10 Best Restaurants
El Nido opens onto Bacuit Bay, where limestone cliffs rise from clear water and small beaches hide between the islands. Boat trips and kayaking fill many days, but the mainland has its own appeal, from Corong-Corong sunsets to the long sands of Nacpan. Stay in town for restaurants and easy departures, at Lio for a relaxed beach base, or on an island for greater seclusion. Keep some flexibility in the itinerary, as weather and sea conditions shape the best days out.
Taas Restaurant
La Plage, Corong-Corong, Philippines
Taas sits above La Plage in Corong-Corong, pairing an elevated setting with a tasting menu that draws on Filipino ingredients and French technique. The dishes change with the produce available, and wine or cocktail pairings can make the evening a more leisurely occasion. Choose it when dinner is the main event rather than a stop between activities. Reserve ahead, discuss dietary requirements and confirm the current menu format with the team.
A tasting menu for a special evening
Tanaw
Vanilla Beach, Maremegmeg, Philippines
Tanaw brings chef Robby Goco’s broad culinary interests to a beachfront setting at Vanilla Beach. Local seafood and produce underpin a menu that moves between European influences and dishes designed for sharing, with the view giving lunch or dinner an easy holiday rhythm. Its appeal lies in the attention paid to ingredients without turning the meal into a formal occasion. Ask what seafood is available and reserve a preferred table if sunset is part of the plan.
Local seafood with an international approach
Henri’s
Lihim Resorts, Caalan, Philippines
Henri’s rises above Lihim Resorts in a three-level building with broad views across Bacuit Bay. The menu combines seafood and meat dishes, while indoor and outdoor seating allow the setting to suit the evening. Come for a celebration or an unhurried dinner, allowing time to enjoy the changing light before ordering. Reserve through the resort, ask which level your table will occupy and arrange transport if you are staying elsewhere in El Nido.
A hillside dinner with views across the bay
Jinjer Restaurant
Cadlao El Nido Resort, Caalan, Philippines
Jinjer is Cadlao’s open-air restaurant, where the shoreline setting and view towards the islands make a meal feel removed from the busier streets of town. The kitchen focuses on Filipino cooking, drawing on familiar regional flavours while giving the dishes a more considered presentation. It is a useful choice for a relaxed dinner with a sense of place. Visitors staying elsewhere should book ahead and ask about the restaurant’s pickup arrangements from El Nido Townsquare.
Filipino cooking in an open-air coastal setting
Bella Vita El Nido
Corong-Corong Beach, Philippines
Bella Vita serves Italian cooking beside Corong-Corong Beach, with hand-tossed pizzas from a brick oven at the centre of its appeal. Pasta and salads round out a menu that works well for a relaxed group meal after a day on the water. The setting becomes particularly attractive towards sunset, when it is worth allowing time to linger over a drink. Choose it for a straightforward evening of well-made comfort food and views across the bay.
Pizza and sunset by the sand
Trattoria Altrove, El Nido
Calle Hama, El Nido town, Philippines
Altrove’s original El Nido restaurant has built its reputation around pizza cooked in a wood-fired brick oven, supported by pasta and other Italian favourites. The Calle Hama location makes it easy to include in an evening around town, and its informal atmosphere suits a shared meal after a boat trip. Choose a few pizzas for the table and leave time for the kitchen during busy periods. Confirm the main branch when arranging directions or a reservation.
Wood-fired pizza in the town centre
Big Bad Thai
Calle Hama, El Nido town, Philippines
Big Bad Thai puts curries, noodles and seafood dishes in a breezy dining room above Calle Hama. Pad thai and pad krapow are familiar starting points, while crab curry offers a reason to try something more substantial. The elevated position adds views across the bay to a casual meal. Discuss spice levels when ordering, and ask about ingredients if you have dietary requirements, since sauces and pastes may contain seafood even in vegetable-based dishes.
Thai curries and noodles with a bay view
Happiness Beach Bar
Serena Street, El Nido town, Philippines
Happiness brings Middle Eastern flavours to a lively spot in El Nido town, with plenty of vegetarian and plant-based choices alongside its drinks. The menu is suited to a relaxed meal built around sharing, and the friendly atmosphere makes it easy to settle in after a day of exploring. Choose the town restaurant on Serena Street when meeting friends near the waterfront; the group also operates accommodation and other dining spaces around El Nido.
Middle Eastern food and a sociable atmosphere
El Nido Boutique Artcafe
Serena Street, El Nido town, Philippines
Artcafe combines a restaurant with a travel centre and shop, making it one of El Nido’s longstanding meeting places. The broad menu covers Filipino dishes, salads, pizza and pasta, with produce supplied by the owners’ farm and freshly baked bread at breakfast. Come for a meal before an excursion or a drink and music later in the day. Its informal setting and range of choices make it especially useful when a group wants different things.
An all-day meal at a longstanding local meeting place
Hunt Restaurant
The Funny Lion El Nido, Balinsasayaw Road, Philippines
Hunt is The Funny Lion’s all-day restaurant, serving Filipino favourites alongside international dishes in a contemporary room inspired by the surrounding limestone landscape. It offers a comfortable place to return to after a day of boat trips, with terrace seating and the poolside bar close by. Choose it when you want a straightforward meal with attentive hotel service. Ask about current seafood dishes and dietary options, and confirm access when visiting from another property.
A comfortable dinner after island hopping