Manila Emerges as a Major Food Destination with Rich Cultural Attractions

With Michelin Guide scouting for its 2026 recipients for the first time in the Philippines, the country is making its mark as an emerging major food destination. Dining in the multi-island nation offers an extraordinary opportunity to sample a mix of diverse cuisines based on the country’s Indigenous ingredients and long history of trade. And Metro Manila, which includes the city of Manila, is where Spanish, Chinese, and Malay influences come together in innovative and delicious ways.

More than 150 languages are spoken in the region, even though Filipino and English are the official languages of the Philippines. Tagalog is a common dialect, but most Manileños speak English, making it easy to get around a menu or a market. Traditional Filipino food spots include fine dining, family-style, playful street food, and gastropubs. Food lovers will find a buffet of Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, Indian, and Spanish restaurants located throughout this multi-cultural megalopolis.

Manila’s Walled City: History buffs traveling to Manila for the first time should visit Intramuros, the Spanish-era “Walled City” that includes Fort Santiago, which stands guard on the Pasig River. Renacimiento Manila offers community-led walking tours of historic places, including the seven churches on the grounds, like Manila Cathedral and San Agustin. The National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Museum of Natural History are free and located within walking distance to Rizal Park, which has a Chinese Garden. Visitors can take a free ride on the Pasig River ferry to Binondo or Intramuros (via the Hulo stop). A new electric boat will be added to the fleet in November 2025.

Ayala Museum: History buffs should consider visiting the Ayala Museum in Makati, where they will find a collection of pre-colonial Philippine gold relics, including ceremonial objects, jewelry, and artifacts from the 10th through the 13th centuries.

Manila architecture: The restored Manila Metropolitan Theater, which originally opened in 1931, offers a glimpse into the Art Deco architecture of Manila’s Ermita district, incorporating a mix of Indigenous, colonial, and modern influences. And an 11-minute walk away, Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, a mestizo private home in the Quiapo district, is also worth a visit to see preserved examples of early 20th-century urban Manila architecture.

Best markets: Open-air markets are a huge part of Manileño culture and daily life. Getting jostled in a busy street is part of the fun, but as with any busy area of a city, keep your money and cellphone in a secure place. The Legazpi Sunday Market, the Tutuban Night Market, the streets of Binondo (Manila’s Chinatown), Ugbo Tondo Street Food Market, and the Salcedo Market on Saturdays are a few of the places packed with street food vendors and perfect for an exploratory food crawl. And don’t forget to visit the malls for shopping and dining, like Mall of Asia, an air-conditioned supermall in Ermita, which is an ideal escape from the heat.

Day trips: Plan a day or overnight trip in Luzon to get away from the city’s relentless congestion. Take a hike at Mount Daraitan or Mount Pinatubo, a boat tour on Taal Lake to marvel at the volcano’s caldera, a canoe trip to Pagsanjan Falls, or a dip in the hot springs in Laguna. All of these destinations are a few hours’ drive from Manila proper.

Manila has two distinct seasons: the dry season from December to May, and the rainy, humid season from June to November. The month of May can be uncomfortably hot even along the coast with a sea breeze. If you’re planning a trip, keep in mind that December gets crowded with locals and tourists during the holiday season. The weather during January through April makes it the ideal time to visit Manila.

Mary Grace, with locations all over Metro Manila, is the place to take a traditional merienda, an afternoon snack break. Stop in for a cheese ensaymada (savory bun) and tsokolate (hot chocolate). Sit down at one of Bebang’s many locations for a halo-halo, a popular cold dessert with layers of crushed ice, evaporated milk or coconut milk with additional flavors such as ube jam, leche flan, and pandan jelly.

Fine dining restaurants pay homage to the provincial cuisines of the archipelago with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. Visit the chic Inatô for Chef Jepe Cruz’s innovative Filipino food, or consider eating at Metiz for its use of seasonal ingredients and fermentation techniques to rework classic Filipino flavors. Gallery by Chele features six- and 10-course curated meals, taking diners on a flavorful journey through the Philippines and Southeast Asia; and Chefs Nav and Thirdy want guests at Hapag to understand how bonding over a meal with family and friends is sacred—an important value instilled into them growing up in their respective households.

For casual, yet equally exciting food, check out the Filipino-Mexican fusion food at Tadeo in Quezon City, like sisig (sizzling minced pork belly) tacos and sinigang (tamarind pork) burritos. At Sarsa in Legazpi Village, Chef JP Anglo cooks up playful twists on Filipino favorites, like fried lumpia stuffed with milkfish, and a rich kare-kare braise with oxtail, tripe, and beef cheeks.

Right now, the Poblacion neighborhood is the place to go for a night of bar hopping and snacking. Stop in at Polilya for mixed drinks and craft beer; Run Rabbit Run for cozy “Alice in Wonderland” vibes; Raion for innovative cocktails or midday coffee; and Spirits Library for live music and cocktails served up by hardcore mixologists.

Manila will see a surge of new luxury hotel openings in 2026, including the Dusit Greenhills Manila. This new hotel will feature guest rooms occupying the top 10 floors (floors 40 to 50) of San Juan City’s tallest skyscraper and include the Thai restaurant Benjarong. The luxurious Mandarin Oriental Hotel Ayala Triangle Gardens is on track to reopen in 2026, making its return to the Makati City skyline after the original building was demolished in 2014.

For a super-posh and cosmopolitan experience, stay in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), also known as “The Fort,” built on the site of a WWII military camp. Shangri-La The Fort, one of five Shangri-La properties in the Philippines, offers guests luxe accommodations plus globally-inspired on-site dining ranging from Cantonese to Peruvian. The historic, not dusty Manila Hotel has a prime location on Manila Bay. Visitors looking for affordable accommodations may want to consider the low-frills Lub D Manila Makati, which has a combination of shared hostel-style rooms and modern hotel rooms.

Fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), or connect internationally through gateways in Asia like Taipei or Hong Kong. Once on the ground, take advantage of the inexpensive commuter jeepneys or buses that traverse congested Metro Manila. Traditional open-air jeepneys, converted from deserted U.S. Army jeeps, provide a wild ride, though modern e-jeeps, similar to a minibus, are taking over their routes. Motorcycle taxis called habal-habal are an option for the daring, while taxis and ride shares (through Grab) are also available.

In-the-know travelers use private charter car services to navigate Manila’s complex traffic. It’s a surprisingly inexpensive option with knowledgeable drivers and a service that offers customizable itineraries.