Enjoying yourself Philippines
Timetable Philippines
In tourist areas, most restaurants are open 7 days a week, and reservations are not required (unless you're traveling in a group). Filipinos are wont to say that they eat "only once a day": that is, they start at breakfast and don't stop until evening, as they snack a lot, grab a snack or two at the sari-sari, or stop at the street-food stalls. In fact, your meals will be taken a little earlier than in France: between 6.30 and 8 a.m. for breakfast, 12 and 1 p.m. for lunch and 6 and 7 p.m. for dinner. Most guesthouses and hotels with their own restaurants close their kitchens at around 8pm-9pm.
Budget & Tips Philippines
Cash is accepted everywhere, except in luxury hotels and restaurants where credit cards are accepted. Food is generally cheap. If you want to eat for next to nothing, you'll have to head for street food stalls or small local kiosks. Philippine food is logically less expensive than Western food. However, it's not very varied, and after a few days you may well tire of it, in which case you should know that the Filipinos are renowned for their know-how in terms of Western cuisine, which they produce very well.
Some guide prices: a coffee from 20 to 80 PHP; a meal in the street from 50 to 100 PHP; a meal in a restaurant from 150 to 600 PHP.
What costs extra Philippines
A carafe of drinking water is offered free of charge in restaurants and cafés(service water). The 12% service charge is not necessarily included in the price on the menu; it will be added at the time of the bill. The practice of tipping is a little vague. Filipinos will tell you that there are two types of tip: the one you give when the service you're paying for is more than you expected, in which case you can give around 10-15%, and the one you give out of pity... no need to elaborate. Some small cafés and restaurants have a tip box on the counter where you can leave a tip. In practice, you can always round up and leave change when you pay.
The local way Philippines
Generally speaking, you don't travel to the Philippines for the local cuisine, which is not the most refined and rather monotonous: fast food, chicken, pork and rice. However, for adventurous travellers, street-food is a must-try: you'll find it everywhere in the cities and along the roads. Meat skewers, sticky rice and coconut(puto) specialties, frog legs, sweet potato or caramelized banana fritters... there's plenty to do and it's very cheap too.
As far as cutlery is concerned, there are no chopsticks here, even though this is Asia, albeit in a Catholic country. On the other hand, there is one specificity about cutlery: the general absence of knives. This is rather curious in a country where people eat meat or fish at every meal. No, there are no knives here, just forks and spoons. All the Filipinos we asked thought it was funny, but didn't really have an explanation: it's just the way it is. Either you eat with your fingers or with a fork and spoon. Besides, Filipino cuisine isn't particularly spicy or hot. And they eat a lot of meat (chicken and pork). In fact, vegetarianism seems to be a misunderstood oddity. If you're a vegetarian, however, there are plenty of addresses throughout this guide, but overall, it's not the most veggie-friendly country.
To be avoided Philippines
Hygiene conditions are not always respected (especially for street food) and it's sometimes surprising to see fresh meat or fish sitting on tables in the sun and heat. Avoid these places if you have a weak stomach.
Tap water is undrinkable in the Philippines, so don't fill your bottles or water bottles with it. Restaurants and hotels have water fountains or filtering systems. As a reminder, water is a traveller's main enemy. Statistically, 1 out of every 2 travellers is affected by turista within the first 48 hours, and 80% of travel-related illnesses are directly attributable to contaminated water. So stick to bottled water, or at best water fountains in your accommodation. Another good tip: disinfectant tablets are available. Nothing could be simpler: one tablet in your flask or liter bottle and you're safe for your trek, or simply for brushing your teeth or drinking a little water in the middle of the night, or even for washing your fruit.
Smokers Philippines
It is forbidden to smoke in restaurants. On the terrace, it is often forbidden too, but in practice, it is more random. The presence of an ashtray is a good indicator. If not, ask.
Tourist traps Philippines
Nothing to report. Often the prices of food and drinks are indicated and if it is not the case, it is not the practice of Filipinos to inflate their prices because you are a tourist.
Take a break Philippines
Timetable Philippines
Most cafes and coffee shops are open daily between 7am and 10pm.
Bars are generally open every day from 5pm to 2am or later.
Happy hours exist in the big cities like Manila, Cebu or Davao. It is usually from 4 or 5 pm to 7 or 8 pm.
Budget & Tips Philippines
For a coffee (Americano), count between 50 and 150 PHP. They are served in cafes and coffee shops. If you have a coffee in a sari-sari or street-food stand, it will cost you 20 PHP but these are powdered coffees and be aware that if you order a blackcoffee, you will probably receive a coffee full of milk and sugar.
For beers, the Philippines has some well known local beers like San Miguel or Red Horse. In a bar, count between 60 and 120 PHP. For imported beers like Corona or Heineken, count a little more. For the little anecdote, the Belgian beer Stella Artois is very appreciated by the golden youth of Manila and is reputed to be expensive (count more than 150 PHP), whereas in Belgium, it is the low-end beer par excellence.
Payments are made in cash and sometimes the 12% service charge must be added to the price indicated. Tipping is not mandatory but always appreciated.
Age restrictions Philippines
The legal drinking age is 18. It is of course illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol and prohibited to drink on public roads. During election periods, the sale of alcohol is prohibited.
What's very local Philippines
A very common practice in the Philippines is to serve bottles of beer or other beverages covered with a piece of handkerchief or paper towel. This allows the customer to remove any dust or impurities from the neck of the bottle, thus avoiding the risk of contamination.
Bars and cafés abound in the cities, but on the islands and in more remote areas, the custom is to buy your drinks in a sari-sari (small stalls you see everywhere) and drink them on the beach, for example.
Smokers Philippines
Smoking laws in the Philippines are very strict. Smoking is prohibited in public areas, cafes and restaurants. In practice, some establishments are allowed to provide a smoking area or terrace. Just ask or look for ashtrays.
