Where to Drink in Baguio: Speakeasies, Hidden Bars, and Rooftop Spots

Baguio’s nightlife is well known. If it’s your first time, you’ll probably find yourself in one of the restaurants on Session Road having dinner, and end up at the night market to shop, eat local snacks, or just to experience its lively atmosphere. Those who’ve been before often go for drinks or live music. But the speakeasy scene in Baguio? That takes a bit more intention to find.

My friend Raisa and I were on a bit of a mission. We had been doing a quiet speakeasy tour around Metro Manila — ReCraft in Quezon City, a few others — and we wanted to see if there were any speakeasies in Baguio worth adding to the list. Turns out, there are.

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🍸 Speakeasies in Baguio I’d Recommend to a Friend

During our Baguio trip this July 2026, we ended up visiting three spots over two days: two legit speakeasies and one rooftop bar that transforms from café to cocktail spot once the sun sets. All three are worth knowing about. None of them are easy to stumble into by accident — which, genuinely, is part of the appeal.

The Renaissance Baguio

📍 Baguio City | 📸 @renaissance.baguio

Of all the speakeasies I have visited, The Renaissance took the longest to find.

Their Instagram says walk-ins are welcome but gives nothing away about where they actually are. No address. No map pin. We did a bit of digging and got lucky, and even then, my friend Raisa messaged their Instagram to confirm before we booked a table for 7pm.

Getting there is part of the experience. We passed through what felt like three separate businesses before we reached the unmarked wooden wall, which turned out to be the entrance. I would have totally missed it. The whole compound has a creative, almost Cubao X energy to it — the kind of place that doesn’t advertise itself, and doesn’t need to.

The vibe inside

The room is small and moody — just a handful of tables and seats at the bar. I overheard they can handle about 20 guests at a time, though it never felt impersonal or cramped the way some small bars can.

Everyone there seemed to know each other, or at least felt comfortable enough to act like they did. As someone who defaults to introvert mode, I appreciated that no one expected you to perform sociability. Raisa and I kept mostly to ourselves (most of the time she was on her phone texting this girl she’s dating lol) and had a genuinely lovely time.

The Renaissance also holds events — DJ nights, some dancing — so the atmosphere can shift depending on when you visit. Our night was on the chill side, which suited us perfectly. I’d love to go back for an event sometime.

What to order

We tried a few of their signature cocktails, including Bardberry Feels Forever, Florentine Gold, Tito’s Vitruvian Fizz, and a couple of daiquiris and negronis. The bartender also sent over a couple of complimentary shots. All were good.

They do offer food on regular days, but timing wasn’t on our side that evening, and we ended up ordering in via Grab. We tried Crunch — not our favorite, for what it’s worth.

Good to know

• Message them on Instagram @renaissance.baguio to reserve a table, and they’ll happily let you know how to find them. I’d love to share where they are located, but truly, finding them is part of the experience.
• Budget: mid-range (we spent roughly Php 2,000–3,000 for two on drinks)
• They hold DJ events and dancing nights — worth checking their feed if you want a livelier visit

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The Backbar & Co.

📍 Camp 7, Baguio City | 📸 @thebackbarandco

We only found out about The Backbar & Co. because the bartender at The Renaissance recommended it. A recommendation from a bartender is usually worth following — and this one didn’t disappoint.

They’re about a year old, tucked away in Camp 7 — which is far from Session Road and not an area you’d wander into by accident. My longtime friend from Baguio, Ate Tanya, who also lives in Camp 7, didn’t even know about it!

We booked a table for 8:30pm through their Instagram and took a Grab to the address. When we got out, there was nothing that looked like a bar. We kept asking each other if we were in the right place — our driver even said he didn’t know the bar and had just followed the pin. A nearby shop owner saw our confusion and redirected us: straight ahead, turn right at the first street, then the first gate. That’s it.

And there it was. The outside gives nothing away. The inside is a completely different world.

The vibe inside

It was a quieter night when we visited, which meant our bartender, Migs, had time to walk us through the menu properly — explaining each drink as we ordered, the way a good bartender should. He introduced us to Bonifacio Rum, a local rum they actively promote, and checked in about flavor preferences before building our drinks. When I mentioned I wasn’t keen on coconut, he switched to a different expression without missing a beat.

