For our Christmas getaway, my girlfriend and I were deciding to go to Tagaytay or someplace else. The Isdaan Floating Restaurant in Laguna came up in my search results for best places to go to eat and enjoy the view.
I’ve heard of it before. It went a little viral in Facebook I think, when a guy uploaded photos that looks like he’s in Thailand when he’s actually still in the Philippines. My sister showed me the gallery and the giant Buddha statues instantly burned to my memory but regressed to the back of my head.
Months later, it went back to the front of my memory and thought that it would be a nice place to bring my girlfriend to.
Transportation
We went there via commute. We got on a bus at the Gil Puyat DLTB & Co. Bus Terminal that is bound for Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Being a holiday, there were not many people boarding so we were able to sit comfortably. We just told the conductor to drop us off at Isdaan Floating Restaurant. He was already familiar with it.
Funny thing, though, after the bus got off the terminal, it’s not even 5 seconds and we almost got into an accident already! Our bus was a couple of inches away from hitting another bus from the same terminal.
After that initial event, however, it was smooth sailing. There was no traffic within Manila so we were able to get to the expressway quite early. After an hour of straight roads, the bus made a right turn. Another hour and we were passing through the town of Calamba. A few minutes later and Isdaan Floating Restaurant is already at our left.
You can’t miss it.
Local Thailand
I know that the Philippines is a multi-cultural country and that we are fairly good at imitating stuff from abroad. This restaurant feels genuine, though. There were a lot of Buddha statues and mermaids scattered all over the place that loom over the visitors. The first one you’ll see by the entrance is this:
This is the main reason why you won’t miss the restaurant on the bus. This is a HUGE statue that you can see even from afar. There are a lot more figures that you’ll see when you get inside.
This is a big statue that you can find on the roof. Including the platform, I think this one is about 10 meters high. I was able to climb it and sit on his feet when no one was around, but I’m not showing it here!
TRIVIA: See those curly things on Buddha’s head? Those are actually not hair, but snails that covered his head and sacrificed themselves so Buddha won’t get a heatstroke during one of his hotter meditation days.
Aside From Buddhas
There are a lot more statues in the Isdaan Floating Restaurant that adds to the ambiance.
Perhaps it’s called a “floating” restaurant because the entire area is standing on water. It only gives you the illusion of floating, however, because all but a few platforms are standing on posts instead of being suspended on the water.
So many photo opportunities, right?
Giant Monkeys and the Shrek Family
It’s not all about deities in this Laguna restaurant. There are also random statues that are really great for Instagram posts.
I don’t know the significance of monkeys in Thai culture, but this is the absolute largest statue that you will see in Isdaan Floating Restaurant. It’s so big that I had to take the picture near the entrance while King Kong was in the far most part of the lot.
Another monkey. This one seems to be thinking about something… Business, maybe?
Aside From Taking Selfies All Day
There are so many photo opportunities that you will spend a good part of your day just taking selfies with the statues. But there are also other activities that you can enjoy at Isdaan Restaurant Laguna to extend your stay.
In the middle of the whole space is a platform where different performers show off their skills. There was singing, dancing, acrobatics, and more shows that went live during the first half of the day. It was good entertainment for the people who are waiting for their food to be served.
If you’re feeling a little stressed, you can throw some tableware into the Tacsiyapo Wall.
I’ve seen this featured before on TV but I never knew it was at Isdaan. You can throw a mug, a plate, or even an old television set, into one of the items on the wall that you’re especially pissed with. It could be your ex-wife, a thief, the president, or whoever basically. No real profanities, please! You are supposed to shout “Tacsiyapo” if you want to vent out.
If throwing plates at the wall is not your thing, maybe you can just enjoy a relaxing boat ride, also within the restaurant. You don’t have to pay for the ride but there is a compulsory P20 tip for the boatman, which is fair. The cruise lasts around 5 minutes and brings you around the left side of the premises. Along the path are more statues.
For the patient people out there, you can also enjoy fishing in their ponds where you can catch fish of all sizes. Just get a bamboo fishing rod at the side of the pond, attach some bait and wait away! We tried it for about 30 minutes before ultimately giving up empty-handed. There was one couple, though, that was able to hook a medium-sized fish. They can choose to have it cooked for them to eat, no extra charges.
The Food..?
We were not able to take pictures of the food (I’m not sure why) but all I can remember is that we were really stuffed. There are no single servings here; each item on the menu is good for 2-4 people so you better bear that in mind. We ordered Ginataang Manok and crab fried rice.
Both had a mild taste so I had to add in some fish sauce for it to be more flavorful. We were almost not able to finish all of the food but I pushed my stomach to the limit! I think it took a good half-hour before the food was served so the shows were very much appreciated. We spent a little over P600 for the meal. Overall, I would rate the food and experience to be 7/10.
The People
I have the impression that the people working at the Isdaan Floating Restaurant are efficient but not as friendly as expected.
The guy at the help desk was looking away while speaking to me when I asked for information. There was someone in a Donald Duck costume who took pictures with me and my girlfriend and then solicited money from us (we thought it was for free; he was hiding cash in his hand). The waiter who took our order sounds impatient while we chose our food.
I think the only nice person we spoke with was the boatman, and that was even before we gave him his tip!
And that concludes our visit!
If you’re planning on visiting the restaurant, I would suggest to maximize the view and activities and minimize interaction with the staff. It’s fun to explore all corners of the restaurant because you’re sure to find something quirky and photo-worthy wherever you go! There is a large parking area if you choose to bring a private vehicle, but it fills up quickly during lunch and dinner.
It would be best to stop by in the afternoon and stay into the evening because that’s when the good performances are being shown. To really enjoy the meal and the exploration, you might stay at the restaurant for 3-4 hours.
Have you also been to this restaurant? Or are you just planning to go there with your family? Let’s talk in the comments below! (And if you can teach me how to center photos, I would greatly appreciate it :))