With over 7,641 islands scattered around 17 regions in the Philippines, traveling to every place to go sightseeing and savor the unique flavors could easily take years. Thankfully, you can experience the best of the country’s diverse food culture in under two hours right in Manila.
Food Wanderer is a modern art museum where visitors can taste and travel around the Philippines through interactive exhibits and experiences. Formerly known as Lakbay Museo in S Maison at Conrad Manila, Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo relocated in 2022 to a much bigger space at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City.
The massive 3,000-squaremeter space now focuses mainly on food art installations of the different regional dishes in the Philippines along with some exhibits of popular destinations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
With over 10,000 replicas of Filipino dishes, Food Wanderer is the biggest food art display museum showcasing the heritage of the Philippines through the country’s gastronomy.
The vibrant colors, Instagram-friendly displays, food replicas, and quirky props seem to have been designed to appeal to social media users. Unlike typical museums where you can’t touch the displays, in Food Wanderer, visitors are encouraged to climb up and play with exhibits, shoot basketballs in ball pits, ride a rodeo-bull-style pig, balance rubber palayoks on their head and loads more. There are a lot of fun, photogenic spots and activities to try around the museum.
Learn more about the different regional specialties, like types of pancit, coffee varieties, and local flora and fauna through educational displays. You can also take photos with replicas of iconic landmarks, touch handwoven textiles, try different types of sawsawan with fish crackers, go lambanog tasting, sample exotic cuisine, and take part in traditional folk dances.
The interactive museum aims to give everyone, particularly the younger generation, a chance to travel across the Philippines and learn more about the country’s rich history and culture.
Aside from the main displays, the museum also has several activity areas to keep kids occupied. Get your creative juices flowing by trying different arts and crafts. Relax while painting, make bead art, or learn to cook local delicacies. The museum has a kitchen for hosting baking workshops on making kakanin, ideal for school field trips, and private events.
Food Wanderer is a good choice for families with smaller kids looking for somewhere new to go this holiday season and those who want to entertain balikbayan relatives or friends in an indoor space.
The focus on local specialties, games, prizes, interactive activities, and Filipino cultural shows at the end make it ideal for family visits, school field trips, and international travelers.
The space is also open as a venue for private events and group tours. You can book function rooms at Food Wanderer exclusively for birthdays, corporate events, seminars, photo shoots, school tours, and more.
The regular walk-in rate to visit Food Wanderer is P799 per person. Discounts can be made by booking tickets online via Klook.
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