights of stairs.

Baguio tourist spots are about 10 to 15 minutes away by car or Grab, which didn’t bother us since this trip was mostly about restaurants rather than landmarks. We took Grab everywhere during our stay, except for when we visited Mt. Camisong, and didn’t run into traffic until we were leaving Baguio on a Friday afternoon.

Honestly, having stayed in Baguio many times now, I don’t think location matters as much as people assume, especially if you have a car or are comfortable with Grab. Baguio is fairly walkable, transportation is easy to come by, and you’ll be able to enjoy the city no matter which part of it you’re staying in.

🛏️ The Room: Silver Trio Premium

We booked the Silver Trio Premium for the extra space and separate beds. The photos online genuinely didn’t do the room justice.

We had a huge window right by the beds where we could see the city lights at night and watch the sunrise  in the morning. I woke up early every single day of our stay just to watch the sky change colors.

The bathroom was clean with strong water pressure, and the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were a nice touch. Slippers were provided, so my friend and I were able to enjoy the room without getting our outdoor shoes inside.

The room itself was spacious enough that my friend and I each had room to do our own thing without bumping into each other, and we could open the windows for that cool Baguio breeze instead of relying on the AC.

The one caveat: if you’re sensitive to noise, this might not be the room for you. You likely won’t hear guests in neighboring rooms, but hallway noise does carry. My friend solved this with earplugs.

🥘 Food at Hoka Brew

Breakfast was included with our room, and we tried both the plated breakfast and the buffet at Hoka Brew, the hotel’s in-house restaurant. Portion size and food quality were more than enough for both of us.

I’m not sure what breakfast costs if booked separately from a room rate that doesn’t include it. But if you end up staying somewhere without breakfast included, Hoka Brew alone is worth checking out.

Beyond breakfast, Hoka Brew became our go-to spot during downtime. On our first afternoon in Baguio, I enjoyed sipping their S’mores Hot Chocolate while watching the fog roll by.

Although we had a full list of Baguio restaurants we wanted to try, we also had one of our dinners at Hoka Brew and didn’t mind that we just sort of stayed in for the night.

Every evening, we stayed out by the Hoka Brew balcony until they closed.

🛜 Wifi and Customer Service

Wifi was passable. I synced hundreds of photos and videos to the cloud overnight without issues, so it held up fine for casual use.

Where I have to be honest: customer service wasn’t on par with other Baguio hotels I’ve stayed at. This might have just been the specific staff we interacted with, but the front desk could have used more warmth and confidence, and the team handling bookings over Facebook and text wasn’t very responsive. I’m a patient person, and even I felt my patience tested at times. If responsive, attentive service is a priority for you, this is worth factoring in before you book.

Update: I recently contacted them with some questions and, this time, they responded quickly and were helpful. Perhaps I just caught them on a bad day, or that they’ve improved their process since then.

💸 How Much Does The Podium Boutique Hotel Cost?

We were initially billed Php 10,740 for 3 nights (Php 3,580 per night), but had our PWD discount applied when we arrived at The Podium Boutique Hotel. Compared to other boutique hotels I’ve stayed at in Baguio, this is on the more affordable end, and for what we got, the value held up.

✅ Pros and ❌ Cons

What I loved:

• The sunrise view from our bed in the Silver Trio room, and again from Hoka Brew on the second floor
• Good food throughout our stay, from breakfast to dinner and drinks
• Comfortable beds and daily housekeeping, which we made full use of
• Elevator access from the basement parking, with stairs available if you want them
• The overall aesthetic of the hotel, which mattered a lot to me as a visual person

What I’d flag before you book:

• Our room category isn’t bookable through Agoda or other third-party sites, so direct booking is required if you want it.
• Customer service, particularly response times and front desk warmth, has room to improve (though recent responses have been faster, see update above).

💭 Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the frequently asked questions about The Podium Boutique Hotel Baguio.

🤔 Who Should Book The Podium Boutique Hotel in Baguio?

I’d recommend it to couples, families, anyone who needs elevator access, and business travelers. I would not recommend it if walkability to tourist spots is a top priority for you. But if you have a car or don’t mind Grab, I think it’s worth considering, and at this price point, it gave me genuine value for my money.

If you’re ready to book, you can check current rates here: Book The Podium Boutique Hotel.