What are the things to do in Bacolod? First time visitors would often ask. However, most visitors go to Bacolod City only during MassKara Festival because that is what the city is famous for especially for first-time visitors. Most people do not know what to do, where to go and what to eat when they visit Bacolod for the first time.
There is more to Bacolod than MassKara Festival and unfortunately a lot of visitors would often miss a lot of things to do in Bacolod. Heck, even locals often miss these attractions. I will try to list down as many attractions, activities and food in Bacolod for visitors and locals to experience and enjoy, aside from MassKara Festival. You’ll agree with me that #101 is by far the best and it’s totally free! Here are a list of things to do in Bacolod which you can enjoy anytime of the year.
Places to Visit and Things to Do in Bacolod
- Learn about the history of Negros Island, the history of sugar, see Mara Montelibano’s collection of 3,000 folk art and toys from around the world, and buy souvenirs at the Negros Museum.
- See a collection of religious artifacts and the first international folk textile gallery in the Philippines donated by Mara Montelibano to the Museo Negrense de La Salle.
- Learn about the typical lifestyle of the Negrenses at the Dizon Ramos Museum and the family’s collection of ceramics, glass and religious artifacts
- See the collection of religious artifacts at the Museo Diocesano de Bacolod
- Take photos, hear a love story, enjoy the sunset or just simply admire The Ruins of Don Mariano Lacson mansion. This is between the boundaries of Talisay and Bacolod but more accessible in Bacolod.
- See the ancestral house of Mariano Ramos and other rich families along the Millionaire’s Row
- Visit the ancestral house or Balay Daku of Generoso Villanueva, famously known as the Boat House.
- Visit Tomas Casiano’s collection of over 2,000 pieces of Depression Glasses, the first and the biggest collection in Asia
- Visit J&L Marañon Art House for its vast collection of bizarre artworks
- See a performance of the Animo Puppet Theater
- See the works of Negrense artists at the Orange Gallery
- Enjoy Italian food and see the works of Negrense artists at Italia Restaurant
- See the Luzuriaga Family Cemetery, the world’s one and only Cemetery in the middle of a road intersection
- Shop for local crafts at the Bacolod Central Market and learn more about the local culture through their food.
- Walk along Bacolod Shopping Center, Bacolod City’s Chinatown and eat in one of the Chinese restaurants
- Buy export quality products made by Negrenses at the Negros Showroom
- Buy local products for pasalubong at the Bacolod City Showroom
- Shop at Victorias Foods Pasalubong Outlet for Victorias Sardines and other Negrense favorites
- Buy quality but affordable flowers at the Bacolod Public Plaza, witness a debate among ordinary people, and see endemic species of trees.
- Buy export quality Masskara Masks and other artworks at Vito Designs Gallery
- Swim in one of the pools of Sta. Fe Resort, Bacolod City’s oldest inland resort
- Enjoy the sea breeze, the view and the pool at Palma’s Del Mar Resort
- Spend a relaxing afternoon at the tree-covered Forest Park Resort
- Enjoy the sea breeze at Punta Taytay Mangrove
- See the Negros Island endemic species of animals at the NFEFI Biodiversity and Conservation Center
- Take a stroll at the Capitol Lagoon and Park and admire the iconic Provincial Capitol building, carabao sculptures, and the Paghimud-os
- Enjoy the sunset and the sea breeze at the Bacolod reclamation area
- Have a picnic at Bantug Ranch and Lake Place
- Have a family outing at the La Salle Granada Ecopark
- Enjoy the cooler climate at Campuestohan Highlands, take photos of the huge statues, and have an adrenaline rush at the zipline. This is in Talisay City but more accessible in Bacolod.
- Unwind at Melba’s Farm, swim at night in its infinity pool while watching the glow of lights of Bacolod. This is between the boundaries of Talisay and Bacolod but more accessible in Bacolod.
- Go around the different towns and cities of Negros Occidental in one day through their pavilions at the Pana-ad Park and Stadium
- Spend an early morning or late afternoon at the Bacolod Government Center and join the people who jog, stroll, or just take a selfie.
