March 1 is Plan a Solo Vacation Day. Yes, there is such holiday. And luckily for you and me, both Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia are having epic seat sales this month. Plus, summer is almost here so today is the perfect time to plan your Solo Trip to Davao. We have shared itineraries in the past but this time, we have prepared a special Davao Itinerary for Solo Travelers. And just in time for Araw ng Dabaw, too.
Where to Stay
First, we have a few suggestions for where you might want to stay.
Park Inn by Radisson Davao is on top of our list.
Stay at Park Inn by Radisson Davao. Disclaimer: Do not judge Park Inn based on that photo. Somebody had laid down on the bed before I took a photo.
Our editor Ria recommends Park Inn for their facilities and beautiful but reasonably priced rooms. Another plus is their proximity to a mall. Park Inn is located right beside SM Lanang Premier. That is a convenient thing for solo travelers because you can easily shop and dine just by crossing a footbridge. There is a 7-eleven on the Ground Floor of SM Lanang Premier. ATMs are also conveniently located nearby.
Park Inn also just a few steps away from the entrance to the SMX Convention Center. So if you are traveling to attend a conference or other events at SMX, Park Inn is your best option.
It is not exactly located in downtown Davao but Park Inn is near several restaurants, malls, and other destinations. And it is near the jump off points and marinas of popular beach destinations. So while it is not at the center of the city, it is at a convenient location.
PARK INN Address: SM Lanang Premier, JP Laurel Avenue, Lanang Contact Number: +6382-2727600 Email Address: reservations.davao@parkinn.com Facebook Page: fb.com/ParkInnDavao
More Recommendations on Where To Stay
Our correspondent Athina recommends RedDoorz (Aljems Inn) located right in the middle of downtown. The RedDoorz listed as RedDoorz near San Pedro Cathedral is known to locals as Aljems Inn. It has been around quite a while. They have rooms you can book via the RedDoorz app for as low as PhP873.
Just download the app from the App Store or the Google Play Store, enter Davao as your destination and it will come up with options for you to book. All hotels and inns in their listing are branded as RedDoorz and have similar looks and amenities as all other RedDoorz listings. So you are sure that the listed rooms have passed the RedDoorz standards. Use the code TRAVELESCAPES33 to enjoy a 20% discount.
REDDOORZ NEAR SAN PEDRO CATHEDRAL DAVAO / ALJEMS INN Address: Rizal Street Contact Number: +63917-7167245 Facebook Page: Link Recommended by Athina Anglionto.
Green Windows Dormitel is a good choice for solo backpackers. They have clean dorm type rooms that you can share with up to 7 other travelers.
PhP188 Backpacker Dorm Room at Green Windows Dormitel.
For only PhP188 you already have a place to sleep, a clean toilet and bathroom, and access to other amenities. Amenities within the room include hot and cold shower, individual cabinets, and free Wifi access. Not to mention the room is ariconditioned.
If adobo is the Philippines’ national dish, we think Halo-Halo should be declared as the national dessert. Filipinos and tourists love to eat halo-hallo whatever the weather may be. Especially, when the sun is scorching hot. And of all the halo-halo in the entire archipelago, foodies have declared that the creamiest is Mang Inasal Halo-Halo.
Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert which is a rich concoction of various ingredients such as nata de coco, ube, leche flan, pinipig rice, etc. mixed with evaporated milk, all topped in crushed ice and with the option to put ube or vanilla ice cream on top. It can be said that halo-halo represents everything deliciously sweet and indulgent in the Philippines. It contains specialties from around the country. And it has many different permutations in every part of the Philippines.
Mang Inasal Halo-Halo is the Creamiest
Almost all Filipino restaurants –here and abroad — have this dessert on their menu. But one known Filipino restaurant has taken their halo halo game to the next level and they are hailed as the creamiest Pinoy Halo Halo of all: Mang Inasal’s Pinoy Halo-Halo.
Pinoy Halo-Halo by Mang Inasal.
Foodies all over the country agree that the generous creamy milk content of Mang Inasal’s Pinoy Halo-Halo makes it a sweet treat worthy of indulging in. The perfect amount of creamy milk harmonizes all the various ingredients together. It has made the difference and has captured not only the taste buds but also the hearts of the Filipinos and tourists as well.
“We are happy to note that our customers crave for the creaminess of the Mang Inasal Pinoy Halo-Halo,” shares Mang Inasal Marketing Director Mike Dumaual. “This milk was exclusively developed for the MI Pinoy Halo-Halo and is not readily available off the shelf,” Dumaual added.
National Halo-Halo Sarap Day
Actress Angel Locsion admits that she loves the creaminess and overall taste of Mang Inasal’s Pinoy Halo-Halo.
