You already know that Malapascua holds a special place in our hearts and feels like home whenever we visit the Philippines. If you’re lucky enough to spend a few days there, you can enjoy its underwater world, beaches and warm local hospitality. You’ll also find plenty of places where you can eat well without spending much. So you don’t have to rely on trial and error, here’s our list of great places to eat in Malapascua.
From cheap little market stalls to delicious pizzas served by the sea, join us as we explore the best restaurants in Malapascua. At the end of the article, you’ll also find a map showing exactly where each one is.
Malapascua Market, a haven for cheap and tasty food
Malapascua’s market only began coming back to life a few years ago. What used to be just a couple of stalls selling essentials has now become a popular gathering place for travelers visiting the island. In addition to small grocery stores and sari-sari shops (they also sell fresh fruit if you’re in need of a vitamin boost), you’ll now find more than five carinderias or eateries—traditional Filipino restaurants serving a selection of ready-made dishes.
Stop by and see what they’ve cooked up that day. If you don’t know what something might be, just ask and they’ll be happy to explain. When you’re ready, you can order a portion of rice and as many dishes as you like. A good meal can cost you 80–150 pesos at the Malapascua market.
These small restaurants also serve a mix of international dishes and Filipino favorites. You’ll also find breakfast dishes, smoothies, coffee and even happy-hour cocktails. At night, the market gets even livelier and fills with the aroma of barbecue skewers. The stalls display their fish and meat out front and you just have to pick what you fancy and wait patiently. You’ll also be treated to a soundtrack of videoke classics—it never fails to entertain.
Unfortunately, the selection of market stalls changes frequently, with places opening and closing on fairly unpredictable schedules, but Avrill’s is currently the liveliest spot at night. Justine F&B has plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.
Angelina, some of the best pizza in Malapascua
When we want to treat ourselves, we don’t hesitate—we head to Angelina. Located at one end of Logon Beach, with both indoor and outdoor seating, this is one of our favorite restaurants in Malapascua for one simple reason: the pizza.
The Italian owners clearly know what they’re doing, and we’d go so far as to say Angelina serves some of the best pizza in the Philippines—easily in our top three. Despite the recent price increases, we think the value for money is still good (pizzas are around 500–600 pesos and one is large enough to share), the service is reliable, the house wine is good and won’t break the bank, and the gelato is deliciously creamy. All in all, it’s hard to go wrong with dinner at Angelina. Plus, they accept card payments!
Mr. Kwiiz, where to eat in Malapascua without breaking the bank
Mr. Kwiiz was one of the first places we stayed on the island (you’ll find plenty of hotel recommendations in our Where to Stay in Malapascua guide) and, in fact, we were lucky enough to spend a Christmas there. As well as simple, affordable rooms, they have a small restaurant that keeps things simple but delivers tasty food at a good price. It’s a great spot to enjoy home-style Filipino cooking (for example, tortang talong) or switch things up with a plate of spaghetti without spending much (you can easily get a meal for around 150 pesos).
The family who runs it is lovely, and the food comes out quickly. Also, while the restaurant doesn’t stand out for its decor, it’s a spacious, pleasant place to have dinner in Malapascua. Although getting there can be a bit of a maze, we think it’s well worth it.
Ocean Vida, Mediterranean flavors with sea views
The restaurant at the Ocean Vida resort is another of our favorite places to eat in Malapascua. As well as occupying a spot we love—right by the sea—Ocean Vida is a great place for a sunset cocktail and serves several dishes inspired by Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. For example, the gazpacho is good and, although the escalivada isn’t entirely true to the traditional recipe and the portion keeps getting smaller, it’s still an enjoyable option if you’re craving Mediterranean flavors. Their burgers don’t disappoint either, and they serve proper coffee alongside their hearty breakfasts.
As we mentioned, Ocean Vida has beanbags right on the beach that start to fill up around 4:00 pm. That’s when happy hour kicks off and their two-for-one cocktail deal begins. Our favorite is the pineapple daiquiri, but the banana one isn’t bad either. Have one for us!
Guannas Place, a cheerful start to the day
The small restaurant at Guannas Hostel is a nice spot for both breakfast and a quick dinner, and the women who work there provide impressively quick service. Their 150-peso omelets, served with brown bread with raisins and walnuts, are a reliable choice for breakfast, but you’ll also find tasty spaghetti and more substantial dishes without breaking the bank. The decor may not turn any heads, but thanks to its great value for money it’s a good place to eat in Malapascua.
Craic House, falafel like no other
On our favorite stretch of Bounty Beach, the restaurant at the Evolution hotel always wins us over with its burgers—including some tasty vegetarian options—falafel pitas and hearty lentil curries. At Craic House you can enjoy Mediterranean food and international beers with some of the best sea views you could ask for. You could easily spend a few hours relaxing on their beanbags or loungers, set on what we think is the best part of Bounty Beach—so you’ll easily find us here if we’re on the island (which happens fairly often). Plus, the service is friendly and fast, and they have Starlink internet and a generator, which is a lifesaver when the power goes out.
