Hidden bars in Metro Manila to visit on your next night out
Looking for new spots for your next night out?
Long hours of work can be draining; After a whole week of working long hours, doesn't a night of great drinks with good friends sound nice?
A recent ranking by lifestyle magazine TimeOut named Manila as the second-best city in the world for nightlife and the “most affordable city” on the list for a night out. The city also earned a 78% quality score for its “beautiful,” alive,” and “bright” after-hours.
If you’re itching for a party fix but are bored with your go-to places, PhilSTAR L!fe brings you some hidden bars around Metro Manila to include in your to-visit list.
Bank Bar
Have a fancy night out at the Bank Bar in Bonifacio Global City. This spot is a hidden gem as you'll have to go behind a 7-Eleven convenience store in an office building to find it.
Some of their must-tries include Mariang Bastos and Pinay Colada cocktails and Gin & Tonic Cart for drinks. For snacks, try their Cheech Flores (Bar Chow), House Calamari, or Salted Egg Rock Shrimp.
Bank Bar is located at the ground Floor, RCBC Savings Bank Corp. Center, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Tuesdays to Saturdays.
HereAfter
From working long hours, cap off your tiring week by heading over HereAfter bar. If you know the Assembly Cafe, find its adjacent admin office door after 6:30 p.m. and it will bring you to a hip bar.
Get hyped all night with their party music and signature drinks like sweet and spicy Campfire Cocktail, nutty and sour Smoke and Mirrors, and the citrusy and frizzy La Rosa. They also offer classic drinks like tequilas, whiskeys, rums, wines, and mocktails, among others.
Aside from drinks, you can snack on their liempo, bacon cheeseburger, and street food special.
Table rates start at P5,000 for round tables to P15,000 for VIPs. Reservation rates are consumable.
HereAfter is located at 2F, HMA 773 building, JP Rizal, Makati City.
Alibi Lounge • Bar
For Southies and those who want to explore the South, find the Alibi Lounge • Bar on the ground floor of Crimson Hotel in Alabang.
This fancy-looking bar has a dark yet sleek interior which gives that chill vibe, and it can only be accessed through a changing secret code.
Their cocktails range from P350 to P600, while gin shots are priced between P200 to P1,100. Some snacks to pair it with include sisig cornet, lamb pide, and brie dynamite.
Entrata Urban Complex, Civic Drive, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa. It is open from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. from Mondays to Fridays and until 2 a.m. on Saturdays. Book your reservation here.
Sneaky Seoul
Take your Korean dessert cravings to another level at Tokyo’s Seoul by Go Grill K-Mart, and get "turn" up to Sneaky Seoul, a hidden bar just behind one of their freezers.
The prices of their drinks range from P150 for bottled beers and P350 for cocktails, to P1,600 for wines. There are also complimentary snacks upon entry.
Sneaky Seoul is located at 34 Scout Torillo, cor Scout Limbaga Ext, Quezon City. It is open from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and until 4 a.m. from Thursdays to Saturdays.
Int.Bar
@intbar.extcafe Look for the photobooth at Cubao Expo 🍸 #cocktails #cocktailsph #hiddenbar #hiddenspeakeasy #bar #mixologybar #CubaoExpo ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE - Queens Road, Fabian Graetz
Cap off your week at Int.Bar, a chill spot at Cubao Expo. This little speakeasy is also a treat for movie geeks as their cocktails are named after classic films, such as a savory and salty Farewell, My Concubine, a pretty yet strong La Dolce Vita, and a citrusy A Toast to Hemingway inspired by the elixir mentioned in Islands in the Stream.
There are also references to modern films and series, like Breaking Bad, Train to Busan, and Parasite.
How to get to the bar? Find a photo booth with a bright red curtain and push the wooden “wall” to enter the bar. You may also take vintage-looking photos in it to immortalize the night!
It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Check out their menu here.
Gnostic
For those who want a fun night out but are not keen on getting a hangover the next morning, the Gnostic bar in Poblacion is the perfect place to be. Dubbed the first bar to offer vegan and non-alcoholic drinks in the Philippines, this humble bar proves that you don’t always need alcohol to have fun.
Guests will be greeted with a bare concrete interior resembling a cave, spruced up with neon lights that give that party ambiance.
Party all night with their signature drinks, like Pink Rosas Mojito or Bogus Baileys, or try their detox shots, like Tinola Tonic and Sinigang Caustic. If you want something more toned down, there are also non-alcoholic beers and sparkling water.
Some pulutans you can munch on are "seacharon" or spiced corn ribs, while those looking for a heartier meal can opt for main courses offered like spicy laksa, tantanmen, and margarita pizza.
Apart from chilling out, you may also participate in sing-alongs and dance parties, as seen on their Instagram page.
Gnostic is located at 4/F 4980 P. Guanzon, Poblacion, Makati City. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bonus: Check out the Cheshire, a new speakeasy in Poblacion located just above the famous Ugly Duck and Apotheka Manila.
Their menu is printed on a deck of cards categorizing types of liquor to try: heart for fruity, diamond for spirit-heavy, spade for high balls, and clubs for bitter/low ABV.