Mang Inasal invites you to experience the creamy goodness of their Pinoy Halo-Halo. National Halo Halo Sarap Day is on March 17.
Mang Inasal Davao stores and all Mang Inasal stores nationwide will be selling their Filipino Halo-Halo for only PhP35 for a small serving. A regular serving is priced at PhP55 only. The promo is valid only on March 17, 2019 and for dine in and take out orders only. Grab this opportunity to have a piece of this heavenly creamy Filipino dessert for a fraction of its original cost.
February is Vegan Cuisine Month and we are putting the spotlight on a Davao vegan restaurant that has put vegan cuisine more accessible and desirable. The Vegan Dinosaur offers healthy eats that are neither boring nor bland.
Pasta, burgers, and smoothies by The Vegan Dinosaur. Photo by Shannen Adlaon.
Davao is slowly gaining popularity for its diverse food scene. And one of the food categories that has been growing through the years is cuisine for healthy eaters and diet conscious diners. Vegan Dinosaur is in the forefront of vegan cuisine in Davao.
From full meals to light snacks and delightful desserts, The Vegan Dinosaur has all your vegan cravings covered.
Salads
The Vegan Dinosaur serves up filling healthy salads. Of course.
Enjoy a tasty bowl of Tofu Barbeque Corn Salad.
People automatically think greens and tofu when they hear vegan cuisine. The Vegan Dinosaur has all of it in one irresistible dish. Tofu cooked barbeque style on top of corn, lettuce, and onions. With a creamy dressing to bring it all together. It might be a bit cliche but it is definitely not boring.
Full Meals by the Vegan Dinosaur
People assume that vegan dishes are boring, light, and can hardly make you full and satisfied. Vegan Dinosaur proves that assumption wrong with their meal offerings that will satisfy even non-vegan diners.
Blogger Miel picks the Spicced Asian as one of her favorites by the Vegan Dinosaur.
The Spiced Asian contains Tofu Teriyaki, Black Rice, Salad, and Kimchi.
The Spiced Asian is a complete meal with Teriyaki Tofu as the focus of the plate. The savory tofu is accompanied by Black Rice, a side salad, and kimchi. It is a delightful dish bursting with Asian flavors. It will make your tummy full without the guilt.
And here’s another blogger recommended dish, Chickpea Meatballs.
Fill your tummy with wholesome Chickpea Balls, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Rice, and Ranch Dressing.
Here’s another filling dish to try: Chickpea Meatballs. Technically, those are not meatballs. But it is just as flavorful and filling. The Chickpea Balls are doused in Sun-dried Tomatoes. Plus, it comes with Black Rice and a side salad with Ranch Dressing. This dish is recommended by Shannen.
Vegan Snacks and Light Meals
If you want something lighter but still as yummy, The Vegan Dinosaur has a menu filled with various dishes that are perfect as snacks or light meal options.
Whether you like them simple or bursting with filling, The Vegan Dinosaur has the perfect healthy wrap to make you happy.
Corn Quesadilla
Pulled Jackfruit and Aoili Tortillas
The Corn Quesadilla is drizzled with sauce and topped with veggies. Meanwhile, the Pulled Jackfruit Tortilla has lettuce, cucumber, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, and tasty pulled jackfruit all on top of whole wheat tortilla. And it is all dressed in Aioli.
Love Japanese cuisine? Celebrate the day of love eating delicious, affordable, and accessible Japanese food. Check out the Tori Yamu Valentine’s Day Promo.
Tori Yamu is a homegrown Japanese restaurant that specialise in Japanese street food. They are known for their kushiyaki, grilled skewered meats. It is Mindanao’s first robot-grilled barbeque restaurant.
Aside from their robot-grilled dishes, Tori Yamu also offers a variety of popular Japanese dishes such as Okonomiyaki (savory pancake), Takoyaki (octopus balls), and ramen.
Tori Yamu’s Valentine’s Day Promo
This Valentine’s Day, you can enjoy your choice of Tori Yami’s kushiyaki options plus more.
Tori Yamu Valentine’s Day 2019 Meal: Barbeque, Ramen, Rice, Red Iced Tea, and Coffee Jelly
Share a Japanese meal with your plus one for only PhP499. Choose any 6 from their kushiyaku menu. Enjoy it with rice, a bowl of their ramen, 2 glasses of Red Iced Tea, and 2 pieces of Coffee Jelly. You can save as much as PhP220.
Tori Yamu Japanese Barbeque
Tori Yamu has 12 items on their barbeque menu.
