Ilustrado Restaurant

Came here as a traveler and tried Spanish food for the first time. We ordered the Paella a’l Bagnet, Croquetas, and Halo-halo, following online recommendations — and honestly, no disappointment at all. The paella was really good, but the portion was huge for the two of us. We ended up taking half of it away to home 😂 The croquetas were also a nice starter, perfect as an appetizer. For dessert, I loved the Halo-halo, especially the combination of taro ice cream and sweet potato slices — such a nice touch. The restaurant has a classic, elegant ambience, and the staff were attentive. It looked fully reserved at the time, but we were lucky enough to get a table without prior reservation. Definitely a great dining experience in Intramuros.

Good experience, we ordered the seafood ceviche, paella squid with ink and sole amandine fish. The ceviche and sole amandine fish were delicious. The paella was good but felt it had too much rice and too little squid. There was also a live band playing at each table. Although not mandatory but it's expected to tip them. Service was good, upon paying they were not able to break large notes which left us having to leave a large tip, it was fine since we enjoyed our time but it would be expected that a fancy restaurant in a touristy area to have some change.

Ilustrado is one of those Intramuros institutions that truly lives up to its reputation. Set in a beautifully restored historic building, the interiors are elegant yet relaxed, filled with light, artworks, and a calm, refined atmosphere that never feels stiff or intimidating. We focused on both appetizers and main dishes. The absolute highlight was Lengua con Setas – ox tongue cooked to perfect tenderness and served in a rich mushroom sauce. Deep, comforting, and beautifully balanced, it is a dish worth returning for on its own. Among the starters, Beef Salpicao was solid and well-executed, with flavorful, properly seared beef, while Chorizo Rioja was pleasant and aromatic, though more of a safe choice than a standout. Service was attentive and professional without being overbearing, matching the overall tone of the place perfectly. Ilustrado is an excellent choice for a relaxed yet elegant lunch or dinner in Intramuros, especially if you want to experience classic Filipino and Spanish-influenced cuisine in a refined setting

A timeless 3rd wedding anniversary with lunch at Ilustrado was a great decision. The historical ambiance in Intramuros provided a relaxed yet elegant setting that made our milestone feel special. We were really pleased with the service; the staff were attentive and professional throughout our meal. As for the food, the Beef Salpicao was a definite highlight—very tender and flavorful. We also enjoyed the Palabok, Carbonara, and Pollo, finishing everything off with a well-made Irish Coffee. Overall, it was a memorable anniversary lunch with great vibes and solid food.

I was immediately seated when I arrived. Staff is attentive. Nice ambience, although they had limited seating due to upstairs being taken for an event. They serve Spanish Filipino food but they also had pasta. The pumpkin gnocchi pasta was alright not great. The croquettes were a hit as other reviews suggested and they serve 3 cheese and 3 beef balls. Coco pandan shake tasted fresh as well.

Service charge was 10% yet the service could be improved. It's the tendency of those touristic places, the service is almost always the worst— warmth and friendliness gone, replaced by extreme coldness. It doesn't fit with your prices, actually. We ordered their best-seller and indeed it was delicious. Their kaldereta was nice, too. MSG is not used nor any MAGIC Sarap and whatnot, and that's a plus. The ladies greeting us were nice. There are some Spanish dishes here, too. When I signed I was ready to order, instead of coming to our table, they took the dirty dishes and whatnot from one table and then came to our table to take the order. I don't know, I felt that they should have come to take our order first as that empty table could definitely wait. Upon ordering, I was not told that rice was included with the said dishes. One waiter seemed bitter and cold that you'd rather serve yourself. Also, I had to ask for two bowls for us to be able to eat the first dish. I don't know how they expected us to eat it straight from that big bowl. Also, it seems there are outdoor table options yet we were not asked where we'd like to eat. Those who've been there preferred the other side of the restaurant. Coming back? Not sure. Food's good but nah, there are other options out there.

