Bantayan is one of the easiest islands to visit if you’re looking for a few relaxing days on the beach during a trip to the Philippines, and there’s no shortage of great places to eat. As well as having gorgeous beaches that you can enjoy without needing your own transport, the island offers a good range of accommodation and restaurants for every taste and budget. As tourism has grown, loads of new places to eat in Bantayan have popped up. You’ll find local eateries known as carinderias, as well as places serving all kinds of food, including Italian, Korean and Mexican. The choice is yours!
During our most recent week-long visit to the island, we had plenty of time to try out some of the best places to eat in Bantayan. Most of them are in Santa Fe, which is also where most of the hotels in Bantayan are located, but we’ve also included a couple of recommendations in Bantayan town. Without further ado, read on to discover our favorite places to eat in Bantayan.
Pizzeria La Filomina
We were craving a good pizza and someone recommended this Bantayan restaurant to us. Located on the main road leading to the port, it’s a bit of a walk from central Santa Fe, but it’s worth it. It’s a small place with three or four tables on the terrace, where you can watch your food being prepared and see the small wood-fired pizza oven—a promising sign, in our experience.
They may not be the best pizzas we’ve ever had, but they’re certainly among the better ones we’ve eaten during our travels around the Philippines. They also serve fresh pasta at very reasonable prices. The pasta dishes are quite generous and cost around 250 pesos. Pizzas cost between 330 and 400 pesos and are large enough to share if neither of you is particularly hungry. They have several vegetarian options, and the beer is ice-cold too!
Bantayan Market
If you’re after something more local to eat in Bantayan, we recommend heading to the market. Located right in the heart of Santa Fe, it’s slightly tucked away, but you should have no trouble finding it using the map below. Inside, alongside stalls selling fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, you’ll find a couple of carinderias displaying their freshly prepared dishes.
You’re unlikely to spend more than 60 pesos on a meal here. Be sure to check out our guide to what to eat in the Philippines for an introduction to the country’s cuisine.
It’s best to arrive early—around 12:30 is ideal—or you may find that much of the food has already sold out. Dishes here sell out fast! The food is prepared in the morning and usually isn’t replenished during the day, so it’s basically a lunch spot.
Near the market, several small stalls selling skewers and burgers start setting up at the intersection in the afternoon. There are also a couple of carinderias nearby. The best-known is Melds Barbacue and Eatery, which offers a huge selection of grilled fish, seafood and meat in the evenings. It’s a good place to eat in Bantayan without spending much.
Everyday Sunday Café
This spot in Santa Fe is a clear sign of Bantayan’s growing popularity with a wider range of travelers. It’s a trendy little Siargao-style café specializing in smoothie bowls and shakes, along with light bites such as wraps and quesadillas. We tried both the wraps and the quesadillas and really enjoyed them. Prices are fairly reasonable, although the portions aren’t particularly large. It’s more of a breakfast place.
They’ve since moved to a larger, more attractive venue than the one shown in the photo, making it an even nicer place to relax over breakfast or a drink.
Sarapoi
This restaurant is in MJ Square, a long plaza packed with restaurants and home to much of Bantayan’s nightlife. Besides the eateries we recommend here—we’ve only included our favorites—the plaza is also home to TapaMaster (mostly meat), Chef Panyang (a mix of Filipino food and pizzas at very low prices) and Shake Me (fruit shakes, though a bit pricey).
Sarapoi serves a mix of international and Filipino food, with its selection of Indian dishes being a particular highlight. The korma curry is surprisingly good for the price, and the owner, Larry, is very friendly.
Bantayan Burrito Company
This is probably one of the best-known places to eat in Bantayan. Also located in MJ Square, it’s a fairly small spot with four or five outdoor tables. As you might guess, they serve Mexican-inspired food, with highlights including nachos, burritos and chimichangas, as well as burgers. Bring a big appetite and order the P.I.G—a chimichanga topped with chili and bacon—and you certainly won’t leave hungry. They also serve vegetarian and vegan bean burritos.
Prices are around 260–350 pesos, although it’s worth noting that the portions aren’t particularly large. The P.I.G and the burgers offer the best value for money.
Tiki Bar Bantayan
This restaurant is directly opposite MJ Square and was one of our favorite places to eat in Bantayan, which is why we ended up visiting it four times. Although the menu has a bit of everything—Filipino dishes, pasta, seafood and meat—their burgers impressed us the most: they’re generously sized and served with tasty fries. They also offer a vegetarian option.
Tiki Bar is also a cool spot for a drink. As well as hosting live music on many evenings, they offer a wide selection of reasonably priced beers, including several imported options. The Hawaiian-inspired setting also makes it a particularly pleasant place to spend an evening.
Diego’s Kitchen
While exploring Bantayan by motorbike, we came across this restaurant in a lovely spot on the outskirts of Bantayan town. To be honest, the food isn’t spectacular, but it’s a charming and reasonably priced place. We went for tortang talong—an eggplant omelet—and rice, but they also serve Filipino dishes such as pancit, bulalo and sinigang, all cooked to order and served hot—unlike the pre-cooked dishes served at many carinderias.
Kermit’s Café and Pastry
We stumbled across this place while exploring Bantayan town and the town’s interesting heritage houses. It’s a stylish, welcoming café with a huge selection of cakes and pastries, including the classic brazo de Mercedes and the ever-popular halo-halo. They also serve savory dishes such as pasta, pizza and sandwiches.
It’s popular with young locals, giving it a refreshingly untouristy atmosphere, and prices are reasonable.
The Hungry Beach Co.
There’s a small food park with several stalls at Kota Beach, where you can enjoy the beach while grabbing a bite or having dinner. You’ll find everything from barbecue and Thai food to pasta and nachos. It’s a great place to watch the sunset without spending a fortune on drinks, and the atmosphere is lively and youthful—something that can be surprisingly hard to find elsewhere on the island.
More places to eat in Bantayan
If none of the places above appeal to you and you’d like a few more options, take a look at these other places to eat in Bantayan:
- Stumble Inn Beach Club: a beachfront spot serving hefty burgers and reasonably priced breakfasts. There’s also a pool table if you feel like playing a game.
- The Coco Cafe: a Balinese-style café that’s ideal for breakfast, serving power bowls and sandwiches. They also have tasty Vietnamese coffee.
- Sunday Co.: a cozy café serving great coffee and hearty breakfasts that can easily double as lunch.
- Igbaw Resto Grill: this popular Bantayan restaurant serves Filipino dishes and plenty of fresh seafood. There’s usually live music on weekends.
Map of places to eat in Bantayan
Now that you know where to eat, use the map below to find all the places in Bantayan that we’ve recommended:
We hope this has been helpful! Remember that you’ll find plenty more information about the island in our Bantayan guide.
