The best pasalubong from Bacolod are piaya (flatbread filled with muscovado sugar or ube), napoleones (puff pastry with custard and a sugar glaze), barquillos (rolled wafers), biscocho, pinasugbo, egg rolls and lubid-lubid. Buy them at pasalubong chains like BongBong’s and Merzci, at Virgie’s, Roli’s or Pendy’s for napoleones, or at the Negros Showroom and the Bacolod-Silay airport. In nearby Silay City, El Ideal is famous for its guapple pie and angel cookies.
Bacolod pasalubong list
| Pasalubong | What it is | Keeps for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piaya | Flat, flaky bread filled with muscovado sugar, sprinkled with sesame; also ube and other flavors | About 1–2 weeks | BongBong’s, Merzci, Bailon’s, El Ideal |
| Napoleones | Layers of puff pastry with custard filling and a sweet glaze | A few days | Virgie’s, Roli’s, Pendy’s, BongBong’s, Merzci |
| Barquillos | Thin, crispy rolled wafers | Several weeks | BongBong’s, Merzci, Virgie’s, Quan |
| Biscocho | Twice-baked bread with butter and sugar | Several weeks | BongBong’s, Merzci, Quan |
| Egg rolls | Crisp rolled cookies, richer than barquillos | Several weeks | BongBong’s |
| Pinasugbo | Fried banana strips coated in caramelized sugar and sesame | About 1–2 weeks | Pasalubong centers |
| Lubid-lubid | Twisted, rope-like bread sprinkled with sugar | A few days | Bakeries, pasalubong centers |
| Bañadas and meringue | Sugar-glazed biscuits and crisp meringue cookies | Several weeks | Pasalubong centers |
| Pastillas de mangga | Soft mango candies | About 1–2 weeks | Pasalubong centers |
| Guapple pie and angel cookies | Guava-apple pie and light butter cookies | Pie: a few days; cookies: weeks | El Ideal, Silay City |
| Dried fish (buwad) | Sun-dried fish from Negros markets | Weeks, sealed | Public markets |
Shelf life is a rough guide. Check the packaging, and keep custard pastries like napoleones cool.
The must-buy Bacolod pasalubong
- Piaya Bacolod’s signature pasalubong, often called the queen of Negrense pastries: a flat, unleavened bread filled with melted muscovado sugar from Negros’ sugar fields. Try the classic muscovado and the ube version, and look for thinner, crisper piaya at Bailon’s.
- Napoleones Bacolod’s take on mille-feuille: flaky puff pastry layered with sweet custard and topped with a sugar glaze. Locals have strong opinions on whose is best, from Virgie’s and Roli’s to Pendy’s and BongBong’s.
Napoleones, flaky and custard-filled. Illustrative image. - Barquillos Paper-thin rolled wafers, crisp and lightly sweet, that travel well in sturdy tins and boxes.
Barquillos and egg rolls. Illustrative image. - Biscocho Crunchy, buttery twice-baked bread, perfect with coffee.
- Egg rolls A local favorite that some say is underrated: like barquillos, but richer from the egg.
- Pinasugbo Thin strips of fried banana coated in caramelized sugar and sesame seeds, a crunchy sweet snack.
Pinasugbo, crunchy and caramelized. Illustrative image. - El Ideal treats from Silay The heritage bakery in Silay City, a short ride from Bacolod and near the airport, is famous for its guapple pie, angel cookies and piaya.
El Ideal bakery in Silay City.
Where to buy pasalubong in Bacolod
| Store | Best for | Where |
|---|---|---|
| BongBong’s | Piaya, barquillos, egg rolls, napoleones; a wide selection | Several branches, including malls, Lacson Street and the airport |
| Merzci | Piaya, barquillos, biscocho, napoleones | Branches around the city and at the airport |
| Virgie’s | Napoleones and baked goods | Bacolod City |
| Roli’s and Pendy’s | Napoleones | Bacolod City |
| Negros Showroom | Local food products and crafts from across Negros | Bacolod City |
| El Ideal | Guapple pie, angel cookies, piaya | Rizal Street, Silay City |
| Bacolod-Silay Airport stalls | Last-minute pasalubong | Inside the terminal |
Don’t take home, eat there: Bacolod food to try
Some of Bacolod’s best food doesn’t travel, so enjoy it while you’re there:
- Chicken inasal: Bacolod’s famous grilled chicken, marinated in vinegar, calamansi, lemongrass and annatto oil, best at the grill stalls of Manokan Country.
- Cansi: a sour beef shank and bone marrow soup flavored with batwan fruit.
- Calea cakes: the city’s famous cake café.
Visiting in October? Bacolod’s MassKara Festival brings smiling masks and street dancing to the “City of Smiles.” See our Philippine festivals guide.
Add flights, hotels, food and pasalubong in our free Philippines trip budget calculator.
Pasalubong from Bacolod: FAQ
What is the most famous pasalubong from Bacolod?
Piaya is the most famous pasalubong from Bacolod: a flat, flaky bread filled with muscovado sugar, also sold in ube and other flavors. Napoleones and barquillos are close favorites.
Where is the best place to buy pasalubong in Bacolod?
BongBong’s and Merzci have branches across the city and at the airport, with the widest selection. For napoleones, try Virgie’s, Roli’s or Pendy’s. In Silay, El Ideal is famous for guapple pie and angel cookies.
What are napoleones?
Napoleones are Bacolod’s version of mille-feuille: layers of flaky puff pastry filled with sweet custard and topped with a sugar glaze.
How long does piaya last?
Packaged piaya usually keeps for about one to two weeks at room temperature. Check the date on the pack, and store it in a cool, dry place.
Can I buy Bacolod pasalubong at the airport?
Yes. BongBong’s and Merzci have stalls at the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, though prices are usually a little higher than at city branches.
Is chicken inasal a good pasalubong?
Not really, since cooked chicken doesn’t travel well. Enjoy chicken inasal fresh at Manokan Country in Bacolod, and bring home piaya, barquillos or napoleones instead.
What is the difference between piaya and hopia?
Piaya is a flat, unleavened bread with a thin muscovado sugar filling, from Negros. Hopia is a flaky Chinese-Filipino pastry with thicker fillings like mung bean or ube.
What region is Bacolod in?
Bacolod is the capital of Negros Occidental and part of the Negros Island Region, created in 2024 together with Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Cebu-born travel writer raised between Cebu and Dumaguete, now based in Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao. Gio writes Best Philippines Travel Guide to help first-time visitors travel the islands with confidence.