– Author
The wind in Suello Village carries a particular kind of chill this November 2025, gentler than the city’s usual cold, as if softened by the hum of creation. It drifts across the narrow streets and slips beneath the doors of Moch Café, and Bistro carrying with it the idea of the Ibagiw Creative Festival, Baguio City’s annual tribute to artistry and memory.
Moch Café and Bistro added a lighter, more casual stop to the Ibagiw Crawl. The hillside setting, pastel interiors, and open air made the place feel like a quiet pocket away from the city center. Capping our Ibagiw Festival tour, this was our grand finale before we head back to our respective hometowns.
This tour was different. It has depth. More meaning. More stories. Touching narratives and advocacies. Thanks to our dear host, Ms. Venus Tan.
Moch Café & Bistro in Baguio may not have a long archival legacy like older mountain cafés, but it has already carved a distinct place in the city’s cafe scene. Making it a strong contender among the sea of Baguio Cafes is the panoramic views of the western mountains and even glimpses of the West Philippine Sea and the sunset on clear days.
ABOUT THE STRUCTURE
This hillside property blends traditional Baguio architecture with thoughtful, site-responsive design, making the most of the natural slope instead of resisting it. The steep green roofs, wide eaves, and wood-framed windows retain the charm and climate resilience of classic mountain homes, while the cascading multi-level layout creates a seamless flow between indoor spaces, terraces, and gardens. Each tier of the structure feels intentional, allowing light, air, and pine trees to frame the architecture rather than compete with it.
The combination of adaptive reuse, intuitive circulation, and layered outdoor spaces turns a simple visit into a scenic journey, making the café not just a destination but a place to linger and enjoy the mountain atmosphere.
THE IBAGIW ARTISTS FEATURED IN MOCH CAFE
Lito Malaggay works with copper wire and metal to make small sculptures that carry Cordillera stories. He grew up in the highlands and brought those roots into his craft. His pieces often take familiar forms—figures, animals, local scenes—and render them in tight, looping wire. The work reads like a mapped memory. He has shown in local fairs and environmental summits and is known in Baguio for trophies and installations that speak of place and labor.
Lopez Aquino is a Baguio-based painter whose canvases use bold color and regional motifs to hold quiet narratives about community life. He already had exhibits at The John Hay Hotels Garden Wing (Previously known as The Manor). His work fits Moch Café’s soft, intimate room and the Ibagiw creative crawl by offering a visual counterpoint to the wire sculptures: color where wire traces form, figuration where wire suggests. Together, the two artists make a neat pairing for Ibagiw’s theme of local creativity.
DISHES OUR FRIENDS TRIED
Mr. Ferdz Decena of Ironwulf.net went for the chicken salpicao and called it savory with a touch of heat. The dish fits that description well. Sir Marboy Sayno of The Beauty of the Philippines pick, the Moch sisig, lands in the comfort-food zone. The serving is big enough to share, though you’ll likely keep most of it for yourself. Then Sir JP Ordoña of Manilakad ordered for takeout the Smash Burger. We joined to taste the fries and found it crisp.
Coffee beverages in general were recommendable too. As for me, I didn’t order anything since am full to the brim after our stint at the neighboring Le Coq Bleu Homestay. I was satisfied by enjoying the view from Moch Cafe.
CONTACT MOCH CAFE AND BISTRO
- Operating Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday-Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Address: Gardenia Street, Gulf View Horizon, Suello Village, Baguio City
- Mobile: +63 966 824 8985
- Email: mochcafeandbistro@gmail.com
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mochcafebistro/
- Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/mochcafebistro
- Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3pRmPjYEzjik7ETm8
