Qiwellness is a secret Chinese-inspired Teahouse, Bathhouse, and Guesthouse in Tagaytay. Designed by Budji+Royal, it’s a place for couples to celebrate special milestones or for close friends to party in an intimate setting.
We recently tried their first ever 10-course Yin Yang degustation at the Tea House and their Guest House Escape experience to celebrate 15 wonderful years together as a couple.
Here’s what to expect. Plus, some tips in planning your own Qiwellness celebration…
Qiwellness Living
Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy. Maharlika East, Tagaytay City, Philippines
Mobile: +63 917 522-6969
Email: info@qiwellnessliving.ph
Instagram: @qiwellnessliving
Facebook: Qi Wellness Living
Website: http://qiwellnessliving.ph/
For inquiries or reservations for The Teahouse (dining), The Bathhouse (spa) or The Guesthouse (overnight accommodation), please email reservations@qiwellnessliving.ph.
Related Blog Post: Qiwellness Living: Secret Tea & Bath House in Tagaytay! (A Review)
10-Course Yin Yang
What makes this Chinese-inspired degustation unique is the contrast of Eastern and Western flavors.
The Tea House is romantic at night with dramatic lighting and Tagaytay sky backdrop.
Little James’ Basket Press Rouge N.V. France
Order a bottle of red wine to set the mood and to pair with the 10-course meal.
Loved their complimentary bread—the soft, moist mantou bread served with truffle butter.
1. house-made bacon
egg + truffle foam
There’s lots of bacon inside the egg, and you’ll have fun scooping it out with the truffle foam.
2. seafood mousse
cauliflower purée + saffron foam + lotus crisp
This looks like pate at first, but its more of a savory mousse with flavours of seafood, cauliflower and saffron.
3. foie gras paté
pear cardamom purée + chrysanthemum
Loved the contrasting tastes of cardamom and chrysanthemum that cut through the fatty flavors of foie gras.
Chef Neil Sapitula and the culinary team freshly prepared each course with care and perfection.
4. cured duck breast
honey anise vinaigrette + greens + goji berry
This is your Tagaytay salad course made special with goji berries and cured duck meat.
5. lapsang suchong smoked prawn
sea bass + pickled beets + lime + laksa
My personal favorite because of the contrasting play of flavors between the milky laksa and lime.
6. tuna tartare
avocado mousse + caviar + wasabi mayo
Raw tuna salad with umami from wasabi mayo, caviar and avocado. So good.
Chef Neil is one of the promising young chefs in Manila who trained in ISCAHM and the kitchens of Lolo Dads, La Girolle and BBZ.
7. veal cheeks
truffle potato + caramelized onions + sichuan buttons
It’s like a creamy mashed potato with veal meat.
8. smoked chicken
globosa rice in lotus leaf
I liked the concept and presentation but, at that point, the sticky machang rice was too heavy already.
9. lamb cutlet
almond crust + amaretto jus + sweet potato croquette + mint and mango salsa
This is my favorite. It’s like eating a lamb meat lollipop, so make sure you save space to enjoy this.
We were impressed with the first few courses because of the contrasting flavors and thoughtful combinations.
They could balance the use of truffle and maybe add more dessert courses though.
10. vanilla ice cream
torched cream cheese + meringue + milk soil
A nice creamy ending of ice cream, cream cheese with bits of meringue and milk soil to clean the palate.
10 course ‘yin yang’ degustation menu – summer 2018
(Available from July 16, 2018 to October 15, 2018. A 48-hour advance reservation is required for this menu.)
₱2,880+ price is inclusive of VAT. A 10% service charge shall be added to your bill.
(Items and ingredients are subject to change without prior notice.)
If you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions, please inform us about this when making your reservation so that we can prepare a substitute ingredient or course.
(Note: Menu changes quarterly. Depends on the chef also.)
Guest House Escape
We decided to stay the night. They only allow two couples or one barkada at a time to stay overnight.
The room is clean and romantic with sexy lighting.
Welcome apples and a pitcher of water await you at your home for the night.
