Cover Dua Lipa performing at the Philippine Arena for her Radical Optimism tour (Photo: Instagram / @dualipa)
Dua Lipa performing at the Philippine Arena for her Radical Optimism tour (Photo: Instagram / @dualipa)
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Find out which top restaurants the pop star visited (and what she ordered) on the Manila leg of her Radical Optimism tour
Dua Lipa is without a doubt one of the biggest pop stars of our generation, boasting seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards across just three studio albums: the eponymous Dua Lipa (2017) which catapulted her into superstardom; the genre-defying Future Nostalgia (2020), which won her the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album; and her latest release, Radical Optimism (2024), for which she is currently on tour. But did you know that Dua Lipa is also a dedicated foodie?
Before her jaw-dropping performance at the Philippine Arena on November 13, the British-Albanian singer stopped by three notable restaurants, and Tatler has the inside scoop—find out where she ate and what she ordered on her visit, below.
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12/10
Dua Lipa was first spotted out on November 11 at 12/10, the modern Japanese izakaya by husband-and-wife tandem chef Gab Bustos and Thea de Rivera. Here, the Don’t Start Now singer indulged in the 11-course omakase with her boyfriend, Callum Turner—the British actor known for his roles in the Fantastic Beasts movie series as well as the American war miniseries Masters of the Air, now streaming on Apple TV+.
12/10’s omakase spans a colourful spread of meat and seafood, from a lamb harumaki (spring roll) with curry to a fried scallop with leek, potatoes, and Oscietra caviar. In addition, the couple sampled two of the restaurant’s signature bites: the oysters with almond milk and lime koshō, as well as the cult-favourite uni toast with chicken liver, pineapple, and shiso, one of their best-loved specialities from their days on Guijo Street.
Tatler Trivia: Keen to hear recommendations from Dua Lipa? Subscribe to Service 95, a weekly newsletter founded by the superstar herself, where she and her team share food and travel recommendations alongside lighthearted lifestyle reads and even hard-hitting political pieces.
Toyo Eatery
During the Manila leg of her tour, Dua Lipa also ticked off a quintessential Filipino bucket list item: a kamayan experience, and at Toyo Eatery, no less. Crowned Talter Dining’s Restaurant of the Year 2024, Toyo Eatery has been an instrumental force in representing Filipino cuisine on the global stage and is regularly featured in the annual Asia’s 50 Best rankings. The restaurant is also commended for its service, capturing the warmth and sincerity of Filipino hospitality.
Barangay Toyo, led by chef Jordy Navarra and May Navarra, launched the kamayan experience in June of 2023, enriching Toyo Eatery’s offerings with a playful and more casual menu format that invites guests to roll up their sleeves and tuck into a fun and festive meal. While the kamayan menu does see regular updates based on seasonality, one major addition to the experience is the spread of dried fish comprised of dried kalkag, pinindang, fish tocino, dilis, and dulong, which Dua Lipa even photographed and posted on her own Instagram account.
Above Dua Lipa in Manila - Where she ate on her visit - Toyo Eatery
Dua Lipa in Manila - Where she ate on her visit - Toyo Eatery
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According to the team at Toyo, Lipa enjoyed the piniritong pata, kilaw, and ensalada. When it came to sweets she highlighted the unique texture of the tupig, and also shared how much she liked the avocado ice cream, saying that it was something new for her because avocado as a dessert isn’t something that familiar to the couple.
Tatler Trivia: Dua Lipa and Callum Turner were also seen strolling around Intramuros prior to their meal at Toyo Eatery, stopping by Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church among other landmarks.
Toyo Eatery
Filipino
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$ $ $ $
The Alley at Karrivin, Karrivin Plaza, Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City, Metro Manila
Grace Park
Dua Lipa with chef Margarita Forés at Grace Park Dining (Photo: courtesy of Margarita Forés)
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Before heading to the Philippine Arena for her much-anticipated concert, Dua Lipa fuelled up at Grace Park Dining for a hearty lunch. “Loved it all so much,” she wrote in a heartfelt note for chef Margarita Forés and the team. “The uni pasta was to die for. Can’t wait to come back,” she continued.
At Grace Park Dining, Forés champions a farm-to-table philosophy while marrying her two great culinary loves: Italian and Filipino cuisines. Dua Lipa and her team savoured the best of both worlds with a colourful spread including fried squash flowers, Bohol saang sisig, ulang with taba ng talangka, and avocado tart. Her favourites, however, were the uni carbonara, pappardelle duck ragu, adobong pitaw, golden cassava, and bread pudding. According to the Grace Park team, the pop star even remarked on the tenderness of the pitaw, and praised the tasty caramel on the bread pudding.
Above Pop star Dua Lipa even left a heartfelt note for the Grace Park Dining team after her visit (Photo: courtesy of Margarita Forés)
Pop star Dua Lipa even left a heartfelt note for the Grace Park Dining team after her visit (Photo: courtesy of Margarita Forés)
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In true Filipino nature, they couldn’t let Dua Lipa leave empty-handed—before bidding her farewell, they even gifted her with the famed burrata gelato soft serve from A Mano, the Italian restaurant helmed by Gen. T honouree Amado Forés.
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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
