Boracay's Best Restaurants

Other than the powder-fine white sand, clear waters and a majestic sunset, Boracay has an excellent food culture. By that, I am referring to the hundreds of restaurants that line its shores. The food is simply amazing in Boracay, whether you’re looking for a particular cuisine or for the perfect ambience. You see, people from all over the world are mesmerized by the island’s beauty, and some of them choose to settle down and set up their own businesses here, bringing authentic cuisines from different cultures all over the world. Some of these restaurants even make it to Manila, resigning to commercialism but nevertheless getting the attention it deserves. Some examples are Cyma, Aria, and now, Kasbah. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly which ones are the best, but here’s my hard work for you.

Best Ambiance

This, by far, is the most strategically located establishment in the island. The site was formerly Hey Jude! bar, and being in the center of D’mall, which is also the center of Boracay, it is very easy to spot. The vibe here is very relaxed, giving you a cosmopolitan take on the modern beach design. The music is relatively good, the food is great, and the seats are quite comfortable. The place transforms into a club at night, promoted by Styles Entertainment. For me, Epic has the best ambiance because of its sophistication and attention to detail. I’m quite comfortable with their style, and as for the view, you’re given a huge expanse of sand, sea and sun right in front of you. You can find my other entry on Epic here.

Epic

D’mall, Station 2

White Beach, Boracay

Malay, Aklan, Philippines

Best Japanese Food

Taken by Stephanie Chan

Taken by Stephanie Chan

Hama might be the only Japanese restaurant in the island, as far as I can remember. So naturally, it’d be the best place to eat Japanese food, right? Well, that’s half true. There are lots of places where you caneat sushi here, since you’re in an island surrounded by water, after all. Hama might be the only place that serves Japanese fare, but I say it’s the best because it can compete with the Japanese restaurants in the metro. They serve really good food, at amazingly steep prices, too. That may be the only drawback in Hama. Perhaps if competition appeared, they’d make their prices reasonable too?

You can find my other entry on Hama here. Oh, and since I wasn’t able to mention it before, do try their sukiyaki. It’s good for 3-4 people, I think, and it’s absolutely divine! It’s one of the things I keep coming back to Hama for.

Hama

D’mall, Station 2

White Beach, Boracay

Malay, Aklan, Philippines

Best Mexican Food

Taken by Stephanie Chan

Although there are other Mexican joints in the island, I am still impressed by Mañana’s authenticity. The food is perfect for a lazy day at the beach. I usually find Mexican food to be a bit salty or too spicy at times, but Mañana must have lived with the three bears because they found the secret to everything being just right. I am a huge fan of the quesadillas and the beef tacos, while K strongly suggests the sizzling plates. See all of our recommendations here.

Mañana

Beachfront, Station 2

White Beach, Boracay

Malay, Aklan, Philippines

Best Greek Food

Taken by Stephanie Chan

Before anything else, I will admit that I haven’t tried Cyma in Boracay. It’s kind of always last on my list since I know that I can eat there in Manila. I just don’tknow if there’s a difference between the two. So, there. In comparison with the Cyma I’ve tried, I’d say that Zuzuni is a far better competitor. With just the Mati Chocolate Sin itself, it’s already a sure win. Apart from that, I really enjoyed all of their food. Seriously, I’ve tried almost everything on their menu. There was even one Boracay trip that we ate here thrice! That’s how much good the food is. Zuzuni should probably hire me already, since I’m such a suk iand I can probably promote this restaurant all day long. For my other entry about it, you can view it here.

Zuzuni

Beachfront, Station 2

White Beach, Boracay

Malay, Aklan, Philippines

Best Place for Brunch

Taken by Stephanie Chan

There’s something about this place that’s just too adorable! This is the best place for brunch, yes, because of the Hamptons vibe that it gives off. I love how everything is bright and lively, just how mornings should be. They have a wide selection of food you can choose from, and they serve breakfast all day. You see, this is a good place for brunch because the food selection is largely a mix of breakfast and lunch. Also, there’s always a buzz around because it’s in D’mall, and everyone passes through. It’s quite noisy, which is why it isn’t ideal for a quiet breakfast. Also, this would’ve been perfect if they had a view of the beach. Still, I love Lemon iCafe, and it will always be my favorite brunch place. You can view the time I ate here on my birthday here.

Lemon iCafe

D’mall, Station 2

White Beach, Boracay

Malay, Aklan, Philippines

Best Place for Breakfast

Taken by Stephanie Chan

Real Coffee & Tea will always be the best place to have breakfast. Even though the Boracay Sun ousted it in place of Lemon iCafe, I still think that there’s magic in this place. Apart from the magic in the muffins, there’s magic in the ridiculously maintained old island feel. The nipa hut gives more authenticity to it, and since it’s tucked in a back alley, you can have your quiet morning as you sip your coffee and munch on those muffins. There isn’t a view, but it’s always fun looking for this small hut. It’s like you’re on a treasure hunt, and when you finally find it, it’d feel like you discovered it all on your own.

Real Coffee & Tea

Station 2

White Beach, Boracay

Malay, Aklan, Philippines

Best in Fusion Cuisine

Now, here’s a newcomer on my staple list. I was only able to try the Sands Restaurant at Discovery Shores last May. I was seriously overwhelmed by the selection they offer! Well, they basically cater to seafood in hopes of replicating the island’s taste. However, there are some surprisingly mouthwatering fusions of different cuisines in the menu. Being that I don’t have a photographic memory, all I can remember is that I will come here starved, so as to be able to try everything on their menu. Based on my experience, though, the food is superb! So, here’s to more expectations! View my previous entry here.

I know that this list is far from being complete. I haven’t found the best burger place, or other cuisines I’ve missed. The thing is, Boracay is always changing, and even though 7 kilometers isn’t that long, I still find myself overwhelmed by the choices. Also, I find myself coming back to the classics I’ve told you about. So, if there’s anything you can suggest to this list, please leave a comment below.

These places will make it impossible to keep wearing a bikini in this island. What do you think?

XOXO

To view more of Gel Barriento's travel stories, visit gelbarrientos.wordpress.com.