Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourself to something delicious. The good news is there are a lot irresistible desserts around Davao. Bakeshops, desserts shops, food entrepreneurs, and home bakers are aplenty. Problem is it can get confusing. So we bring you here our favorites and recommendations so can better choose the best ones to suit your budget and your taste. These may not necessarily be the best Davao Desserts but we can assure you all these are personally picked and endorsed by Davao Bloggers.
Classic Davao Desserts
Let’s start off with two favorites by many who grew up in Davao City.
Butter Roll by Bistro Rosario
Plain and simple. But definitely not boring. We will never get tired of Bistro Rosario’s Butter Roll. This is Miah‘s favorite. And she shares that it is her daughter Miel’s favorite, as well. Miel can even finish off an entire roll on her own. We’re pretty sure Miel is not the only one who can finish this entire roll on their own.
We also love their cakes. We highly recommend their Mango Charlotte Cake and their pretty Ribonette Cake. These are perfect for special occasions. Or to make ordinary days special.
Bistro Rosario is open for dine in and takeout. Contact them at +6382-2217780. Follow them on Facebook at fb.com/bistrorosariodvo.
Cecil’s Bakeshoppe
Another Davao homegrown bakery that we recommend is Cecil’s Bakeshoppe.
EclairMocha Cake
Nep-C of the Pop Blog picks their Eclair as one of her favorites. And we agree. It is the perfect mix of pastry, cream, and chocolate. This is priced at just P35. And it is easy to find. Just drop by any of their branches. More info below.
It’s NACHOS DAY! To celebrate this day, we have prepared for you a list of the Best Nachos to try in Davao.
There is no popular authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant here in Davao. (If there is any you know of, let us know. Leave a comment down below.) But we do have a handful of restaurants and bars that offer nacho dishes. Given that most of these restaurants do not really make their own nacho chips. So we are recommending the best nacho dishes based on the quality of chips they use. We also love these dishes because of the toppings, dips, and sauces they are served with. The ratio of chips to everything else also matters. And yes, consistency of quality. And presentation.
Best Nachos in Davao List
Nachos by Batu Cafe
We love Batu Cafe‘s Nachos. The chips are served without any toppings but with three sauces on the side.
It’s like you can make your own perfect nacho. Our Editor Ria of KusinaMaria.com loves putting a bit of Chili con Carne and some Cheese Sauce on her nacho. Sometimes a chip with just the Tomato Onion Salsa is a great way to cut through the richness of the Cheese Sauce. There is a sauce for everyone.
You can also have the option to order more chips or more sauce.
These chips are our favorite to snack on while hanging out. Be it during the daytime or while drinking at night. Batu Cafe is open from 10 am to 1 pm so you can have these from morning to midnight.
Cheesy Nachos by Cafe Demitasse
Planning a meeting or want to work outside of your home? Go to Cafe Demitasse and order their Cheesy Nachos.
We love ordering this during meetings, hangouts, and basically just about any time we are at Cafe Demitasse.
Nachos. Beef. Cabbage and onions. Fresh tomatoes. Cheese sauce. Shredded Cheese. This is the perfect nachos platter to share. Or not? Eat it alone. We won’t judge you.
And you can ask them to remove the onions (as suggested by Ria, who is not a fan of raw onions) or any component you like. Or you can just have it one the side. We suggest asking for the cheese sauce served separately to avoid sogging. But hey, if you are going to eat this fast, no need to do that.
This goes great with Cafe Demitasse’s Iced Tea or beer. Yes, they serve beer.
Off the Menu by Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp.
And here’s something we love but unfortunately can’t share yet.
Lachi‘s does not serve this to the public so we apologize. And the star of this dish is Tomato Salsa. Tasty and tangy with a great balance of sour, salty, and sweet this Tomato Salsa is a must-try.
They served this to us during our events and special occasions. And we have been asking to have this on their menu. Or maybe Lachi‘s could be convinced to sell the salsa in bottles. Who knows, they might after we post about it. Repeatedly. Persistence pays off. We hope.
Where to Find the Best Nachos in Davao
So there you go, our top suggestions for the Best Nachos in the city. Here is where you can find them.
March 1 is Plan a Solo Vacation Day. Yes, there is such holiday. And luckily for you and me, both Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia are having epic seat sales this month. Plus, summer is almost here so today is the perfect time to plan your Solo Trip to Davao. We have shared itineraries in the past but this time, we have prepared a special Davao Itinerary for Solo Travelers. And just in time for Araw ng Dabaw, too.
Where to Stay
First, we have a few suggestions for where you might want to stay.
Park Inn by Radisson Davao is on top of our list.
Stay at Park Inn by Radisson Davao. Disclaimer: Do not judge Park Inn based on that photo. Somebody had laid down on the bed before I took a photo.
