Bars in Manila

[Brad]

I heard Manila has some great bars. Im not looking for a place that's really loud or quite dead. Some place close to the hotels with great drinks. No karaoke please.

[Amanda]

I heard Manila has some great bars. Im not looking for a place that's really loud or quite dead. Some place close to the hotels with great drinks. No karaoke please.

Hi Brad, which area are you referring to? We can give you suggestions if we know which hotel/place you're talking about. =)

[purpleaf]

It's an all-in-one gimick place. If you want dinner, dance the night away, watch a movie, have some coffee, have some drinks, this is the place to be.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/471519273_b6009cd31d_m.jpg
ICE Vodka Bar

Lots of good-looking people, too. You don't have to worry coz it's a secured place with beautiful landscape. You won't have difficulty hailing a cab coz it's lined up everywhere even in the wee hours of the morning. One night might not be enough. Enjoy!

[Amanda]

Im not looking for a place that's really loud or quite dead.

If you're in the Makati area, head over to Bonifacio High Street or Serendra. It's around a 10min drive from Makati if you take a cab. They have really nice bars there that aren't too loud. Another note - bars are usually dead from Sunday - Thursday since Filipinos don't really go drinking in the weekdays.

Here's a list of restaurants in the areas:
Restaurants in Serendra (http://www.munchpunch.com/restaurants/results.aspx?t=b&h=639)
Restaurants in Bonifacio High Street (http://www.munchpunch.com/restaurants/results.aspx?t=b&h=685)

You can whittle it down from there. Or you can just walk around both areas (they're right beside each other) and pick whichever you fancy.

A few personal recommendations though -
Portico 1771 (http://www.munchpunch.com/restaurants/branch/2915.aspx) at Serendra has pretty good drinks - both wine and hard liquor.
Cav Wine Shop & Cafe (http://www.spot.ph/2009/03/12/cav-wine-bar-and-resto/) at Bonifacio High Street if you're a big fan of wine.
Mag:net Cafe (http://www.munchpunch.com/restaurants/branch/5841.aspx) at Bonifacio High Street - if you want a sample of good local music, this is a pretty good place to head to. You can call them first and ask them if they have musicians lined up for which day.

You can check out Greenbelt also and see if you like the place - it's in Ayala so it's definitely more accessible. Nowadays though it's mostly overrun by the high school and college crowd during the weekends since it's a hotspot for clubbing. There's Greenbelt 1-5 (don't worry, these are all beside each other), but most of the bars are located in Greenbelt 3. The really good restaurants are in Greenbelt 5.

Museum Cafe (http://www.munchpunch.com/restaurants/branch/2494.aspx) at Greenbelt 4 has great music during the weekends and a relaxing ambiance. It's a nice place to unwind on your own or with friends. I'm not a big fan of their drinks though, they're mostly girly drinks (ugh) but the staff is very accommodating - usually I just tell them to mix a specific drink rather than order something from their bar list.

The bars I mentioned in this post are mostly upscale - the prices are definitely higher compared to other areas since these places usually cater to Makati clientele. But imo, it's definitely worth it. :)

If you're not talking about the Makati area, shoot, I hope someone else finds this post helpful then, lol!

[jbrayos]

There are plenty of comedy bars around timog. Try the Embassy Bar in Bonifacio Global City.

[Lee Rhyne]

There are lots of bars here in Manila. At the Bonifacio Global City, and at Eastwood City Libis. Good food, great drinks, and the place is always alive, people sounds and everything.

[Manix16]

I heard Manila has some great bars. Im not looking for a place that's really loud or quite dead. Some place close to the hotels with great drinks. No karaoke please.I have outgrown karaokes and I'm in my mid-30s so I really don't like loud places.
Me and my sibs go to Conway's, a bar in Shangri-La Makati. It has live entertainment, a good-sized dance floor, nice crowd, and accommodates smokers and non-smokers. Much like Siete Picados in Philippine Plaza.
Martini's and Captain's Bar in Mandarin Oriental are some of our "staples". These places are usually open until 2am Fridays and Saturdays. Normally, it's only till about midnight.

[purpleaf]

Basically Brad I could recommend that you stay at a hotel in Makati City and roam around there. Bars and clubs are accessible and there are plenty of cabs. However, there are other places to check out just as what others have recommended. You may also want to check out The Fort in Taguig (it's near Makati City, too--like 10 mins without traffic). Both areas are genreally safe...

[stella]

Don't the hotels have bistros in there? I suggest you go there. Its peaceful and serve quality drinks!

[robinck]

Don't the hotels have bistros in there? I suggest you go there. Its peaceful and serve quality drinks!

the newest it place at the moment is Ascend, huge dance floor, crazy Dj's..for those who have grown out of embassy... not sure of the exact location though. but it was a fun spot.

[purpleaf]

^^ASCEND - High Street Fort Bonifactio, Global City Taguig City, 10 minutes from Makati City.

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/3844/ascendhighstreetug4.jpg

[Hisbenz]

There are several Bars in makati like The Bureau. Same as ascend, large dance floors and fabulous crowd. :) This is just near Jupiter, Makati City

[kookay]

There are several Bars in makati like The Bureau. Same as ascend, large dance floors and fabulous crowd. :) This is just near Jupiter, Makati City

Fiamma is good too. It's in Jupiter Makati. :)

[esembrano]

if you want a quiet and peaceful place try blue wave and harbor square.. its a nice place to stay in with your friends and hear some live bands and have some drinks

[KimChi]

I frequent Manong's in Alabang and Tides in BF--I go there every week that the waiters already know me.

Murphy's in Makati during Tuesday Quiz Nights is a great place to be in, so is Mag:Net Cafe in Boni High during Rockeoke Nights.

[ada_ordinaryo]

try Swiss Inn in Pandacan Manila they have two bars.one with the sing-along,disco lights,beer drinking type.the other quiet,soothing music,dine and drink a little.

[KimChi]

try Swiss Inn in Pandacan Manila they have two bars.one with the sing-along,disco lights,beer drinking type.the other quiet,soothing music,dine and drink a little.
Really? Quite surprising, since I always associate the name "Swiss Inn" with the fancy steak place in Alabang and a 24-hour resto at the back of the Peninsula in Makati.

[hvelayo]

the newest it place at the moment is Ascend, huge dance floor, crazy Dj's..for those who have grown out of embassy... not sure of the exact location though. but it was a fun spot.

I have been to Ascend, the D.J. is really good! the crowd is a mixture of youngsters and adults! The entrance fee cost Php500.00 and the drinks are pretty expensive too! If you want a laid back place to chill out and chat, this is not the place for you. :)