Besides traveling around the Philippines, another one of our passions is food—we love to eat! That’s why, every time we visit a new destination, even if we find a place we like on our first day, we always keep exploring to discover as many local flavors as possible. That passion for food and the Philippines inspired this guide to where to eat in Camiguin. In it you’ll find a list of our favorite places, a map showing where to find them, and even photos of many of their menus.
We hope you’re hungry, because we’re about to take you on a culinary tour of Camiguin!
We’ve divided this guide into three main sections, plus a bonus section, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for: where to eat in Camiguin, breakfast in Camiguin, where to go for a drink in Camiguin, and a bonus section for anyone who wants to cook or sample some of the island’s local specialties.
Where to eat in Camiguin: Best restaurants
Although Camiguin isn’t one of the country’s most touristy islands, it does have a good variety of options ranging from authentic Italian restaurants to basic carinderias, with Thai restaurants and plenty of other choices in between. Here are some of the best places we found and think you’ll enjoy.
La Dolce Vita Camiguin
We’re not exaggerating when we say we’ve completely lost count of how many times we’ve gone to have dinner in Camiguin at La Dolce Vita. As the name suggests, it’s run by an Italian-Filipino couple, so pizza and pasta are the stars of the menu.
So why do we recommend this restaurant so highly when it comes to eating in Camiguin? First, its wood-fired oven gives its wide range of pizzas a distinctive flavor. Then there’s the delicious homemade stuffed pasta! Both the pizzas and the pasta are clearly made from scratch using fresh ingredients. You can really taste the individual ingredients, unlike in many restaurants where everything tastes the same.
Our favorite dishes: the four-cheese pizza and the truffle ravioli.
Samuel by VjANDEP
We kick off this tasty list of where to eat in Camiguin with one of the most popular restaurants in Mambajao, the island’s capital. In 1990, Camiguin’s now hugely popular signature souvenir was created: the VjANDEP Pastel. In fact, when leaving the island, you’ll often see lots of Filipinos carrying stacks of boxes of these sweet, filled buns. They’re popular all over the Philippines!
Its success led the company to expand, and Samuel, its restaurant, is now located next to the town’s main shopping mall. There you can enjoy traditional Filipino dishes with a home-cooked feel but—trust us—it would be a big mistake to leave without trying some of their cakes or their famous leche flan. The restaurant connects directly to the shop where you can buy the famous VjANDEP Pastel. Let us know what you think when you try one!
Guerrera Restaurant
As you’ll see throughout this guide, eating in Camiguin takes you on a journey through cuisines from around the world. At Guerrera Restaurant you’ll find some of the best Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese dishes. The restaurant is surrounded by rice fields and offers sweeping views of both Hibok-Hibok and the sea, making the excellent food even more enjoyable.
It’s a good place for both lunch and dinner, but keep in mind that it has more limited opening hours than many other Camiguin restaurants, and the kitchen closes at 2:00 p.m. after lunch and at 9:00 p.m. after dinner. It’s also a good choice for vegetarian food in Camiguin, as the menu has plenty of dishes that can be adapted by replacing the meat with tofu. Prices are around 400 pesos, which isn’t especially cheap, but we really think it’s worth it.
Sapore
Another Italian restaurant that won us over is Sapore. Its prices are a bit higher than La Dolce Vita’s (dishes between 400 and 500 pesos), but the food is also a step up in quality. You can tell the ingredients are very, very fresh (many come from the restaurant’s own garden), and the homemade pasta dishes are spectacular and seriously addictive.
It’s an ideal restaurant for dinner in Camiguin, as the soft lighting and lush surroundings give it a romantic feel. However, note that the kitchen closes at 8:45 p.m., so try to arrive in plenty of time. Lunch is also served early, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Kurma
At Kurma you’ll find what we’d call “fusion cuisine” because, as you’ll see on the menu, its dishes are inspired by cuisines from around the world. It offers plenty of vegan and vegetarian options that we strongly encourage you to try, even if you’re not vegetarian.
The vegetarian “steak” is made from squash and is super tasty, the kare-kare is finger-licking good, and the coconut burger is one of the stars of the menu. You have to try it! Plus, as we’ll mention later, it’s an ideal place for breakfast. It serves great coffee and a variety of options that range from super healthy smoothie bowls to the addictive “German rolled pancakes” that are a must for chocolate lovers.
