Intramuros, the historic walled metropolis of Manila, is without doubt one of the nation’s high locations for worldwide vacationers and locals alike. Whereas most vacationers go to primarily for the church buildings, museums, and historic websites, some eating spots additionally provide distinctive locations to seize a chunk or drink in between all that sightseeing.
Together with traditional eating places serving Filipino-Spanish delicacies, just a few new cafes have popped up up to now few years, giving locals a cause to revisit.
Right here’s an final information to the traditional and new eating places in Intramuros at present operational as of Might 2025.
A high decide for worldwide vacationers and Pinoy households each time they should entertain balikbayans, Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant is without doubt one of the mainstays within the Plaza San Luis Complicated.
This heritage restaurant with Spanish-era-inspired interiors and old-world particulars serves traditional Filipino meals and provides buffet lunch and dinner choices together with cultural performances.
Specialties embrace Calamares Fritos, Tiger Prawn Sinigang, Gambas al Ajillo, Pritchon, Combined Seafood Grill and extra.
Bayleaf Lodge, positioned on the intersection of Muralla Road and Victoria Road, has a number of distinct eating choices to select from, together with Sky Deck, a rooftop restaurant providing nice views of the Manila skyline.
For those who’re after a variety of Western delicacies (and never simply Filipino meals), dwell music and a killer view, that is most likely the best choice within the Intramuros space, particularly at evening.
Sky Deck provides an intensive wine choice, native beers, and cocktails plus native and worldwide fare and bar chow which you could take pleasure in with a 360-degree view of Manila’s well-known sundown. You can too order from the lodge’s different eating places together with their pizza bar.
An Intramuros icon that’s been round since 1989, Ilustrado provides nice eating Filipino-Spanish dishes like Paella Ilustrado (Meat & Seafood), Adobong Bagnet with Taba ng Talangka, and Baked Eggplant in Filo.
Their signature Sampaguita Ice Cream, impressed by the nationwide flower, is without doubt one of the distinctive specialties value looking down, particularly for first-timers within the space. This ice cream is fragrantly creamy and tastes similar to you’re consuming sampaguita flowers.
Batala Bar is a comfortable spot that serves craft beer with appetizers, sandwiches, mild meals and premium ice cream. This mainstay not too long ago renovated their second ground with a comfortable bar and an air-conditioned eating house and you will get an ideal view of Casa Manila’s home windows and the courtyard beneath.
Batalata Bar is without doubt one of the few cafes within the space that provides vegan/plant-based dishes on their menu. They’ve common and vegan variations of crispy sisig, kare-kare, gising-gising and lumpia.
In addition they serve a variety of craft beer, craft soda, fruit shakes, espresso, desserts and drinks. As a beer lover, that is my high decide the place to dine each time I’ve meet-ups with pals within the space.
The nation’s solely Catholic-themed restaurant lets diners take pleasure in meals surrounded by relics of saints and angels. Owned by the Catholic Bishops Convention of the Philippines (CPCP) and positioned simply throughout San Agustin Church, the distinctive spiritual cafe is fashionable with bishops, monks, members of the clergy, and churchgoers.
The cafe serves an assortment of rice meals like Salmon in Tamarind Stew, Seafood Pasta, and Carrot Cake. Notably, it offers employment to PWDs as a few of their servers are listening to and speech-impaired.
Los Frailes Cafe, previously referred to as San Agustin Cafe, was positioned in a single nook of the bottom ground of the San Agustin Museum, solely for museum company. The cafe and wine bar was relocated to a brand new house exterior the museum in late September 2024 for the good thing about different churchgoers and vacationers.
The cafe has indoor (aircon) and out of doors (bike-friendly) seating within the patio, which was the carpark of the church. Except for sizzling, iced & frappe espresso (P110-P180) and desserts like Napoleones, in addition they serve all-day breakfast, appetizers, pasta, sandwiches, cocktails, wine & extra.
The previous house contained in the museum has been transformed into a further exhibit space for the museum.
Casa Nueva, a brand new bistro cafe at present on tender opening, serves conventional Filipino and Spanish dishes like Beef Salpicao, Paella, all-day breakfast, and burgers, together with specialty espresso and Engkanto beer.
The up to date spot with an airconditioned house and bar provides free parking for company. It’s simply throughout Museo de Intramuros and Centro de Turismo Intramuros.
This enticing al fresco cafe which sits proper on the nook of Calle Actual and Common Luna Road is a favourite backdrop for Instagram snaps.
They serve espresso, frappes, milk tea, desserts, pasta, and some Filipino-Spanish dishes like Beef Salpicao within the homey cafe adorned with wood particulars and Spanish-tiled counters.
