Entertainment and Dining
Unlike many cities in the world, Manila is an action place 24 hours a day. It’s night life is very diverse built around:
Karaoke Bars, a favorite for many locals and visitors, are a big thing in the Philippines. If this is your thing, then you will find many in Pasay Road and Amorsolo Street in Makati.
Live music and dancing. Here are four venues I recommend:
- Hard Rock Cafe – Very popular with local Filipinos but also a favorite for many Expats and visitors. Hard Rock is located inside the Glorietta shopping complex in Makati (see above).
- Strums – Jupiter Street, Makati. A short 5 minute walk from P. Burgos, this music venue generally has 2 (sometimes 3) local bands playing each evening.
- Havana Cafe – Greenbelt 3, Makati. Salsa dancing from 9pm till 2am most evenings.
- Spicy Fingers – Greenbelt 2, Makati. American style dining, live music, and a busy atmosphere.
Many of the options listed below also feature live music.
There is also a red light district in Makati (P. Burgos Street).
Manila may not be known as a great dining destination, yet suprisingly, there are many quality dining establishments – in each of the major hotels, in shopping malls, side streets and major precincts such as Greenbelt 2 and 3, and Serendra in The Fort.
You certainly won’t be wanting for choice as the cuisine on offer is diverse – Japanese, Korean, Chinese, American-style, Italian, and much more.
Rather than make specific recommendations, I have listed below venues which meet the following question I get from first-time overseas visitors:
“Where can I go and enjoy a good feed, watch some sport, and mingle with other foreigners?”
Listed below these venues is a dining card which gives you access to over 200 restaurants across Manila.
EXPAT “SPORTS” BARS
(Within 5 Minutes Of One Another)
Expat “Sports” Bars, are the most popular hangout for local expats.In Manila, most are based in or close to P. Burgos Street, Makati’s red light district.
Location is for historical reasons as, in years gone by, the red light district “bars” were frequented by locally-based Expats.
Today, most local Expats avoid the bars in that street, preferring to hang out in the Sports Bars which is why there are many within minutes of one another.
The Sports Bars – and restaurants – listed here are all within a few minutes walk of one another.
You won’t be left without choice. And you certainly won’t have trouble meeting other Expats.
Note: Expats who frequent these sports bars are into networking and sports.
- Howzat Sport Bar – Cnr Fermina Street and Kalayann Ave, Makati. Dining and many screens for watching sports. Very popular when a sporting event is on and of course during happy hour. All you can eat “lunchtime” Indian buffet on Fridays and a “lunchtime” roast buffet on Sundays.
- Mulligans – Kalayann Ave, Makati (next door to Howzat). An Irish Bar, this is one of four (4) Mulligans Bars in Manila. The others are in BF Homes, Paranaque.
- H&J – Felipe Street (off Polaris Street), Makati. Currently the most popular venue as Felipe Street has become a trendy hang out for Filipinos. Several pool tables and Indian cuisine.
- Handle Bar – Polaris Street, Makati. Popular with staff who work in the mining sector. Steak on the BBQ every night and live bands on select evenings.
- Woodsman Head – P. Burgos, Makati. An English Pub atmosphere which attracts many of the long term Expats living in the area, even from beyond. Dining also available.
- Insider Sports Bar – Red Planet Hotel Makati. A modern bar described by several recent visitors as the best in Manila. Big, modern kitchen and live music some nights.
- Cheers Sports Bar – P. Burgos, Makati. Right in the heart of the red light district. Dining is available but t’s the sort of place you go to do “people watching”.
- Cubana Cafe – P. Burgos, Makati. Very modern bar again right in the heart of the red light district. Big American-style menu with live bands most nights. Some TV screens but not the place for serious sports lovers.
Also in the same area:
- Filling Station – P. Burgos, Makati. Above Cubana Cafe, owned by the same group and has the same menu. One of the largest collections of 1950’s and 1960’s paraphenalia you will see anywhere in the world and for this reason alone worth stopping in for a drink as a minimum. Quiet most of the time.
- Alchemy – Durban Street, Makati. A quiet venue with great food and live music on selected evenings. Also available for functions.
EXPAT BARS
(In Other Locations)
The venues listed here are in other parts of Manila – from 1/2 to 1 hour away from Makati (depending on traffic).
Recommended only if you are in Manila for an extended period of time or staying nearby.
- Pig and Whistle – 319 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque. Opened in 2015 and quickly established itself as one of the more popular bars in BF Homes.
- Appenzella – Zapote Road, Alabang. Approximately 1 hour from Makati. Swiss cuisine, a popular hangout for Expats working in the mining sector who live nearby.
- G Point – Padre Faura Street, Ermita. Approximately 30 minutes from Makati. Their lunch time buffet (all you can eat for P350) is a favorite for many local Expats.
- Duck Inn – M.H Del Pilar, Ermita. Also approximately 30 minutes from Makati owned by Doug Green, a former Aussie Rules football player. A small hotel with decent food, pool tables, and live music at night. Caters for Expats who live locally.
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