Where to Eat in Manila: Illustrado Intramuros

Illustrado is a Spanish-Filipino fine-dining restaurant located inside Intramuros. It is behind the Manila Bulletin publishing office along Calle Real Del Palacio, the street that from San Agustin Church leads to one of the tertiary educational institution located inside Intramuros, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Illustrado, relevant to its environment, has an old Spanish mansion house theme. The front part of the building where the restaurant is, is the Silahis Arts and Artifacts selling Philippine-made native products and antiques. They are also selling massage oils that my mother-in-law love that she would often buy a few bottles to bring back to Hawaii whenever she visits Manila. With ample parking, and courtyard garden in front of the restaurant that can serve as venue for social occasions.

The last time I ate at Illustrado, we sat at the main dining area in the ground floor, adjacent to the Kuatro Kantos Bar-the cafe area where they serve light meals and desserts. I like the soup they call Dematisse of lobster and shrimp bisque, and their version of Kare-kare. Illustrado is perfect for dining without the usual crowd and rushed city-life feel of modern restaurants.