It’s said that the earls of Warwick, an affluent English noble family, once owned the sprawling land of Earl’s Court. This peaceful district in the west remains palpably regal today, with charming gardens and Victorian mansions. It’s also evolved into a place brimming with food fit for a king or queen.

(SPOT.ph) It almost seems too obvious to state that street food is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s practically woven into every Pinoy's DNA, so much so that it’s impossible to picture a day without it.

It's no secret that Metro Manila has a lot of great Taiwanese restaurants for your everyday fix of wonton noodles, xiao long bao, or even just plain milk tea. There's no shortage of world-famous eateries opening up shop here, either-and given the pace that's going, you can expect to see more cuisines from around the world in the next few years.

(SPOT.ph) With the mere handful of healthy eating places in Metro Manila, it’s inevitable that you'd turn to places that are more convenient. Let's face it: It isn't always easy to go out of your way for that rainbow-like grain bowl or pretty smoothie you keep seeing on Instagram. Despite wanting to eat healthily, sometimes getting to do that within an hour-long break just seems impossible—so you go for the next practical option. We love practical and convenient as much as the next guy, but we also know you can't have it every day without it taking a toll on your body. That's where Real Food in Bonifacio Global City comes in.

(SPOT.ph) We live in complex times—these days, good food isn’t the only thing people look for when dining out. More often than not, that perfect place for a nice meal has to look good, too. Sometimes, that gorgeous steak looks even more appealing with romantic interiors—dim lights and everything—while that crisp and golden fried chicken suits a bright and cheery vibe. Bottom line: Aesthetic is a crucial key to unlocking a restaurant’s overall ambience. We’ve rounded up some of the best-looking restaurants in the Metro with great designs for your visual feast.

Over the years, Filipino cuisine has evolved. It’s adapted new techniques and used new flavor combinations to reinvent old methods. Sometimes it’s for novelty, sometimes it’s in pursuit of creativity and self-expression. Now, chefs are putting their own twists on traditional sinigang recipes.

(SPOT.ph) We already know that Poblacion is an amazing place for drinking. Despite being notorious for its horrific parking scheme and narrow streets that can make any Grab driver cancel without guilt, it’s still a neighborhood you’d visit again and again for its easygoing vibe and cool bars. So whether you’re just going for a chill night out with your friends over wine and cocktails, or are planning to get sloshed with pints and pints of craft beer (we won’t judge), Poblacion will be your savior for those rare Friday nights you’re actually in the mood to go out. We’ve rounded up a couple of great drinking places to get you started.

(SPOT.ph) There’s nothing more unpleasant than stepping out of your comfort zone—moving to a new workplace, traveling solo, or even just trying out an unfamiliar cuisine. And let’s admit: Some people are better at dealing with change than others, though it isn’t always a smooth ride; bumps are guaranteed. We’re talking about the folks behind popular Asian food chains Pho Hoa and My Thai, who seem to know this uneasy if not gut-wrenching feeling by heart.

(SPOT.ph) Whether it’s a 24-hour layover or a five-day-long holiday, Hong Kong is one of those fuss-free destinations you can always visit without worrying much about having an itinerary nor demanding visa requirements. The island has almost everything you need for a perfect weekend getaway in another city, but planning where to eat can become a bit tricky. With its overwhelming gastronomic choices, it’s only natural to gravitate towards tourist-friendly and tried-and-tested eateries like Mak’s Noodles, Luk Yu Tea House, and Michelin-starred restaurants Kam’s Roast Goose (which just opened a Manila outpost) and Yat Lok. We’ve rounded up new places for you to try, so save your usual Hong Kong dining places for another time and add these delicious spots to your checklist.

(SPOT.ph) When you think of Bohol, the first few things that will probably pop in your mind are its picturesque Chocolate Hills, immaculate white-sand shores, and clear-blue waters. These natural wonders, like most of Mother Earth’s creations, have the power to leave people in awe through their effortless grandeur and beauty—and that’s just the effect Donatela Hotel gives its visitors. In fact, this new garden resort in Panglao was made with nature in mind. Formerly Tarsier Botanika, Donatela H

Tigre y Oliva is the first and only Filipino chocolate company to focus on the specific taste profiles of cacao depending on origin—think of it as wine, whose flavor is greatly determined by factors such as terroir (geography and climate) and grape variety. This is the brand's nuanced approach to local chocolate, shedding light on the fact that cacao beans sourced from different areas all have unique and varying tastes and aromas.

