There’s a Reason The Funny Lion Resort is the Top-Rated Resort in El Nido, Palawan

When you step inside your room at The Funny Lion El Nido, don’t be surprised if you find a photograph of yourself smiling back at you. Resort staff make it a point to personalize a welcome pack for guests—fresh coconut juice still in the shell, a chocolate brownie with a sign that says, “Welcome Home,” chilled fruit juices inside the mini fridge, and yes, a picture of yourself from your own social media account, printed and attached to the coconut.

The pool area at The Funny Lion El Nido

It's just one of many ways the resort elevates the experience for guests. El Nido is, of course, one of the top destinations for tourists wishing to take in the nearly unspoiled wonders of Palawan. Just 15 minutes from Lio Airport, The Funny Lion El Nido is the ideal base to explore the town’s riches. But don’t take my word for it—visit a review site like Tripadvisor and check out hundreds of glowing reviews from real guests.

“It’s the best place to stay in El Nido,” said Maraw B from a review just last February. “Val, Ember, Julie and the team were amazing and made the experience at the Funny Lion one of the best I have ever stayed at. They were so attentive and upbeat, responsive and super helpful and made our stay super comfortable and smooth. The location is perfect for exploring El Nido… the Funny Lion definitely tops it.”

Cub Room 

“Our stay at the Funny Lion was truly exceptional,” said Giovanna T from November 2024. “The wonderful staff went above and beyond to cater to our every need, with the lovely Val always greeting us with a warm smile. The facilities are modern and thoughtfully designed. We enjoyed the pool, spa, and gym, as well as the private (beach) accessible via a complimentary short boat ride offered multiple times a day. The location is perfect — close to the main strip of El Nido and the beach, yet far enough to provide a peaceful and quiet retreat.”

Papaya Beach

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There are many other reviews that pretty much say the same thing: what guests keep praising are exceptional staff and service, the resort’s location, clean and modern room design, pool and rooftop bar with sunset views, and the dining options at the all-day dining outlet Hunt.

The reviews mirror independent reviews from platforms like the Michelin Guide, which recently included The Funny Lion El Nido in its latest hotel and resorts listing.

Boodle fight spread at Hunt

“In the heart of El Nido town, The Funny Lion brings its signature brand of modern Filipino hospitality to one of the Philippines’ most cinematic coastal landscapes,” the Michelin Guide says about the Funny Lion El Nido. “This boutique resort balances design-forward comfort with easy access to the limestone cliffs, island lagoons, and white-sand beaches that have made Palawan world-famous.

“Beyond its location, what defines The Funny Lion El Nido is a sense of thoughtful detail—eco-minded amenities, warm local staff, and an atmosphere that’s both social and serene,” it adds. “Guests can spend their days island-hopping, diving, or simply lounging by the pool, returning each evening to one of the town’s most comfortable and stylish retreats.”

View of Papaya Beach

A Personalized Experience

With such excellent reviews, one can’t help but raise expectations for a personal, real-life visit to the resort. Thankfully, these astronomical hopes aren’t just met, they’re exceeded. Stepping into the open-air lobby, resort staff offered chilled drinks and an even cooler towel. They call guests by name seconds after welcoming them to the property, and it’s a recurring practice throughout the entire stay.

The room opens to a veranda overlooking the courtyard pool. The interiors strike a perfect balance: clean lines softened by natural wood textures, warm lighting, and details that echoed the surrounding sea and cliffs. Up at the rooftop, guests can sip cocktails with stunning panoramic views of the water, with limestone cliffs jutting out of the water, lending an almost unreal quality to the scenery.

Sunset Cocktails at Pride Rock

Well-appointed Pride Room

There’s a wealth of food options on the main commercial area just steps away from the resort, but there’s hardly a need to go out when some of the best cuisine on the island is right there. Hunt serves an eclectic mix of local and foreign favorites—salads, burgers, pastas, mains, and desserts that can satisfy most cravings.

Over dinner one evening, I chatted with Nilo Quizon, the resort manager under whose tenure the property achieved its Michelin Guide distinction. Quizon said it wasn’t uncommon for guests to keep coming back year after year, lured by the promise of rest and relaxation, with the option of going on a unique adventure.

Besides the usual island-hopping tours to explore best of El Nido, guests at The Funny Lion can also choose to hang back and lounge around in Papaya Beach, a fine white sand beach exclusive for resort guests. The resort arranges complimentary boat rides from the port—a short 10-minute cruise over calm waters that open into a hidden cove of soft white sand and turquoise shallows. Staff can even arrange a special bodle fight lunch beachside, weather-permitting.

Beekeeper tending to the house beehive

NikiBaker serves coffee and a selection of tasty breads and pastries

After a full day at the beach, there’s no better way to spend the rest of the afternoon than on a massage table at Sea Tree Spa, the resort’s signature spa located across the street from the main resort building. An hour-long massage will do wonders to further sink you into full relax mode.

In the same building, guests are free to visit an apiary, where staff harvest honey used in the kitchen and sold to whoever’s interested. The resort also recently opened a bakery—NikiBaker—that serves a selection of filling breads and pastries as well as coffees for anyone looking for a slowdown to their day.

The Funny Lion El Nido

It’s hard to disagree with the Michelin Guide when it said The Funny Lion combines “thoughtful detail, eco-minded amenities, and an atmosphere that’s both social and serene.” Immediately, all those stellar online reviews just make sense. After a few days there, it felt less like a hotel and more like a retreat for the senses, setting itself apart from many other resorts that stop at being just a place to spend the night.