10 Manila Restaurants With Tasting Menus For Wining & Dining Your Date

Romance is in the air! And if you’re like us, one of your love languages is probably good food and wine. Luckily, there’s a thriving fine-dining scene in Manila that’s primed for wooing. Tasting menus allow couples to dive into a tantalising culinary adventure and sample the very best that top chefs and renowned establishments have to offer. Plus, these dining spots will usually offer impeccable interiors worthy of an anniversary, Valentine’s date, or perhaps even popping the question. 

Read on for our roundup of Manila restaurants with tasting menus for your next extra-special date night.

Also read: 10 Airbnb Wedding Venues For Your Intimate Celebration

Best restaurants with tasting menus in Metro Manila

1. Gallery by Chele

Helmed by Spanish-born chef Chele Gonzalez, Gallery by Chele has long topped best restaurant lists in Metro Manila. And so, few places are better for a gourmand couple to celebrate their budding relationship.

Inspired by the natural world, this fine dining restaurant masterfully reimagines Filipino dining with its six- and ten-course degustation menus. Either option showcases the best of the Philippines and Southeast Asia cuisine, blending traditional cooking methods with modern innovations. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available, as well as cocktail and wine pairing additions.

Address: 5/F Clipp Center, 11th Avenue corner 39th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

2. Helm by Josh Boutwood

If it’s an intimate dining experience you’re seeking, then Helm is one of the restaurants with tasting menus that should be on your hit list. Most gourmands will find it easy to fall in love in this 10-seat restaurant. Whether you’ll fall in love with your date, the food, or the talented chef preparing exquisite food right in front of you, we’re not quite sure. New tasting menus launch seasonally, so diners can come back regularly for a different experience.

Address: G/F The Plaza, Arya Residences, McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

3. Toyo Eatery

Gourmands in Manila definitely have a love affair with Toyo Eatery, a proudly Filipino restaurant that aims to showcase local flavours with originality, vision, and refinement. Get the tasting menu to sample local dishes and classic ingredients like you’ve never had them before. 

Don’t let the purposefully laidback name fool you; this restaurant is as sophisticated and swoon-worthy as they come. Sleek and modern interiors at Toyo create a memorable space to celebrate a special occasion with a loved one.

Address: The Alley at Karrivin Plaza, Chino Roces Extension, Makati

Also read: 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Makati For a Lavish Weekend Vacation

4. Nobu

Make your special someone feel like a VIP at Nobu at the City of Dreams. Open-air cabanas set the stage for intimate dates, whether you’re on a first date testing the waters or a long-term couple taking the relationship to the next level.

This fine-dining restaurant is world-renowned for its exquisitely prepared Japanese fare. So, if your partner appreciates refined Asian cuisine, you won’t go wrong with Nobu. Ala carte dishes are available, but foodies must try the multi-course omakase menu for a taste of Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s most exceptional creations.

Address: Level 1 Nobu North Tower, Aseana Ave, Parañaque

5. Caviar Restaurant

Channel the fancy spirit of the French at Caviar Restaurant and Champagne Bar, a modern European restaurant that’s as elegant as it sounds. For anyone looking to make their partner swoon, this is one of Manila’s top restaurants with tasting menus that will deliver impeccable food. As the name suggests, it offers a fine selection of caviar, as well as a degustation menu that highlights signature French-inspired dishes. 

Address: Westgate Center Alabang–Zapote Rd, Alabang, Muntinlupa

6.  Mecha Uma

Metro folks trying to woo their dates can count on an impressive dining experience at Mecha Uma. Housed in a cosy yet beautifully designed space in Taguig, it definitely has the swanky ambience you want on a special occasion.

Although the modern Japanese restaurant offers ala carte options, foodies will enjoy the creative and flavourful omakase-style tasting menu. Chef Bruce Ricketts and his fellow chefs prepare the Japanese fusion dishes in an open kitchen, a graceful performance that’s almost as much of a draw in Mecha Uma as the food.

Address: G/F RCBC Savings Bank Corporate Center, 25th St, Taguig

7. Metiz

A low-key yet lovely spot in Makati, Metiz must not be missed by any gourmand exploring different restaurants with tasting menus in the metro. The little fine-dining gem is low-lit and romantic, with a prix fixe (fixed price) five-course menu that puts the spotlight on artfully made Filipino food. Think: modern kakanin, pansit, and puso ng saging. Delicious cocktails start off the meal, kicking off every date on a good note.

Address: G/F Karrivin Plaza Building A, Chino Roces Ave. Extension, Makati

8. Champagne Room

If your idea of romance involves old-world Filipino glamour, lavish décor, and stunningly plated food, then Champagne Room is worth a peek. Everything about it adds to the luxe experience, including the degustation menus that highlight European-inspired cuisine. The Champagne Room sits in the lobby of Manila Hotel, so couples who don’t want to go home just yet can book a room at the five-star hotel.

Address: Manila Hotel Lobby, 1 Roxas Boulevard One Rizal Park, Manila

Also read: 12 Heritage Hotels in the Philippines That Transport You Back in Time

9. Ninyo Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge

Quezon City couples who don’t want to drive all the way south will love discovering Ninyo Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge. This dining spot creates an intimate atmosphere for date night, complete with candlelight, rose petals, and a love lock wall in the lush garden. Bring a padlock to hang your own on the wall as a romantic gesture of love and commitment — only if you mean it, of course!

If your heart is set on restaurants with tasting menus, then you’ll get your pick of a couple at Ninyo Fusion Cuisine. Keep an eye out on special occasions like Valentine’s Day for newly launched degustation courses. Additionally, an impressive selection of wine provides plenty of options for toasting your budding romance.

Address: 66 Esteban Abada St., Quezon City

10. Hapag Private Dining

Hapag Private Dining promises the luxury of good food sans the stiffness of many first-rate restaurants with tasting menus. Natural hues, Filipino materials, and local paintings keep the modern space warm and cosy, while the open kitchen adds movement and vibrance to the tranquil room. 

Hapag’s tasting menus invite diners to a celebration of contemporary Filipino food. Take your date on a nostalgic trip as you savour elevated versions of your childhood favourites like bistek, champorado, and even Jollibee palabok.

Address: 201 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

Also read: 10 Airbnbs in Quezon City for Stress-Free Staycations

Ready to wine and dine on your date? If the way to someone’s heart is their stomach, then you won’t go wrong by taking your Valentine to one of these restaurants with tasting menus in Metro Manila. 

Featured image credit: Nobu Restaurant Manila | Facebook