Affordable fine-dining restaurants in Metro Manila
Fine-dining restaurants in Metro Manila and their full-course meals are notoriously pricey, which makes one wonder how couples pose with a different restaurant dish and wine glass on their IG stories every half hour.
But now, the secret’s out. If you want to be that fancy couple this Valentine’s szn, these restaurants serve three- to full-course fine-dining meals for a sulit price. So celebrate your love at these 14 fine-dining restaurants in Metro Manila without having to take out a small fortune.
Table of Contents
- Affordable fine-dining restaurants in Metro Manila
- 1. Restaurant 101 – P320 course meals served by Alain Ducasse Institute’s students
- 2. Mirèio – fine-dining at 5-star Hotel Raffles
- 3. Sala Bistro – brunch with unlimited Italian wine
- 4. Toyo Eatery – part of CNN’s 50 best restaurants in Asia for 2019
- 5. Ninyo Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge – dinner dates in gazebos
- 6. Umu Dusit Thani – course meals for Japanese food lovers
- 7. Metiz – indulge in your favorite dishes from Filipino cuisine
- 8. CRU Steakhouse – for vegans with meat lover friends
- 9. Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant- Swiss courses from P1,325
- 10. Tahanan Bistro – 5-course meals of favorite local dishes
- 11. Blackbird – country’s first commercial airport now a romantic dining restaurant
- 12. Lusso by Margarita Fores – comfort food with a twist
- 13. Ilustrado Restaurant – Filipino-Spanish fusion in Intramuros
- 14. Phoenix Court – fine-dining Chinese restaurant in a 5-star hotel
- Fine dining restaurants within budget around Manila
1. Restaurant 101 – P320 course meals served by Alain Ducasse Institute’s students
Image credit: @restaurant.101 via Instagram
We probably know of a celebrity or ten who studied in the renowned Enderun College, but what most don’t know is that the college runs one of the few fine-dining restaurants in Metro Manila that’s open for all to dine at. Restaurant 101 is operated by the college’s culinary center, Alain Ducasse Institute, which trains future chefs in the philosophies of Michelin star awardee Chef Alain Ducasse.
For lunch, you can get a prix fixe or set course meal from their A La Carte Menu at P320 (~USD6.34) for 2 courses and P400 (~USD7.93) for 3 courses. As the menu varies daily, you can ask your waiter for their recommendations of what’s new.
On the other hand, the course meals from their breakfast-inspired Market Menu are available any time of day, and include avocado toast, Spanish omelette, and duck and waffles. These come for P880 (~USD17.44) for 2 courses, P1,080 (~USD21.4) for 3 courses, and P1,280 (~USD25.37) for 4 courses.
Address: Enderun Colleges, 1100 Campus Avenue, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-2pm, 6pm-10pm (Closed Sundays)
Contact: (02) 8246 9069 | (02) 8856 5000 | 0917 874 3751 | Restaurant 101’s website
Email: [email protected]
Restaurant 101 Facebook | Instagram
2. Mirèio – fine-dining at 5-star Hotel Raffles
Image credit: @mireioatraffles via Instagram
Though this 5-star hotel restaurant is famous for being expensive, Hotel Raffles’ Mirèio still makes this list for their lunch course menus that are a good deal, at P1,100 (~USD21.80) for 2 courses and P1,240 (~USD24.57) for 3 courses.
The 3 courses include a starter, a main course, and a dessert, and the 2 courses let you choose a starter or dessert with your main course. Every course includes drinks, with an option of coffee, tea, and non-alcoholic beverages. With dishes such as gorgonzola croquettes, steak in béarnaise sauce, and desserts such as tarts and poached fruit, you’re sure to have a high-end dining experience.
Address: 9th Level, Hotel Raffles, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Ave, Makati City
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-10.30am, 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-10pm | Sat-Sun 6am-11am, 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-10pm
Contact: (02) 7795 1840 | Mirèio’s website
Email: [email protected]
3. Sala Bistro – brunch with unlimited Italian wine
Image credit: @salabistro via Instagram
Beat the V-Day dinner crowd at Sala Bistro, which can set you up with a brunch course meal instead. On weekdays, they serve a 3-course set meal for P740 (~USD14.67) from 11am to 2.30pm.
Couples celebrating on the weekend instead can try their weekend 2-course set meal for P790 (~USD15.66), or P1,550 (~USD30.72) if you want to add a free flow of Italian wine from 11am to 2pm.
Aside from those, they have 3-course menu sets available all day long, every day of the week, starting at P1,380 (~USD27.35), inclusive of an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Set meal dishes vary based on what’s fresh that day, so ask your waiter. Safe to say, it’ll come from the extensive menu of European food, from French quiches to chorizo-crusted lapu-lapu.
