Quezon City Tourist Spots + Where to Eat in QC
Staying in Metro Manila for the weekend? Quezon City (QC) is known as the "Entertainment Capital of the Philippines" and the "City of Stars" due to its concentration of media networks and a vibrant entertainment industry.
If you want to explore this city for a day trip, this comprehensive guide shows you the top things to do in QC, the best restaurants in the city, where to stay if you’re planning an overnight trip, and how to get to this northern city in Metro Manila.
About Quezon City
Quezon City is a part of the Philippines’ National Capital Region (NCR). It is the largest city in Metro Manila, politically subdivided into 6 districts and 142 barangays.
QC Map
The city is bordered by Caloocan City, San Jose del Monte City, and Bulacan Province to the north; San Mateo, Rizal and Marikina to the east; Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Manila to the south; and Valenzuela, South Caloocan, and Manila to the west.
Top Places to Go in Quezon City
La Mesa Eco Park Amphitheater
If you want to explore this highly urbanized city in the Philippines, here are the best tourist spots to visit:
1. Art in Island: A 3D art museum perfect for picture-taking
2. Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center: A nature spot for jogging and fishing right inside the metro
3. La Mesa Eco Park: An environmental haven where you can go jogging, swimming, biking, and fishing
4. Quezon Memorial Circle: A green area in the middle of the Elliptical Road with small stores, plant stores, restaurants, picnic areas, and playgrounds
5. UP Diliman: The Philippines’ top university, known as a jogging place for QC residents
6. Cubao Expo: Retro-style hangout space with hole-in-the-wall bars and restaurants
7. Ateneo Art Gallery: Art museum right inside Ateneo de Manila University
8. Vargas Museum: Art museum right inside the University of the Philippines
9. Quezon Heritage House: Preserved neoclassical home turned museum, once home to ex-president Manuel L. Quezon
10. Mystery Manila: Escape room game in Eastwood, perfect for couples, families, and barkadas
11. Smart Araneta Coliseum: Usual venue for K-pop concerts, local and international performances, and other big events
Malls in Quezon City
If it’s raining hard and you prefer to stay inside the mall or just want to watch a good movie, QC has a lot of them! Here are the best malls to go to when you’re in the heart of Quezon City:
▪ SM North EDSA: The biggest mall in Quezon City that has everything you need
▪ Ayala Malls Trinoma: Mall beside SM North EDSA, with direct access to MRT North Ave. Station
▪ Ayala Malls Vertis North: Small, upscale mall beside Trinoma
▪ UP Town Center: Indoor-outdoor mall near the UP Campus.
▪ Gateway Mall: Newly-renovated mall connected to the Smart Araneta Coliseum
▪ Eastwood Mall: OG mall for QC residents, filled with bars and restaurants
Food Trip in Quezon City
QC has a lot of good restaurants. If you’re looking for the best places to eat in Quezon City, check out this list:
Banawe Food Trip
Are you craving for authentic Filipino-Chinese food but don’t want to go to Binondo for a food trip? The good news is that some restaurants in Binondo already have branches in Banawe, such as the all-time Chinoy favorites, Tasty Dumplings and Sincerity.
Don’t miss out on the best restaurants in Banawe:
▪ Sincerity Cafe and Restaurant: Known for their Sincerity Fried Chicken and oyster cake
▪ Maki Haus: Known for the pork maki, kiampong, and siomai
▪ Fong Wei Wu: Known for their steamed pork, hong ma, and Taiwanese sausage
▪ Hokki Dumplings: Known for their beef noodle soup and kuchay dumplings
▪ Tasty Dumplings: Known for their pork chop, silver roll bread, and steamed dumplings
▪ Shanghai Hand-Pulled Noodles: Known for their dry noodles and dumplings
▪ Tuen Mun Roasts: Known for their lechon macau and white chicken
▪ Causweay: Known for their dimsum like tausi spareribs, machang, and radish cake
▪ Nine Fresh: Known for their soy or gelatin-based desserts
Maginhawa Food Trip
If you’re more into supporting local businesses, Maginhawa has a lot of small hole-in-the-wall restaurants that may satisfy your taste buds.
