Bella Vita — Restaurant in El Nido

Bella Vita El Nido – A Slice of Heaven by the Sea

During our two-week stay in El Nido, Bella Vita quickly became our favorite spot—so much so that we returned several times and cherished every visit.

On our first night, we ordered the Burrata Lover’s Pizza and the authentic Carbonara—and what a welcome meal it was. The carbonara was unforgettable: silky, rich, and perfectly balanced, with crispy guanciale that tasted like slivers of heaven. It was indulgent without being overwhelming—each bite just made us want more. The pizza, topped with a whole, glorious burrata, had the best crust we’ve ever had. That crust was so good we wiped the carbonara sauce off the plate with it—there wasn’t a single crumb left behind.

We returned for lunch a few days later and had the Vegetariana Pizza and Caesar Salad. The pizza again delivered—generous toppings of peppers, olives, onions, and more on that signature crust. The Caesar Salad was a bit less impressive: the bacon was chunkier than expected, and the chicken might have been better cut into smaller pieces or shredded. The dressing also lacked that anchovy punch of a classic Caesar. Still, the seaside view and the ever-warm staff more than made up for it—it was a lovely, relaxed lunch overall.

A few days later, we came back for dinner—and this visit was unforgettable. My partner is notoriously hard to please, but Bella Vita passed the test. We ordered the Burratina Pizza (yes, we really love burrata!) and the Gorgonzola Gnocchi. I did a little happy dance in my chair after the first bite of gnocchi. It was that good. Perfectly cooked—not mushy, with just the right bite—and coated in a sauce so divine I nearly cried. It was rich, creamy, and balanced in a way that felt masterful. I wanted to lick the plate clean, but the place was full of diners, so I did the next best thing: I ordered the Focaccia just to sop up every last drop. That dish alone is reason enough to return.

We also tried the Chef’s Special Pizza and the Bruschetta on another evening, both of which were excellent. The Amaretto Sour stood out from the cocktail menu—well balanced and delicious—but the overall drink selection could be a bit more creative. Still, it’s a minor note in an otherwise outstanding experience.

And then—there was dessert. My partner, who had sworn off chocolate for a few days, suddenly spotted a Chocolate Fondant being served at the next table. One look at his puppy-eyed expression and I caved. When it arrived, he nearly forgot to share. I couldn’t even be mad—the cake was that good. With its molten center, rich decadent texture, and just the right level of sweetness, it was heavenly. Paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was impossible to resist. We tried to split it evenly, but I’m fairly certain he got 15% more than I did.

And truly, what sets Bella Vita apart—beyond the food and those stunning El Nido sunsets—is the genuine warmth of the staff. Every visit felt like coming home. Their hospitality is effortless, sincere, and absolutely memorable.

Bella Vita is now firmly my go-to spot in El Nido. Amazing food, breathtaking views, and a team that makes you feel like family. Don’t...

Extremely disappointing and unsafe experience – severe food poisoning

My partner and I had dinner here, and unfortunately, it turned into a nightmare. Shortly after eating, she became violently ill with severe vomiting and diarrhea — clear symptoms of food poisoning. We are experienced travelers and often eat local food, but this was clearly not safe.

We had to buy medication and were forced to cancel a 3-day boat expedition worth €600, which we had been looking forward to for months.

What should have been a highlight of our trip turned into days of recovery. It's incredibly concerning that a restaurant would compromise the health of its guests like this. I sincerely hope they take serious action to improve their food safety and hygiene. We won’t recommend this to other — ever.

*Update: After posting this review, I noticed several others also reported food poisoning from this place. While many reviews are positive, the fact that multiple guests had similar experiences points to a recurring issue — not just bad luck. This makes it even more unacceptable and reinforces how important it is for the restaurant to take responsibility and improve its food safety standards.

**In advance to the expected reaction of the restaurant owner;

On the day of the incident, we only had breakfast (from a sealed package) and drank bottled water exclusively — no tap water or questionable sources.

Partner started feeling unwell during the meal, about halfway through her dish. Food-poisioning can start as soon as 30 min after eating toxines in food- 1-3 hours after eating baceteria in food research says.

The dish was the pasta tartufo, and we strongly suspect spoiled cream or ingredients were involved.

This was not a viral infection — the symptoms were sudden and intense, and clearly linked to the meal itself.

Please don't dismiss concerns like these as “just the water.” It’s about food safety and accountability. We sincerely hope the restaurant takes this seriously, as we would never want other travelers to go through what we experienced.

• After reading the owner's reply below, it's clear they didn’t even take the time to read our full review. Referring to a pizza — which we never ordered — or asking for information that is already shared, shows a lack of care and attention. It's disappointing to see such a dismissive and copy-paste response to a...

Spotted this very nice looking pizzeria while walking by the Corong Corong Beach and glad we stopped by. They have great pizza! I loved it because it reminds me how Italian prepare their pizza. Their pizza is really 5 stars!

The pasta is also good. Although not that al dente, it is really tasty and richer and well suited for Western and Filipino palates. They have very good list of beverage menu.

Staff are attentive and nice. The place is cozy and wonderful with beautiful panorama, perfect for cooling down and waiting for sunset. Price is a bit on the high side but considering the size, flavor, service and of course the ambiance, it is truly reasonable and worth visiting again. Complimenti for your beautiful dining area and wonderful Italian pizza and pasta dishes!

I just hope that they have credit card facility working at all times or be at least Gcash or mobile banking friendly because with their average price P1900 for 3 people per meal, I don't think it is convenient to pay in cash especially for those like us who are staying on other resorts because the area don't have nearby ATM.

We are planning to visit again because of our very good dining experience so it will be great if we will no longer have problem paying by card or other cashless...