Chicken adobo was very clearly refrigerated and reheated. I know this because by the time I got to the middle of the drumstick it was ice cold. I am a little concerned regarding food safety and pray that I don't get sick from this. Maybe consider another dish or go somewhere else. For reference, I typically always give 5 stars for adequate food and service.

Overpriced and Unhelpful Service I booked this venue for an upcoming event and ran into a few issues during the planning stage mainly with the food tasting. The package included tasting for two people, but since I’m based overseas, I arranged and paid for three extra family members to attend (₱2,000 per head). On the day, three other relatives came along but ordered à la carte and weren’t part of the tasting, which had been clearly communicated in advance. After the tasting, my family raised a few concerns: • Some of the agreed menu items weren’t served. • Portions were quite small considering the extra ₱6,000 we paid. • No alternative options were offered for dishes that didn’t work out. When I tried to relay this feedback, the staff member handling my booking came across as defensive and dismissive. Instead of offering solutions, they seemed more focused on explaining why things happened, which made the whole exchange unnecessarily frustrating. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. I wouldn’t recommend this venue for event planning or coordination based on how things were handled.

We have been coming to Illustrado for years now. My mum is 103 and she prefers driving all the way from Paranaque to have lunch here. It helps that they are next door to my favorite antique house 'Silahis'. We love the food. I think they make the best Pinoy food in town. Pansit Bihon, Arozcaldo, Kare, Sinigang and this is the only place where you can have Sampaquita ice cream and Canónigo that does not OD your Diabetes. It is an old house with a quiet elegance. It is coming home to a nice meal. Through the years, we met Jeff. Jeff always makes us feel welcome -like family. He is friendly, warm, sincere and professional. He is attentive. The right mix that comes out authentic. Not overwhelming . Not forced. Not chatty. I like that. He is calm. He knows how to serve. And he always has a smile inspite the hours and low wages. I can say that for the rest of the staff too from the young lady at the front desk and the folks at the coffee shop. It is good to see older staff too. Illustrado's food and service makes driving all the way from Paranaque worthwhile. Mayee Paranaque City

One of the locals recommended Ilustrado during our tour of Intramuros. We decided to try it for lunch right after the tour. The restaurant was a bit small and cozy, but our group of five was seated right away. Ilustrado serves traditional Filipino dishes in a charming, old-school Spanish-style building with antique decor. The service was fast and friendly. My family and I chose a variety of entrees, including pork, pasta, stuffed fish, soup, and salad. Everything was flavorful and prepared well. We were very pleased with both the food and the prices. However, we noticed that the bill seemed unusually high, even after applying my parents' senior discount. Since we had ordered quite a bit, I didn't look closely at the receipt before leaving. Later that day, my mom decided to review the receipt and discovered that we had been overcharged. The prices listed on the receipt did not match the prices on the menu. Unfortunately, it was too late for us to return, as we were leaving town the following day. My mom asked a friend to go back with the receipt and request a refund. It was quite disappointing to find that they had manipulated the prices on the receipt. It's a shame because I would have loved to recommend Ilustrado.

Worst restaurant in Manila. One order was suppose to be "5 minutes" after over an hour we finally left and no food was delivered

A traditional Filipino restaurant with a Spanish-influenced menu. A room with less than 30 seats but roomy enough so it doesn't feel tight. One of Intramuros most secluded restaurants, it is a definite treat to come and dine here. It has a private parking but pretty limited. A wall with classical history of Manila and a decor of old Manila. We ordered pork Tocino with garlic rice, DF squid with garlic and beef tapas. Overall, food is good!