Address: Greenbelt 3, Legaspi Street, Makati City
Opening hours: 11am-11pm, Daily
Contact: (02) 7729 7500 | (02) 7729 4888 | (02) 894 2065 | 0917 821 7500 | Sala Bistro’s website
Email: [email protected]
4. Toyo Eatery – part of CNN’s 50 best restaurants in Asia for 2019
Bangsilog.
Image credit: @toyoeatery via Instagram
Featured on CNN’s Top 50 Asia’s Best Restaurants 2019 list, Toyo Eatery is the only Filipino restaurant that achieved this rank. Couples who are sticklers for quality when it comes to our country’s food will enjoy watching the chefs transform authentic Filipino cuisine with their skillful cooking and plating techniques.
The 5-course meal costs P1,600 (~USD31.71), which includes snacks, a kilaw appetizer of the day, two main dishes, and a dessert. Indulge in your favorite dishes with Filipino ingredients, from grilled bangus to dorado with mangoes and bagoong.
Address: Ground Floor, The Alley at Karrivin, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Avenue, Magallanes, Makati City
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 6pm-11.30pm (Closed Sundays & Mondays)
Contact: 0991 7720 8630 | Toyo Eatery’s website
Toyo Eatery Facebook | Instagram
5. Ninyo Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge – dinner dates in gazebos
Image credit: @businessandleisurestv via Instagram
Sticking to just one set meal can be daunting if you’re hesitant about any one dish on the menu, but with Ninyo Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge and their 4 different prix fixe menus, you’re more likely to find an entire course meal you’ll like.
For couples, this restaurant’s 6-course Paris menu for P3,000 (~USD59.45) serves 2 people, including oysters, soup or salad, grilled tiger prawns, US top blade, raspberry sorbet, panna cotta, and your choice of wine.
Couples with bigger appetites can pick the Ninyo Classics, a 6-course menu of their bestsellers such as US hanging tender steak, shiitake confit salad, and wasabi fried oyster for P1,200 (~USD23.78) per diner. Vegetarians can also choose the vegetarian menu at P1,250 (~USD24.77) per person, which swaps out the meats for tofu and vegetables such as pumpkin, eggplant, and beet.
Image credit: NINYO Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge via Facebook
The aesthetic won’t fail you either, as their rustic decor and wooden furniture make a romantic and intimate setting. Plus, you can reserve a gazebo and have it decorated with rose petals to surprise your lover on arrival.
Address: 66 Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am-2pm, 6pm-10pm (Closed Mondays)
Contact: (02) 8426 0301 | 0917 580 7928
NINYO Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge Facebook | Instagram
6. Umu Dusit Thani – course meals for Japanese food lovers
An assortment of sashimi, from the Otsukuri Gozen set menu.
Image credit: @felixthebrattt via Instagram
For couples whose date nights usually involve conveyor-belt sushi, take Valentine’s Day a step up at Dusit Thani Manila’s Umu restaurant. Here, you can spoil yourselves with any of 8 authentic Japanese set menus made with the finest ingredients. Set menus start at P1,350 (~USD26.75) for the Tempura Gozen meal with 7 dishes – an appetizer, 2 types of sashimi, assorted tempura, pickles, miso soup, and your choice of dessert.
Sushi fanatics can tuck into their Sushi Gozen, with 10 different types of sushi for P1,400 (~USD27.74) plus an appetizer, a salad, hot soba, and your choice of dessert.
Address: Lobby Level, Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Centre, San Lorenzo, Makati City
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm | Fri-Sat 12pm-2.30pm, 8.30pm-9.30pm | Sun 2pm-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm
Contact: (02) 7238 8888 | Dusit Thani’s website
Email: [email protected]
Dusit Thani Facebook | Instagram
7. Metiz – indulge in your favorite dishes from Filipino cuisine
Starter with grilled eggplant, ubod, pomelo, peanuts, pickles, and coconut dressing.
Image credit: @nolisoli.ph via Instagram
For those who love Filipino cuisine, you’ll love Metiz. Chef and owner Stephan Duhesme makes his Filipino dishes out of 100% local ingredients, putting an emphasis on vinegar and fermented elements which he believes sets our cuisine apart from others.
Adding modern cooking techniques and plating to traditional local food, he turns popular dishes such as lumpia, pata, and goto into a new experience even if you’ve had them a hundred times before.
The fine-dining menu consists of 5 courses for P1,500 (~USD29.73), inclusive of a salad, a soup or broth, an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert. The dishes depend on what’s in season, so you know you’ll be getting the freshest ingredients – simply phone to ask a little ahead of time.