The Plaza San Luis Complicated has a number of different spots the place you’ll be able to seize iced espresso, refreshments, and fast bites.
The Royal Cafe provides a cheerful and comfy spot with white partitions and vibrant paintings on show to take pleasure in refreshments.
Different choices embrace memento retailer Tesoro’s (halo-halo, mais con hielo & shakes), Chilly Treats (chilly brew espresso & cookies) and Balai Pan de Sal (dimsum & Hong Kong-style fried siopao).
Except for their predominant heritage restaurant, you will discover Barbara’s Cafe, an al fresco space with a view of the courtyard if you wish to simply to take a breather with fruit shakes or lighter fare.
In case you need an air-conditioned choice within the Plaza San Luis Complicated, Coco Bango’s, the in-house restaurant and bar of the medieval-inspired White Knight Lodge is open to walk-in diners.
Simply comply with the trail contained in the complicated previous different outlets to get to the lodge’s facet entrance. Their menu consists of breakfast silog rice meals and rice toppings, together with different family-style dishes.
A quaint cafe set within the floor belfry beside Manila Cathedral. Belfry Cafe provides a soothing air-conditioned spot to chill down with iced espresso whereas sitting below seven gigantic church bells. The bells at the moment are solely rung for particular events when there aren’t any prospects inside.
Except for the indoor house with just some tables, there’s a bigger al fresco space below umbrellas and canopies and a small parking house proper beside which may accommodate just a few bikes and bicycles.
La Cathedral Cafe is a rooftop restaurant on a constructing throughout Manila Cathedral providing a romantic view of the church’s historic dome. It’s one of many bigger and extra fashionable restos within the space, drawing crowds primarily for its aesthetic architectural attraction.
Relax with espresso, pastries, and desserts in direction of sundown for one of the best expertise (assuming you will get a desk). The cafe additionally serves rice meals, pasta dishes, appetizers, and extra for individuals who wish to keep longer.
An ideal new addition for espresso lovers and bikers visiting Fort Santiago, Papa Kape is a restaurant set inside Aljibe de la Fuerza, a 400-year-old water cistern, that serves espresso infused with native flavors. Together with normal espresso drinks, they’ve signature brews blended with bibingka, gulaman, taho, and even beer, and a few candy cupcakes and kakanin.
Positioned on the tail finish of Fort Santiago subsequent to the dungeon, this cafe is bike-friendly and pet-friendly.
TIP: You may carry your bikes inside Fort Santiago for some nice photograph alternatives whereas visiting the cafe. There are bike racks on the again or you’ll be able to park your rides subsequent tables whereas eating al fresco. A great choice for weekend espresso rides with pals.
For pizza lovers, the Italian tavern-inspired Raffaele Woodfired Pizza inside Bayleaf Lodge is a 60-seater restaurant with glass ceilings and partitions. They focus on crusty or conventional pizza.
9 Spoons is a eating penthouse inside Bayleaf Lodge with an ideal panoramic view of the Manila skyline and the Intramuros Golf Course. It provides buffet and à la carte choices together with a collection of wines. Bestsellers embrace the Home Kare-Kare, Scorching Bulalo, Adobo sa Puti, and Bagnet dishes.
Cioccolata Churros Cafe, positioned on the bottom ground of Bayleaf Lodge, is a comfortable café specializing in Spanish-style fried fritters served together with your selection of cacao, caramel, vanilla and matcha dips.
Admittedly, eating in Intramuros might be costly as most upscale eating places cater to worldwide vacationers. However college students and employees within the space have just a few budget-friendly choices to select from together with:
- Patio de Conchita – a country carinderia set in an outdated Spanish home that serves full rice meals for P140 every
- Balai Maria – homey spot to dine with trendy artwork over sizzlers and rice meals with laing
- Cathedral Meals Avenue/Cafe Janealo – a diner providing rice meals, pasta and dwell music at evening
- Partitions’ Well-known Friedrich Spicy Hen – a humble spot alongside the outer Intramuros partitions that serves fiery rooster wings
- Bloque 7 Cafe – a small spot that serves takoyaki, rice meals, and pasta
- Pepito’s Meals Home – an area favourite for its low cost inihaw (grilled pork) value simply P65 with rice
For those who’re fortunate, you’ll be able to catch meals gala’s and pop-ups, corresponding to Mercadillo, which not too long ago set-up numerous meals stalls, low cost eats and Filipino avenue meals like barbecue and puto bumbong.
There are many new meals and low stalls inside Fort Santiago and quick meals joints like Max’s, Bacolod Hen Home, Chow King and extra alongside Soriano Avenue to fall again on.
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