The famous cafe and restaurant, Cafe By The Ruins, held its farewell gathering on July 20, at its original location on Shuntug Street. The cafe which was razed by fire last April will no longer be rebuilt on the site. According to their Facebook page, the owners and management have decided that “they can no longer rebuild at this location.”
The cafe has been closed since the fire. There was also a sign indicating that it is temporarily closed, and redirects patrons to its newer Cafe Dua branch. That sign also kept up hopes that it will soon re-open, but after it bid farewell, only the Dua remains open. According to a post uploaded by Cafe by the Ruins on its Facebook on Wednesday, the last gathering on that branch was to be held on Friday.
Baguio, Netizens Bid Farewell To Cafe By The Ruins
During the farewell gathering, the cafe served its guests one final time. Aside from enjoying its famous food, guests also witnessed a sharing of photos and memories throughout the years. A photo collage was on display showing different photos of people who have visited the place and have made memories here.
Following local tradition, the gathering also had a mambunong, a native priestess who led the healing ritual witnessed by the owners and their guests.
After the cafe posted the announcement of its farewell, netizens also shared their grief over the news. Of 600 plus comments posted, more than half of them shared their own photos with friends, families and loved ones. In one way or another, the place has made its mark on these peoples lives.
Memories Of Freshly Baked Bread, Coffee And Slow Food And Much More
The cafe was first established in 1988 by a group of artists, which included National Artist BenCab. Two decades after, it has become a regular part of any Baguio itinerary for those visiting this northern city.
For locals, it is a good place to treat visiting friends to a meal or just a simple snack. Those visiting on business will also find its ambiance good enough for a casual chat after a serious meeting. Among its best sellers is its freshly baked breads. They are served warm with your choice of homemade spreads: herbed butter, fish roe or liver pate. It’s best paired with a hot cup of Ruins coffee or Ruins tea.
The restaurant is also known for its slow food (as opposed to fast food), which features freshly whipped up dishes that are not only healthy but also very filling.