There’s a separate toilet, shower and wash basin. Don’t forget to bring your own toiletries.
What’s good is that the shower is also a steam room to relax you before the massage.
After eating a 10-course meal, it’s nice to lie down near the soaking pools…
…and have a relaxing 30-minute foot reflexology to cap the night.
The Morning After
Loved waking up to the Tagaytay sunrise with the whole guesthouse to ourselves.
Started the day dipping into the hot and cold soaking pool with the serene view of Taal Volcano and Taal Lake.
Make sure you have time to waste and just have an unhurried morning for a moment of reflection.
Play with the big colorful koi fishes that seem to wish you luck for the day ahead.
Qiwellness Breakfast
After your morning ritual, you are ready to enjoy a Chinese-inspired breakfast at The Teahouse.
Morning starts with an invigorating Chinese tea and freshly squeezed orange juice.
The fruit tea is nice in the morning, and you have other tea options depending on your morning mood.
A dimsum basket of hakaw, shanghai, beancurd, sharks fin, seafood roll with crabmeat and kuchay dumpling.
A bowl of congee with your choice of toppings.
Happy Ending
After a light breakfast, you are ready for the soothing 90-minute Silk signature massage with firm pressure but relaxing touches.
Silk ₱2,180 (90 minutes)
This soothing signature massage combines various relaxing and lymphatic drainage massage techniques to facilitate blood and lymphatic circulation, alleviating both emotional and physical stresses, and inducing a deeper sense of calm and well-being. This massage, done in a private room, is one of the most relaxing massages you are ever likely to experience.
guesthouse ‘escape’ package
Often secluded, our guesthouse is for couples who wish to ‘escape’.
Inclusions:
Welcome cocktails
Use of our ‘yin yang’ (cold & hot) soaking pools while checked-in
30-minute foot reflexology by the soaking pools
90-minute Silk signature massage in the opium den or drawing room
Overnight accommodation: check-in, 3:00 pm; check-out, 12:00 pm
Chinese-inspired congee and dimsum breakfast
Escape Overnight Package ₱15,800
Final Thoughts
The 10-course degustation by Chef Neil is quite a remarkable meal and a great way to celebrate a loving milestone with your special someone. I would recommend going for the overnight guest house experience to enjoy the reflexology, the silk massage and the hot/cold soaking pools with an awesome view of Taal Volcano.
The staff is discrete, helpful and respectful of your private space. I don’t think the room is sound-proof. Also, it does not have a curtain to black out the light outside.
This is one of our favorite secluded romantic escapes near Manila—a great place to reaffirm your love or to reconnect with your partner.
Qiwellness Living
Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy. Maharlika East, Tagaytay City, Philippines
Mobile: +63 917 522-6969
Email: info@qiwellnessliving.ph
Instagram: @qiwellnessliving
Facebook: Qi Wellness Living
Website: http://qiwellnessliving.ph/
For inquiries or reservations for The Teahouse (dining), The Bathhouse (spa), or The Guesthouse (overnight accommodation), please email reservations@qiwellnessliving.ph.
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: Our Qiwellness experience is courtesy of our friend from Qiwellness. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions and insights.
P.S. For the most awesome romantic experience, book during the full moon and make sure that you are the only couple staying the night.
We went on a Sunday night going on a Monday to ensure we were alone. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
P.P.S. This is a good place for a bridal shower or a barkada reunion or outing. We recommend staying in the opium den.
‘eunuchs & concubines’
This overnight package is designed for four to six persons and is ideal for group outings.
Inclusions:
Welcome cocktails
Use of our ‘yin yang’ (cold & hot) soaking pools
90-minute Qiharmony signature massage by the yin yang pool
Multi-course ‘yin yang’ degustation dinner
Overnight accommodation in our opium den
Chinese-inspired congee and dimsum breakfast at 9:00 am
Eunuchs & Concubines Package is P7,800 per person, minimum of 4 persons
(Check-in time: 5:00 pm, check-out time: 12:00 pm)