Its location is also excellent, right on the seafront next to the terminal where tours to White Island depart. In fact, the restaurant is part of Kurma Eco Beach Lodge, a beachfront resort with a dive shop specializing in freediving that also offers activities such as garden yoga sessions. You can find more information about the property here: Kurma Eco Beach Lodge. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset.
Cassa Rocca
Cassa Rocca is another of the most popular places to eat in Camiguin. Its menu features a varied selection of international dishes. Three things stand out about this place:
- The views: It’s perched on top of a cliff with beautiful sea views. If you can, grab the booth-style table by the restaurant entrance, as it offers the best views.
- Mango float: This Camiguin restaurant is best known for its mango float, one of the most popular Filipino desserts. It’s delicious! The only problem is that it’s so popular it often sells out.
- The beers: What could be better than a cold beer with your meal? Alongside its wine list, you’ll find a good selection of craft beers.
Luna Ristorante
We can’t skip Luna Ristorante in this list of places where to eat in Camiguin. Although we prefer La Dolce Vita and Sapore, Luna Ristorante may be more conveniently located for you, or you may simply want to give it a try. Note: being our third pick among Italian restaurants doesn’t mean we don’t like it—the pumpkin-stuffed pasta we tried there was really good; it’s simply that we prefer the other two.
Alongside fresh homemade pasta, pizzas, and other Italian dishes, you’ll also find beef burgers, Filipino dishes, and a few other international options.
Its large terrace is a pleasant, no-frills spot for dining outdoors.
DAOS Plant-based Kitchen
There are more and more vegan restaurants in the Philippines, and DAOS Plant-based Kitchen is a relatively new addition to Camiguin’s food scene. Potpot, the lovely owner, opened this beautiful seaside spot, which serves excellent vegan versions of Filipino classics (the vegan sisig and kare-kare are particularly good), burgers, pasta and noodle dishes, and classic Buddha bowls, along with a selection of snacks at very reasonable prices (200–300 pesos). And don’t forget to try the turon, a dessert that will blow your mind.
The restaurant is committed to doing things as responsibly as possible, minimizing plastic use—their bamboo cutlery is beautiful—and using organic ingredients. Best of all, the team is happy to tell you more about their dishes, how they’re made, and their ingredients, which makes the experience even more rewarding. Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, give it a chance—you’re unlikely to leave disappointed.
Keep in mind that they’re only open Wednesday through Monday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with last orders at 7:00 p.m. Thanks to its west-facing location, it’s a lovely place to watch the sunset and stay for dinner.
More places to eat in Camiguin
We didn’t want this guide to get too long, but we tried several more restaurants in Camiguin and wanted to recommend a few that are every bit as good as those above:
- Paradiso Hillside Restaurant: a restaurant run by a chef from Naples that serves what may well be some of the best pizzas in Camiguin. Made with imported ingredients and baked in a wood-fired oven, they’re well worth the 400–500 pesos you’ll pay.
- 3Matchos Lutong Bahay: a truly Filipino roadside eatery with home-cooked food at affordable prices. It’s a carinderia, so there usually isn’t much food left by the evening—it’s a better choice for lunch. They have some vegetarian options and freshly fried bananas.
- Cenote Restaurant and Bar: good value for money and decent service. The cordon bleu and the quesadillas are quite tasty. The breakfast options are also worth trying.
Breakfast in Camiguin: cafés and restaurants with good options
Although most restaurants have some kind of breakfast option, these are the ones that really stand out and offer some great options for starting the day with plenty of energy.
Saga Specialty Coffee
Camiguin’s first specialty coffee shop opened in 2024 and, if you’ve spent a few days or weeks in the Philippines drinking instant coffee, we promise your first cup here will taste like pure bliss. The place is also super cute, and they serve cookies and a selection of pastries (croissants, pain au chocolat, etc.) for breakfast. They’re open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., so it’s also a great place to stop for breakfast while exploring the island.
Hayahay Café
A Camiguin breakfast favorite if you want something that’s delicious, healthy, and ideal for your travel photos. Why? Because everything is beautifully presented and perfect for Instagram.