The pork options are Grilled Bacon Asparagus, Deep Fried Pork Tonkatsu, Grilled Bacon Quail Egg, Grilled Pork Belly Roll, and Teriyaki Pork Ball. They have 5 Toriyaki (chicken) items: Grilled Chicken Thigh, Chicken Meat Ball, Chicken and Onion Leek, Fried Chicken Karaage, and Grilled Chicken Skin. For beef lovers, they have decadent Saikoro Beef skewer. And finally, Tori Yamu has Deep Fried Cheese on a skewer.
February 9 was Pizza Day so some of you might think this post is a bit late. Yes, it is. But everyday is a good day to have good pizza. If you agree, check out and bookmark this Guide to Davao Pizza Places. (Or maybe screencap, whatever works for you.)
From north to south, from P100 to P1000+, solo size to humungous 36″… we have all the Davao Pizza Spots here for you.
Barrio Bistro
One of Davao’s most popular homegrown pizza places is Barrio Bistro. Their popularity is due, primarily, to their multiple locations. And because of their Buy 1, Take 1 Promo.
Barrio Bistro Buy 1, Take 1 All Day Promo
What sets Barrio Bistro‘s Buy 1, Promo 1 apart is that the deal is available all day. Everyday. You can buy 2 12″ thin crust pizzas for as low as PhP355. Among all Davao pizza places, Barrio Bistro is the one we recommend for the best value for money offers.
They offer popular pizza flavors such as Pepperoni and Three Cheese, and more interesting ones such as Taco Mexicana and Chicken Fajitas.
Pizzas by Barrio Bistro
Their signature pizza Barrio Pizza is topped with Italian sausage, olives, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Flavors are also available with thick crust. Our Managing Editor Olivia counts Taco Mexicana as one of her favorite pizzas.
Looking for unique pizza flavors? Maybe one that would set your mouth on fire? Not literally, obviously. Check out Cafe Canary‘s Firecracker Pizza. It is a favorite of our correspondents Athina and Jexx.
Cafe Canary Firecracker Nachos Pizza. Photo by Athina Angliongto.Cafe Canary Ollie Sardines PizzaCafe Canary Salted Egg and Chorizo Helipop Pizza
Firecracker Nacho, Salted Egg & Chorizo, and Ollie Sardines are some of Cafe Canary’s unique pizza flavors. But if you want something classic, you can opt for Margharite Flamingo, All Cheese Cannonball, or Pepperoni Primo. All of their pizza flavors come in 12″ and solo sizes.
Cafe Canary offers pizza and pasta bundles so you get to enjoy their dishes with your favorite people. The Barkada Bundle includes 2 whole pizzas, 2 pasta dishes, Canary Wings, 1.5 L soda or juice, and one whole loaf of garlic bread. All for only PhP1,149. They also have a Family Bundle priced at only PhP749 and includes a pizza, 1 pasta dish, canary wings, garlic bread, and 1.5L drinks.
CAFE CANARY Address: Calachuchi Street corner Acacia Street, Juna Subdivision, Matina Contact Number: +63906-0627070 Business Hours: 10 am – 10 pm, Monday – Sunday Price Range: PhP170 – PhP220 Facebook Page: fb.com/cafecanaryDavaoph/ Instagram: @Cafe_Canary
Classio Mobile Wood Fired Oven
Looking for a unique pizza experience? Classio Mobile Wood Fired Oven might be what you are looking for. The business started as a food truck enterprise somewhere along the stretch of JP Laurel Avenue. After joining a number of food fairs and serving thousands of hungry diners at their JP Laurel spot, Classio now has a physical store.
They serve simple, no frill pizzas baked from their wood fired oven and straight to your table. My Davao City Editor Ria recommends Classio’s All Cheese Pizza and the Prosciutto Pizza.
Classio Mobile Wood Fired Oven’s Menu as of August 2018. Photo from the CMWFO FB Page.
What better way to enjoy a good videoke session than with delicious pizza? You can do just that at Davao’s most family KTV spot. K1 is not exactly a pizza place but they do serve good pizza.
Their pizza flavors vary from classic Pepperoni, Vegetarian, and Hawaiian to more unique flavors Spam, Bacon Cheeseburger, and Chicken Coleslaw. K1 pizzas are available in Regular and Large sizes. They also serve a humongous 36″ Monster Pizza available in Beef & Mushroom, Aloha, Eduardo’s Special, or Meat Lover’s. The Monster Pizza is priced at PhP1,399.
K1 FAMILY KTV AND CAFE Address: F. Torres Street Contact Number: +63917-1121688 Business Hours: 6 pm – 1 am, Tuesday – Sunday Price Range: PhP215 – PhP495 Facebook Page: fb.com/K1FamilyKtvCafeSpa/ Instagram: @K1Davao
Kalakoa Pizza and Coffee Hut
If you hate pineapples on your pizza, a Hawaiian themed pizza place might not attract you. But do not be fooled by its chill beach ambiance, Kalakoa serves more than just Hawaiian Pizza.
