MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fine dining gem Toyo Eatery has been awarded the prestigious Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award for 2025 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
The annual award celebrates one restaurant that has provided “the best hospitality” over the past 18 months, not just by serving exceptional food but also by providing a memorable and personal guest dining experience. The award is voted by more than 350 industry experts across Asia.
Toyo Eatery, led by chef Jordy Navarra and his wife May Navarra, is known for its personal and innovative approach to Filipino cuisine. Since opening in 2016, the homey restaurant located in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, has become a beacon of Philippine gastronomy, heralding local flavors, regional ingredients, and traditional techniques like fermentation and preservation.
“At Toyo Eatery, each guest is warmly immersed in Filipino food culture — whether you are there to enjoy a tasting menu of reimagined cuisine, or the kamayan sharing plates, eaten by hand off banana leaves,” William Drew, director of content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, said.
Navarra said their chosen dining style and menu not only “makes your hands busy” but “really brings us back to basics, where it’s no longer about what is trendy or what looks good on social media.”
“We want to remind people that this is really about just having fun,” he said.
“Genuine hospitality is also evident in the personal touches from Jordy and May — from the seamless integration of interiors, floral and vegetable displays, and wall art to local craftsmanship and, of course, in the way they educate diners about their food.”
This marks another global milestone for Toyo Eatery. The restaurant first entered Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2018, winning the Miele One to Watch Award. It officially made the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2019, debuting at No. 43, and consistently ranked for five consecutive years. In 2023, Toyo Eatery also received the Sustainable Restaurant Award for its ethical and responsible dining practices.
The Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award is the second pre-announced award ahead of the official Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 ceremony happening on March 25 in Grand Hyatt, Seoul, South Korea. – Rappler.com