Marelle's Restaurant

You come to Marelle's for the seashells and you stay for lunch. It is one of the few places on Siquijor whose kitchen has been overshadowed by its own museum — a shame, because in our view this is one of the best tables on the island. The whole place holds 4.7 out of 5 from more than 250 Google reviews and 4.8 out of 5 on TripAdvisor, where it ranks second among things to do in San Juan.

The setting

An open-air veranda, no glass, looking straight onto a tended botanical garden — flowers, shade, quiet. No sea view: here the scenery is green. It is one of the few places on Siquijor where you can have lunch at midday without hunting for a fan, and one of the calmest on the island. There is also a bar and a local craft shop.

What to eat

A menu on two legs: Filipino on one side, Mediterranean on the other. The dishes reviews name most often: the Greek salad, grilled salmon, pasta bolognese, a banana heart salad, an eggplant sandwich and spiral vegetable pasta. Portions come up in almost every comment, always the same way: generous. Breakfast is served from opening and works as well for Western habits as for a local plate.

Vegetarians

This is one of the easiest addresses on Siquijor if you do not eat meat. The vegetarian options are not a footnote at the bottom of the menu: salads, vegetable pasta, the eggplant sandwich — there is enough to build a full meal without asking for anything to be adapted.

The museum, and how not to pay for it

The museum holds a collection of close to 3,000 seashells and small sea creatures, all from Philippine waters, arranged by scientific family, alongside a collection of sea-themed postage stamps. The part few people know: museum entry is free if you eat at the restaurant. Otherwise an admission fee applies — several visitors find it steep, and the amount is not published reliably anywhere, so ask on site before deciding. Staff walk you through the collection piece by piece, and that guidance is what reviews praise most, ahead of the collection itself.

Hours and practical

Open every day, 8am to 9pm. Phone: +63 915 546 3715. On the Circumferential Road. The restaurant runs independently of the museum: you can eat without visiting, and visit free if you eat.

Our view

Marelle's is a misunderstood address: filed under "museum", so filed under sightseeing, when the cooking alone justifies the drive. It is the lunch pick on this side of the island — well cooked, well served, fairly priced, in a setting nobody else has. For the museum visit itself, see our listing for Marelle's Seashell Museum.