Things to do in Philippines
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FEATURED
Philippine Discovery
15 days (Manila)
by Intrepid
Jump into the adventure of lively Manila city, Be left breathless by the Banaue terraces , Take a village trek through lush rice paddies, Be mystified by the…Not LP reviewed
from USD$2,580 - All things to do
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DiveCal
Associated with Dive Link Resort.
reviewed
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Gerry’s Grill
The original location of the now-widespread Filipino restobar chain is across the street from the ABS-CBN television studios.
reviewed
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Deep-Sea Fishing
Siargao is one of the few places in the country with organised deep-sea fishing; by all accounts it’s top-notch. Reeling in a 300lb sailfish isn’t uncommon – mahi-mahi and Spanish mackerel are also on the menu. The season lasts roughly from January to May. Contact Junior Gonzalez ([tel] 0920 772 8875), who also offers accommodation at his home in Pilar.
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Café Adriatico
Don’t be fooled by what appears to be a small and informal restaurant; this Malate legend right on Remedios Circle has good Spanish and Italian food to go along with top-notch people-watching.
reviewed
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North Park Noodles
This much-loved fast-food joint serves what some consider to be the best bowl of Chinese noodles in town. It’s a sleek little place with a minimalist stainless-steel style.
reviewed
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Harbour Square
A modest food court overlooking Manila’s marina in the CCP Complex.
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Aristocrat
This Manila institution began life in 1936 as a mobile snack cart, and today has branches all over the city, while still being entirely Filipino-owned. It feels like a huge, brightly lit diner, and the massive menu is rich in traditional Filipino staples and favourites.
reviewed
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Intramuros
When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi wrested control of Manila, he chose to erect his fortress on the remnants of the Islamic settlement by the mouth of the Pasig River. Intramuros, as Legazpi's walled city came to be called, was invaded by Chinese pirates, threatened by Dutch forces, and held by the British, Americans and Japanese at various times, yet it survived until the closing days of WWII, when it was finally destroyed by US bombing during the Battle of Manila.
From its founding in 1571, Intramuros was the exclusive preserve of the Spanish ruling classes. Within its massive walls were imposing government buildings, stately homes, churches, convents, monasteries, schools,…
reviewed
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Ziggurat
Half open-air restaurant, half pillow-covered bazaar, Ziggurat takes its inspirations from India, the Middle East and Africa. Don’t let its location just off girlie-bar-laden P Burgos St fool you: this is one of Makati’s best-kept secrets. At the outside bar you can recline and enjoy a hookah in a setting that manages to slightly evoke a desert tent somewhere. The menu is long and includes kebabs, chutneys, curries and Moroccan tajines.
reviewed
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Bo’s Coffee Club
A super popular Cebuano franchise that makes genuine top-notch espresso along with the usual mocha, latte and frappé selections. A favourite with both students and business types, this is a good air-con escape from the streets and there’s free wi-fi with any hot drink. There’s another outlet on Pres Osmeña Blvd and a third at Ayala Center.
reviewed
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Museum Cafe
Much more than a simple refuelling stop for museum patrons, the M Cafe, as it’s popularly known, is a magnet for Manila’s chichi class. The trip-hop ambience and exquisite all-white interior make for an especially artistic experience. The menu is heavy on light bites and sandwiches.
reviewed
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Bamboo Lounge
This new restaurant, part of the same compound as the boutique Freckles hotel, serves an interesting mix of food, mostly Asian, including dim sum, spare ribs, and Peking duck. It has a stylish dining area on the 1st floor and a bar open till 02:00 upstairs.
reviewed
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Casa Armas
A passionate clique of chowhounds and foodies have been spreading the good word about this Filipino-Spanish spot for years, where tapas, paella, seafood and even entire roast suckling pigs are on offer. There’s a second branch in Makati’s Greenbelt 3.
reviewed
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Italianni's
New York-style Italian food stars, which means thick tomato sauce, great meatballs and big portions. One of the most popular places on this popular strip of restaurants, the staff here takes motivation seriously: group cheers are common.
reviewed
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Yoghurt House
Fuel up here with mountain coffee and delicious homemade yoghurt before a long day of hiking or caving. Then return for dinner to carb-load on delicious vegetarian pasta dishes or rösti (shredded fried potatoes).
reviewed
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Bellini's
This hip little Italian café serves good pizzas under the watchful gaze of an eclectic wall of fame (photos of purported customers). It's popular with local artists, many of whom have shops in adjoining storefronts.
reviewed
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Mañana Mexican Cuisine
There are only three tables on the beach path here but the sombreros and terracotta plates tell you this is a Mexican restaurant. Serves big tasty dishes such as burritos, tortillas, and top-of-the-line fruit shakes.
reviewed
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Max Brenner
This jazzy outlet of the revered chain of chocolate shops has all the rich drinks and treats you'd expect. There's also a small menu of breakfast items and heartier fare served through the day.
reviewed
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Cafe Via Mare
You can get a snack or a meal at this trendy little spot on a busy corner of the Rockwell Center. The coffee is authentically Italian while the dishes are an upscale mix of Filipino standards.
reviewed
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Dad’s
Most everyone visits Dad’s for its aptly named all-you-can-eat ‘ultimate buffet’, when a mind-boggling array of Filipino dishes are set out in deep serving dishes. Come hungry.
reviewed
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Hap Chan
One of the more popular teahouses, it specialises in hotpot dishes, but also serves dim sum, noodles and rice dishes. It's small, clean and unadorned.
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Tasty Dumplings
The name says it all at this modern little place. The meatball soup is excellent.
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Rizal Park
Still widely known as 'Luneta' (its name until it was officially changed in the 1950s), Rizal Park is spread out over some 60 hectares of open lawns, ornamental gardens, paved walks and wooded areas, dotted with monuments to almost every Filipino hero you care to mention. It's a pretty area but also shabby in parts, dangerously so near the closed National Museum on P Burgos St.
Every day hundreds of Filipinos come here to stroll, jog, picnic, sing and play music, or just relax away from the swarming traffic. At dawn, various groups gather to practise t'ai chi or the local martial art of arnis, or arnis de mano, a pre-Hispanic style of stick-fighting. There are formalised…
reviewed
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Tamaraw Falls
At Tamaraw Falls cool mountain waters plummet 30m into a natural pool beside the road, run under a stone bridge into two constructed swimming pools, then flow out again into a jungle gorge.
The Tamaraw Falls are popular on the weekend, especially on Sunday when admission is free, but during the week you can just about have them to yourself. Bring a packed lunch and enjoy the views; thatched shelters, perched on the edge of the pools, are available for picnicking. There are toilets, and a kiosk at the entrance selling snacks, soft drinks and beer.
The falls are 14km from Puerto Galera on the rough, mountainous road to Calapan - only the first 7km of which is paved. To get…
reviewed
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Hundred Islands National Park
This small national park off the coast of Alaminos contains 123 separate islets, although some are just large rocks. Over the centuries the tides have eaten away at the bases of these limestone islands, giving them a distinctive, mushroom-like appearance.
The friendly and useful Hundred Islands National Park office is on the wharf in barangay Lucap, the jumping-off point to the national park.
The three most popular islands are Quezon Island, Governor's Island and Children's Island, but you're definitely better off finding your own island on weekends, as these fill up with loads of large families and beach vendors.
By far the best way to experience the park is in a tandem…
reviewed