This Bali-inspired haven in Pampanga is the perfect summer hideaway

Nestled in the small town of Guagua, Pampanga is a haven unbeknownst to many.

Near the Santiago Apostol Parish Church in Betis is the sprawling grounds of Fabrika Dining & Villas. What was once an old factory is now a space that offers a bit of everything: traditional Kapampangan food, steaming coffee and ice cold spirits, unique suites, a fun mini arcade, and an abundance of furniture for sale.

It might sound like too much, but stepping inside Fabrika is calming rather than overwhelming. Its Bali-esque atmosphere transports guests from the middle of a provincial town to what feels like an island getaway.

Here's everything this hidden gem has to offer:

Intimate villas

Photos: Sachi Saygan

Fabrika boasts of five gorgeous villas, all tucked in a breezy, rustic enclave that features a pool with a pond view.

There are four 1-bedroom villas perfect for couples, each one offering a cozy type of privacy, along with a small pool of its own. Nightly prices vary by day, ranging from P7,000 to P8,000.

There's a bigger villa on offer, a 2-bedroom unit for four to eight people, perfect for barkadas. Nightly prices range from P13,000 to P13,500.

Extra guests need to pay an additional P1,200 per head. Children up to 6 years of age stay free of charge.

Pondview dining

Photo: Sachi Saygan

The open-air Fabrika Restaurant sits beside a pond, surrounded by a thicket of trees, giving this corner of the space somewhat of a jungle vibe. You don't have to be a villa guest to enjoy this experience.

Since Fabrika opened its doors in 2021, the in-house restaurant has proudly served traditional and authentic Kapampangan cuisine.

Menu standouts such as Asadong Matwa (P590), Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Kaldereta (P520), Pork Sisig (P350), and Krispy Liempo Kare-Kare (P530).

Make sure to also try their Bagoong Rice (P370)!

Cocktails and laid-back fun

Photos: Sachi Saygan

For an evening buzz, Fabrika's second restaurant, Baby Fab Eatery, is an ideal spot. 

While it offers a variety of food — tacos, pasta, rice meals — its vibe is more of a cafe-bar, with sleek wide windows, dimmed lights, dark walls, and snug couches.

It offers beer and cocktails, including Coco Litsyas (P220), Florist (P220), and Limoncillo Pandan (P220).

For coffee, it serves the classics — Americano, Spanish Latte, Caramel Macchiato — as well as its signature BabyFab Coffee (P170-P180).

There are also non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated drinks, such as the Cocoa Strawberry (P165) and Calamansi Fizz (P160).

Right outside Baby Fab is the mini arcade, so you can enjoy your drinks while playing retro games.

Furniture and woodwork

Photo: Sachi Saygan

Before it opened as Fabrika Dining and Villas in 2021, the area was a furniture factory run by the owners, the Bituin Family, who all had a passion for furniture design.

Despite its rebrand, the passion remains, and it's clear in the furniture shop situated beside Baby Fab Eatery. Visitors can purchase a variety of woodwork, from functional stools and tables to intricate decor.

But it's not limited to that — any piece of furniture you see on the grounds, from the restaurant to the villas, are available for purchase!

Fabrika Dining and Villas is located at Sta. Ines, Betis, Guagua, Pampanga. —JCB, GMA News