- Enjoy the night life at the Art District, Club Sibeeria, and Goldenfields
- Enjoy the slide and pool at the Caribbean Water Park
- Relax and rejuvenate in one of the members of the Spa Association of Negros (SPAN)
- Learn more about organic farming at May’s Organic Garden
- Learn more about the award-winning ram pump technology of AID Foundation
- Learn more about vermicomposting at Henares Farm (Hacienda Buro-Buro)
- Shop for fresh farm produce and artisan food at the Negros Weekend Farmers Market
- Enjoy healthy, organic food at ONOPRA Organic Restaurant
- Buy natural honey and see real honeybee colonies at Archie’s Apiary
- Visit the San Sebastian Cathedral, one of Negros Occidental’s remaining colonial churches
- Visit the Barangay Sang Virgen Chapel and see the shell mosaic mural
- Climb the John Paul II Tower and see a panoramic view of Bacolod City
- Visit the crown-shaped Our Lady of Peace Chapel or Huaming Church
- Go biking to Brgy. Alangilan where you traverse challenging terrain and enjoy the cooler climate
- Take ATV rides at Pahanocoy Eco Adventure Park
- Shop for pots and other earthenware at Brgy. Pahanocoy
- Play or watch a Polo match at the La Provincial Polo Club, the first outside of Metro Manila
- Play golf at the Negros Occidental Gold and Country Club and Bacolod City Golf Club
- Buy premium breed of Fighting Cocks
Where and What to Eat and Drink in Bacolod
- Original Bacolod Chicken Inasal of Manokan Country
- Piaya in different flavors and sizes from Sugarlandia, Bailon’s, Virgie’s, Bong-Bong’s and Merzci
- Biscocho and hopia at Margie’s
- Piping hot bowl of Batchoy with bone marrow at Super Batchoy
- Piping Hot, sticky bowl of pata at Saning’s
- Piping hot bowl of cansi with bone marrow at Sharyn’s Cansi
- Exotic Soup No. 5 at Virgelio’s
- Shawarma at Shawarma ni Kulas
- Oysters at Punta Taytay
- Freshly brewed coffee from native coffee shops at the Central Market
- Buy fresh seafood at Pala-Pala Market and have it cooked in one of the restaurants
- Pork barbecue at Malaspina
- Pork Barbecue at Tikboy’s
- SIlay delicacies sold in baskets by women vendors
- Filipino delicacies at Quan’s Restaurant
- Bacolod Lechon along Araneta Avenue
- Baby Back Ribs at Lord Byron’s
- Sweet, creamy goodness of Napoleones from Roli’s, Virgie’s, and Pendy’s
- Filipino food and the heavenly sweetness of Pendy’s half moon
- Mango cheesecake at Tiffany’s Confections
- Tarts of Virgie’s Homemade Products
- Cakes at Calea’s
- Steak and cakes at Felicia’s
- Cupcakes at Flibby’s Sweets and Treats
- Cupcakes at Little Miss Cupcake Café
- Cupcakes, Backrids and Chicken Cordon Bleu at Bacolod Cupcake Café
- Cupcakes at Lil’s Cupcake Cafe
- Coffee, tea and sandwiches at Kuppa
- Baby Back Ribs, Sate Babe, Mongolian Bar, Fruit Punch and other all-time favorites at Bob’s Restaurant
- Bog’s Brew Beer
- Federico’s Island Wine
- Don Papa Rum
- Affordable Vietnamese food at Saigon Café
- Sisig at Kubo sa Lawn
- Homestyle Spanish inspired dishes at Wamba’s Bistro
- Steak and Baby Back Ribs at Pepe’s
- Baby Back Ribs at Cookies ‘N Crumbs
- Tapas and other Spanish food at Txacho
- Chinese food at L’ Sea
- Chinese food at Mai Pao
- Asian Food at Mushu
- Organic food at Fresh Start Organic Restaurant
- Japanese food at Inaka Japanese Restaurant and L’Kaisei
- Laswa, Bas-oy, Batchoy and other Ilonggo and Filipino food at 21 Restaurant
- Filipino food at Aboy’s Restaurant
- Italian food at Trattoria Uma
- Seafood at Imay’s Restaurant
- Artisan food at the Museum Café
and the Best Thing to Enjoy in Bacolod for FREE is…
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101. The smile of the people 😀
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I know I missed a lot especially the eating part. If you have other suggestions, feel free to comment below. Please ask your friends to make suggestions by sharing this list. Let’s help promote Bacolod City!
Ms. Glady Reyes sana po complete address ang mga mga naka list tulad ko dito ako mag rely magvivisit ako sa Bacolod and Sagay on Sept. 30- Oct 2 (Sagay) , Bacolod Oct.3–5 2014, wala akong idea sa place na yan kaya thru internet lang ang aking basehan,tnx po.
Tyrol Restaurant, 12th Street. Order the sauerbraten ahead of time, takes time to marinate. Good sausages and beers. Chef/owner is a nice guy.
It's at Aguinaldo St. near the Provincial Vet Office
Baw salamat kay nakalab-ot man ini sa pader mo. Share share lang abyan pag may time. 😀
baw abyan, daku ko gid nga ka surpresa sang mag scroll down ko sa bottom sang page pagkatapos ko basahon nga imo ni gle blog. dugay na gid ko abi wala kapamasyar di. kun wala ko pa gin click ang link sa facebook, wala pa ko liwat ka basa blog mo. baskug gid.
