If you are a work-hard-party-harder kind of traveler, the Philippine nightlife can be quite a gem. Having toured and partied around the Philippines, we sure know the best places with the best nightlife.
I want to preface this list by saying that we are not just talking about general Philippine nightlife. To be more specific, we only selected islands and tourist towns with great nightlife scenes. Hence, you won’t find places like Manila, Makati, Quezon City, or BGC on this list.
10 Best Places to Experience Philippine Nightlife
CEBU INSIDER has selected the best nightlife scenes outside of Metro Manila. Here are the Top 10 Tourist Destinations in the Philippines with the Best Nightlife:
1. Boracay Island
Boracay Island is one of the most popular beach destinations in the Philippines, setting itself up as a major job creator in the region’s tourism industry.
The 7-kilometer stretch of shallow white sand beach, the thriving underwater reserve, and the variety of watersports activities—all rolled into one tiny island—could well be Boracay’s major selling points.
The vibrant island nightlife in Boracay hits different. The white sand strip of the beach in Boracay is divided into three: Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3. Station 2 is where the party happens where most of the beachfront bars and clubs are.
Some popular clubs and bars in Boracay Island include OM Boracay Bar, Summer Place, Exit Bar, and Coco Bar. All of them are in Station 2.
2. Moalboal (Cebu)
A small but continuously thriving tourist town, Moalboal is one of the best places to visit in Cebu for recreational diving. Adding to the charm of Moalboal is its vibrant nightlife scene.
The access road to Panagsama Beach is where most of the party-goers hang around in the evening. Some bars we recommend include Chilli Bar and Blue Mango Bar for an all-out party, Isla Bar for a more chill ambiance, and Smooth Café for acoustic nights.
If you are looking for an affordable pub-style setting, Bhing’s Lounge and KTV Bar and Restaurant is locals’ favorite place.
3. Panglao Island (Bohol)
Panglao Island, Bohol has one of the liveliest night scenes by the beach I’ve experienced so far. Alona Beach, in particular, resonates with Boracay in so many ways with its beach shack bars and clubs. There are also a few well-known bars along Alone Beach’s access road. Bamboo Place, in particular, is a popular one with a mixed crowd.
Panglao Island is also home to so many of the best attractions and things to do in Bohol, including Virgin Island, Pamilacan Island, Balicasag Island, Hinagdanan Cave, and Napaling Reef.
In terms of living costs, Panglao caters to all kinds of budgets. From backpacker hostels and five-star hotels to local roadside cafés and upscale restaurants, you get a wide range of options.
4. Siargao Island
Siargao is quickly becoming a favorite summer vacation spot among local tourists. Foreign travelers have started to take notice of the island’s beauty in the last few years at a rapid rate, thanks to word of mouth and the international surfing competition annually held in General Luna.
The tear-shaped island remains to be a quiet place in its entirety. But it should come as no surprise to see its growth from here given its unstoppable popularity.
In General Luna, late-night entertainment is catching up fast. Bars and resorts like RumBar, Harana, and Viento del Mar hold regular parties on different days of the week. The community-organized weekly “jungle disco” shouldn’t be missed.
5. Puerto Galera (Oriental Mindoro)
Puerto Galera is a popular beach town among weekenders from Metro Manila. If you choose Manila as your base and scuba diving is a priority on your list, Puerto Galera can’t be a bad choice.
Beach spots sprawl all over town. The nightlife focuses on Sabang Beach and White Beac, the two tourist areas in Puerto Galera. I recommend staying somewhere in Sabang as it teems with resorts, hotels, bars, and restaurants.
If music fairs are your thing, the international Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival, usually happening on the fourth weekend of March, should be on your itinerary. The venue? A grass-terraced amphitheater right at Mount Malasimbo’s piedmont looking over Puerto Galera Bay. However, there will be no festival in 2023.
6. San Juan (La Union)
La Union (la-un-yon) is one of the go-to places among weekenders from Metro Manila. San Juan, in particular, is a surf town with a lively nightlife scene. The nightlife in San Juan does not compare to the ones in Boracay, but it definitely is something.
Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel is the center of nightlife in San Juan. No other establishments have matched its popularity. Nevertheless, Surfer’s Point Deck is also becoming a cool spot for dining and drinking.
7. Olongapo City
Because of its location near Subic Bay, an old US military base, Olongapo City became known for entertainment where American soldiers spend time merrymaking. Magsaysay Drive is its famous red lights district where there’s the biggest concentration of bars, clubs, and pubs.
In Barrio Barreto, which is already part of Subic, you will also find lots of bars, resorts, and clubs catering to foreign tourists.
Attractions in Olongapo City are hard to come by, so it might not be worth checking out if you are looking for more exciting things to do. But if you visit rural surf towns in Zambales like San Felipe, San Antonio, and San Narciso and other attractions in the province like Capones Island and Nagsasa Cove, then it might be nice to drop by Olongapo City.
8. Bantayan Island (Cebu)
Even before El Nido, Coron, and Siargao shot up in popularity, Bantayan Island had been secretly on the radar among travel coteries. Located 4 hours north of Cebu City, the island is one of the go-to places for locals from the city.
Santa Fe, one of the three villages on Bantayan, serves as the entryway to the island. It’s the most touristy area where waist-chest-deep beaches, hotels and resorts, bars, cafes, and restaurants abound. Poblacion Santa Fe is where you find the best bars in the island.
If you want to dance and have a good time, Hr musicbar hosts a disco on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. If you want to dine and chill, Coucou Bar is a good place.
For a chill music night out is what you’re looking for, TapaMaster Bantayan Island has live bands on weekends. For a more relaxed by-the-beach drinking session, The Hungry Beach Co and Stumble Inn Beach Club could accommodate you well. If you feel like singing, Ato Ni Bai is the most popular karaoke bar in town.
9. Malapascua Island (Cebu)
The nightlife in Malapascua Island is not really big, but if you happen to visit the island, head over to Hippocampus Beach Resort along Bounty Beach if you want to dance the night away. They also have a live music band. Along Hippocampus Beach Resort, there are also bars and restaurants that hold nightly activities.
10. Siquijor
Like Malapascua Island, Siquijor does not have a big nightlife. But if you happen to be here, the best you can experience is in the town of San Juan where the resto bars are. I highly recommend that you stay here and work your way through the entire island from here. JJ’s Backpackers Village, in particular, is a favorite among tourists.
The island’s got a few incredible tourist attractions and beautiful beaches minus the crowds, and it’s one of my all-time favorites by far. Its must-visit places include Paliton, Salagdoong, and Tubod beaches, Cambugahay and Lagaan Falls, among many others.
If you’ve come from Bohol, Cebu, or Palawan before getting here, you’ll most likely appreciate Siquijor’s raw and idyllic beauty. While the previous spots are fairly accessible, Siquijor is like Boracay in this regard. There are no direct commercial flights bound for the island. Most commonly, it can be accessed via Tagbilaran City in Bohol or Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. Be that as it may, Siquijor will be worth your time.
Thoughts on Philippine Nightlife
That’s a wrap for our Top 10 Tourist Destinations in the Philippines with the Best Nightlife!
Any thoughts or questions about nightlife in the Philippines? Leave it in the comments!
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