Iloilo City may not be as popular as Boracay or Palawan when it comes to domestic tourism, but when the city was awarded by UNESCO as the first and only City of Gastronomy in the Philippines in 2023, several food vloggers started to flock to the city, which introduced it to local travelers.
I’ve been to Iloilo City several times and even witnessed one of the best festivals in the country, the Dinagyang Festival. I must admit, though, that all of these visits weren’t intentional, like when I went to the city and made it a jump-off point to Antique, Guimaras, and even Boracay. It was only during my last six-day Iloilo trip that I truly got to experience the best of what the city has to offer.
| ILOILO CULTURE AND FOOD TRIP TABLE OF CONTENTS |
We visited Iloilo City in June of 2025, for our annual family backpacking trip, Moshi Moshi Gid 2025. We just came back from a twelve-day trip to Fukuoka in Japan and headed straight to the city for six days. We then went to Guimaras and Capiz afterwards.
Immediately, we noticed how walkable and clean the city was. We tried both old and new food spots and got reacquainted with the country's City of Love. There were parks, museums, and the almost ten-kilometer river esplanade, which the city is currently extending for up to 25 kilometers. In spite of all of these developments, what I love most about Iloilo City is the warmth of the Ilonggos, the beautiful tone of their Hiligaynon language, and their gentleness as city dwellers. We never felt that we weren’t welcome, and they would go out of their way to help us.
Days Hotel Iloilo was our home in the city proper, and it became the perfect basecamp for our cultural and gastronomic adventures. Our friend, Marcos of Detourista, was also helpful during our stay. There are many things to do in Iloilo City, but we specifically chose to visit as many as possible, including churches, museums, and food spots in and around Iloilo.
ILOILO CHURCHES
1. JARO CATHEDRAL
Formal Name: Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles
Address: Jaro Plaza, Iloilo City
2. LA PAZ CHURCH
Formal Name: Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish Church
Address: Jereos St., La Paz, Iloilo City
3. SAN JOSE CHURCH
Formal Name: San Jose Placer Parish Church
Address: Calasanz St., Iloilo City Proper
4. MOLO CHURCH
Formal Name: St. Anne Parish Church
Address: San Marcos St., Molo, Iloilo City
ILOILO MUSEUMS
1. U.P. VISAYAS MUSEUM OF ART AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
One of my favorites. There were no museum guards, and we're free to stay as long as we wanted. I love the gallery where they feature the artworks of the Ilonggos.
Address: Ybernas Street, Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Opening Hours: Monday to Friday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
2. NHCP (NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES) MUSEUM OF PHILIPPINE MARITIME HISTORY
One of our favorites as well. The building itself architecturally beautiful. We learned so much about the maritime history of the Philippines.
Address: Iloilo Customs House (Aduana), Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
3. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM—WESTERN VISAYAS
The structure is, yet again, a historical and architectural artifact. We learned so much about the region's natural and cultural history.
Address: Former Iloilo Provincial Jail, Provincial Capitol Complex, Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
4. BRANDY MUSEUM
Surprisingly, we enjoyed our visit here as we got to understand the process and history of alcohol-making in the country.
Address: Casa de Emperador Bldg., Festive Walk Mall, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday | 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM • Saturday to Sunday | 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
5. ILOILO MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (ILOMOCA)
We only got to visit the free-entry area on the first level.
Address: Casa de Emperador Bldg., Festive Walk Mall, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entrance Fee: ₱150 – regular | ₱100 – students/senior citizens | ₱120 – PWD
6. MUSEO ILOILO
We took a peek from the door and realized we could see everything from the outside so we didn't bother to get in.
Address: Provincial Capitol Complex, Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Entrance Fee: ₱50 – regular | ₱20 – students/PWD/senior citizens
7. NHCP (NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES) MUSEUM OF PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC HISTORY
This is interesting as we got to see how trade and commerce flourished in Iloilo City and other parts of the country.
Address: J.M. Basa St., Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
8. MOLO MANSION
An old mansion that's open to the public. It's owned by SM, and the first level is dedicated to a Kultura shop. There were several food shops and cafes around, plus they have acoustic singers playing in the afternoons. A cool hangout place.
Address: Locsin St., Molo, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday | 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM • Sunday | 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
ILOILO FOOD SPOTS
1. BREAKTHROUGH RESTAURANT
Sa dami ng order namin eh na-overwhelm ako. Masarap lahat. Paborito ni Akira ang crispy crablets na ₱125. Mabait ang mga staff. Medyo matagal lang mag order kasi Sunday at maraming tao.
Address: Villa Arevalo District, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
2. ALICIA’S BATCHOY
Masarap and malaki ang servings. May unli-soup pa for batchoy na on the sweeter side. Mababait din ang staff. Masarap din na kasabay ang puto nila.
Address: Washington St., Jaro, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM
3. NETONG’S ORIGINAL LA PAZ BATCHOY
₱130 for extra-large batchoy. Yummy, like before. Hindi matamis, hindi rin ma-vetsin. Masungit lang ang mga ate.
Address: Public Market, La Paz, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
4. MADGE CAFÉ
₱70 for a brewed coffee. Still good. Friendly pa rin ang mga staff.
Address: Public Market, La Paz, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday | 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM • Monday | 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM • Sunday | 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM
5. ONDOY’S SUGBAHAN
₱550 ang 500 grams of Buttered Garlic Prawns. Sobrang sulit. Masarap. Mabait ang staff. Also, my first time to try Ilonggo’s stew or KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, and Langka). Okay naman.
Address: Taft St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
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6. SA POSTE
Cool hangout spot with several food stalls, but we chose to stay at Sa Poste. Free acoustic singers sa Molo Mansion. Friendly staff.
Address: Molo Mansion, Molo, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday | 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM • Saturday to Sunday | 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
7. POPOY’S ORIGINAL BATCHOY
Parang ma-vetsin masyado ang batchoy.
Address: Central Market, Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
8. BEIGE EATERY
Pinasikat ni Erwan. Overpriced carinderia na may view ng Guimaras. Maliliit ang servings. Sakto lang for me.
Address: Gen. Hughes St., Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
9. COFFEEBREAK NXT MEGAWORLD
Okay ang cakes, hindi masyadong matamis (matanda na talaga kami).
Address: Two Global Center, Megaworld Blvd., Iloilo City
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 24 hours
10. ROBERTO’S
Mahaba lagi ang pila kaya nag take-out na lang kami. Okay ang meatballs at siopao. Pero hindi yung mapapa “wow” ka talaga. Medyo nasubukan na kasi namin ang best siopaos around metro manila before.
Address: J.M. Basa St., Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday | 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
11. JO’S CHICKEN INATO
Sakto lang. Dry ang chicken. Mas gusto daw ni Akira ang Mang Inasal. May na-try na rin kami nito dati sa Tacloban, see our Tacloban Food Trip.
Address: Quezon St., Iloilo City Proper
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM
CAN I SAY MORE?
We will definitely go back to Iloilo City! Hopefully soon :)
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