Guidebook for Makati City
Food Scene
"Perfect for: A great plate of meat and a fine glass of wine
Don’t give up, because if you do, you’ll likely miss this unmarked hidden gem. It has a simple white-brick façade that doesn’t pop out enough, especially since they’re only open at night. Chef Celine de los Angeles Escaler makes you work for it, but you’ll be rewarded by her own hard work. Her specialty is steak and hers are heavy two-inch-thick slabs topped with roasted garlic, neutralized by tangy Bordelaise sauce, and sided with a crisp fried potato. The menu is small, but thoughtful, with each dish translating to pure gastronomic satisfaction."-Spot(.)ph.
6 locals recommend
Stockton Place
227 Salcedo"Perfect for: A great plate of meat and a fine glass of wine
Don’t give up, because if you do, you’ll likely miss this unmarked hidden gem. It has a simple white-brick façade that doesn’t pop out enough, especially since they’re only open at night. Chef Celine de los Angeles Escaler makes you work for it, but you’ll be rewarded by her own hard work. Her specialty is steak and hers are heavy two-inch-thick slabs topped with roasted garlic, neutralized by tangy Bordelaise sauce, and sided with a crisp fried potato. The menu is small, but thoughtful, with each dish translating to pure gastronomic satisfaction."-Spot(.)ph.
"Perfect for: Ladies who lunch and those who need to get work done
For a nice and leisurely lunch, try one of Legazpi Village's newest restaurants-Kitchen 1B, the sort of healthier sister of Apartment 1B in neighboring Salcedo Village. Kitchen 1B is industrial chic made homey by recreating a "kitchen effect": hanging on the rustic white walls are refrigerator printouts covered with magnets, cute notes of sweet nothings, and doodles of recipes. The chairs are covered in colorful cozies, and the noise and aroma from the (actual) open kitchen invite diners to peek over at what’s cooking every now and then. Sit at the dining bar and you'll see electric sockets lined up. It’s a clue that this is not just a spot for a leisurely meal, but also for diners who need to get some work done." -Spot(.)ph
7 locals recommend
Kitchen 1B
117 Gamboa"Perfect for: Ladies who lunch and those who need to get work done
For a nice and leisurely lunch, try one of Legazpi Village's newest restaurants-Kitchen 1B, the sort of healthier sister of Apartment 1B in neighboring Salcedo Village. Kitchen 1B is industrial chic made homey by recreating a "kitchen effect": hanging on the rustic white walls are refrigerator printouts covered with magnets, cute notes of sweet nothings, and doodles of recipes. The chairs are covered in colorful cozies, and the noise and aroma from the (actual) open kitchen invite diners to peek over at what’s cooking every now and then. Sit at the dining bar and you'll see electric sockets lined up. It’s a clue that this is not just a spot for a leisurely meal, but also for diners who need to get some work done." -Spot(.)ph
"Perfect for: those who love innovation in their food
A good playlist plays softly in the background creating a mood that’s chill and subdued. That is, however, not an indication of how their food will turn out. In fact, Your Local’s cuisine, like their version of chorizo sandwich, is a far cut from the usual. It’s a homemade patty, sandwiched in a squid-ink sesame-seed bun, chorizo jam, cream cheese and sunny-side-up eggs, that picks up culinary cues from around the globe. Eclectic is the qualifier for this secret hideaway.
Must-tries: Torched Salmon Donburi (P390), Chorizo Sandwich (P490)" -Spot(.)ph
37 locals recommend
Your Local
106 Esteban"Perfect for: those who love innovation in their food
A good playlist plays softly in the background creating a mood that’s chill and subdued. That is, however, not an indication of how their food will turn out. In fact, Your Local’s cuisine, like their version of chorizo sandwich, is a far cut from the usual. It’s a homemade patty, sandwiched in a squid-ink sesame-seed bun, chorizo jam, cream cheese and sunny-side-up eggs, that picks up culinary cues from around the globe. Eclectic is the qualifier for this secret hideaway.
