Cover Discover San Juan through the eyes of Seva’s chef Neil Dy (Photo: courtesy of Seva)
Discover San Juan through the eyes of Seva’s chef Neil Dy (Photo: courtesy of Seva)
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Chef Neil Dy of Seva reveals where he eats, drinks and unwinds in San Juan—the city he’s called home for over two decades
San Juan is the smallest city in the Philippines by land area, wedged between Manila, Quezon City and Mandaluyong. Rather than feeling cramped, it runs like a small town with a neighbourly camaraderie that much of the world has lost: families send their children to the same schools, eat at the same legacy restaurants and shop at the same malls, generation after generation.
“San Juan is a small, tight-knit community,” says chef Neil Dy, general manager and head of F&B at Seva, located just off Wilson St. “Geographically, we’re right at the centre of Metro Manila, which makes the area incredibly accessible from almost anywhere. More importantly, though, I love that San Juan has a character of its own. It has a distinct sense of community and identity that makes it feel different from the rest of Metro Manila.”
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Above One of Seva’s specialities: rib-eye with blistered shishito peppers and steak rice (Photo: courtesy of Seva)
Above Chef Neil Dy, general manager and head of F&B at Seva (Photo: courtesy of Seva)
One of Seva’s specialities: rib-eye with blistered shishito peppers and steak rice (Photo: courtesy of Seva)
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Opened in 2024, Seva (Tatler Best Philippines Spotlight Restaurant 2026) is an upscale casual restaurant serving comfort food shaped by travel and global influence. Dy helms the kitchen together with head chef Amanda Hao Dy; prior to opening the restaurant, the husband-and-wife team honed their skills through a private dining concept called 29 Sang. Leading the floor is co-founder Jonah Chantong, who has cultivated the restaurant’s distinct brand of hospitality—one that charmed diners not only to return, but stay, turning Seva into a late-night hangout that ran until the early hours. In January 2026, they built Sala by Seva, a cocktail bar and lounge right across from the restaurant, to give that habit a room of its own.
Asked why he wanted to open his restaurant in San Juan, Dy keeps it simple. “First, because I grew up in this area and have a deep familiarity with the community and its market,” Dy explains. The chef has called San Juan home for over two decades, having gone to a local preschool and later Xavier School, from grade school to high school. “Having spent most of my life in the area, I’ve had the chance to see how almost every corner of San Juan has evolved over the years, while experiencing many of the changes and stories that came with it.”
“Second,” he continues, “I felt that there was something missing in the area. We wanted to be somewhere that wasn’t saturated yet—an area where we could bring something different, establish our own identity and truly stand out.”
Seva opened its doors in 2024 and quickly became a neighbourhood favourite (Photo: Gabby Cantero)
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That’s not to say the city hasn’t evolved. “Over the past three years since the pandemic, San Juan has seen a significant rise in restaurants, cafés, bars and other lifestyle concepts,” he says. “It’s high energy, but with a sense of home. A neighbourhood that’s always alive, but never rushes you. We’re busy, we’re thriving, we’re always out doing something—but at the end of the day, we still know our neighbours, we still go home and we still know how to slow down.”
Keep reading to see San Juan City through Neil's eyes: where he goes for congee, which bar he unwinds at after a long day, the nostalgic institutions he refuses to give up, the new discoveries that impressed him and the one thing he thinks San Juan’s food scene is still missing.
See also: Tatler’s Ultimate Guide: the 16 best brunch spots in Metro Manila
Best place to go for breakfast/brunch?
Cafe Mabini—if you are looking for a heavy breakfast, they have big breakfast plates. Choi Garden in Promenade for breakfast dim sum. They have good congee too.
Best place to go for coffee and/or matcha?
Supernormal has good coffee and matcha. I also like Wahunomi, Yardstick Coffee & AM Espresso at The Corner House, Mabuhay Craft Coffee and Go-To Matcha.
Best place to go for date night?
Aside from Seva, Antonio’s (at PGA Cars)!
Where to get the best dessert in the neighbourhood?
At Century Seafood Restaurant, get the snowballs; at Mann Hann, the buko sherbet.
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Best speciality grocer or deli?
Säntis Delicatessen along Wilson Street, One World Deli, Sunshine Fruit Bar at the ground floor of Seva, plus Little Store on the Hill and DEC for your Chinese “deli” needs.
Best fine dining experience?
Antonio’s at PGA Cars. For good Chinese for big celebrations: Xiù, Gloria Maris and Choi Garden.
Best bar to unwind after a long day?
Wahunomi, Raion, Malagihay Cocktail Club, Gaea and Flora Tea Bar.
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A new find that’s impressed you in the neighbourhood?
Lots! Tripod’s Pizza, Grand House, Calle 51 and Mizuki Shabu-Shabu & Sukiyaki at The Corner House. I also recently discovered Glashaus Bistro, a small café run by a Filipina and her German husband. They have homey café food. Get the schnitzel!
A restaurant/café/bar you’ve been gate-keeping?
Some insider tips from a true San Juan local:
- Fresh lumpia from Little Store on the Hill
- Country Chicken
- Namu salt and pepper spare ribs and fried rice
- Tamagogo at The Corner House—get the spam musubi
- China Mommy
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An underrated restaurant/café/bar that you think deserves more attention?
Tripods Pizza and Calle 51.
A nostalgic restaurant/café/bar institution that you still love?
Tomo Japanese Dining, Mann Hann, Tung Lo Wan’s, Mien San Noodle House and Kimpura.
Your favourite restaurant/café/bar, apart from your own?
Lagrima, Toritori Kushiyaki Snack Bar, Wahunomi, 717 Deli, Behrouz Persian Cuisine and Raion.
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What is one thing everyone must see or do when visiting the neighbourhood?
Visit our bars and cafés, and of course, go to our Chinese restaurants: Century Seafood Restaurant, Choi Garden, Gloria Maris, Emperor’s Dimsum & Tea House, Tung Lo Wan’s, Mann Hann, Mien San Noodle House, Grand House and Aca Chan.
What’s one thing you wish the neighbourhood had?
A good Korean BBQ spot and more late-night spots open until after service.
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About
Lauren’s love for food came much later in life than one would expect— an obsession awakened in the streets of Melbourne’s multicultural dining scene. Armed with this newfound passion, she returned to the Philippines determined to discover the best eats in her home country, with a personal advocacy to champion local cuisines and homegrown talent. Nothing is off-limits; if it’s delicious, it’s worth celebrating.
Work
As Tatler Dining associate editor, Lauren covers all things food and drink, from listing the latest openings in our monthly Dining Radar to interviewing chefs and bartenders about the biggest obstacles crippling the industry today. Beyond the digital space, she also organises Tatler Dining’s tentpole events, including Off Menu and Tatler Dining Kitchen, as well as the annual Tatler Best Philippines awards night and guide launch, detailing the best restaurants in the country.
For leads and event invites, contact her via lauren@tatlerphilippines.com or follow her on Instagram at @laurengolangco.
Photo: Ralph Mendo
