Hotel 1925: Lipa’s classic and historic getaway

Hotel 1925:

A Classic Getaway in the Historical City of Lipa

Around two to three hours away, or about 80 kilometers south of Manila, Lipa City is Batangas’ seat of ancestry, recreation, commerce, religion, and culture. It is a town considered as paradise by many, perfect for celebrating special occasions, for religious pilgrimages or simply going on a tranquil getaway.

In the late 1800s, Lipa was deemed the richest town in the Philippines since it was the world’s biggest and only supplier of coffee beans. Its ascent to premiere economic status did not escape

the eyes of Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain, who conferred the title of “Villa” to Lipa as a reward for the hard work of its people and its contributions to the Philippines and the world. Despite their city’s esteemed status symbol, the Lipeños were unperturbed and remained industrious, hospitable, and strong-willed – traits that still hold true to this day.

But if there’s one place in Lipa that embodies its heritage and beloved people, that is Hotel 1925. Nestled on a 1,209-square meter property, Hotel 1925 is a modern, 16-room boutique hotel that exudes timeless architectural beauty and pays homage to the status of splendor and luxury Lipa is known for.

Experience Travel & Living gives you the story behind Hotel 1925, and a sneak peek of what you can expect at this classic getaway and the symbolic places where you can get a decadent experience and taste of the historical city of Lipa.

The Tale of Hotel 1925

The tale of this new landmark in Lipa City began with Rufino Mojares or “Pinong.” Manong Pinong (born 1925) was a survivor of the Japanese occupation so he needed to develop a high entrepreneurial spirit to rebuild his life. He peddled many things to earn a living, from appliances to jeepneys, and just like the stories of Filipino tycoons, he also experienced hardships as a struggling entrepreneur. Eventually, Manong Pinong tasted success and built an open-space warehouse in Lipa to store most of his products while he raised his three daughters: Ma. Socorro Mojares-Cadiz, Esperanza Mojares-Leyeza, and Michelle MojaresFabie.

In a conversation with one of his daughters, Manong Pinong requested a statue to be built in his memoriam. Fast forward to 2016, the daughters, with the help of Michelle’s husband TJ Fabie III, built Hotel 1925 right where Manong Pinong’s warehouse was erected, a proud monument for their father and how his success story inspired them to provide an emblematic place that Lipeños would be proud of.

Unwind: The Hallways and Suites of Hotel 1925

Before we took a peek at the chic 56-sqm Balcony Suite King of Hotel 1925, we were delighted by the sight of the exquisite hotel interiors and set of antiques at the hallways. At the hotel lobby, you’ll be greeted by the warm smiles of their staff and a deluge of stunning sights. A wooden grand central staircase, a vintage cashier box, classic black-and-white Machuca tiles, antique walnut dressers and aparadors - things that truly take back a guest to the good ‘ol times.

Now, onto the Suite. For the Balcony Suite King room, open its wide wooden door with an electronic key card then lie down on a chiropractic king-size bed after a day’s worth of tour around Lipa City (which we’ll get to later). While relaxing, you can turn on the LED cable television set, or binge on your favorite Netflix shows with their high-speed Internet connectivity.

You can also look forward to the ensuite bathroom that provides you with imported French toiletries by Les Couvent des Minimes or stand on the balcony to breathe in the cold breeze of Lipa at night.

Before you get to enjoy the luxury of this elegant suite, wouldn’t it be nice to have a tour of Lipa and enjoy what the town has in store? Experience Travel & Living recommends five places that provide a taste of the best of Lipa in terms of culinary, history, education, and relaxation.

Dine: Imprenta and Casa Marikit

For great Filipino cuisine, no need to go far. At the first floor of the hotel, you can find Imprenta Modern Filipino Cuisine to savor classic Filipino dishes and drinks. Enjoy a sip of the signature kapeng barako, savor the taste of Beef Kare-Kare, or go the traditional recovery food route with Tapsilog.

If you’re craving for international cuisine, we highly recommend Imprenta’s “sister restaurant,” Casa Marikit Ristorante Italiano. Michelle Mojares-Fabie, a culinary aficionado, brought Casa Marikit to life, making it the very first fine-dining restaurant in Lipa. It is an 11-minute drive from Hotel 1925 located at Brgy. BanayBanay right across San Fernando Airbase.

This place has been raved about by food review sites, so we wanted to try it out. After a two-hour lunch of devouring various pasta dishes, their signature steak and gelato, it was all worth it! All the dishes were wellplated, the atmosphere was relaxing, the interiors are Instagram-able, and the servers were attentive. Casa Marikit can indeed be a great place for special occasions and make you feel as if you’re dining in Italy.

Experience: Beehive Farm and Kitchen

If you have kids with you, or maybe you just love honey, make sure to include the Beehive Farm and Kitchen in your itinerary.

It’s a humble home-turned-dining place and center of learning for the buzzing beekeeping business not only in Lipa but in the entire world. Owned by Joel Katigbak, the Beehive Farm and Kitchen serves fresh dishes that use honey produced from their very own bee farm as a key ingredient.

Apart from offering delectable dishes, experience the short tours and take a closer look at a beehive and see how bees produce honey. One recommendation is to visit from January to May as it is the season for honey flow. Also, you and your family can also have a taste of different flavors of honey, learn the difference of their tastes, and know why they taste differently. Who knows, it might be your jumping-off point to becoming a honey expert, right?

Discover: Casa de Segunda

Another must-visit place in Lipa, Casa de Segunda is a renowned tourist site in Batangas where the Luz-Katigbak ancestral residence stands, an almost century-old “bahay-na-bato” known to be the home of Segundina Solis Katigbak, the first love of our national hero Jose Rizal.

The story of this National Heritage site was shared to us by its accommodating host, Lilet Malabanan, Segundina’s granddaughter. She narrated the short-lived romance between the young Rizal and Segundina, who met in Manila when the young girl was still studying in La Concordia College. Unfortunately for the young Rizal, Segundina was already engaged to Manuel Luz, the son of an affluent family in Lipa. Their story never picked up again, and Segundina spent the rest of her life in this ancestral house. To prevent further deterioration, Casa de Segunda underwent restoration and later turned into this beautiful museum.

Chill Out: Il Capo

Located in the same floor as Imprenta, Il Capo is one of the newest go-to places in Lipa for gentlemen who would simply love a tete-a-tete over a glass of whisky and get a well-deserved clean cut and shave – all while listening to relaxing jazz music.

Apart from professional grooming services and a wonderful menu of coffee and liquor, guests of this snazzy craft barbershop can also expect to see its collection of antiques, such as a vintage Vespa and old-fashioned furniture. Il Capo is surely a unique barbershop in Lipa where you can have an experience that will exceed your expectations.

From mouthwatering local and international dishes and educational experiences, to the warm hospitality of the people of Lipa and Hotel 1925, our visit to this amazing city was truly one for the books, an experience where we can look forward going back to the hotel and the city along with our families.

As for Hotel 1925, the coming years look promising for them as it aims to build a fitness gym, grand ballroom, swimming pool, spa, salon for women, a large garden and more exquisite rooms that will delight both Lipeños and town visitors alike.

If you’re looking to have a deluxe experience in a culture-rich city that’s mere hours away from Metro Manila, Hotel 1925 is your place to be.