Staying In Town This Long Easter Weekend? Here’s Where To Find A Great Meal And More
People say that the best time to be in Manila is during the Easter break. Fewer cars, no traffic, less people, minimal noise—it does seem like an idyllic time to stay in the city. But with most malls and restaurants usually closed during the upcoming week, finding a place to enjoy a satisfactory meal might be a little difficult. Whether you’re looking for comfort food, meat-free meals, staycations, or activities-filled celebrations, we've compiled 8 great places where you can enjoy a delicious meal during Holy Week, as well as celebrate the Easter weekend in style.
ANY DAY COMFORTS
Wildflour Café + Bakery
Branches in BGC, Legaspi Village, Salcedo Village, Rockwell, Greenhills, www.wildflour.com.ph
Aside from delicious baked goods and tempting pastries and cakes, Wildflour also has a diverse menu offering comfort food faves, from Fried Chicken and Biscuits to Kimchi Fried Rice bowls. All branches are open Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday (except The Podium branch which is only open on Saturday). Whether you want to enjoy an early breakfast, late lunch, or cozy dinner, Wildflour has comforting and consistent dishes waiting for you.
FRESH SEAFOOD
Provenciano
110 Maginhawa Street, Teacher’s Village, Quezon City, (02) 922-2736
If you live down south, take advantage of the lack of traffic to drive all the way to Teacher’s Village to dine at Provenciano, considered one of the very best Filipino restaurants in the city. Chef Chris de Jesus cooks up classic Filipino fare from the different regions, perfect for the Easter festivities. You can indulge in his wide array of delicious vegetable dishes like Ilocano style Grilled Eggplant or Stuffed Banana Heart. Seafood dishes include Sopas ni Nanay Fe, an heirloom dish of creamy seafood soup with light coconut and noodles, as well as Laguna-style Okoy, Baby Squid in Olive Oil and Garlic, and other regional dishes that highlight succulent prawns and fresh fish. Note that Provenciano is open on Maundy Thursday but closed on Good Friday.
Nikkei
Branches in Legaspi Village, Rockwell, The Podium, BGC, www.nikkei.com.ph
If you’re abstaining this week, you won’t miss the meat here. This fusion restaurant marries the two distinct yet harmonious flavors of Japan and Peru. Dine on ceviche, carpaccio, sushi, and sashimi which feature an array of fresh seafood. Nikkei has a wonderful diverse menu and beautiful modern interiors. Branches in Legaspi Village and Rockwell are open throughout Holy Week, while The Podium and BGC branches are closed on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
100% VEGETARIAN
Green Bar Café
252 Sen. Gil Puyat Jr. Avenue, Makati City, (02) 885-7537
Not eating meat during this Lenten season or care to try something different? Green Bar Café serves delicious American-inspired dishes, from “Bacun” cheeseburgers, to burritos and sumptuous donuts that are all animal product free. Try the “Longanissa” or “Popcorn Chicken” tacos which taste like the real thing, if not better. This vegan hotspot is open from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday.
Hummus Elijah
7850 Makati Avenue, Makati City, (02) 802-1885
Aside from serving what is arguably the best hummus in town, this unassuming tiny restaurant on Makati Avenue also serves a wide array of Middle Eastern dishes that are perfect for this Lenten season. No meat is served here, but all the dishes are nonetheless delicious. Indulge in hearty falafels, sandwiches, egg dishes, and hummus served with different kinds of toppings. Hummus Elijah is open every day throughout Holy Week.
EASTER FEASTS
Poolside, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, (02) 832-6988
If you can’t spend Holy Week at a beachside resort, then the next best thing is to enjoy the resort-like atmosphere of Sofitel’s poolside, especially with the array of food carts in the swimming pool area. You can enjoy grilled offerings like burgers, hotdogs, corndogs, and Hungarian sausages. Or indulge in Filipino street fare favorites like pork ear barbecue, chicken barbecue inasal, turon, fishballs, kikiam, bibingka, and puto bumbong. Then stay cool with ice cream, halo-halo, popsicles, and refreshing drinks like coconut juice and lemonade. The food stalls at the poolside are available 12 noon to 7 pm from April 18 to 21, 2019.
The Garage, City of Dreams Manila
Asean Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard, Entertainment City, Parañaque, (02) 800-8080
Where do you bring the family where everyone can choose the food they want to eat, and the kids don’t get bored. The Garage at City of Dreams seems to check all the boxes as it combines a fun food park with an epic VR (virtual reality) zone. Choose from 10 curated food stands like Little Flour, El Chupacabra, Farmacy, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Pink’s, Katsu Sora, and Pizza Grigliata, plus homegrown concepts like Juiced, The Roaster, and Chocol8 (which offers handcrafted Easter chocolate bunnies and other confections).
On Easter Sunday, from 6 pm to 9 pm, The Garage hosts a night of awesome music by Pia Diamante and Jinky Vidal. For Php 990 per person, guests can avail of free-flowing drinks for three hours consisting of house red, white, and sparkling wines; San Miguel Pale and Light draught beer; chilled juices at The Bar; signature iced teas, and sodas.
Shangri-La at the Fort Manila
30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, (02) 395-3356
Shangri-La at The Fort is offering a special Easter staycation package called Boni The Bull’s Easter Escape, perfect for the entire family. The overnight package includes room accommodations and breakfast buffet for two persons at High Street Café. Plus, kids can enjoy the 1,000-square meter indoor playground called Adventure Zone while adults can take in a workout at the luxurious Kerry Sports gym and outdoor swimming pools. This package is available for stays from April 14 to 21, 2019.
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