A Wellness Guide to Siargao Island
Hi friends! I often get asked for which places I would recommend on the island. The island has such a variety of activities for everyone to explore.
This list is by no means exhaustive but hopefully it points you in the right direction if you are coming to Siargao seeking wellness, great food, healing and friendship. There are a lot of wonderful new places that have opened recently that I haven’t been able to visit just yet.
Also, although many wonderful spots are listed here - the greatest act of nourishment and wellness can come simply from enjoying the beautiful nature on the island and connecting with the local people who live here.
A gentle reminder to show respect always (and in all ways) to the land and the local Siargaonon people that are so kind in welcoming all of us.
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Yoga and Meditation
Little Shell Yoga Shala - Our little neighborhood yoga space tucked in the quiet neighborhood of Malinao. We offer multiple daily yoga classes per week in an enclosed, air conditioned studio.
Lotus Shores - One of the original yoga spaces on the island. Currently under renovation and set for reopening 2025.
Buddha Yoga Shala- Another one of the original yoga spaces in Siargao. Super easy to get to if you don’t have your own transportation. Buddha always is so welcoming and they make you feel like family.
Prana Yoga and Bodhi Yoga Center are also known as nice spots for yoga and wellness too!
Fitness
SOS Gym - A neighborhood gym that focuses on Muay Thai, circuit and boxing. If anyone can motivate you to become strong, Coach Kian can. Friendly resident dogs Kina and Finn will keep you company during your workout.
Feral Pilates Studio- a recently opened Pilates studio right under SOS Gym founded by a registered physical therapist
Catangnan Beach Dojo - A cosy dojo right by Cloud 9 which is run by a couple that offers jiu jitsu, aerial arts and a few more empowering movement practices. They also offer kids’ classes!
Spa + Hair
Island Aesthetics- located near Cloud 9 specializing in gel nails
Sirena Spa - the OG island spot for nails, facials and massages
Isla Natura - a homegrown, locally-founded central massage spa that is popular with surfers and local residents
Sarong Spa- Comfortable spa in the middle of town that offers a wide menu of massages and nail services.
Keiko Tsukamoto - Keiko is an island treasure. She cuts hair with so much precision, care and love.
Tish Mahtani - Head to Tish for a really well-done hair color job or highlights. If you’re after total hair refresh while you’re doing some island healing, she’s your girl. Tish is on the island a few weeks of the month so be sure to book with her in advance at @tishmahtani.
Mantra Home Service Massage - I would recommend their Lymphatic Drainage Massage especially if you’re feeling a bit congested.
Eat and Drink
Beach Baby Cafe - This sweet cafe is smack in the center of town and is owned by my lovely co-teacher Nicole. I always order their iced ginger juice, rose lattes and light berry smoothie bowls. Pop by if you’re feeling like refreshing and light snacks and drinks.
CEV - The island’s top spot for fresh seafood, ceviche and kinilaw. They also have some vegetarian options and you can also order their signature cocktails as mocktails if you’re not feeling like booze. Save some space for their Twix bar dessert!
Bravo - It’s a classic for a reason. Nothing beats sunset tapas at Bravo. Lots of vegan and vegetarian options on their daily menu.
Loka - You can park your board here post-surf as it’s just by Cloud 9. I usually grab their thin-crust veggie pizza and cheese fries. Yum!
Big Belly - One of the best veggie burgers in town in my book. They also have options for those who prefer fish or meat.
La Carinderia - THE place to go for home made pasta. Don’t miss their Caramello pasta, polpetta and their eggplant ravioli. They also usually have a vegan weekly special if that’s your jam.
Shanti Shanty - A family-run cafe where everything is made with so much love and care - bread, cookies, alt milks and more . Try their ginger healer drink, Filipino latte and veggie sandwich. I always leave here feeling so nourished.
BS - Brunch Spot - Cute interiors, seriously good breakfast stacks and I’m going to say - the best cinny bun in town. I love this spot for catch-ups with friends.
Food Lab - A fully plant-based Vietnamese snack shack. I love their Fried Tofu Banh Mi.
Lokal Hub - This snack bar inside a restored old home is part of the Lokal NGO. They offer delicious iced drinks ( like their famous iced coco coffee ) as well as monggo wraps, mornings chips and protein bowls. Another great spot for a more affordable meal sourced from locally-sourced ingredients.
Lokanto - My personal pick for best falafels on the island. They have quite a few plant-based options and you can order from Pwesto next door as well.