Kalakoa classifies their pizza into two: Regular and Premium. Regular Pizza flavors are Herbed Tuna, Herbed Mushroom, Cheese Supreme, Cheesy Garlic, Hawaiian (of course), and Carbonara. The 3 Premium Pizza Options are Ham and Pepperoni, All-Meat, and Supremo.
Their Supremo Pizza has quite a long list of toppings: ham, Hungarian sausage, pepperoni, bacon, tuna, pineapple, mushrooms, olives, onions, bell peppers, and fried garlic. All over a tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes. Interesting, right?
So when you are at mall and looking for Davao pizza places to try, why not order from Kalakoa?
KALAKOA PIZZA AND COFFEE HUT Address: 3F Abreeza Ayala Mall, JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada Business Hours: 10 am – 9 pm, Monday – Sunday Branch: Matina Town Square, McArthur Highway, Matina Price Range: PhP315 – PhP435 Facebook Page: fb.com/kalakoacoffeehut Instagram: @kalakoa_dvo Delivery Service: via foodPanda
La Toscana Ristorante Italiano
Their name translates to Tuscany Italian Restaurant. Literally. For those who have never been to La Toscana, it might seem a bit intimidating. The ambiance seems too formal. Truth is there is no strict dress code here. If you are looking for an authentic Italian pizza, visit La Toscana. Even if you’re wearing casual clothes.
They have an extensive Italian cuisine menu with a page dedicated to Le Pizza.
La Toscana Le Pizze Menu
And yes, La Toscano has 3 convenient locations. If you are looking for Davao pizza places near you, you are sure to find at least one La Toscana nearby.
LA TOSCANA RISTORANTE ITALIANO Address: Tiongko Building, Arellano Street Contact Number: +6382-3056556 Branches: Citi Hardware Diversion Road Buhangin; Brgy. Buda, Marilog District Business Hours: 11 am – 10 pm, Monday – Sunday Price Range: PhP260 – PhP390
Lara Mia Cafe and Bistro
Tartufo Pizza and Salty Lovers Club Pizza by Lara Mia
Sisters Lara and Mia started their food business with their family’s heritage fudge recipe. From its success, they built a food establishment that offers sophisticated food for refined palates. But mind you, Lara Mia is not stuffy, expensive, or high brow.
They serve only 9 pizza flavors, but each one is interesting and undeniably delicious: Margherita, Prosciutto & Arugula, Amore (All-Meat), Breakfast Pizza, Napoli (Shrimps and Mushrooms), Pepperoni, Tartufo (Black Truffles), Quattro Formaggi, and Salty Lovers Club. Lara Mia pizzas only come in one size: 12″.
The Quattro Formaggi is a favorite of kids and adults, alike. If you want something more interesting, try the Prosciutto and Arugula and the Tartufo. All three are highly recommended by Ria.
They are conveniently located somewhere south but not too far from downtown. This is the place to be for a cozy, homey pizza session alone or with your friends. Plus, they have an Instagrammable place so do drop by.
LARA MIA CAFE and BISTRO Address: University Avenue corner Talisay Street, Juna Subdivision, Matina Contact Numbers: +6382-2981789, +63932-8283636 Business Hours: 11 am – 9 pm, Monday – Sunday Price Range: PhP280 – PhP370 Facebook Page: fb.com/LaraMiaFudge Instagram: @LaraMiaFudge
Munchtown Grill Davao
Needless to say, Munchtown specializes in grilled skewered meats. Obviously. But do serve good pizza so they deserve a spot in this list.
They serve 4 classic pizza flavors: Three Cheese, Hawaiian, Bacon and Mushrooom, and Pepperoni. Completing their pizza menu is heir specialty: the Munchtown Overload Pizza.
MUNCHTOWN GRILL DAVAO Business Hours: 11 am – 11 pm, Monday – Saturday Price Range: PhP195 – PhP320 Facebook Page: fb.com/Munchtown.Davao Instagram: @munchtown_dvo Delivery Service: via foodPanda
Got a happy heart? Make it even happier. Spend Valentine’s Day at Waterfront Insular Hotel.
Waterfront’s various food and beverage outlets has prepared sumptuous meals to delight diners of February 14.
Valentine’s Dinner Date for 2
La Parilla offers an intimate dining experience of February 14. Treat yourself and your partner to a luxurious four-course dinner.
Start the night with a Caesar Salad and Borscht with Crème. For the main course, choose one of three options: Beef Tenderloin, Salmon or Chicken Supreme.
