A grand time at Grandpa’s Inn

MANILA, Philippines - Vigan City may well be the north’s living history book. There are tales and historical facts for tourists to take in, and then there are heritage houses-turned-hotels that take travelers in. An example of the latter is Grandpa’s Inn, a quaint residential house of the Donato family that was converted into an inn in 1979.

Grandpa’s Inn houses 22 rooms, two restaurants, and a souvenir shop. It has since expanded to another heritage house, owned by the Pilar Encarnacion-Tongson family, with three dormitory rooms and another restaurant.

Hotel manager Ernanie Pasimio says their rooms are uniquely themed, the best to feel the true Ilocano heritage. “We call them our culturally designed rooms. We have calesa beds, after the horse-drawn carriage; the karison beds, that is, the carabao-drawn farm carriage; and the pasagad beds, named after farm sleds,” Pasimio says, adding that brick walls and capiz lamps are integral in completing the look.

“Our rooms are built more than just eye candy. They also provide the utmost comfort,” he says. The air-conditioned rooms are equipped with 21-inch cable television, hot and cold shower in a private bath and toilet, and 24-hour Wi-Fi. The four air-con dormitory rooms, perfect for the barkada, come with double-deck beds.

The four standard fan rooms feature a 14-inch cable television set, 24-hour Internet access, and a private bath. Pasimio says, “We have three regular fan rooms for househelp and drivers.”

Even one’s taste buds are in for an accommodation. Kusina Felicitas is Grandpa’s Inn’s flagship restaurant. It serves authentic Ilocano cuisine, including bagnet, longganisa, pinakbet, bunog (local fish found only in a local river), and ipon (seasonal fish favored by Ilocanos).

“We also feature Asian and other Filipino favorites in our menu,” he says. “We know people want variety, so we broadened the range of our culinary offerings.” Kusina Felicitas guests will not only talk about the cuisine; they will also discuss the original bricks from an 18th-century building that make up the outlet’s wall. The pieces of furniture are proudly Vigan-made.

“Kusina Felicitas has two areas for small meetings and functions. Each can accommodate up to 60 persons,” he adds.

Grandpa’s Inn’s Café Uno, the first corner coffee shop in Vigan, offers coffee drinks, cakes, pasta and noodle dishes, sandwiches, and light Mexican snacks. Their best-selling coffee concoctions are Café Latte, Cappuccino, Café Mocha, Café Caramel, and Espresso. For those who want to cool off, Café Uno has iced blended coffee coolers such as Lattecino Mocha and Lattecino Caramel, and a variety of fresh fruit shakes and juices. The hotel manager insists on their blueberry cheesecake, sans rival, Italian Kahlua, and Chocomonster, and, guess what, they are sweetened just right, not cloying at all.

Uno Grille is Grandpa’s Inn’s third F&B outlet, and it is quite a sight with its brick walls, terra cotta jars (burnay), and mini calesa, an obvious nod to the city’s favorite mode of transportation. As what its name implies, this eatery specializes in charcoal-grilled pork, chicken, beef, fish, seafood, and vegetables.

“Each of these grilled dishes is bathed in its own special marinade. What we are after are distinct and assorted flavors,” Pasimio says. “We usually get big families here. Uno Grille is also open for big gatherings for up to 150 people.”

Grandpa’s Inn is found right inside Vigan, a city known for its Spanish heritage, which means guests can go sightseeing as soon as they step out. Travelers will enjoy their walk through the heritage strip of Calle Crisologo, where cobblestone streets and centuries-old villas are aplenty. The inn is also near the famed Plaza Burgos and Vigan Cathedral.

Pasimio mentions that Grandpa’s Inn can arrange for a Vigan City tour, complete with a professional tour guide. “We know that after a day’s worth of touring, the body needs to be pampered. We have a massage service to soothe tired bodies,” he volunteers.

Grandpa’s Inn may not be the grandest in terms of size, but it does more than make up for it in terms of personalized service and old-world charm. Its loyal clientele will attest that a grand time can be had at Grandpa’s.

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Grandpa’s Inn is located at 1 Bonifacio St. corner Quirino Boulevard, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. For more information, call +63 (077) 722-2118 or 0917-5802118, fax at +63(077) 632-0987, e-mail at reservation@grandpas-inn.com or grandpasinnvigan@yahoo.com.ph or visit its website at www.grandpas-inn.com. Photos by Fernan Nebres