Western Visayas
Don't let the humble entrance fool you: inside lies a real breath of fresh air. This cool cafe and meeting place offers excellent fruit shakes and pizza,…
Must-see restaurants in Philippines
El Nido
At this popular upstairs place on El Nido's main drag, dishes like pad krapow (stir-fried minced meat) and crab curry emerge from the kitchen on…
Laura's Garden Tropical Restaurant
Busuanga & the Calamian Islands
This simple eatery adjoins a beautiful garden near the resorts of Dipuyai Bay. Just a few items on the menu, including pesto pasta, seaweed salad and…
Manila
The speciality here is, naturally, chicken – we prefer it roasted with a couple of sides. Nachos, quesadillas, margaritas and local craft beer on tap …
Mactan Island
The best of the rustic seafood restaurants hidden behind the market area near the entrance to Mactan Shrine. Pick up your seafood and hand it to the chef:…
Siargao
Kawayan's restaurant does food inspired by French, Basque, Moroccan and Filipino cuisines (Moroccan tagine is the speciality), served in a sumptuously…
Iloilo
Featuring Vietnamese street food such as banh mi and a variety of pho dishes in a pleasantly designed room with colourful umbrellas hanging from the…
Bacolod
Tastefully decorated, Inaka has an authentic Japanese menu with a good sushi and sashimi selection and a teppanyaki chef. Vegetarians will want to try…
Manila
This laid-back farmers markets has an array of local specialities. Here you'll find stalls serving cuisine from Filipino food-crazy regions such as Ilocos…
Boracay
Especially popular with Korean tourists, this place selling shaved ice and fresh fruit topped by soft-serve mango ice cream, a twist on the traditional…
Manila
This unassuming eatery has acquired cult status and is a de-rigueur stop on any tour of historic Escolta St. In addition to ice cream (try the nine-scoop…
Cebu City
A popular pick for a lechón fix, with several branches around the city. This place in the heart of town offers a platter of classic or boneless lechón for…
Manila
This is where the creatives at the HUB get their caffeine fix and work on their laptops to soothing coffee-presser sounds. It's crisp and cool with an…
Bicol
One of the more upmarket independent restaurants on the Magsaysay strip, Red Platter is semiformal in atmosphere but high quality in presentation. The…
Southeast Luzon
Although styled on an American diner, with booth seating, memorabilia, and nachos, fries and hot dogs on the menu, Tio Jose also does a fine line in…
Bicol
For an authentic experience of Bicol food, Waway is a local institution (often booked with tour groups) for its splendid lunchtime buffet of spicy coconut…
Bantayan Island
Lively spot on a corner plot that's deservedly popular for its food – a mixture of Asian dishes and Scandinavian specialities: try the Swedish meatballs …
Moalboal
It does what it says on the sign – French coffee – well, it serves Italian-style coffee too…plus shakes, crêpes, baguettes, breakfasts and salads. There's…
Boracay
This open-air Mediterranean restaurant and mellow beach bar feature beanbag chairs on the sand, a massive tropical drinks menu, ambient grooves, shisha…
Bicol
A wonderful open-air bamboo-and-thatch restaurant 1km north of Legazpi City, Sibid-Sibid specialises in highly original, Bicol-inspired seafood…
Iloilo
Choose from more than half a dozen 'boodle fight' set menus (P1400 to P1700, good for eight), where heaping serves, laid out on banana leaves in the…
El Nido
This is the place for authentic French galettes and tasty paninis (try the signature spicy beef version). Take them on your boat trip or dine in at the…
Southeast Luzon
This German-owned bar-restaurant in Gasan is popular with a mix of expats and locals thanks to its German sausages, tasty takes on Filipino standards and…
Iloilo
The theme is traditional Ilonggo seafood, with snapper and shellfish taking pride of place on the menu, and a great all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner…
Boracay
Desultory service aside, head to the 2nd floor with its floor cushions and airy (hot when no breeze) dining space for excellent set vegetarian and meat…
Davao
Long running and stylish Hanoi serves tasty Vietnamese cuisine, including excellent banh mi (baguettes); some dishes are dumbed-down versions to appeal to…
Davao
Paellas and other Iberian–style meat dishes dominate most of the chalkboard menu at this bustling and homey place, where the owner roves the tables…
Davao
Centrally located. 'The Peak', a 5th- and 6th-floor addition, has an outdoor plaza lined with cafes and restaurants, including Kublai Khan's, an all-you…
Northern Mindanao
Not much curb appeal to this utilitarian-looking restaurant next to the Surigao Coast Guard office. However, it's pleasant enough inside and serves…
Bohol
With views of the bay, this family-orientated restaurant has something for everyone including espresso coffee, vegan dishes and plenty of Filipino fare…
Moalboal
Named after an obscure Gary Numan album, this enjoyable, efficiently run place on the main drag offers an eclectic (too long) menu including French, local…
Davao
Tadakuna doesn't look like much: a handful of tables in a modest dining room. However, the owner, a passionate fisherman, knows how to turn out some of…
Siquijor
Here you'll find hip young things tucking into massive breakfast bowls and sipping fruit shakes in swings by day, while by night music fills the air –…
Siargao
Warung's Indonesian chef serves up good-value specialities like nasi rames (dish with small portions of rice, meat and vegies), laksa (spicy noodle soup)…
Coron Town
Headed by a Thai chef, the kitchen churns out authentic curries, papaya salad, larb (meat salad) and other specialties from the Land of Smiles. While the…
Malapascua Island
This place is well worth sniffing out for its gorgeous cordon bleu and curries. Quality food takes time to prepare: expect to wait up to an hour. Bring…
Original Conching's Native Chicken
Davao
A whole chicken and a bucket of beers. What's not to like? Celebrities apparently are on board. Their photos are plastered on one wall of this otherwise…
Manila
Blink and you'll miss this hippy, trippy Rumi–inspired cafe specialising in delicious vegan sandwiches and fair-trade coffee from Benguet in North Luzon…
Boracay
Long-time White Beach favorite Aria serves Italian food with herbs and other ingredients sourced from its organic garden on the island. It has excellent…
Cagayan de Oro
Filipino comfort food, especially lechón (roast suckling pig) and kambing (goat) dishes, and imported beers like Stella Artois and Asahi are on offer at…