That kind of attention changes how you experience a drink. I felt like I actually understood what I was ordering, not just picking something off a list.

I also noticed they had Don Papa Rum on their bar shelf. I’ve done a tasting with them before (loved it!), so I liked that they also carried the label.

What to order

I had La Manzana, a couple of daiquiris, and one more I’ve since forgotten — Raisa had Rosita, Clear Sunset, and a Negroni. We also ordered chicken tenders and fries from Peerless Burgers, which they serve as their food option.

Next time I’d push myself toward their less dessert-sweet signatures. While I’m sure they taste good too, and I do love sweet drinks, I don’t want them at a dessert level.

Good to know

• Reservations preferred — message them on Instagram @thebackbarandco or Facebook to book; walk-ins accepted on slower nights.
• Budget: mid-range (we spent roughly Php 2,000–3,000 for two on drinks and food)
• Located in Camp 7 — farther from Session Road, so factor in Grab travel time.
• Getting a Grab home from Camp 7 late at night can be tricky — we got lucky with a taxi; keep this in mind when planning your night.
• When you arrive, if you’re confused: straight ahead, turn right at the first street, first gate.

Bonus: Huddle Rooftop (Not a Speakeasy, But Worth Knowing About)

📍 Roofdeck, G1 Lodge, 2 Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City | 📸 @huddlerooftop

Huddle, while usually mentioned in the list of speakeasies in Baguio, isn’t a speakeasy, per se — it’s a rooftop café that shifts into a cocktail bar once the sun goes down. I’m including it here because if you’re planning a drinks evening in Baguio, it fits naturally into the same night as the speakeasies, or works well on its own for a more relaxed, open-air hang.

We visited on a rainy afternoon — didn’t catch the sunset we were hoping for, but what we got instead was a moody view of Session Road from above, a perspective you don’t usually get. It brought back a lot of memories for me; I’ve walked that street so many times over the years, and seeing it from up there, in the grey afternoon rain, felt unexpectedly meaningful.

What to order

I had Samalamig and Naughtee, plus their Taiwanese chicken pops. Raisa went for Bugnay Sour, Support Local Bee’s Knees, and Adobo Chashu. Everything was genuinely good — the food included, which isn’t always a given at a rooftop bar.

Good to know

• No reservations — it’s walk-in only, and it fills up fast, especially around sunset; expect a 30-minute to 1-hour wait during peak hours.
• Budget: mid-range (we spent roughly Php 2,000–3,000 for two on drinks and food)
• Located at the top of Leonard Wood Road — not technically on Session Road but close enough to walk to from the area. We did so after visiting Ili-Likha Artists’ Wateringhole.
• Best for barkada hangs, work meet-ups, or a date night with a view; if you prefer intimate, indoor settings, stick to the speakeasies.
• Sunset timing is the sweet spot — go early and be prepared to wait, or arrive after the rush.

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📝 Tips for doing a speakeasy night in Baguio

• Book reservations through Instagram before you go — both The Renaissance and The Backbar & Co. prefer it, and availability is genuinely limited.
• Plan your Grab rides in advance, especially for Camp 7 — getting home late from The Backbar can be tricky.
• If you want to hit both speakeasies in one night, you can do so from Thu–Sun. Start at The Renaissance early (open Wed–Thu at 5pm until 12mn, Fri–Sun at 6pm until 1am), then head to The Backbar & Co. later (open Thu–Sat, soon also Wed, from 7pm–12mn). If you want to keep the evening going, Baguio Craft Brewery (not a speakeasy) is a solid next stop — open until 2am, no reservation needed. They’re in different parts of the city, so factor in travel time. I still recommend visiting the speakeasies on different evenings, though, so you can enjoy each place’s signature drinks and vibe without feeling rushed.
• Talk to the bartenders — both places had genuinely knowledgeable staff who gave us our best recommendations of the trip.
• If you want to add a rooftop stop, do Huddle first (late afternoon, before sunset) and the speakeasies after — the flow works better that way.

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💭 Frequently Asked Questions: Bars and Speakeasies in Baguio

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💌 The Wrap-Up: Speakeasies in Baguio

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