Must-tries: Torched Salmon Donburi (P390), Chorizo Sandwich (P490)" -Spot(.)ph
"Perfect for: For a market trip easy for a Sunday morning
A Sunday morning well-spent usually starts in the church and ends in the market. For those who live in Makati, this market is where we’ll find families, couples, celebrities, and even solo shoppers with their pets on a Sunday. What started out as a pioneering organic market has expanded into a go-to hub for fresh meat, handicrafts, regional delicacies and of course, ready-to-eat food. But good grub isn’t the only reason the Legazpi Sunday Market remains to be a hit. It’s spacious and relaxed-just as how Sunday mornings are supposed to be like." -Spot(.)ph
88 locals recommend
Legazpi Sunday Market
"Perfect for: For a market trip easy for a Sunday morning
A Sunday morning well-spent usually starts in the church and ends in the market. For those who live in Makati, this market is where we’ll find families, couples, celebrities, and even solo shoppers with their pets on a Sunday. What started out as a pioneering organic market has expanded into a go-to hub for fresh meat, handicrafts, regional delicacies and of course, ready-to-eat food. But good grub isn’t the only reason the Legazpi Sunday Market remains to be a hit. It’s spacious and relaxed-just as how Sunday mornings are supposed to be like." -Spot(.)ph
"Perfect for: Those who want to brainstorm and those who want to take up coffee lessons
The big letter "Y" almost camouflages with the earthy hue in the background, but don’t let your search tear you down. There is a distinct kick that only third-wave coffee can present, and that’s what you’re about to have at Yardstick Coffee. Minimalist is what the Japanese tiles and the neat wooden fixtures are suggesting, but the coffee speaks for bold artistry. Yardstick offers coffee lessons, a range of roasting facilities, and coffee machines. It’s not just about a cup of brew, it is a coffee crash course.
Must-try: The Daily Blend" -Spot(.)ph
24 locals recommend
Yardstick Coffee
106 Esteban"Perfect for: Those who want to brainstorm and those who want to take up coffee lessons
The big letter "Y" almost camouflages with the earthy hue in the background, but don’t let your search tear you down. There is a distinct kick that only third-wave coffee can present, and that’s what you’re about to have at Yardstick Coffee. Minimalist is what the Japanese tiles and the neat wooden fixtures are suggesting, but the coffee speaks for bold artistry. Yardstick offers coffee lessons, a range of roasting facilities, and coffee machines. It’s not just about a cup of brew, it is a coffee crash course.
Must-try: The Daily Blend" -Spot(.)ph
"What to get: Okonomiyaki. Say what? O-ko-no-mi-yaki is a Japanese pancake made from different ingredients like vegetables, meats, and seafood. They mix and cook your savory pancakes in front of you. Baseball fan? Kagura’s interiors are beautifully decorated with Japan’s Hanshin Tigers baseball team memorabilia." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Kagura Japanese Restaurant
1277 Chino Roces Ave"What to get: Okonomiyaki. Say what? O-ko-no-mi-yaki is a Japanese pancake made from different ingredients like vegetables, meats, and seafood. They mix and cook your savory pancakes in front of you. Baseball fan? Kagura’s interiors are beautifully decorated with Japan’s Hanshin Tigers baseball team memorabilia." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
What to get: Takoyaki and Kakigori. If you’re looking for a refreshing dessert this summer, try their Kakigori which is an iced dessert that is quite similar to our local halo-halo." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Hana
What to get: Takoyaki and Kakigori. If you’re looking for a refreshing dessert this summer, try their Kakigori which is an iced dessert that is quite similar to our local halo-halo." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
"What to get: Salmon sashimi. Some foodie insiders say that it’s one of the best quality sashimi that they’ve ever tasted! Prices are a bit steep but you’re paying for the more “exclusive” ambiance of the restaurant. Take note that if you want to avail of their cheaper options, visit them during lunch!" -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Nodasho
"What to get: Salmon sashimi. Some foodie insiders say that it’s one of the best quality sashimi that they’ve ever tasted! Prices are a bit steep but you’re paying for the more “exclusive” ambiance of the restaurant. Take note that if you want to avail of their cheaper options, visit them during lunch!" -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
"What to get: Ramen. Fun fact: you can feel that you’ve been transported to the Land of the Rising Sun because their servers are dressed in kimonos! You may be surprised to know that most of them know how to speak Japanese." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
12 locals recommend
Seryna Japanese Restaurant
2277 Chino Roces Ave"What to get: Ramen. Fun fact: you can feel that you’ve been transported to the Land of the Rising Sun because their servers are dressed in kimonos! You may be surprised to know that most of them know how to speak Japanese." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
"What to get: Fresh sushi and sashimi plates, Saikoro steak." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Check out their lunch specials! Come early as restaurant gets full quick!
12 locals recommend
Seryna Japanese Restaurant
2277 Chino Roces Ave"What to get: Fresh sushi and sashimi plates, Saikoro steak." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Check out their lunch specials! Come early as restaurant gets full quick!