It’s a fantastic Malapascua restaurant for a relaxed lunch or a change from your usual dinner spots. Most dishes cost around 300–400 pesos, so it’s a little pricier than some other places on the island. And if you’re after caffeine, the coffee isn’t bad at all.
Kaon Nilumad – Vegan Eatery & Café
Kaon Nilumad opened in 2025 and has become one of the best places to eat in Malapascua, as well as an ideal sunset spot for anyone looking for a backpacker vibe and a good happy hour (from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm every day). After sunset, they usually host a fire show or live music, and there’s a small shop selling crafts and souvenirs, with proceeds supporting social projects on the island. They also offer yoga classes on selected mornings.
The food is 100% vegan, but even if you’re not vegan, we highly recommend giving it a try. It operates like a carinderia, offering a buffet of ready-made dishes priced at 50 pesos per portion (it’s advisable to go early because the most popular dishes can sell out), but they also have some à la carte items like burgers, crepes, tacos, French fries and BBQ skewers. Don’t miss the halo-halo—it’s really good.
They open at 7:30 am and serve good coffee (with a choice of plant-based milks) and some pastries, so it’s also a breakfast spot.
Bebot’s, a great breakfast spot in Malapascua
Somewhat hidden in Malapascua’s sandy lanes, Bebot’s has earned a reputation among the island’s expats for its breakfasts. Generous omelets and sandwiches, large fruit shakes and proper coffee at reasonable prices are the secret to its success. We especially enjoy coming here after a thresher shark dive, when we return starving after the early start and all the excitement. They also serve pasta and other more substantial dishes later in the day.
And if you’re craving a decent loaf of bread, you’ll be glad to know they sell it at reasonable prices. Half of a fairly large sliced loaf costs 100 pesos.
Hippocampus, a great spot to eat in Malapascua with your feet in the sand
Although their Saturday live music always draws us in like a magnet, the truth is we only recently tried the restaurant at Hippocampus Resort, where the tables sit right on the beach. An hour later, we left pleasantly surprised by the quality and value of the food, as well as the mix of Filipino and Western dishes with a subtle fusion twist (we especially liked the pasta). Cold beers, quick and attentive service, a relaxed vibe with your feet in the sand—we couldn’t fault it!
Villa Potenciana, Malapascua’s vegetarian spot
For one of the island’s most bohemian settings, head to Villa Potenciana, the restaurant run by JonJon, a Filipino whose fascinating and unconventional life story is told in a book sold at the restaurant. His restaurant serves a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes at very reasonable prices (between 180 and 250 pesos), including vegetarian versions of Filipino dishes like eggplant adobo with plant-based meat or traditional caldereta. The pasta dishes (pesto pasta and carbonara) and the shawarma aren’t bad at all. Whether you’re vegetarian or not, we think you’ll like it—promise.
One important thing to bear in mind is that, although we like Villa Potenciana and have eaten there several times, the staff still don’t seem to fully understand the difference between vegan and vegetarian food. Therefore, if you’re vegan or have an intolerance or allergy to dairy or eggs, we recommend either not going or making absolutely sure that what you order doesn’t contain animal products. Believe us, we explained our requirements very clearly and the food we received still wasn’t completely vegan.
The restaurant is right on Bounty Beach, making it ideal for dinner with your feet in the sand while listening to the waves, although on weekends there’s usually live music. And if you’re on the island on a Saturday, you can join the “feeding program.” Between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm, local children gather there, enjoy different games and music, and receive a free meal. It’s a lovely community initiative worth knowing about.
Discover more places like this in our article Best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the Philippines.
K.B-MERK, an under-the-radar spot that’s well worth a visit
This small Filipino eatery on a quiet street may surprise you with its tasty food and impressively quick service (compared to other places of the same style). If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you’ll be glad to know they have tofu options. If not, they also offer seafood, fresh fish and grilled meats, as well as breakfast dishes and sweet treats such as pancakes.
Prices are around 200–300 pesos for generous portions of tasty food.
Where to eat in northern Malapascua
We recommend staying in the south of Malapascua, as it’s the easiest part of the island to reach by boat and is home to most of its dive centers, hotels and restaurants. Even so, the north is home to what we consider Malapascua’s best beach, Langob Beach, so it’s well worth visiting for the day. If you get hungry up there, we suggest two places:
- Josephine Grilled Fish and BBQ: it’s a little stall at the eastern end of the beach, right on the sand. It’s a handy option when you need a quick, simple meal. It serves grilled fish and meat, along with a few ready-made dishes that are usually available at lunchtime. The woman who runs it is also very friendly.
- My Tablea Cafe: the portions are a little small for the price, but the food is tasty. They have some vegan options, although we recommend clearly explaining that you don’t want any cheese or eggs.
Map of places to eat in Malapascua
Here are all the Malapascua restaurants mentioned above, pinned on a map of the island:
Have you read our Malapascua guide yet? In it you’ll find all the tips you need to make the most of this small but charming Philippine island.
If you have any suggestions or comments about these Malapascua restaurants, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!