Address: Ground Floor, Building A, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Magallanes, Makati City
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 6pm-11pm | Sat 12pm-3pm, 6pm-11.30pm (Closed Sundays & Mondays)
Contact: 0917 700 4109
Email: [email protected]
8. CRU Steakhouse – for vegans with meat lover friends
Beef cheeks, egg yolk gnocchi, garlic foam, and consommé.
Image credit: @johndecuisine via Instagram
If you’re the vegan half of a couple, stuck in a steakhouse because that’s where your partner wanted to eat, no worries. Despite being a steakhouse, CRU Steakhouse has options for you.
Their vegan 4-course meal comes at P1,500 (~USD29.73), with an amuse-bouche, a mushroom consommé, gnocchi for the main course, and coconut mojito ice pops for dessert.
Of course, for the steak-lover who wanted to go here in the first place, they also have course meals starting at P3,200 (~USD63.42) for 3 courses. It’s a little pricier, but for a special day like Valentine’s, it’s worth the slab-of-steak goodness.
Address: Ground Floor, Manila Marriott Hotel, 2 Resorts Drive, Pasay City
Opening hours: 6pm-10.30pm, Daily
Contact:(02) 8988 9992 | CRU Steakhouse’s website
CRU Steakhouse Facebook | Instagram
9. Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant- Swiss courses from P1,325
Chalet comes with this Swiss platter composed of homemade cheese, bread, pate, and smoked ham.
Image credit: @vieuxchaletphilippines via Instagram
People who don’t associate Swiss cuisine with a romantic dinner are missing out, and Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant is a prime example of the country’s love for fresh cheese and food platters.
They have 5 options under their Prefix Menu, the cheapest one being Marina, a 3-course meal for P1,325 (~USD26.26) which includes a soup or salad, a fish main course of your choice, and a dessert of your choice. You can also choose other menus such as the Chalet and the Swiss Family, which come with additions such as mini Swiss platters and fondue, starting at P1,670 (~USD33.10).
Image credit: @vieuxchaletphilippines via Instagram
With a view overlooking a tropical hill forest and Metro Manila’s skyline, you and your date will feel as if you’re dining on top of the world.
Address: 456 Taktak Road, Sitio Sampaguita, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Opening hours: Mon 10am-7.30pm | Tue 10.30am-6pm | Fri 10.30am-7pm | Sat 8am-7.30pm | Sun 8am-6pm (Closed Wednesdays & Thursdays)
Contact: (02) 697 0396
Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant Facebook | Instagram
10. Tahanan Bistro – 5-course meals of favorite local dishes
This Kamote dish from their Halcon set is made of sweet potato, chickpeas, lucban longganisa, mint salsa verde, and fresh, homemade ricotta.
Image credit: @tahananbistro via Instagram
If foreign cuisines and fine-dining experiences aren’t your partner’s thing, but you still want to bring them out for something special, Tahanan Bistro’s traditional Filipino cuisine will bring them comfort and familiarity.
Be it rellenong pusit (stuffed squid), danggit (salted, sun-dried rabbitfish), bistek (beef steak) or gising-gising (green bean and pork in coconut milk), they’ve got these local favorites in one of their three 5-course set meals for P1,350 (~USD26.75), inclusive of an appetizer, two mains, and two desserts.
For P1,600 (~USD31.71) and two-day advance notice, this is one of the few fine-dining restaurants in Manila that allows you to trade out the meats in the dishes with shrimp, fruits, and vegetables for their vegetarian and pescatarian diners.
Address: 22 Loresville Drive, Lores Farm Subdivision, San Roque, Upper Antipolo, Rizal
Opening hours: Fri-Sun 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm (Closed Mondays-Thursdays)
Contact: 0939 920 6015 | Tahanan Bistro’s website
Tahanan Bistro Facebook | Instagram
11. Blackbird – country’s first commercial airport now a romantic dining restaurant
Image adapted from: Blackbird at the Nielson Tower, Blackbird at the Nielson Tower via Facebook
Blackbird in Makati has gotten a lot of buzz since it opened. Not only because of the creative dishes, but also because of its location. ICYDK, Blackbird is located in none other than the former Nielson Tower which was built in the 1930s. It was the first commercial airport in the country before it was turned into the US Far East Air Force headquarters during World War II.
Now, in its place, is an aviation-inspired restaurant that serves Asian dishes that uses European cooking techniques. So if you love both cuisines, then you have the best of both worlds in eating here.
You can choose from a variety of dishes including grilled meat, seafood, and even curries. They range from P420-P3,480 (~USD7.65-USD63.38).
Address: Nielson Tower, Ayala Triangle, Makati
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily
Contact: (02) 8828 4888 | Blackbird’s website
Email: [email protected]
The Black Bird Facebook | Instagram
12. Lusso by Margarita Fores – comfort food with a twist
Luxe Fries with Truffle-Mushroom Cream and Prosciutto Galloni Gold & Gruyère Toast.
