Gallery By Chele

Should You Book Gallery By Chele?

Yes, book it; but do it weeks in advance and go in person. Gallery By Chele holds a Michelin star (2026), ranks #72 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants (2025), and won Tatler's Leading Innovation award for the Philippines in 2026. This is Manila's most internationally decorated modern Filipino restaurant right now, it earns that standing. If you've visited once and are wondering whether to return or try something else, the answer is to return: the kitchen's approach to Filipino produce and global technique means repeat visits tend to reward differently than the first.

The Experience

Gallery By Chele occupies the fifth floor of Clipp Center in BGC, Taguig; a polished commercial address that sets expectations correctly. This is a destination restaurant built for considered dining, not a casual drop-in. The room reads as its name suggests: gallery-like, composed, with plating that prioritises visual precision. Chef Chele González, a Spanish-born cook who has built his career around Filipino ingredients and sustainable sourcing, runs a kitchen where what arrives on the plate looks deliberate from across the table before you've tasted it.

On the awards ledger, the venue sits in rare company domestically. The Michelin star, La Liste's 93-point ranking (2026), three consecutive years on Opinionated About Dining's Leading Restaurants in Asia list (2023, 2024, 2025, climbing from #119 to #107), and the Asia's 50 Best placement at #72 all point in the same direction: this is a kitchen performing at a level that puts it above most of what Manila offers and in conversation with the better-known fine-dining addresses across Southeast Asia.

For a returning guest, the question shifts from whether the experience holds up (it does) to what to prioritise. The tasting format is the natural choice here, it's the format that leading reflects how the kitchen thinks about Filipino produce and technique. If you've done the longer menu before, the lunch service (Wednesday through Sunday, 12–4 pm) offers a lower-pressure entry point while using the same kitchen.

On Takeout and Delivery

Gallery By Chele is not a delivery or takeout operation, attempting to approach it that way would miss the point entirely. The experience here is inseparable from the setting: the visual presentation of each course, the pacing, the room itself. A Michelin-starred tasting menu in a BGC high-rise designed around gallery aesthetics does not translate to a takeout container. If you're looking for Filipino cooking that travels well, Grace Park Dining by Margarita Forés or Linamnam in Parañaque are better-suited alternatives. Gallery By Chele is a sit-down commitment, that's precisely what you're paying for.

Practical Details

Reservations: Book as far ahead as possible, this is one of the hardest tables to secure in Manila. Given the Michelin recognition and Asia's 50 Best ranking, demand consistently outpaces availability. Contact via their Instagram (@gallery.bychele) or phone (+63 917 546 1673) to confirm current booking method. Hours: Tuesday dinner only (6–11 pm); Wednesday through Sunday lunch (12–4 pm) and dinner (6–11 pm); closed Monday. Dress: No published dress code, but the setting and price point call for smart casual at minimum, treat it like any Michelin-starred room. Location: 5/F Clipp Center, 11th Avenue corner 39th Street, BGC, Taguig. Budget: Price range not published; expect fine-dining tasting menu pricing consistent with Michelin-starred restaurants in Southeast Asia.

Who Should Book

Book Gallery By Chele if you want Manila's most credentialled modern Filipino dining experience and you're willing to plan ahead. It suits couples, small groups of serious diners, solo guests who want counter or table-for-one dining in a room that takes food seriously. It does not suit large parties looking for a social night out, or anyone wanting flexibility on the night. For those situations, M Dining + Bar M or Bolero in Taguig offer more accommodating formats.

For more dining options across the city, see our full Manila restaurants guide. If you're building a broader trip, Manila hotels, Manila bars, and Manila experiences are worth a look. For comparable fine dining outside the city, Asador Alfonso in Cavite and Celera in Makati are worth considering. For international benchmarking, Gallery By Chele operates at a tier comparable to destinations like Atomix in New York City in terms of awards density and format ambition.