Culinary Gem - Alona Beach, Panglao Island

I recently traveled to Panglao Island for a relaxing holiday on the white sands of Alona Beach. My expectations were high because I had spoken to several friends who had favorably compared Alona Beach to Boracay. They told me that Alona Beach had the same ambiance without the crowds, and with much better diving.

They were right!

For me, Alona Beach is a little slice of paradise. There are hotels and resorts to suit any budget, outstanding diving and recreational facilities, competent tour guides, and even a tarsier sanctuary all in the Alona Beach area. The beach itself is stunning. White sand, gentle breeze, and smiling faces.

But, having traveled extensively in the Philippines I was still concerned about one thing… Food. So many times I have visited lovely places only to find the food sub-par.

I am happy to report this is NOT the case for Alona Beach. In fact, Alona is actually a culinary wonderland. If you like good food, you will not be disappointed in Alona Beach. There are just a lot of outstanding places to eat. Here are a few of my favorites.

Giuseppe’s - Fabulous Italian Restaurant. While they serve oven-fired pizza (and trust me it’s tasty), they are far more than just a pizzeria. They have fresh lasagna and many other authentic Italian dishes. Their portions are very generous and the staff is extremely attentive.

L'elephant Bleu - French food extraordinaire. A lovely, reasonably priced, menu of French and local foods. Delicious breakfasts and freshly baked croissants. Excellent wines and friendly staff. In addition they have four beautifully appointed rooms available for rent at very fair prices.

Roderick & Vivien Seafoods - Hands down the best seafood on the beach. You choose it, and they barbeque it up while you enjoy a beverage on the white sand beach by candlelight. Their seafood is very fresh and their selection is amazing.

Alona Burger - Alona Burger shares the beach with Roderick & Vivien so if you’re in the mood for a truly authentic American-style cheeseburger and fries, while chillin' on the sand, this is the spot. The burgers are the best I have ever tasted in the Philippines, period. They also have hot dogs and sausage dogs.

CU Restaurant - Fresh International Cuisine, a wonderful salad bar, a freshly baked complimentary breadbasket that is truly a meal itself, and very well trained staff.

Jugalis Bistro - Casual but elegant. I ordered the surf and turf and it was not only huge, it was delicious. Lovely tableside salad service and delicious espresso to cap of the meal.

Helmut’s Place Bar and Restaurant - First off, Helmut’s Place is a fun place to hang out. Great music, sweet girls bartending and a nice pool table. But also one of the only places that features late night food. Not just ordinary pub grub either. A large variety of everything from a sub-type sandwich to chicken cordon blue

So there you have it.. Plenty of choices to satisfy your palate and put a smile on your face. Hope you enjoy Alona Beach as much as I do.