Goodbyes aren't easy when you're breaking up with food. We saw a lot of restaurant openings in 2017 that we've even rounded up the best ones but just as there are always new concepts to explore and try out, there are some that have inevitably reached the finish line. Simply put, it's the rule of nature, regardless of the reasons behind each restaurant's demise. We've listed down some of the most shocking restaurant closures this year has seen.

(SPOT.ph) When you’re dining out, food isn’t the only thing that should catch your attention. It’s true; food presentation and all its grand theatrics are great (not to mention snap-worthy), but when was the last time you stopped and gazed at a charming piece of mid-century modern furniture? Or have you ever noticed the carefully arranged fresh flowers at your favorite brunch place? These little details not only add to the aesthetic value and mood of a place, they also contribute to an exceptional dining experience. Check out some of the best-looking restaurants that gave us starry eyes this year with their visual feast.

(SPOT.ph) We may be in the final days of 2017 but that doesn’t mean it’s also the end of all things exciting. Get ready: Michelin-starred Taiwanese chain Din Tai Fung reveals possibly the biggest plot twist of the year by opening the first Din Tai Fung Xiao Long Bao Bar in the world!

(SPOT.ph) There are scents that bring us to certain levels of comfort and nostalgia. And perhaps nothing comes close to the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning, which wistfully transports many of us to breakfasts at home—on the table is a brown paper bag of warm pan de sal, not to mention a cup of hot chocolate or coffee solely for bread-dunking purposes.

(SPOT.ph) In the world of major-league dessert staples, it seems nothing can beat a creamy and fluffy chocolate cake. It’s so ubiquitous that almost every café and pastry shop has one. Heck, you might even have some leftover choc cake hiding somewhere in the fridge! For many of us '90s kids, it was chubby schoolboy Bruce Bogtrotter’s unforgettable chocolate cake-eating scene in Matilda that made us crave a big ol’ slice; we’d eat it just as fast even without Miss Trunchbull snooping around.

(SPOT.ph) The sun is high on a seemingly harmless Sunday afternoon at Balete Drive in New Manila. There are no strange sightings of white ladies nor of any mythical local-folklore superstar, but there has been an urban legend going around in recent years about a notorious group of daredevils who inflict pain on themselves by eating a hundred tongue-burning chili peppers in one sitting.

(SPOT.ph) If you've ever celebrated a fiesta in the province—and that makes probably half of Metro Manila's population—you might have come across a steady supply of gin and coconut water being passed around the table. This wildly popular rural cocktail makes sense, given the country’s profusion of buko and cheap sari-sari store-bought gin that comes in all shapes and sizes. Gin buko (as they call it) isn’t the most glamorous or sophisticated drink out there, but it does the job if buzzed is what you aim for. And the best thing about it is it gives you zero headaches in the morning.

(SPOT.ph) What’s a Filipino table without rice cakes? Those bite-sized, stick-to-your-teeth, colorful snacks otherwise called kakanin? History books and cooking guides tell us that "kakanin" comes from the root word "kanin," which literally translates to rice. Because of the plethora of rice, these sweet, mini treats can be found in almost every country in Asia.

(SPOT.ph) There’s a chance you don’t know him. There’s a greater chance you’ve come across one of his murals while munching on a burrito—and you’ve possibly gawked at it for a good few seconds. His characteristic street art is sprinkled across the Metro, from quirky neighborhood eateries to big-name malls—often for a cause grander than him. Meet Filipino-Polynesian street artist Dee Jae Pa’este, whose works are seen in establishments like Hole in the Wall, Señor Pollo Makati, Sensei Sushi, Mighty Quinn’s, Cu Chi Bar, A’Toda Madre, and The Palace Pool Club, to name a few.