"What to get: Curry katsu rice, the ramen bowls and the Makanouchi Bento. This place is one of the most affordable joints at Little Tokyo! Most of their plates come with a bargain price of less than P200 each. The in-store Japanese supermarket sells authentic Japanese goods as well."
Yamazaki Grocery
2288 Fernando"What to get: Curry katsu rice, the ramen bowls and the Makanouchi Bento. This place is one of the most affordable joints at Little Tokyo! Most of their plates come with a bargain price of less than P200 each. The in-store Japanese supermarket sells authentic Japanese goods as well."
"What to get: Sapporo Corn Ramen and Butakakuni Ramen. We heard that their house tea is really good!" -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Shinjuku Ramen House
"What to get: Sapporo Corn Ramen and Butakakuni Ramen. We heard that their house tea is really good!" -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Izakaya Kikufuji
2277 Chino Roces AveWhat to get: Chirashi Bowl and Gyu Kushi.
YUM!!!
What to get: Their eat all you can yakiniku buffet. Available Mondays-Wednesdays, 5 pm onwards at P500 per head +service charge. Your P500 can get you all the wagyu cubes that you want! Other recommended food options are their scallops, shrimps, oysters, and sausages. Make sure to visit as early as Monday because those wagyu cubes sell like candy! -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Urameshiya Yakiniku Restaurant
What to get: Their eat all you can yakiniku buffet. Available Mondays-Wednesdays, 5 pm onwards at P500 per head +service charge. Your P500 can get you all the wagyu cubes that you want! Other recommended food options are their scallops, shrimps, oysters, and sausages. Make sure to visit as early as Monday because those wagyu cubes sell like candy! -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
My husband and I go here at least once a week! We love the food! The grilled items are just to die for! Scallops and seafood and this crab fat and other crab stuff in a tiny ceramic mug that you grill is just deadly... Literally to die for! Sooo good! It's just at the ground floor of where this studio is located!
Isaribi
My husband and I go here at least once a week! We love the food! The grilled items are just to die for! Scallops and seafood and this crab fat and other crab stuff in a tiny ceramic mug that you grill is just deadly... Literally to die for! Sooo good! It's just at the ground floor of where this studio is located!
Ramen is the answer, most especially for rainy nights. Their other non-ramen menu items are pretty good as well. This is also located at the ground floor.
Yoshida Seimen Yokohama Ramen
130 Amorsolo StreetRamen is the answer, most especially for rainy nights. Their other non-ramen menu items are pretty good as well. This is also located at the ground floor.
A Japanese-Korean fusion "yakiniku" (means grilled) restaurant that is located at the ground floor of this studio. They also have another one on the mezzanine floor. We love dining here and so do many of our friends and family... Delectable meat and seafood that you cook on a grill. It may be a bit pricey but it's worth it.
Gyumon Yakiniku Restaurant
1229 Amorsolo StreetA Japanese-Korean fusion "yakiniku" (means grilled) restaurant that is located at the ground floor of this studio. They also have another one on the mezzanine floor. We love dining here and so do many of our friends and family... Delectable meat and seafood that you cook on a grill. It may be a bit pricey but it's worth it.
Tonkatsuya Amorsolo
132 Amorsolo StreetTasty and affordable tonkatsu sets.
Drinks & Nightlife
"Perfect for: Slow-paced booze to go along with great conversation
The "mystery" of speakeasies stir a lot of excitement, but Exit Bar, contrary to the 1920s theme, doesn’t sell anything prohibited. The unassuming-and very intriguing-exit door makes customers think twice about going in, but except for that initial hesitation, Exit Bar is a very conducive place for good conversations, thanks to the terrific formula of amazing booze and a cozy environment. Soft rock music and an impressive beer list warm you up to a long night of drinking.
Must-try: Imported beers" -Spot(.)ph
11 locals recommend
The Exit
"Perfect for: Slow-paced booze to go along with great conversation
The "mystery" of speakeasies stir a lot of excitement, but Exit Bar, contrary to the 1920s theme, doesn’t sell anything prohibited. The unassuming-and very intriguing-exit door makes customers think twice about going in, but except for that initial hesitation, Exit Bar is a very conducive place for good conversations, thanks to the terrific formula of amazing booze and a cozy environment. Soft rock music and an impressive beer list warm you up to a long night of drinking.
