It's safe to say that The Farm at San Benito has become the go-to wellness retreat in the Philippines, not just among locals but also international visitors, and even celebrities. Spanning 52 hectares of lush greenery, the multi-awarded resort in Lipa, Batangas offers medically-supervised health programs to guests who stay in their luxury suites and villas.
Complementing these are The Farm's dining outlets which, unsurprisingly, embrace the resort's wellness cuisine principles. There's Alive!, a Halal-certified vegan restaurant; Prana, which specializes in Indian vegetarian fare; and Pesce, which takes inspiration from the Mediterranean Blue Zone diet with dishes consisting of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fish.
Earlier this year, The Farm added another restaurant to its lineup, and it's perfect for non-dieters. Enter The Upperdeck, which proudly serves chicken and eggs as part of a menu that is comfortably familiar: there's pizza, sandwiches, fish and chips, roasted chicken, and even a cookie ice cream sandwich.
At the helm of The Upperdeck is Chef Rosemarie Pagcaliwagan, who has been with The Farm since its early stages (read: she is on her 21st year here, while the resort is formally celebrating its 20th anniversary). After working in Alive, Prana, and Pesce, she continues to expand her knowledge of wellness cuisine, using The Farm's endemic agriculture.
ANCX was recently invited to stay at The Farm and try some of The Upperdeck's specialties. We started with the Superfood Salad, which included nutrient-dense kale, spinach, avocado, and quinoa. The berries, nuts, and seeds added texture and color to the salad, with the lemon dressing giving it brightness.
Hummus is kept simple here with the chickpea spread infused with tahini, lemon, olive oil, and paprika, resulting in a fresh yet flavorful appetizer. The accompanying pita might not be enough to wipe that dish clean -- as of writing, The Upperdeck has yet to have the option for an additional order of flatbread, but we won't judge you if you eat the remaining hummus by the spoonful.
The Roasted Butternut Squash Soup is cozy and comforting, and it pairs nicely with the main course. But while it comes with a side salad, the Lemon Herb Roast Chicken is best enjoyed with a cup of white rice.
Overall, The Upperdeck is a nice addition to The Farm's dining options as it caters to guests who may not be inclined to skip certain food groups, or those who are just starting on their wellness journey. We'll make sure to go back for the other items on the menu such as the Salt-crusted Sea Bass, Chicken Avocado Pita Sandwich, Truffle Oil and Mushroom Pizza, and Basque Burnt Cheesecake.
Recharge, reflect, reset
Even if you're not doing any of the medical and health programs, The Farm still has plenty of activities for guests, and you'll need more than a night to try some of them. A staff member will be assigned to assist you during your stay -- ours was Charlotte, who was very helpful with booking our spa appointments and golf cart rides as we explored the property.
If you're willing to wake up early, you can join the daily morning power walks at 7 a.m. for a natural energy boost (just make sure to wear proper attire, which includes sneakers). For night owls, there's also a guided power walk tour every day at 4 p.m.
The Farm also has different wellness activities depending on the day of the week. During our stay, the available options were Vinyasa Yoga, Qigong, Chair Yoga with Mindfulness Meditation, Sound Healing, a high-intensity workout session, and even a once-a-week "living food prep" class. All of these require reservation, so don't forget to schedule with your personal assistant.
Just like any other resort, The Farm also has a gym and a spa. But if you're looking for more ways to soothe your tired muscles, drop by the Acqua Sanctuary, which makes use of water in its slew of amenities such as an onsen bath, pressured jacuzzi, and hydrotherapy treatments.
Swimming pools can be found all over the property, even in the restaurants, so there are plenty of choices for a relaxing dip. Select accommodations also come with their own pool or tub (or both), which means you can soak and swim as long as you want.
For those who are planning to go all out, The Farm has just launched its Isla Royale Villas, with 5.5 bedrooms and a whopping 2,126 square meters of space. Here, guests can enjoy maximum privacy and exclusive access to recreational areas, spa services, and wellness activities, with a total of 565 square meters of heated pools and decks.
But if you ask us, the Narra Pool Villa is more than enough -- in fact, we're already thinking of going back to The Farm just for that.