Image adapted from: LUSSO by Margarita Forés, LUSSO by Margarita Forés via Facebook
You may think that the dishes served in fine-dining restaurants are mostly deconstructed and formed into something more luxe and elegant-looking. While this holds true at times, Lusso by Margarita Fores in Makati is what you can call a mix of comfort and luxury. If that sounds awesome to you, then this is the place to go to.
Lusso offers comfort food dishes from fries to sandwiches to pasta and rice with a zing of luxurious elements such as truffle mushroom and caviar. Their dishes range from P350-P6,950 (~USD6.37-USD126.58) from solo plates to dishes for sharing.
The dishes may definitely look the part, but the taste can still make you feel at home.
Address: Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5, Legaspi Street, Makati
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 11am-9pm | Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Contact: (02) 7756 5893 | 0917 700 5893 | Lusso’s website
Email: [email protected]
Lusso by Margarita Fores Facebook | Instagram
13. Ilustrado Restaurant – Filipino-Spanish fusion in Intramuros
Ilustrado’s Main Dining Room.
Image credit: @ilustradorestaurant via Instagram
Ilustrado Restaurant, nestled within the historic walls of Intramuros, Manila, offers a captivating fine dining experience inspired by the rich culinary heritage of Filipino-Spanish cuisine. You can feel the Old Manila charm in the restaurant’s ambiance, with elegant interiors reminiscent of a bygone era.
Best-selling Twice-cooked Angus Shortplate with Mushroom Ragout.
Image credit: @ilustradorestaurant via Instagram
For tapas, you and your SO can indulge in Chorizo Rioja for P420 (~USD7.49) or Calamares Fritos for P350 (~USD6.24) both showcasing the vibrant flavors of Spanish cuisine. Moving on to mains, signature dishes, such as Twice-cooked Angus Shortplate with Mushroom Ragout (P850 ~USD15.17) and Paella Ilustrado (P990 ~USD17.67), a combination of chicken and seafood, boast exquisite flavors and expertly crafted presentations.
If you want to transport to the Maria Clara at Ibarra era for a while, this place is right up your alley. They also have a Hispanic Garden Courtyard for al fresco dining, while you look at the view of Intramuros.
Address: 744 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am-10pm | Sun 9am-6pm
Contact: 0939 920 6822
Ilustrado Restaurant Facebook | Instagram
14. Phoenix Court – fine-dining Chinese restaurant in a 5-star hotel
Baked Lobster with Szechuan Chili.
Image credit: The Bellevue Manila via Facebook
Whether you’re staying at a hotel or going for a romantic dinner, Phoenix Court inside the 5-star hotel The Bellevue Manila is perfect if you’re craving elevated Chinese food.
For ala carte dining, you can delight in their appetizer and soup selections, such as the Braised Winter Melon Soup with Crab Meat and Scallops (P220-P440 ~USD3.92-USD7.85). And the main event, signature dishes such as the Roasted Duck Hong Kong Style (P990 ~USD16.25) and the Deep-Fried Lapu-Lapu Fillet with Garlic Oyster Sauce (P860 ~USD15.35) showcase authentic Chinese flavors.
Another highlight of the dining experience in Phoenix Court is their Dimsum All-You-Can at P990+ (~USD16.25+) per person, where you can savor a wide selection of freshly-made dimsum and dumplings, complete with appetizers, main course, and desserts.
Address: 2/F Tower Wing, Bellevue Manila, 5139 North Bridgeway, Filinvest, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Opening hours: Lunch – 11:00pm-2:30pm & Dinner – 6:00pm-10:00pm daily
Contact: 0917 622 5757 | Phoenix Court’s website
Email: [email protected]
Bellevue Manila’s Facebook | Instagram
Fine dining restaurants within budget around Manila
Most of us balk at the mention of fine-dining restaurants and full-course meals in Metro Manila, not just because using a dozen utensils sounds confusing, but also because of how expensive it might be.
But look hard enough in the metro, and you’ll find that having an appetizer, main course, and dessert set course can be cheaper than getting dishes individually for a Valentine’s treat nicely within budget.
For more food spots to visit, check out these Manila restaurants & cafes and celebrity-owned restaurants. And if you’re still looking for a last-minute V-Day gift, here are gift ideas that will still wow your SO.
Cover image adapted from: @onebaletecompound, @ninyofusion and @tahananbistro via Instagram
Article originally published by Hazel Lumbre on 13 Feb 2020. Updated by Jaya Fanoga on 27 July 2023. Last updated by Gly Parañal on 15 Feb 2024.
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