Cagayan de Oro
The ground floor of the Red Planet Hotel, on the city's primary traffic-jammed road, is an unusual spot for a restaurant espousing slow-food movement bona…
Must-see restaurants in Philippines
Siargao
Until 9pm this is CEV, which specialises in highly original ceviche and kinilaw bowls – basically marinated raw fish bits mixed with rice, seasonal…
Around Manila
Views don’t come much better than those at Josephine, a long-running favourite with huge convex windows providing spectacular lake panoramas. It's well…
Boracay
Choose fish, lobster, prawns and other freshly caught shellfish from the D'Talipapa wet market just a few feet away and this family-style grill will cook…
Davao
Three siblings – a chef, a decorator and a farmer – have opened up this 'barn to table' restaurant in which they've vowed to get back to the basics…
Southeast Luzon
Blossoms has the air of an English tearoom downstairs, with its tempting cake display, quaint furniture and cheery ambience. Upstairs is a more modern air…
Puerto Galera
This is a hidden gem, perched among the trees on the west edge of Muelle Bay. Sunset drinks and a barbecue are the traditional way to celebrate Friday,…
Sagada
Gaia serves locally sourced vegan fare (plus a few egg dishes) amid pine trees and with a view of rice terraces through strategically placed glass windows…
Negros
A terrific place to imagine colonial Silay is this partly renovated regal home, an architectural landmark with colonnades marking the entryway. Enjoy…
Moalboal
An enjoyable little restaurant with efficient service (though with street views rather than ocean vistas). Famous for its energy-boosting breakfasts,…
Iloilo
Situated amid the historic homes of Jaro, this charming locavore's delight feels like a 19th-century living room, and serves a tasty and inexpensive mix…
San Juan (La Union)
Run by a friendly pair of local surfers, this great little thatched restaurant in the middle of Urbiztondo has a loyal following thanks to beautifully…
Siquijor
One of the island's best stand-alone restaurants, as much for its chill vibe and self-produced craft beer as for its wide variety of food. The tuna…
Bicol
Bob Marlin is locally renowned as the best spot in town to chow down on crispy pata (deep-fried pork knuckle). Other Filipino dishes such as inahaws …
Manila
An old-time Malate favourite, this romantic corner bistro is best known for its classic Filipino merienda (afternoon snack) menu and fine people-watching…
Davao
An unassuming sun-baked collection of low-slung buildings behind the mall of the same name. More than a dozen quality restaurants, including several large…
Bacolod
An otherwise ordinary-looking street-food eatery has been propelled into a foodie destination for locals of all stripes who claim it serves the best…
Dumaguete
This contemporary restaurant, where the chef works in a glass cube, offers sophisticated dining at affordable prices. The highly international fusion menu…
Kalibo
Feast on big servings of Filipino specialities such as bulalo (bone marrow and beef-shank soup) and steamed seafood at long rows of picnic tables at this…
Boracay
This small place has American West decor and expertly prepared burgers, steaks and chilli, plus a dash of Mexican fare and the island's best ribs, all…
Dumaguete
The upstairs teahouse is the draw, with elevated floor seating in semi-private stalls cushioned by cosy floor pillows. The menu is double-sided: standard…
Panay
A feast for the eyes and stomach, choose your catch, including squid, sea urchin, prawns and a variety of freshly caught fish, from the display and then…
Western Visayas
An Italian-owned hole-in-the-wall doing excellent pizza, pasta and steaks. Grilled tuna, chicken Parmigiana and beef goulash are other favourites. And…
Cagayan de Oro
For the freshest seafood, head to this restaurant perched on stilts over the water around 10km west of Cagayan de Oro on the highway to Iligan.
Kalibo
A contemporary design with plush banquette tables means Kitty's is an oasis of comfortable dining in the city centre. The menu runs the gamut from Mexican…
Southeast Luzon
The hugely popular place has two sides, one offering buffet-style Filipino specialities, along with noodle and pasta dishes, the other a fast-food cafe…
Iloilo
An enormous, wonderfully atmospheric open-air restaurant by the ocean. Select your victims from huge tanks or mounds of ice, then have the chef cook it…
Mindoro
Kusina has air-con (a rarity in San José), friendly service and a good seafood selection, including sweet-and-sour lapu-lapu (grouper), sashimi and…
Iloilo
The multitalented Sulu Garden manages to successfully combine a Japanese teahouse with a fish farm, butterfly hatchery, artist studios and sushi…
Northern Mindanao
Excellent and massive thin-crust pizzas with a few tables and waterfront boulevard seating. 'Extra super-size' pies are a ridiculous 36in with 50 slices.
Boracay
Open-air nipa-style Nagisa fronts the attached Surfside Resort, serving affordable sashimi, okonomiyaki and a big P100 snack menu.
Mindanao
Seafood, of course, is the speciality here – choose the species, size and cooking method from a menu of delicacies. What sets Alavar apart is the…
Manila
Manileños are crazy about Japanese food, and nobody has caught that wave like top chef Bruce Ricketts at Mecha Uma. A US–trained Filipino, he fastidiously…
STK ta Bay! Sa Paolito's Seafood House
Cebu City
Ask a Cebuano where to dine and many will point you to this large ancestral-home-turned-restaurant chock full of family heirlooms. Jerry's crab curry is a…
Around Manila
Mahogany Market, with its undercover produce market and whiffy meat market, is the place to sample inexpensive regional dishes. Upstairs from the meat…
Cebu City
An authentic Basque–Spanish restaurant where the cosy front room is all gingham tablecloths and Spanish memorabilia (check out those pistols on the wall)…
Manila
For a romantic night out, you can't beat Blackbird. It's in the art-deco Nielson Tower, a historic 1937 airport control tower, with dining in the old…
Manila
This serious coffee shop doubles as a wholesaler of single-origin beans and La Marzocco equipment. It's in a bright, airy space with a roasting area out…
Panglao Island
A great spot for a healthy lunch or light meal, this organic farm makes for a lovely excursion, 7km from Alona. Try the farm-fresh salads and soups, stir…
Bohol
In a historic family house with antiques, scuffed-wood floors and sparkling cutlery, sophisticated Gerarda's does fabulous Filipino food. Highlights…