Must-try: Imported beers" -Spot(.)ph
"Perfect for: Coffee to cocktails in the company that you don't want to end
In case your office is looking for a place for meetings or brainstorming, The Curator is the quick solution. It’s the kind of place that you don’t want to leave-simply because you can have coffee from morning until the afternoon and ease into the evening with a cocktail, which starts at 7 p.m. Each cup is carefully crafted using beans from Ritual Coffee Roasters and prepared with state-of-the-art metal filters. But more than the caffeine fix, you can’t help but be in awe of the passion of the two coffee geniuses-Sly and David. Their quirky combinations might just ignite the ideas in you.
Must-tries: Coffee-infused cocktails" -Spot(.)ph
40 locals recommend
The Curator
134 Legazpi Street"Perfect for: Coffee to cocktails in the company that you don't want to end
In case your office is looking for a place for meetings or brainstorming, The Curator is the quick solution. It’s the kind of place that you don’t want to leave-simply because you can have coffee from morning until the afternoon and ease into the evening with a cocktail, which starts at 7 p.m. Each cup is carefully crafted using beans from Ritual Coffee Roasters and prepared with state-of-the-art metal filters. But more than the caffeine fix, you can’t help but be in awe of the passion of the two coffee geniuses-Sly and David. Their quirky combinations might just ignite the ideas in you.
Must-tries: Coffee-infused cocktails" -Spot(.)ph
Parks & Nature
"Perfect for: Those who need peace and space
This may be one of the last green spaces standing in the city. Birds hopping on benches and chirping, leaves rustling as you walk are only a few of the wonderful things you’ll encounter at this park. Right in the middle of busy offices, the Washington Sycip Park was a park presented to Mr. Washington Sycip in 2006 to recognize the Filipino-Chinese businessman’s contributions to the Philippine business community. Shielded by tall eucalyptus and mahogany trees, the park is a little pocket of green and peace on this side of Makati’s CBD. People come here with their books, running shoes, picnic mats, toddlers, lovers, and even in their own company. Find a spot right by the pond, pause and be consoled by the tranquility of your own space and time." -Spot(.)ph
70 locals recommend
Washington SyCip Park
Legazpi Street"Perfect for: Those who need peace and space
This may be one of the last green spaces standing in the city. Birds hopping on benches and chirping, leaves rustling as you walk are only a few of the wonderful things you’ll encounter at this park. Right in the middle of busy offices, the Washington Sycip Park was a park presented to Mr. Washington Sycip in 2006 to recognize the Filipino-Chinese businessman’s contributions to the Philippine business community. Shielded by tall eucalyptus and mahogany trees, the park is a little pocket of green and peace on this side of Makati’s CBD. People come here with their books, running shoes, picnic mats, toddlers, lovers, and even in their own company. Find a spot right by the pond, pause and be consoled by the tranquility of your own space and time." -Spot(.)ph
"Perfect for: Those with the running shoes and the game face on
It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is. All you need is your running shoes and your game face on because you will always find company to run with at Legazpi Active Park. Some people come here simply because it’s free and they can run any time they’re available; others because they can only afford a few minutes or a few laps in between their nine-hour jobs. The good thing is that this spot is being enjoyed the way that it was meant to be-actively." -Spot(.)ph
53 locals recommend
Legazpi Active Park
Rada"Perfect for: Those with the running shoes and the game face on
It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is. All you need is your running shoes and your game face on because you will always find company to run with at Legazpi Active Park. Some people come here simply because it’s free and they can run any time they’re available; others because they can only afford a few minutes or a few laps in between their nine-hour jobs. The good thing is that this spot is being enjoyed the way that it was meant to be-actively." -Spot(.)ph
Shopping
"What to get: Japanese goodies (furikake!!!) and other cheap snacks below P100." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
Choto Stop Snack Bar
"What to get: Japanese goodies (furikake!!!) and other cheap snacks below P100." -ph(.)phonebooky(.)com
There's a closer one to our building along V.A. Rufino Street corner Bolano Street.
My favorite convenience store with yummy snacks and even sushi, sandwiches, pastries, coffee, soft serve ie-cream and many, many more!
45 locals recommend
FamilyMart
135 Dela Rosa Cor Legaspi StThere's a closer one to our building along V.A. Rufino Street corner Bolano Street.
My favorite convenience store with yummy snacks and even sushi, sandwiches, pastries, coffee, soft serve ie-cream and many, many more!
Entertainment & Activities
Great massages! To de-stress, I usually get the Xiamen foot reflexology treatment or a Swedish massage. Once in a while, I get the hot stone massage.
Stoneleaf
132 Amorsolo StreetGreat massages! To de-stress, I usually get the Xiamen foot reflexology treatment or a Swedish massage. Once in a while, I get the hot stone massage.