Our editor Ria recommends Park Inn for their facilities and beautiful but reasonably priced rooms. Another plus is their proximity to a mall. Park Inn is located right beside SM Lanang Premier. That is a convenient thing for solo travelers because you can easily shop and dine just by crossing a footbridge. There is a 7-eleven on the Ground Floor of SM Lanang Premier. ATMs are also conveniently located nearby.
Park Inn also just a few steps away from the entrance to the SMX Convention Center. So if you are traveling to attend a conference or other events at SMX, Park Inn is your best option.
It is not exactly located in downtown Davao but Park Inn is near several restaurants, malls, and other destinations. And it is near the jump off points and marinas of popular beach destinations. So while it is not at the center of the city, it is at a convenient location.
PARK INN Address: SM Lanang Premier, JP Laurel Avenue, Lanang Contact Number: +6382-2727600 Email Address: reservations.davao@parkinn.com Facebook Page: fb.com/ParkInnDavao
More Recommendations on Where To Stay
Our correspondent Athina recommends RedDoorz (Aljems Inn) located right in the middle of downtown. The RedDoorz listed as RedDoorz near San Pedro Cathedral is known to locals as Aljems Inn. It has been around quite a while. They have rooms you can book via the RedDoorz app for as low as PhP873.
Just download the app from the App Store or the Google Play Store, enter Davao as your destination and it will come up with options for you to book. All hotels and inns in their listing are branded as RedDoorz and have similar looks and amenities as all other RedDoorz listings. So you are sure that the listed rooms have passed the RedDoorz standards. Use the code TRAVELESCAPES33 to enjoy a 20% discount.
REDDOORZ NEAR SAN PEDRO CATHEDRAL DAVAO / ALJEMS INN Address: Rizal Street Contact Number: +63917-7167245 Facebook Page: Link Recommended by Athina Anglionto.
Green Windows Dormitel is a good choice for solo backpackers. They have clean dorm type rooms that you can share with up to 7 other travelers.
PhP188 Backpacker Dorm Room at Green Windows Dormitel.
For only PhP188 you already have a place to sleep, a clean toilet and bathroom, and access to other amenities. Amenities within the room include hot and cold shower, individual cabinets, and free Wifi access. Not to mention the room is ariconditioned.
If you want to indulge your sweet tooth, Lachi’s is definitely the place to go to. It is Davao City’s own quaint little resto.
Grilled Porkchop by Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp. Photo taken in 2008.
You can start off your sumptuous Lachi’s experience by choosing one of their return-trip-worthy meals such as their Unforgettable Pork Ribs, Lechon Kawali or Stuffed Chicken. The Pork Ribs is a runaway winner with the meat being so tender that it almost melts in your mouth. On the other hand, the Lechon Kawali is so crispy that even those who veer away from pork fat, would be tempted to eat every piece of crunchy piece of fat which has just the right amount of saltiness.
Finally, their Stuffed Chicken is practically Cordon Bleu (only much cheaper) served with a tangy pineapple sauce. They also serve adobo, tocino and grilled pork chop, among others.
Pork Marinara by Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp. Photo taken in 2008.
If you’re there just to take a snack, you may order their delicious Red Pesto or Pork Marinara Pasta concoctions. They also serve sandwiches with various fillings.
Desserts by Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp.
Although their meals and snack offerings are note-worthy, the real stars of this place are their desserts. Their drool-inducing desserts are the reasons why people often agree to sit and eat in a cramped area. Their centerpiece offering is their Sans Rival which is indeed yummy. Aside from the regular sans rival, they also sell Mocha Sans Rival and, for the more adventurous palates, Durian Sans Rival.
Chocolate Pie by Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp. Photo taken in 2007.
They also have single portion size cheesecakes which forever changed the way I see cheesecakes. Their cheesecakes are not the usual ingredients mixed together and chilled. Lachi’s Cheesecakes are the real baked ones which are sooo rich, creamy and delicious. You may eat your heesecake plain or with your choice of blueberry or cherry topping. They also recently added Choco-Vanilla to their list of cheesecake temptations.
Choco-Vanilla CHeesecake by Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp. Photo aken in 2007.
My personal reason for going there, however, are their chocolate desserts. Their Chocolate Truffle Hearts are to die for. Imagine an incredibly chocolatey moist cupcake with a rich chocolate filling. YUM! They also have delectable Chocolate Pie, Black Forest Pie, Roasted Walnut Torte, Symphony Torte, Midnight Dream Cake, and Mud Pie. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
Take time out and indulge sweet tooth at Lachi’s. And while you’re at it, complete the experience by enjoying their savory dishes first.
LACHI’s is located along Mabini Ave. / Ruby Street at Marfori Heights, Davao City. For inquiries and updates, follow their page at http://www.facebook.com/LachisDavao.
