Best coffeeshops and restaurants to work from in Siargao, Philippines

Why Siargao?

After having been a digital nomad for over a year, I started to pick my travel destinations based on surfing opportunities. So I asked a few people I met while surfing which places they recommend and one place got a lot of mentions: Siargao.

Siargao is one of the 7100+ islands in the Philippines with great surfing spots, but unfortunately, since it's a bit of a remote island, the wifi isn't as great.

Is there reliable wifi in Siargao?

One of my worries before going there was about how good the wifi will be in Siargao. It's quite touristy but at the same time, it's a remote island. So I only booked for 3 weeks, just in case the wifi quality was bad. And to no surprise, it was.

Thanks to regular blackouts - and there were a lot, especially during holy week while many people travelled to the island and increased demand in electricity - it was quite tricky to find stable wifi.

Best place to work from if you want to feel fancy

Lamari

★★★★☆

Coffee	Good
Sockets	Only at the bar
Wifi	Good
Noise	Background music
Air condition	No
Location	~10min walk from Cloud 9 Find on Google Maps

I loved working from Lamari. Going through the entrance, past the tropical plants and past the little gold fish puts you in a good mood before you even arrive on your "desk". The design of the building is very pleasing to the eye and because of the space and how things are set up, there is always a gentle and welcomed breeze. And no, it's not like a draft, it's actually pleasant in this heat.

Unlike many other places in Siargao, you can pay by card without the 3% extra charge. The only other place where that was possible was Las Palmas (more about Las Palmas below).

This was one of the first places I worked from and the staff is very friendly. On my second visit I was already greeted by name and felt like a VIP, which was a bit uncomfortable but nice at the same time.

There's also a small pool if you want to cool down. Depending on the time of day it can get busy sometimes, but so far, we've always gotten a spot when we visited.

There are a few plugs but only at the bar. So if you run out of juice quickly, make sure to grab a spot there.

If you're ending up grabbing your lunch there as well, I highly recommend ordering the burger.

Best place to work from when you're on the way to the Sunset Bridge aka Cantangnan Bridge

Tatea cafe

★★★☆☆

Coffee	Haven't tried
Sockets	Yes
Wifi	Great
Noise	Very loud music
Air condition	No
Location	Between Cloud 9 & Cantangnan Bridge Find on Google Maps

I came across this one by accident as I was on my way to Cantangnan Bridge for sunset. They have coffees, teas and a few sandwiches, nothing crazy.

The quality of the Wifi surprised me because it's a place a bit away from General Luna and Cloud 9. But maybe that's exactly why the wifi was good. The music was quite loud though, so I don't recommend this place if you're having meetings.

There was a plug at the corner where I sat. You can only pay with cash or Gcash.

Best place to work from with an ocean view in Siargao

Green House

★★★★☆

Coffee	Alright
Sockets	Yes
Wifi	Good, no limit
Noise	Just people's chatter
Air condition	No, gets hot mid-day
Location	Between Cloud 9 & General Luna Find on Google Maps

Greenhouse became one of our go to spots. Unlike the Spotted Pig or Las Palmas, the wifi doesn't have a time-cap, so you can surf online as long as you like - or until the next power cut.

I don't usually like working right next to the beach. The sun just gets too strong and the glare is too much and I realise I frown the whole time trying to figure out what's on my screen. But here, the garden is quite a big size, so the sun doesn't reflect on you too much.

It can get quite hot during the day, as there's no air condition and even though it's an outside space, it's not as airy, so you're eager for a breeze.

If, like me, you have many calls around 5pm Filipino time but you want to see the sunset (even though you won't be able to see the sun itself, as it's going down on the other end of the island) this is the spot to be.

There are 2 Green House restaurants right next to one another. So if you arrive and wonder where the beach view is: you're at the wrong one.

Definitely try the Calamansi juice, it's very refreshing. And the food options are good too, especially the banana fritters.

Other mentions

Here's a few places that I've not managed to check out in my time in Siargao but are on my list to visit.

Goodies

This one is next to Green house. I saw it on Google maps while browsing for places and it had great reviews. Definitely want to try it next time I'm in Siargao. If you've been there or happen to go, let me know if it's worth a visit.

Bake

This one wasn't actually recommended to me in person but popped up in every single blog post I found about places to work from in Siargao. Unfortunately, it was closed every time I drove past.

White Beard

This one was recommended to me by several people but it was quite far away from where I stayed. My accommodation was around Cloud 9 and this place is quite in the center of General Luna. I heard it gets very busy for brunch time because the food is amazing. Not sure if you can work from there as well.

Ocean 101

I've only been here briefly and didn't end up using my laptop because I got caught up in a conversation with a friend. But supposedly the wifi here is good. It's actually a resort. I met a guy who stayed there who said the wifi from the rooms is great too.

Is it worth visiting Siargao as a Digital Nomad?

Personally, I think it definitely is. But set your expectations about the wifi: If you have any important meetings, then maybe this is not the place for you. If you can work a lot in your own time, it's definitely manageble.

But also, I heard that Starlink just started providing internet when I was leaving. So there's hope for more stable wifi in the future.

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