Avenida @ Lispher Inn

Nestled in one of Davao’s oldest residential areas, Juna Subdivision, Lispher Inn is a homey litle hotel that offers personalized customer service and good food.

Hotel guests and walk-in customers alike can enjoy home-cooked fare at Lispher Inn’s very own restaurant, Avenida. It’s on the ground floor of this 5-storey, 35-room hotel. (They also have 6 function rooms for meetings of up to 50 or so people each.)

Last 9 February, 10 bloggers were served Avenida’s sought-after Beef Misono dish. I’d requested my friend and Lispher Inn owner, Paul Borromeo, to include it in our food trip after having sampled it at a birthday party earlier. The beef is cooked to perfect tenderness and served in a sumptuous gravy. If there weren’t more dishes served that night, I would’ve asked for seconds.

We also had Fried Bangus Belly, which was generously spiced with garlic and other condiments, and topped with green vegetables. And then there was the Sizzling Squid. We had several servings of tender barbecued squid the way that only Dabawenyos know how to cook.

Avenida is also known for their Ilonggo dishes. It’s where I had one of the best Molo Soup servings I’ve ever tried.

Lispher Inn is on Juna Ave., Juna Subd., Matina, Davao City. If you prefer staying in a cozy hotel outside the downtown area, this is your best bet. But it’s not exactly detached from city-life conveniences as it’s only walking distance from NCCC Mall.