Filipino food, once a mere afterthought on hotel menus, is finally stepping into the spotlight.
More establishments are moving away from international-heavy offerings and embracing homegrown flavors, giving both locals and tourists a taste of authentic, elevated Pinoy cuisine.
For years, luxury hotels leaned heavily on Western and Asian dishes, assuming this was what guests—especially foreign travelers—preferred.
Continental breakfasts, sushi bars, and pasta stations dominated buffet spreads, while Filipino food was often tucked into a small section or reduced to a single token dish.
However, that’s starting to change. As Filipino cuisine gains global recognition and more Filipinos take pride in their culinary heritage, hotels are giving it the spotlight that it so deserves.
What was once a side option is now a central focus, with restaurants designing entire menus around regional specialties, sourcing ingredients locally, and honoring traditional cooking techniques.
Some hotels have taken this shift even further, proving that Filipino food can hold its own in world-class dining.
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Lobby Lounge celebrate Filipino cuisine with classic dishes. Café Ilang-Ilang offers lechon, kare-kare, and more, while The Lobby Lounge serves merienda favorites like pancit luglug and tsokolate batirol.
and rich native tsokolate
Locavore at S Maison, Conrad Manila, reinvents Filipino classics with bold twists, featuring sizzling sinigang, oyster sisig, and lechon belly, using locally sourced ingredients.
Seda Hotels’ Misto restaurants highlight regional specialties, from Bacolod’s chicken inasal to Iloilo’s pancit Molo, offering an authentic taste of the country’s culinary heritage.
Hilton Manila’s Kusina Sea Kitchens features live cooking stations, showcasing Filipino dishes alongside international selections in an interactive dining experience.
City of Dreams Manila’s Haliya elevates Filipino classics like bistek Tagalog and Bicol express with premium ingredients and modern presentation.
Newport World Resorts’ Casa Buenas blends Filipino and Spanish influences, offering heirloom recipes and inventive creations that reflect the country’s rich culinary heritage.
What this means for Filipino cuisine
This shift isn’t just about making Filipino food trendier—it’s about honoring our culture, supporting local producers, and proving that Filipino cuisine belongs on the global stage.
By showcasing homegrown dishes in world-class settings, hotels are redefining the dining experience, proving that Filipino food can be just as sophisticated, diverse, and exciting as any other cuisine.
Whether it’s a steaming bowl of bulalo in Tagaytay, a perfectly grilled inasal in Bacolod, or a modern twist on halo-halo in Manila, hotels across the country are setting a new standard for what it means to dine Filipino.
So the next time you check into a hotel, skip the usual continental fare. Try ordering the kare-kare, savor the lechon, and experience the best of the Philippines, one bite at a time.