The capital of the Philippines, home of the official residence of the president, Manila is a bayside area in Luzon that boasts many numerous attractions and things to do. One of its most-visited tourist spots is Intramuros, a walled city in the heart of Manila. It will transport you back to the bygone eras, where you’ll learn more about the country’s history. You’ll find here the 16th-century, Baroque-style San Agustin Church and the famous Fort Santiago, which is a former military prison and a recognized fortress. Apart from the sights, you also cannot leave the city without tasting its food. So, here’s our list of the best fine-dining restaurant in Manila, the Philippines - prepare to experience a food coma.
1. Ilustrado Restaurant
Located in a traditional Filipino house in the historic walled city of Intramuros, featuring wooden furnishing, ornate capiz windows, and antique decors, Ilustrado is one of the restaurants to go when you want to taste authentic Filipino food. Also, you’ll find here dishes that are a combination of Asian as well as Spanish and other international flavors. Apart from the Neoclassical main dining room, you can also opt for a seat at the cozy cafe adorned with arts and posters or at the Spanish-inspired garden courtyard.
Ilustrado Restaurant
Address: 744 General Luna St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila
Website: Ilustrado Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8am - 10pm; Sun: 9am - 6pm
2. President Grand Palace
Located in one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, President Grand Palace is a popular fine-dining restaurant among the Filipino-Chinese community as well as the locals. President is a Chinese restaurant that features round tables, red chairs, and Chinese lanterns. Its menu boasts different Chinese food, dim sum, and seafood dishes, including rice rolls, spareribs, stir fry noodles, prawn salad, braised beef, and many more. So if you’re craving for authentic Chinese cuisine, don’t hesitate to visit Binondo and dine at President Grand Palace.
President Grand Palace
Address: 746-750 Ongpin St, Binondo, Manila, 1006 Metro Manila
Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 8am - 10pm; Sat: 9:30am - 10pm
3. Barbara's Heritage Restaurant
A popular heritage restaurant in Intramuros that is also a well-known wedding reception venue in Manila, Barbara’s will bring you back to the country’s Spanish era, with its grand dining rooms that are ornate with antique decors and furniture and crystal chandeliers. Apart from the ambiance of the place, you’ll also love it for the authentic Filipino food that you can taste from its buffet table or have it ala carte. Additionally, during special days, you can watch a live cultural show while dining here.
Barbara's Heritage Restaurant
Address: Plaza San Luis Complex, General Luna St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila
Website: Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 2:30pm, 6pm - 9pm; Fri - Sun: 11am - 2pm, 6pm - 9pm
Traveler's tips
Barbara's, located in the walled city of Intramuros, is a fantastic choice for a date night. They serve a delightful blend of Spanish and Filipino dishes. What I particularly love about this place is how it brings back memories of visiting my grandmother's home. Do you remember those ancestral houses, constructed with wood and windows adorned with capiz shells? It's like that!
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4. Casa Roces
Another must-visit fine-dining restaurant in Manila, Casa Roces, is located in front of the Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the president of the Philippines. It is an ancestral home turned into a restaurant, and upon entering, you’ll have that nostalgic feeling of visiting your grandparents’ home. Also, before dining, you can have a tour of the old house, and then choose where you want to be seated. You can choose to dine at the main dining room, which can accommodate up to 100 people, the cozy cafe area, or the patio. During special occasions, you can book the individually designed dining venues on the second floor. As for the food, they serve here a mixture of Filipino, Spanish, and other international dishes.
Casa Roces
Address: 1153 JP Laurel cor Aguado St. San Miguel, Manila, Aguado St, San Miguel, Maynila, Kalakhang Maynila
Website: Casa Roces
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 10pm
Manila Tour Guide
Jerick Magat
Manila Tour Guide
Alvin Salen
Hi I'm looking forward to be your tour guide in Manila. I'm 20 years in tourism industry in the country and will take you to the historical sites in Manila such as the 400 year old Spanish fortress.
Tours by Alvin
5. Raffaele Woodfire Pizza
A fine dining restaurant, located at Bayleaf Hotel in Manila, Raffaele Woodfire Pizza, is a perfect choice for special occasions, celebratory dinners, and even brunch dates. It has a vibrant ambiance, glass walls, and lovely dining set-ups that will make you order more food than what you intend. The menu here is composed of numerous dishes from Italian, Spanish, and other international cuisines. One thing you shouldn’t miss eating here is its signature wood-fired pizza, Salumeria Pizze, which features a thin crust topped with sausage, chili, pepperoni, bacon, red onions, and a lot more.
Raffaele Woodfire Pizza
Address: Muralla St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila
Website: Raffaele Woodfire Pizza, Bayleaf hotel
Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (daily)
Explore Manila's food scene
Manila offers numerous things, from Binondo, the Chinatown of the Philippines, up to Intramuros, the historic walled city, and other attractions such as museums, nightspots, and superb restaurants. Make sure you visit one of these fine-dining restaurants in Manila to get to know how diverse its food scene is.
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