I have visited Bacolod twice in recent years. Both trips were quick, and I only had little time to fully appreciate the city’s vibe. Also, at the time, I wasn’t very interested in exploring the local cuisine and tended to stick to familiar foods. 

I revisited the city of smiles before the holy week of 2023 with my best friend to meet a friend. We met Bert while traveling in Siargao in 2016. My best friend and I stayed connected even though we had not seen him for many years. So it was a pleasant experience to see him again finally. He was based there and became our best personal tour guide.

Right after the airport, we headed straight to lunch. I finally got to taste cansi for the first time.

Can you believe it? I had never known anything about it after a few friends visited Bacolod and shared it on social media. 

We also ordered jackfruit salad and beef steak, and they were super good. There was a distinct taste that I loved so much.

Here are my most recommended cafes and restaurants to visit in Bacolod.

Casita De Val

This restaurant offers a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Villamonte Street

I was surprised to see a lot of local restaurants offering super affordable barako coffee. Our friend told us that the area gets so busy when it’s NBA season or some significant sports events are happening.

Esquinita

We had a relaxing evening and enjoyed some delicious food. We ordered mozzarella cheese sticks and the delicious chicken skin with Red Horse beer.

Timplada

Experience Filipino cuisine with a contemporary twist. This restaurant had a nice plating for the foods that they served. It was a unique experience.

_______________________________

Want to support this blog?

You can buy me a coffee here.