Hi Gladys any Christian Church you can recommend? im a non Catholic. Thks
Thanks for the feedback. I'll work on the addresses. 😀
Kulang pa gd ang list atty. I'll update the list as more people made recommendations.
Daw mapuli na gid ko sa Bacolod. 🙁
I think #44 🙂
Pls include Mambukal Mountain Resort,Rib Breaker baby backribs,Qualitea,Soup & Grill (pork & chicken bbq, Soup #5) 🙂
You should include the Sta. Clara chapel in places to visit!
the problem with this article the writer does not cite the location or its address.
I would include salpicao at pepe's, Bascon (esp baba cake), pamilya grill and KGB 🙂
How about night entertainments. Like the Country Haus infront of Bacolod Old Airport where you could listen to country's songs and song of the 80's. Carlo Restorante for their Negrense Special Pizza and Acoustic Entertainments. I also love to eat the spareribs of Chicken House aside from their chicken Inasal. How about the cheap and tasty backribs spareribs and fruit punch of Familia Grills.
Thank you for this info but it would really help to put addresses/ location otherwise it’s no help to tourist with short visit here and even to the locals. Please add Mely’s Garden on your resto places. Thank you.
Thank you very much for collating this!
You should try the ff restos (my apologies for redundant entries, if any):
Best Italian restaurant; best pizza, best pasta – chef carmine pece at The Ruins (chef carmine is italian, by the way)
Best chinese restaurant – golden of fortune
Best mongolian – pamilya grill
Best native restaurant – ading’s pala-pala (used to be aboy’s hands down, but my gulay! ading’s is just orgasmic)
Best steak – Pendy’s (try the pendy’s steak)
Best inasal – chicken house
Best lechon manok – ting-ting’s
Best sizzling bangus – kubo sa lawn (i agree that they also serve the best sisig)
Best cansi – sharyn’s (try also their fried cansi)
Best lechon baboy – pesyong’s near chinese temple narra ext, shopping
Best salpicao – 365 cafe
Best batchoy – bar 21
Best burger – big beefy burger
Best palabok – bob’s pancit luglog
I love bacolod! It’s a fooder’s paradise!
So many things to do and see and so little time for me..I jwas disappointed that most of the shops were closed on Sabado de Gloria…sayang, they could have open for there were so many tourists during that time……IIn Manila, Sabado de Gloria has all of the shops and restos open…Guess its the provincial way of celebrating holy week…can't get enough of my hometown…always…wanting to go back….
Ray Geganto Sta. Fe Resort is at #21
Art District. Lopues mandalagan
Maybe this article can be upgraded to “101 Things to Enjoy in Negros” to make it truly “Experience Negros”.
We’re working on it. Thanks for the suggestion and any help will be appreciated. 🙂
thank you 🙂
Where is Diotay's Eatery located?
Ray Geganto nalimtan lang e mention ang Sta. Fe Resort, it is much improved now, BTW!
Any relation to Rodrigo Agarrado?
Where are these two located?
Hi Neng, thanks for sharing. For me the best is laswa, kadyos (where?), and baye2. Now I know it's #18 when looking for Victorias sardines. But whatever happened to Sta Fe resort? Happy Weekend!
Mambukal
Ralph Valencia Navos Thank you Sir! Ari kami sa shopping. Will check it out! 🙂
may ara sa Alijis Rd. then sa Villamonte, shopping rd. tupad raffy's / munsterrific 🙂
will do these things soon!!!! i miss bacolod!!!
please try My Big Fat Shawarma ang Garaje Eco Bar… 🙂
1. Zumba at NGC every Saturday and Sunday Morning! 2. Horseback riding and fishing at the lake at Bantug Farm 3. Seafood dinner adventure at Diotay's Eatery 4. Talaba (oyster) meal at Gerry's Talabahan or if you can still catch the small eateries near Ceneco they have Talaba there too 5. Have a chill out lunch or dinner with friends at The Deck Punta Taytay 6. watch the sun sets at Bacolod Baywalk and let kids run and play 7. buy Fresh Lumpia at P25.00 per roll at City Lunch 8. Try Callos or Paella at Negros Farmers Market at friendly prices…. well I love to eat… these are just some experiences that I'd like to share with everybody here. Yeah I like to eat. Me, my family and friends, who doesn't?
Have lunch or dinner at By the Bucket along 11th Street across Kaise Japanese Resto
diin ni virgelio's nga soup no. 5? diin ni ila location?
salamat. 😀
smile