Food and Sunsets in Boracay
Part of the Boracay travel guide — see every topic in All Boracay Guides.
Boracay has a wide range of food, from simple Filipino dishes to international restaurants. Fresh seafood is the highlight. The island is also famous for its sunsets, which bring everyone to the beach in the late afternoon. This guide covers what to eat, how the seafood market works and where to watch the sun go down.
The seafood market
Near Station 2 is a public market, often called D'Talipapa. Here you can buy fresh fish, prawns, crabs, squid and shellfish by weight. You then take your seafood to one of the small restaurants nearby, which will cook it for a fee. This style is called paluto, which means "cook for me". You can choose how it is cooked, such as grilled, steamed or with garlic and butter. Ask for prices before you buy, and check the cooking fee first. It is a fun and fresh way to eat.
Filipino dishes to try
Many restaurants serve classic Filipino food. Try chicken or pork adobo, cooked in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic. Sinigang is a sour soup, often made with tamarind and pork or prawns. Kinilaw is fresh raw fish "cooked" in vinegar or citrus, similar to ceviche. Grilled pork skewers and chicken inasal are popular street foods. Rice comes with almost every meal. For a cheaper meal, look for small local eateries, called carinderias, where the dishes are shown in pots and you point to choose.
Fruit, shakes and sweets
Philippine mangoes are sweet and soft, and you will see mango shakes on every menu. Fresh fruit shakes, such as banana, pineapple and watermelon, are cheap and refreshing. Halo-halo is a popular dessert of shaved ice with milk, sweet beans, fruit, jelly and ice cream on top. Calamansi, a small local citrus fruit, is used in juices and cakes. Boracay is also known for its calamansi muffins, sold at a well-known cafe on the island. Try them with a coffee in the morning.
Watching the sunset
White Beach faces west, so you can watch the sunset from almost anywhere along the sand. Station 1 and Station 2 are the busiest areas at sunset, with paraw boats sailing in front of the sun. For a quieter view, walk to Diniwid Beach or the southern end of Station 3. For a view from above, go up Mount Luho, the highest point on the island, though it is better in the day. The sunset is usually best from about November to May, when the sky is clear.
Evenings and tips
After sunset, the beach path fills with restaurants setting up tables on the sand. Many have live music. Drinking and smoking on the beach itself are restricted, so follow the signs. Prices on White Beach are higher than on the main road behind it. Look for menus with prices shown before you sit down. Tap water is not usually safe to drink, so use filtered or bottled water. Many places accept cards, but bring cash for markets and small eateries.
Food and Sunsets at a glance
| Getting there | Seafood market near Station 2; restaurants along all of White Beach |
|---|---|
| Hours | Most restaurants open from morning to late evening |
| Cost | Local eateries are cheap; beachfront restaurants cost more |
| Best time | Sunset is usually clearest from about November to May |
| Tip | Check the cooking fee before you buy seafood at the market |