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Where to eat desserts in Manila? We’re featuring some of the best treats you must try to satisfy your sweet tooth.
If you’re heading to Manila and skipping dessert, we need to talk. This bustling metropolitan’s dessert scene is wild, in the best way.
I’ve eaten my way in Manila bouncing between cafes, restaurants and dessert shops, chasing the most memorable desserts I could find.
I love that you can find interesting sweet treats from Filipino desserts with a twist to Asian fusion desserts to traditional desserts done right. Plus, a lot make use of the beloved Philippine mango!
Manila Dessert Location Map & Where To Stay
Here’s an interactive map of the best desserts in Manila featured along with best hotels and accommodations with deals and pricing for your food trip planning:
Must-Try Desserts in Manila
From halo-halo made with frozen milk to crepe cakes that melt in your mouth, these are the best Manila desserts worth planning your trip around, in alphabetical order.
Also, check out our Manila restaurant guides for more lists and tips.
Bibingka de Leche at Manam
Manam is all about Filipino comfort food, offering both classic and modern takes on local favorites.
As one of the best Filipino restaurants in Manila, their Bibingka de Leche is a merger of two beloved Filipino desserts: a soft, warm and chewy rice cake topped with creme caramel and kesong puti.
The creme caramel adds a silky sweetness while the kesong puti gives it a salty finish that balances everything out. It’s nostalgic and indulgent at the same time.
- Also in Best Restaurants in Manila
Chocolate Lava Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung is famous for its soup dumplings, but their dessert dumpling is next-level.
As one of the best Chinese restaurants in Manila, their Chocolate Lava XiaoLongBao is molten chocolate truffle wrapped in mochi with a side of sea salt cream.
It’s rich and gooey inside, with the mochi adding a chewy bite. The sea salt cream cuts through the sweetness and makes each bite feel luxurious.
Fried White Peach Gyoza at Ooma
Ooma is a playful Japanese fusion spot that’s not afraid to mix sweet and savory in unexpected ways.
As one of the best Japanese restaurants in Manila, their Fried White Peach Gyoza is crispy gyoza filled with white peach and mochi, served with vanilla ice cream, shoyu cream cheese and shoyu caramel.
It’s sweet, salty, creamy and chewy all at once. The shoyu caramel gives it a savory edge that makes it unforgettable.
Frozen Brazo de Mercedes at Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew
Tittos serves Latin-American influenced restaurant in a vibrant, laid-back setting with fun desserts.
As one of the best restaurants in Manila, their Frozen Brazo de Mercedes is frozen vanilla meringue and custard with graham crust, Oreos, whipped cream and berries.
It’s cold, creamy and layered with textures. The graham crust gives crunch, the custard is smooth, and the berries brighten it up.
Injeolmi Bingsu at Hobing
Hobing is a Korean dessert cafe that goes all in on bingsu with traditional and creative flavors with generous toppings.
Their Injeolmi Bingsu is shaved ice dusted with roasted soybean powder, topped with glutinous rice, cashews and almonds. It’s nutty, chewy and icy.
As someone who loves cashews, I welcomed that addition since I haven’t seen cashews on injeolmi bingsu I’ve tried in my travels. The soybean powder gives it a toasty flavor, and the rice and nuts make it feel hearty and satisfying.
Mango Bingsu at Bonchon
Bonchon might be known for Korean fried chicken, but their bingsu is a sleeper hit.
Their Mango Bingsu is milky snow ice layered with graham crumbs, cheesecake cubes, glazed peanuts and mango syrup.
It’s sweet, creamy and crunchy all at once. The cheesecake adds richness, the mango syrup is tropical and bright, and the peanuts give it a nice snap.
Mango Bravo at Contis Bakery & Cafe
Contis is a homegrown bakery and café loved for its cakes and comfort food classics.
Their Mango Bravo is crunchy wafers layered with chocolate mousse, cream and mango cubes. This cake is a texture bomb.
Think Frozen Mango Sansrival with less buttercream and more meringue wafers!
The mousse is light, the mango is juicy, and the wafers give it that satisfying crunch. It’s sweet, airy and addictive.
Mango Classic Halo Halo at Bebang Halo-Halo
Bebang is a local halo-halo hot spot that uses frozen milk instead of crushed ice for this traditional Filipino dessert.
Their Mango Classic Halo-Halo is frozen milk, leche flan, pandan jelly, tapioca, mango syrup and fresh mango. This version is creamier than the usual halo-halo because of the use of milk instead of water.
Think of it as a Bingsu version of Halo-Halo, and I honestly prefer halo-halo this way! Don’t @ me.
The mango syrup and fresh fruit make it bright and tropical, while the flan and jelly add richness and bounce.
Peanut Smoothie at Lugang Cafe
Lugang Café blends Taiwanese and Chinese flavors in a sleek, modern dining space.
As one of the best Chinese restaurants in Manila, their Peanut Smoothie is thick peanut butter blended with ice and crushed nuts. It’s nutty, cold and super satisfying.
Tastes like dessert and a drink in one. The crushed nuts give it texture and a roasted flavor that lingers.
- Also in Best Restaurants in Manila
Salted Butter Caramel Mille Crepe Cake at La Creperie
La Creperie brings French flair to Manila with sweet and savory crepes in a cozy café setting.
As one of the best restaurants in Manila, their Salted Butter Caramel Mille Crepe Cake is thin crepes layered with salted butter caramel and whipped cream.
It’s light but decadent. The caramel is buttery and salty, the whipped cream keeps it airy, and the crepes melt in your mouth.
Sikreto ni Maria Clara at Abe Restaurant
Abe is known for heirloom Kapampangan recipes and nostalgic Filipino flavors in a cozy, heritage setting.
One of the best Filipino restaurants in Manila, their Sikreto ni Maria Clara is mango, sticky rice and vanilla ice cream. Who wouldn’t love this combination of Filipino treats.
The sticky rice is warm and chewy, the mango is sweet and ripe, and the ice cream ties it all together. It’s simple but hits every note.
Turon con Leche at Locavore
Locavore is a modern Filipino restaurant that reimagines local dishes with bold, creative twists.
One of the best Filipino restaurants in Manila, their Turon con Leche is a twist to the beloved Filipino dessert using puff pastry filled with banana, rhum and candied langka, topped with salted egg dulce de leche. This is turon leveled up.
The pastry is flaky, the banana is soft and boozy, and the salted egg dulce de leche adds a savory-sweet twist that works.
- Also in Best Restaurants in Manila
Ubeng-Ubeng Ube Halo-Halo at Halo Halo Story
Halo Halo Story crafts artisan halo-halo with no added table sugar (on some items) and premium ingredients.
Their Ubeng-Ubeng Ube Halo-Halo is ube ice cream, leche flan, frozen ube milk, ube halaya, tapioca and grated swiss cheese.
This one’s all about ube. The ice cream is creamy and nutty, the halaya is rich, and the cheese adds a salty contrast that makes the sweetness pop.
From all the halo-halo I’ve tried, what makes Halo Halo Story’s special is they’re the only Halo-Halo spot I’ve seen that uses ube milk, bringing this Filipino dessert to another level. Ube’ll love it!
Which Dessert in Manila Are You Trying?
Manila’s dessert scene is full of surprises. Whether you’re into icy halo-halo, rich custards or fusion pastries, there’s something here that’ll hit the spot.
I came for the food and stayed for the sweets. And as someone who typically chooses savory over sweets, I’ll always save room for these desserts.
Hope this gives you an idea on dessert places you can try in Manila. Which one is calling your name?
As always, happy travels and eating!
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