Cumin- Delicious Indian and Mediterranean dishes smack in the middle of town. I love their tofu shawarma wrap and their mango lassi.
Gasterea- Homestyle Korean restaurant run by the sweetest family. Try their mandu!
Hillside- Newly redone hillside restaurant with the best breeze and views. I am obsessed with their chocolate turon dessert.
Bar Ciao- A cute date night spot in central GL where you can have pizza, pasta and a spritz (and gelato too)
Monday’s - Delicious roadside brunch and coffee spot with lots of protein-rich options ( Also the home of Siargao Runners if you are into running clubs )
Tiki Hut- A family-run, Caribbean-inspired restaurant tucked into the backroad. My brother and I love their curries and cripsy oyster mushrooms.
Ulap Surf- Homegrown healthy spot founded by surf coach & Ulap Surf founder, Ana Mae Alipayo
Amore - A chic small dinner / date night spot with delicious pizza, pasta and dessert ( try the pistachio fondant if you have a sweet tooth). It is located at the front of Kalinaw Resort.
Coffee
Amon - My absolute fave spot for vanilla oat lattes and breakfast toasts. They also have Starlink + WiFi if you need to get work done during the day.
Saint Thomas - a hidden gem in the backroad for delicious iced coffee + non coffee drinks, banana bread and flaky croissants.
Pwesto - Their vanilla bean lattes are hard to beat. If you have a sweet tooth, try their home style apple crumble.
White Beard - An island classic! I recommend checking out their Dapa outpost if the GL branch is crowded.
Marmalade- A newly-opened island coffee spot tucked in Santa Fe. Perfect for those seeking to get off the main tourist area and have a quiet coffee
Bamboo Surf - A cute coffee shop serving coffee, crepes and savouries also in Santa Fe area.
Ice Cream | Sweets - for those with a sweet tooth like me
Coco Frio - A colourful roadside space selling all types of coconut drinks. You can find me here with a girl friend people-watching over an iced ca phe sua or coco vaso. If you’re feeling snacky, pop over to Isla Cucina for cheese rolls and ube pan de sal to go with your drink.
Buonana - The absolute best vegan nice cream ( made from bananas ) for those super humid days
Jorene’s Homemade Ice Cream - a local favourite for halo-halo and coconut ice cream
Kawayan Gourmand - There is nothing like their chocolatines and croissants straight from the oven. If you surf Cloud 9 area around 5am, head to Kawayan at 7am for their first batch of warm pastries. There are few things in life that bring me more joy than this combo.
Soul Shack- A cosy bohemian cacao bar which also serves healthy food tucked in towards the road near Vedya
Stay
Diwa - A women-owned eco-house nestled in a quiet neighborhood. Super great for groups travelling together and looking for some distance from the hustle and bustle.
Meraki - A cute, chic hostel right beside Diwa. For those who are more in a mood of wanting to meet other travellers. This accommodation is also located in a safe and quiet area of the island. They have 2 sweet pups named Nala and Zulu who are always ready to greet you when you enter.
Vedya - A beautiful boutique hostel and vegan cafe tucked into the backroad. This space is filled with some of the friendliest people and delicious food. It’s a real community.
Buddha - Simplicity is the key here. Rooms with clean lines at the center of town. A great place to stay if you prefer to walk around or trike. They offer daily yoga, surf lessons with some of the best and premium surfboard rentals.
Katig - Lovely beachfront boutique hotel smack in the center of town. If you prefer just to walk to restaurants, this is the spot for you.
Kaimana - Cosy, homey and well-finished rooms and villas. Definitely one of the places I recommend to people who have parents visiting.
Lamari - If you’re looking for a high-quality boutique resort with a restaurant, pool, wifi and a genset, Lamari is a great option. Rooms are super comfortable and there’s a great attention to detail here.
Siago - For anyone looking for a beautiful boutique beachside resort at the center of town, this is a great one. They have a pool, good wifi, a genset and delicious food.
Kalinaw - A classic, chic resort of individual private villas. Kalinaw is an OG spot that has been around for a long time and has now reopened after being beautifully refurnished. Perfect for couples and families.
Inara - If you are looking to treat yourself to a luxury stay, this boutique resort is the perfect place to be. Everything is so personal and well-curated.
Maison Bukana - This luxury home is tucked into the very end of quiet Malinao. Perfect for families or groups looking for pampered peace and quiet near the mangroves.
