Lagoons, Mansions, Batchoy: What to Do, See, and Eat in Iloilo City
Big things are brewing down south in Iloilo. With the recent urban development of this Visayan destination, Iloilo City has become a place where town meets country. Pristine beaches, contemporary structures, and old-world architecture all co-exist in one place. Thinking of paying a visit? Here's a handy guide on what you can include in your itinerary
What to See
Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art
View this post on Instagram
Iloilo’s first and only museum for contemporary art in the city, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) opened in 2018 and has since housed and highlighted artwork by locals of the Visayas and Mindanao. The game-changing three-story museum contains five exhibition spaces and a museum shop. Exhibits are a mix of rotating shows and permanent collections.
Casa de Emperador Building, Festive Walk Parade, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo
Jaro Cathedral
View this post on Instagram
If your stay permits you to visit just one historic place of worship, then make it the Jaro Cathedral. The structure was built in 1864 and is best known for its Baroque features. Inside, a hauntingly beautiful collection of statues of religious figures line the walls. One such figure is the Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, who allegedly grants miracles.
A bonus to this visit is the best-selling Balasan-style
Molo Mansion
View this post on Instagram
This stately home was built in the 1920s and belonged to Doña Petra Lacson, wife of Estanislao
What to Do
Visit the Trappist Monastery in Guimaras
View this post on Instagram
While famous for its mangoes,
Escape to the islands of Gigantes
View this post on Instagram
A three-hour drive and a short boat ride away from Iloilo City awaits the unspoiled beauty of the Gigantes Islands. This remote destination is paradise to adventure-seekers and they have a world to explore. Sandbars, lagoons, beaches, and climbing spots lay hidden among this group of islands.
Take a heritage tour
View this post on Instagram
The city is teeming with heritage houses and age-old structures that are surprisingly well-preserved. Some of these architectural marvels have been incorporated into the city’s modern pulse, bringing life to business opportunities and tourist attractions. There’s the palatial Nelly’s Garden owned by Don Vicente Lopez and his family, Casa Mariquit, the former residence of vice president Fernando Lopez, and the Magdalena Jalandoni Mansion, which is now a museum. Luckily, a few agencies offer tours around the heritage block.
Where to Eat
Farm to Table
View this post on Instagram
A relative newcomer to the Iloilo dining scene, Farm to Table is the brainchild of chef Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing. She makes it a point to work exclusively with ingredients she can source within close proximity of her restaurant, and this results to innovative dishes unique to Farm to table.
Netong’s La Paz Batchoy
View this post on Instagram
The city is home to what is arguably the most prized
Breakthrough Seafood
View this post on Instagram
Iloilo is also widely known for affordable and fresh seafood and for many, the seaside restaurant Breakthrough has become a dining institution. You mustn’t leave without trying the baked scallops, sizzling crabmeat, or your choice of crabs sautéed in butter and garlic.
Camiña Balay Nga Bato
View this post on Instagram
History and food converge at the Camiña Balay Nga Bato, a 150-year-old house converted into a restaurant. The ground floor is dedicated to souvenirs and the sale of homemade goods, while one floor up, you have the living room and the dining area. It’s here that you get to try traditional Ilonggo recipes that stay true to form. Recommended orders include the
20 Osmeña Street, Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo
When to Go
View this post on Instagram
Where to Stay
Richmonde Hotel
Situated at the heart of Megaworld’s business hub, the
BOOK: Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Megaworld Boulevard corner Enterprise Road, Iloilo Business Park, Iloilo
