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Are you ready for your next big food adventure? These Manila restaurant guides will help you plan for next foodie trip.
Manila’s food scene is something special. Being the capital of the Philippines, it’s a culinary hub for travelling foodies with over 31,000 restaurants.
It’s a vibrant mix of traditional Filipino cooking, deep-rooted Chinese influences, and innovative fine dining that has put the city on the global culinary map.
It can be hard to decide where to eat & drink in Manila so we’ve put together this roadmap to eating the best food the Pearl of the Orient has to offer.
Manila Restaurant Guides
To make your trip planning simple, I’ve created a collection of my Manila restaurant and food guides. Use these resources to discover exactly where and what to eat in the bustling metropolitan. I'm dishing out all my top spots, tips and culinary knowledge to make your foodie trip unforgettable.
Restaurant Guides
Not sure where to start? These curated lists will guide you to the absolute best restaurants in Manila, whether you're looking for Filipino, Chinese, Desserts or the city's top spots.
Best of the Best
Dive into the city's top culinary spots. This is your essential list of must-visit restaurants in Manila for an unforgettable dining experience.
Michelin Guide Philippines
Manila and Environs & Cebu are added to the roster of Michelin Guides around the world on Oct 2025.
Best Chinese Restaurants
Manila has one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, and its influence is delicious. Here are the top spots for everything from amazing dim sum to authentic regional Chinese dishes.
Best Desserts
Satisfy your sweet cravings. I'm sharing all the best spots in Manila for iconic Filipino desserts, from classic halo-halo to modern treats.
Best Filipino Restaurants
Ready to explore the heart of local cuisine? This guide points you to the best traditional and modern Filipino restaurants, from casual to fine dining, that will make you fall in love with the country's flavors.
Best Japanese Restaurants
Yes, you can find amazing Japanese food in Manila! Use this guide to find the city's top spots for authentic sushi, ramen, and other traditional Japanese food.
Restaurants
If you're looking for a world-class dining experience, these are the two spots you can't miss. They are the heavy hitters of Manila's food scene, earning global acclaim.
Gallery by Chele
A true culinary journey. This acclaimed restaurant re-imagines Filipino and Southeast Asian flavors with modern techniques, earning it a spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Toyo Eatery (With Video)
Celebrated as one of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, Toyo Eatery champions Filipino culture and ingredients through its incredible tasting menus. A must for any serious foodie.
Itineraries
The food adventure doesn't stop! Here’s a perfect road trip plan to escape and eat your way outside Metro Manila's limits.
2 Day Manila Road Trip to Batangas and Tagaytay Itinerary (With Video)
Need a break from the city buzz? This short road trip itinerary takes you to the beautiful beaches of Batangas and the cool, scenic ridges of Tagaytay for more amazing local food.
Relevant Food Guides
Ready to dive deeper into Filipino cuisine? These guides go beyond restaurants to teach you about the must-try dishes, from traditional classics and desserts to exotic foods.
Traditional Filipino Food
What is adobo? Or sinigang? This guide breaks down the essential and traditional Filipino dishes you absolutely have to try, so you know exactly what to order.
Traditional Filipino Desserts
From the iconic halo-halo to creamy leche flan, get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth. This guide covers all the must-try Filipino desserts that will complete your meals.
Exotic Filipino Food
Feeling adventurous? For foodies who want to try something different, this guide explores unique and exotic Filipino dishes like balut and dinuguan that are local favorites.
Recipes
Loved the food so much you want to make it yourself? These easy-to-follow recipes will help you bring the delicious taste of the Philippines right into your own kitchen.
Air Fryer Filipino BBQ
Craving that sweet and smoky Filipino street food? You can skip the grill and make amazing Filipino BBQ skewers right in your air fryer.
Filipino Hot Chocolate / Tsokolate
Fell in love with Filipino hot chocolate? Recreate that comforting taste at home with my easy recipe for traditional Tsokolate.
