Whenever a tourist is at bay, Tacloban restaurants are found glimmering, too eager to offer what they have in store. Dining in this wonderful Visayan city is almost a gastronomical adventure as it is in other parts of the country. Tacloban restaurants offer anything from local delicacies to foreign cuisines, giving tourists an easier time choosing, or not?
Ayo Café – This coffee shop, which is a little bit out of the way from downtown Tacloban combines good food with a good atmosphere creating an all around pleasant dining experience. The cuisine is built up with a combination of Japanese and other international flavors. Pasta, salads, sandwiches, waffles, omelets, and a wide selection of beverages, hot and cold, are offered widely. And oh, it is also a must-visit for anyone considering its stock of coke in cans from all over the world an eye-pleasing sight. [#5 JCO Arcade, Apitong Road, Tacloban City; (6353) 325 4461]
Felisa’s Café and Restaurant – This is one of the few Tacloban restaurants that went through the wear-and-tear. It serves tried and tested recipes that have been pleasing the palate of many for long. A serving of local delicacy binagol and a refreshing glass of halo-halo is considered heaven. [Justice Romualdez St., Tacloban City]
San Pedro By Seafoods – If you want to eat your seafood fresh, there’s no better choice within Tacloban than this. You will have your meal caught off the by fronting the resto so you’ll know that it’s truly fresh. [Leyte Park, Tacloban City; (6353) 325 6000]
Calle Zaragosa – This is the favorite hangout for the younger generation when nighttime comes. It serves international and local dishes served against a lid-back ambience. Grilled comfort foods are quite popular among the regular patrons of this restaurant. [www.callezaragosa.com; frontdesk@callezaragosa.com; #39 Independencia St., Tacloban City; (6353) 325 8582; (6353) 321 3197]
Fil-India Restaurant – If you re craving for Indian food but want to keep Filipino dishes at bay, it is advisable that you check out this Tacloban restaurant. It serves rich, spicy dishes that are more for the adventurous palate. [Coca-Cola Rotunda, Tacloban City]
Ocho Seafood and Grill – This seafood restaurant serves mouth-watering dishes that are delivered fresh. Guests are asked to choose from a wide variety of seafood they have on the cooler and how they like them to be cooked. After 10 to 15 minutes, the dish is served. Grilled meals are quite popular, including grilled meat. [Sen. Enage St., Baranggay 54, Tacloban City; (6353) 325 4171, (6353) 523 8808]
Guiseppe's Italian Restaurant – If you crave for authentic Italian dishes, there’s no better place to be than this. It serves the whole lot – pasta, salad, pizza, and so much more. [www.giuseppesresto.com; jbona123@yahoo.com; 173 Avenida Veteranos, Tacloban City; (6353) 321 4910, (6353) 327 0832]
Amazingly, Tacloban is one of the cities in the Philippines that has the lowest poverty rate and is considered highly urbanized. Tacloban hotels that are right in the center of the city are easy to find so that everything is accessible during one’s visit.
Found on P. Zamora Street right in Tacloban City, the Asia Stars Hotel is a good option when it comes to accommodation for families. Aside from its convenient location, this Tacloban hotel is not just near the airport but it is right in the center of the business district of Tacloban City. If one needs to go to the bank, find a restaurant, go to the mall or find a place to take the kids to, these are just a stone’s throw away from the Asia Stars Hotel and one has the option of taking the public transportation or arranging transportation with the hotel. The staff of Asia Stars Hotel always has friendly smiles and speaks both English and Filipino very well. The rooms at this Tacloban hotel are also moderately priced, the executive suite complete with its king sized bed, cable television and a small receiving area is only Php 1,700 per night. Each room at the Asia Stars Hotel has its own bathroom and there is room service no matter what time of day. The rooms are also immaculately clean and are very spacious. Dining is never a problem at the Asia Stars Hotel because their Stars Café serves excellent American and Filipino dishes.
Grand Royal Suites Hotel is a small Tacloban hotel that has a store and an Internet shop on the 1st floor. The reception area of Grand Royal Suites Hotel is right above this floor and although this Tacloban hotel is relatively small, the rooms here have sufficient floor area for 2 people. The deluxe matrimonial room at this Tacloban hotel is also one of the cheapest in the area, at only Php 750 per night. The rooms are fully air conditioned, each one has a television with cable, hot and cold shower and an IDD telephone. Although the Grand Royal Suites Hotel does not have an in-house restaurant, one just has to ask the reception where the restaurants are and for those food establishments that deliver, delivery is allowed at this hotel. What’s good about the location of the Grand Royal Suites Hotel is that it is very near the commercial district, very accessible to public transportation and sometimes one can even walk the distance, and overall the service is quite good. The Grand Royal Suites Hotel is a favorite among couples who want to see more of the Philippines but are working on a budget.
Tacloban City, the capital of the province of Leyte, has many destinations for tourists who want to go sightseeing and do other fun activities. Places such as parks, historical landmarks, religious shrines, museums and beach resorts offer tourists to engage not just in sightseeing but also other activities as well.
Right in the heart of the city, a sightseeing tourist has several places to visit. The Tacloban City Children’s Park and Playground, Plaza Libertad, Maria Kannon Garden and Philippine-Japan Peace Commemoration Statue and Park offers tourists to feast on the sights and sounds of Tacloban life. The Leyte Park Resort and Tacloban City Hall and Park give sightseeing tourists a breathtaking view of Samar Island and Kankabatok Bay.
Historical landmarks are plenty around Tacloban City. A tourist on a sightseeing tour will surely know more about the rich culture not just of Tacloban but the whole of Leyte as well. The Santo Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum has artifacts that show the history and culture of Tacloban. Since Leyte was the first province liberated from Japan during World War II, history buffs should visit Redona House (this is where President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. resided during the Liberation of Leyte), CAP Building or Price Mansion (the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur), Leyte Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Palo and the Monument to the Filipino Soldier.
Shrines and centuries-old churches offer sightseeing tourists learn more about the spirituality of the people of Tacloban. In La Purisima Shrine, one can find a statue of the Virgin Mary that dates back to the Spanish period stands on a hillside. The Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, on the other hand, boasts of its gold-plated seventeenth century altar. Meanwhile, the Santo Nino Church is home to the patron saint of Tacloban City. In Serin District, there is a hill depicting the Stations of the Cross where life like statues of Jesus Christ and other saints are placed along the stations. On top of the hill is an eighteen-foot statue of the Sacred Heart.
For rest and relaxation, which are activities most enjoyed by tourists, can be experienced at several resorts in and around the city. Leyte Park Resort not only gives sightseeing tourists to enjoy panoramic views. Swimming and snorkeling are also popular activities in this resort. Dio Resort or Baluarte San Jose and MacArthur Park Beach Resort give tourists a chance to combine historical sightseeing and rest and relaxation. These resorts have cool waters, fine sand and spectacular views to soothe the body and mind of anybody.