A Slice of Paradise at Paraiso de Avedad.

In one of my earlier posts, I have mentioned that San Pablo City now has an abundance (or overabundance to be exact) of restaurants, coffee shops, and tea houses. Aside from the aforementioned food establishments, new tourist attractions have also popped in my hometown. This includes Paraiso de Avedad, a leisure park/retreat center in the outskirts of the city, and now one of the most popular tourist spots here in San Pablo. 

Welcome to paradise!

Paraiso de Avedad opened its doors to the public around mid-2022, but only became fully operational around September last year. It was around this time when we first visited the place, thanks to my mother-in-law who wanted to go on some sort of nature trip with the entire family.

Our trip to paradise after the jump!

Located at Brgy. San Antonio, this lovely tourist spot is a ten-minute drive from the city proper. You'll be amazed at how vast this place is, because we certainly were. The kids were impressed with the massive automatic gates, and the drum and lyre band that welcomed us as we entered.

The welcome band.

Near the entrance is a small bamboo kiosk which serves complimentary drinks to guests. We were given a glass of Lemon Grass Tea each, and were ushered to one of the umbrellas as the staff handed as the menu and waited for our order.  

Free lemon grass tea for the guests.

Their in-house restaurant, aptly named Cafedad, serves a wide variety of food. They have soups, salads, pasta, and sandwiches, as well as rice meals and desserts. Just recently, they have added set meals, all-day breakfasts, and even charcuterie boards to their menu. Waiting time for the food is around 15-20 minutes (this usually depends on the influx of guests), but we really didn't mind since this gave us plenty of time to explore the place before we ate.

The facade of Cafe de Avedad.

Outdoor seating (perfect if you're dining in the evening).

True to its name, Paraiso de Avedad is indeed paradise. This one-hectare park is filled with lush trees, flowering plants, a variety of shrubs, and lots of lots of bonsais. In fact, one area of the place is dedicated to bonsais alone. The owners of Paraiso really seem to have penchant for bonsais, as evidenced by the Art and Bonsai Exhibit that they hosted last year.

The beauty of nature.

Bonsais on display.

A closer look at one of the bonsais.

Speaking of art, you'll also see a lot of them inside Paraiso de Avedad - from the paintings hung on the cafeteria wall, to the resin artwork on the countertops, and the huge painting on the bottom of the pool.

The swimming pool at Paraiso de Avedad.

The pool is accessible to guests, but you need to make a reservation prior to your visit. For Php 3500, a party of 15 can use the pool for an entire day. Too bad we weren't able to use the pool during our last visit as someone had booked the pool ahead of us that day. The kids were a bit bummed since they really wanted to go swimming, but at least they enjoyed walking around, taking photos as they admired the beauty of the place.

Big trees provide shade for guests.

Plenty of benches to sit on.

One of the huts which serves as dining area for guests.

The Adoration Chapel is perhaps one of the most noticeable infrastructures inside Paraiso de Avedad. It's located smack dab in the middle of the park, with a belfry featuring the Holy Trinity in front. Not sure if they have mass on a daily basis, but according to the staff, the have mass every Sunday at 6am and 6pm. 

The Adoration Chapel from afar.

The belfry.

Inside the Adoration Chapel.

We noticed some tiny huts and capsules in one area of park. Apparently, Paraiso de Avedad also provides accommodations for guests who would like to stay for the night. They also have a camping site where you can actually pitch tents. 

Bamboo capsules (reminds me of Cocoons).

Nipa huts for overnight stays.

Camping site for the more outdoors-y guests.

After fifteen minutes or so of strolling around, the staff waved at us, a signal which meant that food will now be served. Here's what we had for lunch.

Nachos, Php 175.
French Fries, Php 75.
Fried Spring Chicken with Rice and Veggies, Php 220.

Pork Surf and Turf, Php 230.

Special Okoy, Php 75.

The rice meals were all served with Blue Ternate Rice, which surprisingly, tastes good. The food, albeit simple, is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also very flavorful. They're reasonably priced, too. I particularly love their Okoy - huge serving, hands-down yummy, and super crunchy. For me, it's a good enough reason to visit this place again and again, haha!

Sunday with the fambam.

Yue and I. Yes, he's tall!

If you're planning to visit Paraiso de Avedad, you'll be glad to know that there is no entrance fee required. However, you must have a reservation prior to your visit as walk-ins are not allowed. Reservations can be made through their Facebook page.

Paraiso de Avedad

0459 Purok 3 Sitio Balanga

Brgy. San Antonio 1

San Pablo City

0949 359 1876