Barbara's Heritage Restaurant — Restaurant in Manila

The staff were very confusing and inattentive. We walked in to the restaurant for an ala carte dining and was taken upstairs, told by the staff outside. The place was very nice and aesthetically pleasing at first. However, when we got to the room, we found it really messy. You would be welcomed by a bunch of people getting food at the buffet, just right next to the doorstep. There wasn't enough space for people to walk on. We were assisted to our table somewhere in the corner, not easily seen. Before we even got to sit, I heard an old lady (probably the owner?) getting mad at one of the staff because, from what I understand, we were not supposed to be in that room (but was forced to sit along with the buffet customers since we were already there anyway). We were finally seated, but for 10 minutes no one was coming to us. The staff were so busy accommodating the FOREIGNERS (no offense meant) who came even later than us. We really felt insulted. We asked if we were in the right place and the staff said it's okay that we are there. They transferred us to a room on the same floor, only for it to be a worse dining area for us to eat. There was a big group of foreigners there who looked at us and it was really uncomfortable! We just requested to be transferred downstairs because we were so pissed and hungry already. We went to the ground floor and ate there instead. The place was quiet and gloomy, tho. After all that, we just felt a hierarchy vibe where the richer gets accommodated better and faster than those who are not. Stays true to the Spanish heritage (and culture??), eh??

Inside the historic walled city of Manila is a beautiful quaint restaurant that will make you travel back in time. Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant will let every visitors experience dining like an Illustrado during the Spanish era. The restaurant offers home-cooked, Spanish-inspired meals meticulously prepared for their guest’s satisfaction.

The restaurant is actually a part of the grand houses in Barrio San Luis, also known as one of the four original villages of Intramuros. It is right across  San Agustin church and bounded by Calle Real, General Luna, Cabildo, and Urdaneta streets. The other two grand houses are the Los Hidalgos, c. 1650 and Cuyugan Mansion, c. 1890.

My family and I visited Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant after attending my sister's graduation at PICC. It's quite convenient since it's just 10mins drive.

The restaurant’s exterior and interior look like an old-fashioned Spanish home that gives a nostalgic atmosphere. If you love classic things, you’ll surely enjoy visiting here. The large dining area has a lot of stylish chandeliers, beautiful antique wooden furniture, fabulous wall mirrors, and old portraits. And to set a relaxing mood, they have musikeros inside that were so good and friendly too.

As for the food, here's what we ordered: 10/10 Paella de Mariscos - definitely a must try 8/10 Sugpito Tiger Prawns Sinigang - too sour for me 7/10 Beef Kare Kare - just a usual Kare Kare, what we dont like is the bagoong. Taste us unusual. 10/10 Grilled Vegetables with Pesto - this is so yummy! you have to try it! 9/10 Lemon Chicken Pepper

We enjoyed the food, especially the flavorful Paella and veggies. The food served is well-cooked and presented in an appetizing manner. The servers are friendly, polite, and attentive. The serving time was more than 30 minutes, which is understandable since they cook the food...

First timer here and I'm glad I had dinner at Barbara's on my first day in Manila. The cultural show (think musicians and dance performancea) was the absolute highlight. It was truly special. As a filipina-american born in the USA, I felt proud to be a Filipina. I got emotional watching it. You're allowed to take pics and video of the performances. After the show, they invite guests on the dance floor/stage to learn tinikling with the guidance of a professional dance partner. Tinikling is a traditional Filipino dance involving bamboo stilts. I did it, it's fun! Then you can take a group pic with the dancers later. No additional fee, but they lay a hat on the ground if you want to leave a tip. They aren't pushy about it. The hostess also made other special announcements to recognize birthdays and foreign travelers visiting the Philippines for the first time.

We did the dinner buffet and called ahead earlier in the day to make a reservation for two. I'm glad that we did. I was concerned there wouldn't be any food left since we arrived at 7:07pm (buffet started at 630p). There was a good amount of food left, room temperature as other reviews mentioned. Some food items were refilled. The leche flan was long gone lol. Drinks were additional. I ordered the calamansi juice and if had a flowery taste one that I'm not used to, but if was still drinkable. My husband ordered soursop juice. Total cost for buffet dinner + 2 drinks was 3,500 PHP or $62 USD. Worth it for the show imo.

Also, plan for traffic. I stayed in Makati about 3 miles away and our Grab ride took 45 minutes. Thankfully, the show started around 7:20 pm and lasted an hour. We found a Grab driver easily after dinner. If you have a long wait before your driver arrives, walk around the corner to take pics in the small beautiful courtyard next to the...