Photos aside, the smoothie bowls are really tasty and their activated-charcoal pancakes with chocolate are delicious. That said, we couldn’t finish them—they’re huge and very filling! They also cater to vegans and vegetarians, with options such as coffee with soy milk, which can be hard to find in the Philippines. One tip: don’t visit if you’re in a hurry. Although everything they make is really good, service can be slow, especially at breakfast.
The BeeHive
We weren’t sure whether to include The BeeHive in the main “Where to eat in Camiguin” section or in this breakfast section. Although it has a very good lunch menu, after several visits it was the breakfast menu that really won us over.
If you’re a coffee lover, this is possibly one of the best places in Camiguin to enjoy a cup. They serve a wide range of coffees, most of them locally sourced and organic, with delicious flavors and unexpected flavor notes, such as macadamia. You can also try a variety of fresh-fruit smoothies (order the guyabano, or soursop, if you want something local) and cakes that pair perfectly with your coffee.
It’s impossible to talk about The BeeHive without mentioning its seafront location and beautiful décor. Honestly, it’s a gorgeous place! Its patio and terrace feature plenty of handcrafted wooden details and even a long bench that is strongly reminiscent of Gaudí’s trencadís style. It’s a perfect place to watch the sunset.
As we said at the start of this section, there are several more breakfast spots in Camiguin that we included in the “Where to eat in Camiguin” section because they serve a wider range of dishes throughout the day. At Samuel by VjANDEP, you can enjoy some of their tasty pastries for breakfast. Kurma also has an extensive breakfast menu that we highly recommend. You can check out its menu using the link above.
Going for a drink in Camiguin
Unlike other islands like Siargao, El Nido, or Bohol, which have a lively nightlife, Camiguin is much more relaxed. Even so, on weekends there’s a bit more of a buzz, especially around the Yumbing area, where you’ll find a few bars with live music. Here are the main places to check out:
- CheckPoint Food Camiguin: although it’s primarily a restaurant, it’s a good place to go for a drink once the sun has set. This is where we enjoyed a few beers with two lovely readers of the site during one of our most recent visits to Camiguin. Cold beer, cocktails, bar snacks, and live music make it a great place for a night out on the island.
- Alex Restaurant + Bar: the food is nothing special, but the beer is cold and it has a modern atmosphere.
- Isla 9100 Restobar: located right next to the two places mentioned above, it usually draws a lively local crowd on weekends, when a stage is set up for local bands. They also serve food and grilled fish.
- Chill’s Beach: a cool place to watch the sunset with a beer or cocktail in hand. As the name suggests, it’s right on the beach. They serve some pretty good Italian food, so it’s also a solid option for dinner.
Other tips for eating in Camiguin
Yumbing public market
If you’ve chosen accommodation in Camiguin with a kitchen (like the Mountain View Cottages, where we stayed for more than a week), Yumbing Public Market will be your go-to place. Here you can buy a wide range of fresh vegetables and meat to cook with. Next to it, there’s a small sari-sari store where you’ll also find essentials such as oil, pasta, and rice.
Even if you’re not planning to cook, it’s a good place to buy fruit and take it with you while you explore the island, go island hopping around Camiguin, or even hike up Mount Hibok-Hibok if you’re up for the challenge.
Lanzones
Just as Naples is associated with pizza and Paris with croissants, Camiguin is synonymous with lanzones. These fruits are, in fact, the centerpiece of the island’s biggest festival: the Camiguin Lanzones Festival.
Similar to lychees but less tart, we recommend trying them as soon as you get the chance. The main harvest season runs from September to October. They’re delicious!
Kiping
Another local snack you’ll see all over Camiguin is kiping. This crispy wafer is usually sold for 5–10 pesos outside the island’s main tourist attractions. Luckily, it tastes far better than it looks and is a handy snack for keeping hunger at bay until lunch, so you can keep exploring the island a little longer before sitting down for a proper meal in Camiguin. That said, fair warning: sometimes it’s topped with so much chocolate sauce that it’s practically impossible to eat it without ending up covered in it.
Map of recommended places to eat in Camiguin
If you want to see all these great places to eat in Camiguin at a glance, take a look at this map:
Feeling hungry after reading our guide to the best places to eat in Camiguin? Now that you know the best places to eat, you can start planning your route around the island. Our Camiguin guide has everything you need to make the most of this wonderful destination in the Philippines.
Enjoy!
