LOOK: A New Rebel Bakehouse Inside Historic, Picture-Perfect Baguio Landmark

(SPOT.ph) The vibe of a place is almost always dictated by its environs. So while this is already Rebel Bakehouse's third address in Baguio, it promises a totally different rhythm and atmosphere from its predecessors. If the OG branch near a gas station in Irisan has a no-nonsense feel to it, and the branch near the cathedral is usually buzzing with a busier vibe, this Bell House outpost just shuts you up, slows you down, and invites the caffeine-famished to just take it all in.

It helps of course that it’s within a library, and housed under the beautiful American Colonial clapboard style structure Bell House Museum inside Camp John Hay (there's an entrance fee to the museum, by the way). Declared a National Historical Landmark in 1973, it was designed and built seven decades earlier by General J. Franklin Bell, Commanding General of the Philippine Department of the US Army, who used it as his vacation home. “Now it’s a museum with Igorot furniture and crafts, a chandelier from 1905, and walls covered in images that tell the story of Camp John Hay through the years,” says Rebel Bakehouse co-founder Danica Santos.

While the first two Baguio branches are sizable dining spaces able to accommodate a crowd of 60 each, this Bell House library branch is a bit more modest, able to accommodate only 25 pax. “Every branch we open doesn’t have to be bigger,” says Danica. “Sometimes it just has to mean something different.”

To explain, Danica describes the space thus: “It’s really more of a library that serves coffee and food than a café with a library corner. We wanted to create a space that was genuinely slow. No rush, no noise, just a place to read, think, have a real conversation. And being right underneath the Bellhouse Museum, surrounded by Camp John Hay’s book collection, it’s an honor and a privilege to be guardians of those books.”

Apart from the historic address, and the excellent pastries the bakehouse is famous for, the Bell House library outlet boasts two drinks created exclusively for the branch, courtesy of house beverage specialist Aljun Nacion: a Pandan Matcha (P230) and a Dirty Horchata (P200) made with heirloom rice from Kalinga. They also serve cold sandwiches which include a Tuna Sandwich (P160) and the Bell House Sandwich (P170), the latter a “three-layer sandwich consisting of three slices of sweet breads, egg salad and chicken salad filling.”

Best to allot a few hours on your visit, because apart from the must-check-out museum (“Walking through it feels like stepping into another century,” says Danica. “From the Igorot artifacts to the period furniture, every corner has a story”), there’s a stunning amphitheater just a few steps away, a favorite of content creators and pre-nup shoots; plus the Secret Garden. “[It’s] Quiet, tucked away, lined with native plants and winding pathways. It’s the kind of place you stumble into and don’t want to leave.”

The whole experience, we learn from Danica, is called The Historical  Core, access to which costs P85 (P45 is the discounted rate) and this includes entry to all the above mentioned spaces including Rebel Bakehouse. “Give yourself enough time to explore the grounds before or after," advises Danica. “It’s too beautiful to just pop in and leave.”

Rebel Bakehouse in Bell House Museum is located inside Camp John Hay in Baguio City. The cafe is open daily except Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that there's an entrance fee to get to the Bell House itself and always best to come early.