Chocolate Oatmeal
Here's a cozy breakfast to remember your trip. This recipe combines rich Filipino hot chocolate with oatmeal for a perfect start to your day.
Planning your Manila Restaurant Trip
Planning a trip to Manila is pretty straightforward. The main airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
Most visitors won’t need a visa for stays under 30 days, but always check the latest requirements.
Currency
The local currency in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP or P). To make your conversions easier, on average, 1 USD is PHP50, and 1 CAD is PHP40.
Generally Cashless
Unless you’re doing street food, small eateries, markets and food courts, sit-down restaurants typically accept major credit cards (Visa and Mastercard).
Traffic
Because of how much traffic there is in Manila, you have to strategize how you’re getting to places. A typical 15-minute drive in North America can end up being 1 hour in Manila.
There was one time on my 2019 visit where a 1.5-hour drive became 4.5 hours. Even worse, on my 2025 road trip to Tagaytay, a 15-minute drive became 2 hours!
In Manila, Waze is the most popular navigation app, beating Google Maps.
For rideshares, Grab is the most popular app, and there is no Uber anymore (Grab bought them out).
If you’re looking for WiFi/SIM Card when travelling in Manila, check out the best prices here.
Where To Stay in Manila
Here are some of the best places to stay in Manila, plus handy interactive map of the best hotels and accommodations with deals and pricing:
- City Garden Grand Hotel (4-star) – A great value option in Makati known for its amazing rooftop bar and pool with panoramic city views.
- Discovery Suites Manila (4-star) – A popular choice for its spacious residential-style suites, perfect for longer stays or families.
- Eastwood Richmonde Hotel (4-star) – Located within the vibrant Eastwood City complex, offering direct access to shops, cinemas, and restaurants.
- Fairmont Makati (5-star) – A luxury hotel that offers sophisticated rooms and direct access to a high-end shopping mall in the heart of Makati.
- I’M Hotel (5-star) – Known for its stunning acrylic-bottomed rooftop pool and having the first Onsen Spa in the Philippines.
- Shangri-La The Fort, Manila (5-star) – A modern luxury hotel in the bustling Bonifacio Global City (BGC) with exceptional dining options and facilities.
- The Peninsula Manila (5-star) – An iconic and elegant hotel in Makati famous for its grand lobby, classic luxury, and impeccable service.
Things To Know About Manila’s Food Scene
Culinary Influences
The food in the Philippines is strongly influenced by the cultures that inhabited its islands including Spanish, American and Chinese.
Spanish food is rampant in Manila, and some of the most popular Filipino dishes are adapted from Spanish cuisine.
The majority of the Filipino-Chinese community in Manila is of Fujianese descent so you will see restaurants serving authentic Fujianese cuisine, which is uncommon to find in other countries.
With this boom in Manila’s food culture comes a price, and I noticed that restaurant pricing can be similar to North American restaurant prices.
BYOB
A lot of restaurants in Manila allow BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage).
Nightlife
The nightlife in Manila is quite impressive. You can typically see people hanging out late at night with a pint of beer in hand, eating delicious bites and having lots of laughs.
Coupled with the nightlife is the entertainment culture in Manila. Filipinos love to sing and dance, and this is evident in the food scene as well.
Restaurants or food plazas tend to have live entertainment either with singers, dancers or both.
Similarly, some of the best Filipino restaurants in Manila have traditional roaming musicians who will serenade at the table.
Best Time For A Manila Foodie Trip
The best time to visit Manila for a food trip is during the dry season, which runs from December to February. The weather is cooler and less humid, making it much more comfortable to walk around and explore different food spots.
The city is full of energy during this time with festive holiday celebrations. Try to avoid the rainy season from June to October when typhoons can disrupt travel plans.
When’s your Manila Food Trip?
Manila is a city that just keeps on giving, especially when it comes to food. Every corner has a new flavor waiting to be discovered, from street-side stalls to world-class dining rooms.
I hope these Manila restaurant guides help you navigate its exciting food scene on where to eat & drink and inspires you to book that ticket.
As always, happy travels and eating!
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