I had a lot of downtime being in a pretty quiet town where my parents live so I made sure to look up some places to eat at in the city on the day I would be back. A lot of the spots on the lists I found had such long waits and/or were fully booked weeks out. I landed back in Manila just in time for lunch. My cousin made a reservation first thing in the morning. His friend met us at the restaurant. We went straight to the Intramuros area right after I got picked up from the airport. Intramuros is a different vibe. We nearly missed the entrance to the restaurant cos the driveway looked like an entrance to a palace. My cousin's friend was already at the table when we got there. We placed our drink orders then followed up with the food choices after a few minutes. A mango shake is a must for me when I'm in the Philippines because their version of the fruit is by far the best imho. It's always the perfect sweetness. We ate family style. I let my cousin take over the food ordering. I was starving so I knew whatever showed up would get eaten. We nearly ate everything. We asked them to wrap up what was left of the paella and gave it to someone outside. It seemed a damn shame to waste it. We did however finish everything else. The pork belly was amazing. The sides it came with blew me away.

There are 2 Ilustrado venues in the same location. The restaurant and the café. My review is for the café It's a nice place for a late lunch in Intramuros. Located in a quiet alley, the café brings you back to the old Spanish era with its decor. The food is a mix of Spanish and Filipino dishes. The food is average and a little overpriced, but I enjoy the ambiance that is different from most places in Manila and the service is good.

The stuffed chicken relleno was scrumptious! It came with gravy drippings that made a perfect combination with the juiciness of the meat and the chorizo del bilbao mixed in. We ate this pleasant dish in a comfortable homely feel of a Filipino-Spanish ambiance, I felt like I time travelled. Moving to the dessert menu, my husband and I found a peculiar yet interesting dessert called Sampaguita ice cream. We were able to split this ice cream into two as it is two scoops per order. As I took the first spoonful of the ice cream. It was surprisingly piquant! A dessert with a refreshing flowery taste! The trip going there was worth it.

The Food's just ok. It's a nice place and ambiance in Intramuros. Service is positively good.

it was great experience and highly recommended,.. food was so great and tasty. Servers are also great and always efficient, happy and polite. and the ambiance are neat and very classic,. i love it..

This restaurant is located in Intramuros and I absolutely love the history within the restaurant. My cousins and I came here at 10am on Saturday. We each ordered the Ilustrado tapa which was good. They provided a small order of rice with the dish so luckily I also ordered a calamari salad. I wanted some cold for dessert and they have homemade ice cream with distinctive flavors such as Sampaguita... yes, the flower. I asked kuya which one he recommended and of course it was Sampaguita. It literally taste like how you smell the flower, but at least I tried it. My cousin said it's "lasang patay" translation is "tastes like death" since Samaguitas are known for making leis, or synonymous to having them at wakes.

This place had great reviews on yelp so decided to go ahead and give it a try. I must say that customer service was superb. They were very attentive on your orders, efficient and very professional. The restaurant setting dates from the Spanish colonial times, you will notice it from the furnishings in its interiors as well as the facade of the building itself. We opted for lingua, sisig & (cows skin). It was my first time to try this delicacy and was so surprised how delicious it was!!! Even their steamed rice was to die for. They had good variety of desserts that I encourage you to try.

We came here for a group dinner to include various dignitaries and special guest from the United States. We were part of the business economic mission to establish and build relationships between San Diego and Philippines. This restaurant came highly recommended as we were in the heart of the Intramuros area. We were pretty much the only ones in the restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful and has a very nice ambiance. We had a pre-set menu to include: -Artisan Breads with Duck and Liver Pate and Butter -Paella Ilustrado -Adobong Bagnet with Taba ng Talangka Bacalao al Vizcania -Canonigo with Sabayon and Mangoes -Ilustrado Lemon Iced Tea Everything we had was good, although I would have preferred more customary Filipino food like pancit, sinigang, adobo... Rather the entrees we were served were more Spanish infused food. It was different, but the flavors were there. We had to order rice separately as the paella already had rice. I felt the portions were quite small, esp since we had a very large party. Nice restaurant, small portions and good flavors.