Some of the best restaurants in Maginhawa include:
▪ Garlic Kitchen: Known for its IG-worthy garlic-infused dishes
▪ Nam Nam 20: Known for their pho bo and goi cuon
▪ Friuli Trattoria: Known for its affordable pizza and pasta
▪ Crazy Katsu: Known for their chicken katsu
▪ Saigon Pho Manila: Known for its authentic pho and banh mi
▪ Provenciano: Known for their Filipino comfort food
▪ Sundays Cafe Maginhawa: Known for their all-day breakfast and fusion-style dishes
▪ Mr. Jeepney: Known for its jeepney-inspired restaurant, where you eat Filipino food inside a jeepney
▪ Gubat Maginhawa: Known for its simple Filipino dishes that are to be eaten with your hands
Restaurants and Bars in Tomas Morato
Incanta Cave Bar and Restaurant
Heads up! Parking is a big problem here. But hey, if you want to join the crowd, why not? Tomas Morato is filled with good restaurants, aesthetic cafes, and bars you would want to try at least once in your life.
Check out the following bars and restaurants in Tomas Morato:
▪ Behrouz Persian Cuisine: Known for its beef kebab and BTO
▪ Pho Hoa: Known for its flank pho and goi cuon
▪ Livestock Restaurant and Bar: Known for its famous crispy pata
▪ Tablo Kitchen x Cafe: Known for their family-sized servings for each dish
▪ LOLA Cafe: Known for Filipino comfort food and fusion-style dishes
▪ Lola Ote: Known for its extra-long barbeques and ihaw dishes
▪ The Frazzled Cook: Known for its Filipino and Italian-infused dishes
▪ Palm Grill: Known for Mindanao cuisine, including tiyula itum
▪ Incanta Cave Bar and Restaurant: IG-aesthetic cafe in the morning, bar at night
▪ The Beech: Cozy sit-down bar with private KTV rooms
▪ G-Side Tomas Morato: One of the OG clubs in Tomas Morato
▪ Club Hype QC: Eclectic nightclub in Tomas Morato with amazing DJs
▪ URBN QC: Modern club, great for parties and barkada hangouts
▪ PS Bar and Billiard: Cozy and affordable drinking place with pool tables
Where to Stay in Quezon City
Compared to Manila City, QC is more chill and has more of that suburban vibe. You definitely won’t get that ‘probinsya’ vibes, but it’s still more relaxed compared to Manila, Makati, or BGC.
Hotels in Quezon City
If you prefer staying in a hotel, here are your top options:
▪ Seda Vertis North: Upscale hotel near Ayala Malls Vertis North
▪ Solaire Resort North: 5-star hotel and casino near Ayala Malls Vertis North
▪ Hop Inn Hotel: Affordable hotel near MRT North Avenue Station
▪ Go Hotels: Affordable hotel right across SM North EDSA
▪ Park Inn by Radisson North: Luxurious hotel right inside the SM North EDSA Compound
▪ Seqoia Hotel: Modern hotel within the Tomas Morato area
▪ Camelot Hotel: Castle-themed hotel within the Tomas Morato area
▪ Novotel Manila: Upscale hotel right inside the Araneta Center compound in Cubao
For budget hotels, there are ‘love hotels’ that are available for as short as 3 hours. Famous ones include Hotel Sogo and Victoria Court. Perfect if you just need to stay in for a few hours, especially when you’re on a tight schedule.
Airbnb and Transient Options in Quezon City
There are also several Airbnbs and transients available in QC. Some even come with private pools if you choose private home accommodations.
Please remember to bring your own toiletries and portable bath towels, as some accommodations may not provide these travel essentials.
How to Get to Quezon City
They say that Cubao is the center of Metro Manila. And when you’re in Cubao, you can get to any destination in the Philippines.
Here’s how to get to Cubao, Quezon City:
By Train
The main areas of Quezon City are accessible via train. If you’re going to Cubao, take the MRT-3 or the LRT-2 and get off at Cubao Station.
By Carousel/Bus
You can also take the Carousel bus, which passes through EDSA, starting from Monumento in Caloocan to PITX in Paranaque City. The Carousel bus passes through major QC stops, including Balintawak, Munoz, SM North EDSA, North Avenue, Philam Homes, Nepa Q-Mart, and Main Avenue (Cubao).
There are also point-to-point (P2P) buses available that stop at SM North EDSA/Trinoma.
By Taxi or Private Car
The easiest way to get to your destination is to take a taxi, Grab Car, Angkas (motorcycle taxi), or your private car. Quezon City is relatively centrally located in Metro Manila, so it wouldn’t take a long time to reach QC if you’re coming from other cities.
Getting Around QC
If you’re already in Quezon City, you can either take a tricycle or e-trike for short distances, and a jeepney, mini bus, or Q City Bus for longer routes around QC.
Explore Quezon City Today
Ready to explore the biggest city in Metro Manila? Grab your bags and get ready for a memorable experience with your friends, family, and loved ones. Enjoy!
If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, check out these road trip destinations near Metro Manila.