Day Trip: Liliw, the Footwear Capital
Liliw compresses everything pleasant about upland Laguna into a few walkable streets on Mt. Banahaw's lower slopes: cooler air, springs, a handsome colonial church, and a footwear industry that shods half of Southern Luzon.
The footwear strip
Gat Tayaw Street is lined with shops selling locally made sandals, slippers, espadrilles, and shoes — handcrafted in home workshops around town and priced far below mall equivalents. Fit varies by maker, so try everything on; buying several pairs is traditional and, at these prices, rational.
St. John the Baptist Church
Liliw's red-brick church is one of Laguna's most photogenic — a warm terracotta façade above the town's rooftops, with a cool baroque interior. Respectful visits welcome outside Mass times.
Eat: Arabela and neighbors
Arabela is the destination café — a tiny, perpetually packed spot beloved for pasta, baked goods, and cheesecake; expect a wait on weekends and consider it part of the experience. Cafés and eateries have multiplied around it, so a backup plan is easy. (San Pablo's own café scene is covered in the coffee guide.)
Cold springs
Liliw's barangays host modest cold-spring resorts fed by Banahaw water — smaller cousins of San Pablo's Bato Springs, pleasant for a post-shopping dip.
Getting there & the classic loop
- Route: San Pablo → Nagcarlan → Liliw, about 45 minutes by car; jeepneys connect the towns for commuters.
- The loop: combine with the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery and Bunga Falls for the definitive San Pablo side-trip day: history, waterfall, sandals, cheesecake, home by dinner.
Frequently asked questions
What is Liliw, Laguna famous for?
Handmade footwear — its Gat Tayaw Street shops sell locally crafted sandals and slippers at low prices — plus its red-brick St. John the Baptist Church and the famous Arabela café.
How far is Liliw from San Pablo?
About 45 minutes by road via Nagcarlan, making it an easy half-day or full-day trip, often combined with the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery.
Is Arabela in Liliw worth the hype?
Most visitors say yes — the pasta and cheesecake earn the lines. Go early or on weekdays to dodge the weekend wait.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Spot an outdated detail? Email support@sanpablolaguna.com.