Came here after touring Fort Santiago, so we were hungry after being out in the heat. And the quality of the food did not disappoint. We ordered: 1. Paella-- super flavorful, good portion size. Overall: delicious! 2.Bagnet binagoongan (pork belly with shrimp paste? I guess that's the English translation?) --- BEST DISH EVER. I'm not a fan of pork belly bcoz I generally avoid eating fat. But OMG, this dish was beyond amazing. Flavorful, crispy & chewy, all at the same time! The bagoong added a savoury touch to it. 3. Tokwa't Baboy (tofu & pork belly) - also very good. 4. Full rack of ribs -- meaty and tasty. Good choice if you're feeling for meat. 5. Sisig - it was good. It was smothered in gravy, which was different but made the dish unique and creamy. The dishes may appear small, but they are very filling. This was shared amongst 5 hungry adults and we were very full. Price: higher than your average sit- down. But definitely worth it! Drinks: had a dalandan daiquiri, which was on point. Not too strong. Good dalandan flavor. Made just right. Ambiance: nice decor. Good service. But I did feel out of place in my shorts and runners. But I was coming from a day of sightseeing & touring outdoors, so whatever lol

Food's just ok. Ambiance is very nice. Service is positively good. Our server Chito was great.

My first visit to this place and we just happened to stumble upon it. I was looking for street food but being that it felt like 99 F outside, the cool aircon was worth the prices. The food was okay, not anything spectacular, but our wait staff (Rebs, I think) earned the 4 stars. I had the bangus and my wife had the bagnet. The bread disappointed because it was just too ordinary. Yet the mango, oh the sweet mango, why have I not had mango like this before. Time stopped when I tasted the pristine flavors that summed up the essence of this country. At a moment all was clear about the significance of this place.

The paella Ilustrado and bagnet were delicious.

I feel anyone visiting Manila should make an effort to dine here. Illustrado is an elegant restaurant harkening back to the old Spanish era with excellent service. It is a fine dining experience so dress up and pretend you are Spanish royalty. Their food was delicious and I especially loved the wonderful Paella Illustrado. I spent 14 days in Spain during May and their Paella Illustrado rivaled Catalanian paella. The restaurant is located within Manila's old walled city that is alone worth the trip.

Reasons to dine at Ilustrado restaurant 1. Because who hasn't dined here? This restaurant is practically an institution. It's been around for 25 years already. 2. It's right inside Intramuros, Manila's most famous walled city. That alone is reason enough. 3. Being inside will take you back to the old Spanish era. This is the only place where you can let go of your indio roots and act like a proper mestizo/ mestiza. 4. Because this restaurant was made to impress, no other place boasts of the same beautiful surroundings. 5. There's so much to do after you dine. You can talk a walk inside Intramuros and pretend that the fat man in front of you is Padre Damaso. 6. The food. It's just delicious. You'll know once you've tried their Paella Illustrado. 7. The dessert- Sampaguita Ice cream. How can you not want to try such a creation? 8. Lastly, because you're a Filipino. Tama na muna ang burger at pizza puwede ba?

Sad place with terrible service. Paté tasted like coins and food took over. Wait staff barely checked on the tables and there were only 3!! Only positive I can think of is the bread. For the prices I could have gone to a street corner and gotten at least double the food. Usually the service compliments the process but not here.

When the King and Queen of Spain take time off their understandably busy schedule to eat at your restaurant, you know you've got it made. When they make a return trip, however, that's validation. Not to mention bragging rights for the rest of your life. Ilustrado opened its doors to the Spanish cuisine hungry public over 25 years ago and it still remains the dining destination of choice in the walled city of Intramuros. You could owe its longevity to its old world ambiance, but it's still the food that brings its loyal patrons back. Staples of Spanish fare such as Paella heaping with seafood, hearty Callos Madrilena with a little heat, or the incredibly tender Lengua con setas are all must-try dishes at Ilustrado. For a dash of Filipino taste however, I'd recommend the Adobong Bagnet with Prawns and Crab Fat. Just from the name alone, you know it's bad for you but it's just too irresistible. After all, it's not every day you can eat something fit for royalty.

