Gallery by Chele in BGC: A MICHELIN-Starred, Nature-Inspired Dining Destination
Gallery by Chele is a modern restaurant serving essentialist cuisine, with nature at the heart of its values and creative process. Inspired by the best local ingredients, as well as traditional cooking methods and practices mostly lost to the modern world, Chef Jose Luis “Chele” Gonzalez and his culinary partner Carlos Villaflor believe in bringing ingredients, techniques, cultures, and traditions together.
IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
This philosophy is reflected not only in the cuisine but also in the space itself. Created by noted designer Carlo Calma, the restaurant’s design experience pays homage to the fundamental values of Gallery by Chele’s cuisine.
IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
The restaurant’s aesthetics encapsulate the idea of a return to the natural world, in a space aptly described as a rural farmhouse in an urban jungle. In both atmosphere and concept, Gallery by Chele is motivated to showcase the beauty of the Philippines and share the gastronomic soul of the country through a dining experience that feels thoughtful, immersive, and deeply connected to nature.
Mirin Kinilaw / IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
Gallery by Chele offers tasting menus and à la carte options to allow diners a fun, relaxed, and memorable experience.
For those planning to dine at Gallery by Chele, the restaurant offers thoughtfully curated tasting menus that reflect its refined and immersive approach to contemporary cuisine.
Shio Lobster / IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
Guests may choose between a six-course tasting menu priced at Php 5,800 and a 10-course tasting menu at Php 7,200, each designed to present the restaurant’s philosophy through a carefully paced progression of flavors, techniques, and ingredients.
For diners who prefer a plant-based experience, vegetarian options are also available, with the six-course menu priced at Php 4,700 and the 10-course menu at Php 5,900.
Tupig / IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
To complement the meal, Gallery by Chele also offers a range of beverage pairings that further elevate the dining experience. Wine pairing is available at Php 2,600 for the six-course menu and Php 3,500 for the 10-course menu, while cocktail pairing is offered at Php 2,200 and Php 2,800, respectively.
Abalone Arroz Caldo / IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
Guests opting for the 10-course experience may also enjoy the Signature Pairing, a combination of cocktail and wine pairings, priced at Php 3,500. Meanwhile, a non-alcoholic beverage pairing is available for Php 1,250 for six courses and Php 1,700 for 10 courses, offering a thoughtful alternative that is equally aligned with the menu.
Heirloom Rice / IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
At the center of this vision is José Luis “Chele” Gonzalez, the driving force behind Gallery by Chele and Asador Alfonso. Beyond these flagship establishments, Gonzalez has also partnered with some of the Philippines’ finest hotels, opening restaurants in their properties such as Enye at Crimson Resort and Spa, Mactan Cebu; Cantabria at The Westin Manila; and Samira at Anya Resort Tagaytay.
Chef Chele Gonzales / IMAGE from Gallery by Chele
Born in Torrelavega, Spain, Gonzalez received his culinary degree from Arxanda in Bilbao. His stints at some of the world’s most renowned restaurants—including Michelin-starred establishments and World’s 50 Best Restaurants such as El Bulli, Arzak, Mugaritz, Nerua, and El Celler de Can Roca—have honed his approach to cooking into an entire philosophy.
Shaped by his passion for travel and his deep and enduring respect for local culture, flavors, and cooking techniques, this philosophy continues to define the distinctive experience that Gallery by Chele offers.
Gonzales met now executive sous chef and co-owner of Gallery by Chele, Carlos Villaflor, in the resort island of Boracay, where Villaflor was working at Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa in its specialty seafood restaurant, Sirena, right out of culinary school. When Chele invited him to join his then newly opened restaurant Gallery Vask— later renamed Gallery by Chele— Carlos immediately seized the opportunity and never looked back.
