Casa Buenas, literally translated as ‘good house’, features the best of Filipino Spanish food with a Bahay na Bato-inspired architecture and a welcoming casual Filipino fine dining service.
You’ll love the generous spaces as you enter. It’s intimidating but at the same time inviting—the kind of place you can celebrate your milestones safely with loved ones.
We tried the best of Casa Buenas, and here are some tips when you visit.
About Casa Buenas
Located on the ground floor of Hotel Okura, it takes advantage of the high ceilings to create a spacious homey ambiance with capiz wall fixtures, solihiya furniture, hand-carved hardwood floors, Machuca tiles, and modern chandelier centerpieces.
CASA BUENAS
Ground Floor, Newport Grand Wing, Portwood St., Newport City
Telephone: +63 (2) 7908-8988
Mobile: +63917 878 8312
Email: casa.buenas@rwmanila.com
Operating Hours: Daily, 11 AM to 9 PM
For private dining with big groups, make sure to reserve the Gazebo or the communal family dining table in the middle. For casual meetups with friends, the sala lounge area is quite the place to hangout, with plenty of space in between seats.
The food features Modern Filipino dishes and Spanish recipes by Chef Godfrey Laforteza.
CASA BUENAS MENU:
• Tapas, Starters, Salad, Soups, Noodle
• Pizza, Sandwiches, Main & Grill
• Off the Grill, Paella, Sides
• Desserts, Merienda
• Hot Beverage, Hot Tea, Soda, Still Water
• Sparkling Water, Fresh Juices/ Shakes, Local & Imported Beers, Cocktails
(It’s been a while since we’ve had a taste of Chef Godfrey’s food. We have fond memories of his food at the Crystal Room @ the Establishment.)
Appetizers
Fresh Orange Juice (₱350)
The complimentary bread service is served with sourdough and lavosh with pineapple- or pimiento-flavored butter, just enough to entice your palate.
You’ll love this binakol sinigang combination with acidity from the tamarind, milkiness from the coconut, and thick texture from the taro.
My wife’s favorite because of the garlicky rich broth. (Next time, will ask for the croutons to be served on the side so we can enjoy the soup more.)
Raw tuna smothered with rich coconut cream pinakurat vinegar sauce. Eat it with the melba toast and some tomato and roe for added umami.
Mains & Grill
The paella was quite good, with a thin layer of rice with socarrat and topped with good quality seafood. It went well with the grilled meats and fish.
Loved the octopus with grilled char, tender meat but firm to the bite.
All the grilled meats are served with Filipino grill sauces—salt, vinegar & salsa (no toyomansi). We liked the grilled meats as is actually.
Tasty pieces of pork jowl with a good meaty bite perfect with the paella.
A good piece of roasted salmon cooked well done and still juicy inside.
Dessert
The signature dessert, which is a mango cream cheese filling wrapped in crisp filo pastry with creamy brandy sauce, did not disappoint .
Final Thoughts
Overall, the ambiance was spacious and impressive for a hotel restaurant taking inspiration from a heritage Spanish home. You feel lucky dining in and enjoying Chef Godfrey’s Filipino-Spanish inspired food.
We loved the soups, the paella, grilled meats and their signature dessert. It would be good to dine in here with a group to enjoy eating their cochinillo de buenas at the gazebo. Budget about ₱2,200/head + drinks.
Congratulations to the Casa Buenas team for the awesome ambiance and modern Filipino Spanish food experience! You’ll definitely feel lucky after eating here.
CASA BUENAS
Ground Floor, Newport Grand Wing, Portwood St., Newport City
Telephone: +63 (2) 7908-8988
Mobile: +63917 878 8312
Email: casa.buenas@rwmanila.com
Operating Hours: Daily, 11 AM to 9 PM
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Disclosure: Thanks to Nikkei Team for the experience. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
Disclosure: Thank you to Roshele for our Casa Buenas experience. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. The basement parking is free but it is a maze getting into parking section A where Hotel Okura is located. Enter the parking maze near the Holiday Inn Express Manila.