Boracay has changed so much after COVID and the 2018 closure for rehabilitation and redevelopment. We just came back from a much-awaited 5D4N trip this March 2026 and as before, it's still one of my favorite places to be in the Philippines. The White Beach with powdery sand is still there, while the noise and tourist numbers are down. Some of the old restaurants co-exist with new ones we haven't tried before so there's room to discover new favorites! I'm compiling this list mainly for myself so that I can taste them again when I return.
Percys Seafood Restaurant - This restaurant is a favorite among friends and family with them raving about fresh oysters all the time. I don't eat that so the dish I most crave even when in Manila is their Seafood Cioppino! Their seafood stew is loaded with tinuwa clams, squid, shrimp, mussels and fish but the soup part is the best for me while sipping fresh watermelon shake. They also own Sunnyside Cafe so expect the same quality across their restaurants. I wish they can bring Percys to Manila!!
Crab and Scallops - We found this Aquafresh Restaurant that had meaty crabs (recommend!) and scallops. The scallops are too small for us but the crab was so good =) We had it steamed although I wanted to do butter and garlic but it's healthier when steamed haha. Just dip it in rock salt and vinegar! There are other restaurants in Boracay that serve paluto style. Just be adamant to see live crab and weigh before they cook it.
Lanterna Restaurant - This is our new discovery near Bulabog Beach! I still dream about their Beetroot Carpaccio.
In my farm travels, I know that beetroot is the superior health food but I couldn't find the right pairings to match with it all these years and I didn't want to eat it raw. Their dish had oranges, herbs, feta cheese and I'm guessing olive oil and salt mixed in with boiled beetroot! It was so delicious and refreshing😋 We also had other Italian dishes like their carbonara and polenta di spuntature de maiale with fall-off-the-bone pork ribs..
We wiped out all the dishes - just the two of us! The beetroot appetizer is the greatest discovery for this trip that I still smile about! Can't wait to try the rest of the menu 😙
Totally Bananas Cafe - I was pleasantly surprised when I tried their banana cheesecake using saba bananas! They are definitely on to something here in this quaint cafe. This one is near Lanterna.
Mayas Restaurant - We stopped by here for a light meal before sunset and Jeff really liked their kilawin (raw fish marinated in vinegar and aromatics)!
I had the gambas and it had good flavor.
The location was right in front of the White Beach so we hurriedly ate for this one. I would drop by earlier next time to enjoy their Filipino/Mexican dishes. Near here is The Pig Out Bistro which we didn't get to try so next time!
Villa Caemilla Beach Boutique Hotel Restaurant - We were walking back to our hotel from the Secret Beach at the edge of Station 3 when we spotted this. A beachfront restaurant with acoustic night and a free table just outside. It was the perfect after-sunset and dinner spot!
We spent a good hour or two just hanging out enjoying their pizza, mango milkshake and quality food.
They were even nice enough to give us a tour of their rooms and the staff was so attentive so our makulit sides came out and we did so many song requests haha. We felt so VVIP that night 😊 The crowd isn't as rowdy and noisy in Station 3 at night too!
Battuta Bar & Cocktail Lounge - Jeff found this hidden speakeasy to chill hahaha. It's at the top of Royal Indian Curry House and you go in through a closet 😆 The vibe they were going for like the drinks and even the inspiration from the famous world traveller Battuta was interesting! It's a nice change from the remaining bars they have in Station 2 and open early too for older people like us who want to sleep early hahahaha.
Island Chicken Inasal - This wasn't in my radar until this trip! There was a long line at around lunch and dinner times so we went for early dinner before sunset.
This inasal place is right in D' Mall next to our hotel so it's very convenient! Grilled inasal chicken, usually marinated in aromatics and lemongrass and hails from Visayas (especially Bacolod!) , is also one of our staples now in our age since it's healthier, except the yummy chicken oil (really elevates the rice and chicken!!!) hahaha. We tried their kansi as well and it was like a saltier sinigang and probably used more natural ingredients for a souring agent than the more popular sinigang.
Meze Wrap - We missed this during our last trip and they were still there so they must be doing something right. The grilled food was okay and healthier I think than other alternatives. The only thing bothering me was the spiral staircase to the 2nd or 3rd floor 😅 The place was packed but service was fast.
That's about all we can eat around Boracay for lunch and dinner. We try to find places that use local ingredients more and opt for nutritious, wholesome and cleaner food nowadays with a few bonuses and treats along the way. I guess it's a good thing that I didn't see any trace of the beachside Chori Burger that Boracay is known for along the beach.. We also chose to walk and burn off all of the carbs after 😉 The White Beach is the perfect low intensity and cool workout good for the feet (especially after sunset)! Oh, and last but not the least, I visited the small fruit stalls near D'Mall and found gorgeous avocados for just P200/kilo. It's so expensive here in Manila so I bought some home! Hehe.
Where to Eat Healthy Food - Old and New Restaurants to Try in Boracay!