Villa Aurora - 2 high quality and well done Airbnbs tucked into a quiet street in Malinao. Clean, well- managed and both have a pool and private beach access.
Long Term Accomodation
Dharma Homestay - If you’re staying on the island for longer than a few weeks, I recommend this lovely set of studio apartments nestled on a hill. You can reach them via the owner’s IG; @brianhagedorn. You’ll be in great hands with Brian as your host.
Explore
Don’t miss the chance to go up north to Pacifico or Burgos on a scooter or car and just take in the scenery.
I love stopping into Izustarri for lunch as they have loads of hearty plant-based options to choose from. They also have a stunning cliff top brutalist hotel for those who are keen to stay the night.
If you feel like driving further up north, you can scoot all the way to North Dirty Kitchen or Kolekbibo. Another spot recommended by our community is Chill Out Cafe, owned and operated by a lovely local family.
Santa Fe is also a beautiful area to scooter through if you’re looking for a shorter drive. It’s just a stone’s throw from Catangnan Bridge. Stop into Haole, Marmalade and Bamboo Surf for some food & coffee while you’re there.
If you’re feeling crafty, book in a pottery workshop with Mansy Abesamis of Siargao Pottery. They work with the wild clay that is naturally found within the island. She now also offers silversmithing workshops as well.
For curated and unique tours, you might want to contact Jep of Wandering Kokak.
Surf
There are so many beautiful surf spots all over the island. I highly recommend working with local surf coaches who know these surf breaks well and who can teach you about the wave.
Some I personally recommend are
Merlan Gubaton - MG taught myself and my 2 brothers to surf. He’s a great and very encouraging coach.
Botiti Surf - headed by the legendary Carlito Nogalo, the Philippines’ first pro surfer and our surf papa. Grateful to surf alongside him often and learn from him.
Kanaway Surf - headed by another local legend and style king, Mang Carding
Agudo Surf - for those wanting to learn from the island’s best female longboarders, Ikit and Aping Agudo. Their brothers Balong and Doy are also great coaches. If you are lucky, you’ll get to surf with their dad as well, fondly known as ‘Tatay’.
Surf Plus Friends- an amazing group of young local surfers running surf experienced and retreats
Ulap Surf- founded by local female surfer, Ana Mae Alipayo. They go deep into the technical aspects of surfing via video analysis and surf theory.
Ronald ‘Dodong’ Pacanor @littlemonsta_surf - He is very technical and specializes in longboard coaching. I was able to take a session with him and it helped me learn so much.
Shopping
Cote Femme - A one stop shop for all kinds of cute, beachy linen outfits
Mispo - This adorable trinket and souvenir shop is well-curated and located right beside Cote and Buonana
Vinta - You can fill up on bulk essentials like spices, oils and grains while also shopping for high-quality toiletries, home items and clothes. Vinta has got it all! Plus it is right beside Amon.
Bravo Shop - This resort shop is filled with surfboards, cute bikinis, beach accessories and some small locally-made pieces of furniture
Kudo Surf - If you’re looking for more technical surf gear like suits, fins and boards, this shop is your best bet.
A.T.E. - A social enterprise shop in the North filled which empowers women seamstresses on the island. They have loads of locally- created textile products including pouches, bags, home products and dog collars.
Groceries and Delis
Barna- high quality items all in a one stop shop. And they accept cards which is so handy.
TAG - a small grocery in town which stocks a pretty good selection of pantry goods, toiletries, cleaning products as well as some international products. For a bulk run, you can head to the large PureGold in Dapa.
Italian Food Specialists - a one stop shop for Italian cheeses, pasta and sauce as well as other cooking ingredients
Island Deli - a deli near the boulevard which shares a space with Cocopelli Juice. They have a nice little selection of healthy snacks, teas and toiletries
Ragu - my friend’s deli which is opening very soon. Keep en eye out for their vegan cheeses and legendary home-made chai.
Lokal Hub - Fresh locally-grown veggies from the North are delivered here every Monday and Friday afternoon. Grab a snack or drink while your veggies are being packed.
Hakot - This is another pretty reliable shop ( beside TGP Pharmacy ) for veggies as well as some cooking ingredients.
Siargao Town Center- located closer to Dapa and contains the larger chain stores such as Puregold, Handyman, Mercury Drug, All About Baking, Bench and National Bookstore if you are looking for a one stop shop. There is also Sweet Halika and Whitebeard in the center if you need to refuel.