Great place, great food, and awesome customer service! Will definitely come back here soonest.

We had a great dinner in their lovely, quiet dining room just a few steps from one of the busy Intramuros streets. The paella Ilustrado and bagnet were delicious.

Great food! My first time to visit and already looking forward to my next one. I had the bagnet and it was crispy which probably means it was fresh. The ambience was nothing special however, the staff were fantastic and really nice! Two thumbs for them!

When I'm asked which restaurant in Intramuros I would recommend for a date and for that cultural vibe, I would always say Ilustrado. It's a restaurant in a beautiful old Spanish house, with flower vines climbing around a gazebo pathway leading to the restaurant. And, they have Pinoy food too, albeit pricey, with the food prices usually starting at P350. Pinoy staples like kare-kare, relyenong bangus, and sinigang can be found on the menu. And while I know they're good, to be honest, I don't really remember them much, because the item on their menu that I would never forget is their homemade sampaguita ice cream. Yes, it's the real thing - you can smell AND taste the sampaguita. Don't worry, the floral taste is not overwhelming, and is nicely balanced by the sweetness. But eating that sampaguita ice cream (P120) is definitely one of my euphoric experiences of synesthesia ever. They also have other unique ice cream flavors like nilagang mani, pinipig, and pandan. But the sampaguita ice cream is really the star.

This restaurant is an obligatory destination every time we have a guest from another country. I consider it perfect to have lunch or dinner after a walking tour through Intramuros, Manila's historic walled city. Besides being a very pleasant place, Ilustrado offers a great menu based on Spanish-Filipino cuisine. Well, the restaurant celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. It means it's already a tradition in Manila. Along those years, illustrious guests have been there, from kings to presidents, artists and celebrities. It's not a restaurant to go every day, but I really recommend Ilustrado for special occasions. The architecture follows the old city style, with a historical vibe. I love specially the garden courtyard, full of trees and fresh air. Have a wine and ask for one of their must-tries main courses, like Paella Ilustrado. My favourite dish, however, is an entrée: the Norwegian Salmon Fillet, with pommery mustard, Philippine Mango, basil, mashed potato and wilted spinach. Light and d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! You cannot leave Ilustrado without trying their unique artisanal Sampaguita ice cream. Sampaguita is a kind of jasmine, considered the Philippine National Flower. Can you realize something more traditional and picturesque than that? Try it and I guarantee you'll experience a blend of your senses of smell and taste. Pure synaesthesia!

Had a really nice dinner here last night. Food is an interesting mix of Pilipino, Spanish, and American food. Got there at about 5 pm- they said dinner seating didn't start til 6 pm, so we went to bar/cafe and had appetizers and drinks. Got a kids meal for my son (chicken nuggets, pasta carbonara, and a chocolate cupcake), assorted fried seafood balls (fish, crab, squid), and two orders of lumpia Shanghai. Everything was great and they had San Miguel Cerveza Negra, which not everyone serves. At 6:30 or so, they moved us to dining room, which was very nice- live music by a trio, who went through the dining room and tools requests. Played a range of songs (Korean, Tagalog, and some American oldies like Elvis, Righteous Brothers, and Bee Gees (not American, but close enough)). Food was very good - we ordered lengua, marlin, stuffed milk fish, and morcon for entrees, and a Ceasar salad to share. Everything was good, but the salad was a tad overdressed and the marlin was a bit dry. Took about an hour to get dinner to the table, but with drinks, music, and nice atmosphere, it didn't really matter. Total was about $100 U.S. for five adults and two kids, so price was not bad either. I'd go again if back in town.

Lovely fine dining restaurant located in the old walled section of Manila called Intermuros. Also check out the adjacent Cafe Ilustrado for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack or dessert