Lamari Siargao

Rooms and decor

The first thing most people remember about Lamari Siargao is the relaxed-island-but-good-looking feel that hits from the moment you step through the gate — a small boutique hotel tucked into a leafy tropical garden in the middle of General Luna, with a clear pool at its core, ringed by white-toned buildings set against timber and dense greenery. What sets it apart from the usual stays on the island is that it is both a boutique hotel and its own restaurant, so much so that plenty of locals know Lamari as a restaurant before they realise it is somewhere to stay. Rooms are done in natural tones of wood, rattan and pale linen, warm and clean-lined in a contemporary island way, never rough enough to be a hassle and never so plush it feels stiff. Beds are soft, and almost every room has a balcony or a quiet corner to catch the breeze for morning coffee or an afternoon book. Several reviews agree the rooms look better than the price, photograph well from every angle, and feel so relaxed you actually rest. If you like design-minded stays but do not want to pay top-end private-villa rates, the style here should land especially well.

Food and amenities

A big part of staying here is Lamari's in-house restaurant, good enough and pleasant enough that outside guests who are not staying still make a point of stopping by. It serves breakfast, brunch and dinner in a contemporary tropical setting among the greenery, so guests barely need to head out for a main meal — just walk down and there is something good to eat. Another favourite is the outdoor pool in the garden, which is not big the way a large resort's would be, but is clear, calm and pleasantly private — good for cooling off in the afternoon or reading beside the water. Next to it is a small garden bar for an evening cocktail or a cold beer, with leaves rustling and an easy island breeze. The overall mood leans on calm and privacy in a small, uncrowded property. Staff also help with motorbike rental, arranging island tours, and tips on what to see and eat nearby, which is handy for first-timers in Siargao. What makes it click is pulling pretty design, good food, a relaxing pool and bar, and warm service into one place, in a boutique that feels more approachable than the island's top-end resorts.

Location and getting there

Lamari sits in central General Luna, the village at the heart of Siargao tourism, near Tourism Road, the main strip linking the key spots together. The location's best feature is that it is about a 13-minute walk to the beach and Cloud 9, the renowned surf break that put Siargao on the map, so you can walk out to surf or stroll the Cloud 9 boardwalk at sunrise, then come back to the pool midday. Cafes, restaurants, bars and board-rental shops are all within walking distance, which makes day-to-day life easy even without your own vehicle. It is also a short drive from the starting points for popular island tours like Naked Island, Daku and Guyam, as well as natural spots like Magpupungko Rock Pools and Sugba Lagoon to the north. To get here you usually fly into Sayak Airport (IAO), then it is roughly a 40-60 minute drive in. Worth knowing: the hotel is not directly on the beach, so a rented motorbike helps you reach the sea and other spots more freely.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, Lamari is a small boutique hotel, so the rooms and pool are not large or fully kitted out the way a big resort would be. Anyone expecting wide-open space, a gym, a full spa or a large pool may need to adjust expectations or look at a bigger property. Second, the hotel is not beachfront — even though the beach and Cloud 9 are about a 13-minute walk away, which is very close for a central location, if the heart of your trip is walking straight into the sea from your room or swimming every day with the least fuss, a beachfront stay may suit better; a rented motorbike helps a lot. Third is the neighbourhood vibe: because it is in the lively centre of General Luna, the surroundings get fairly busy in high season, and some nights you may hear sound from the bars or venues nearby. Anyone after total silence, the kind of hidden-in-the-jungle resort, may feel it does not quite reach that. But if you can take a little liveliness in exchange for being able to walk everywhere and a very pretty boutique setting, it is well worth it.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, Lamari Siargao is a boutique hotel that leads on tasteful, design-minded looks, a relaxed-island-but-good-looking atmosphere, an in-house restaurant good enough that non-guests stop by, a relaxing pool and garden bar, and a central General Luna location within walking distance of the beach and Cloud 9 — all balanced just right. What reviews agree on is rooms that look better than the price, good food, friendly and helpful staff, and a very laid-back feel. If your trip picture is morning coffee by the garden pool, a walk out to surf or swim at Cloud 9, a good dinner at the hotel's own restaurant, and a cocktail in the garden bar at night, this is a very neat fit for anyone who wants island life with the conveniences intact. But if you are coming specifically to sleep right on the sand or for private-villa luxury and a big resort with full facilities, look at something more on-target. Overall we give it 8.7/10, best for couples and laid-back travellers drawn to a pretty design boutique in central General Luna within walking distance of the beach and surf.