Malapascua Island
Named in honour of Oscar Wilde, this stylish bar has fine views over the ocean, smart rattan seating and a devilish drinks menu that includes great…
Must-see nightlife in Philippines
Cebu City
Mango Sq is a somewhat notorious collection of bars and nightclubs conveniently located just off Fuente Osmeña. The names change but you can reliably find…
Puerto Galera
Atop a ridge on the winding road between PG town and Sabang, View Point overlooks jaw-droppingly beautiful Dalaruan Cove, about 2km west of Sabang. Come…
Vigan
The ground-level of this beautifully restored heritage house sees coffee slung in various ways for a customer base that knows the difference between…
Manila
With a gorgeous art-deco interior and cosy love seats, Bar Mathilde feels like hanging out in your designer friend's house. An intimate spot on weekdays,…
Coron Town
Tribu Kuridas lures backpackers with nightly live reggae, shooters (P150) and buckets of Long Island iced tea and other dangerous concoctions. It was the…
Manila
This minute space is the taproom of one of Manila's leading craft brewers. Try the Fish Rider Pale Ale accompanied by brisket or poutine (French-Canadian…
Cagayan de Oro
A few touches, including a ceiling arched like a wine barrel and an old red British phone booth stocked with liquor, give this dimly lit spot a cool vibe…
Cebu City
Club Holic keeps the party flag flying high in Mango Sq, with DJs spinning EDM, R&B and house sounds to a young crowd. Yes it's a little seedy around the…
Manila
Hot club in the Fort known for its Vegas-style pool parties. Draws live music acts and has an attached microbrewery/bar overlooking the pool. It's under…
Coron Town
Open to the street with a mini thatch-roofed 'cabana' bar, No Name has more character than other spots. Cheap drinks and happy hour sees P40 rum and Cokes…
Manila
A happening bar where, once the evening wears on, bartenders mount the bar and pour house-made rum down punters' throats as the crowd jiggles to fun party…
Manila
Reminiscent of a hipster bar in Portland, Big Bad Wolf is split over two levels with comfy couches, a cool soundtrack and blackboard menus with an…
Davao
One of the city's coffee culture pioneers and purveyor of durian-flavoured coffee drinks. Cosy and good food and pastry selection. A few other cafes are…
Baguio
A decades-old institution that draws a nice mix of tourists, expats, local students and random barflies. Some of the speciality drinks will, in no…
Manila
Erra's is your classic Southeast Asian streetside shack luring folk from all corners of the galaxy to quaff cheap San Miguel and – as its quirky name…
Manila
Next door to Big Sky Mind, Craft Coffee Revolution is everything a coffee house should be, with wooden-crate furniture where patrons can enjoy single…
Iloilo
If you like wild evenings, or at least the occasional pyjama or foam party, Zyron, at the western end of the Esplanade, is your place. You can't miss it:…
Manila
Upstairs from Finders Keepers, this industrial-chic club has DJs spinning quality electronic music and hip-hop, minus the cheese. Draws a younger crowd.
Vigan
BarTech is conservative Vigan’s concession to nightlife. On the inside it resembles a New York lounge misplaced in Ilocos. Most nights you'll be serenaded…
Cebu City
Lively, popular lounge with emerging house DJ talent and EDM anthems that draw a cool young crowd. There's also live music some nights. Linx is in Mandaue…
Malapascua Island
Hidden down a warren of lanes in the village behind Bounty Beach this low-key bar has a pool table, beer garden and draws a crowd of locals and dive…
Manila
Tasty craft beer brewed by next-door neighbour G-Point, served in an inviting open-air setting festooned with pics of old Manila. G-Point's full menu of…
Boracay
This driftwood-and-thatch watering hole, which turns into a mini-disco as the night wears on, is popular with old-school expats. As they're a colourful…
Around Manila
The best coffee and cafe experience in Subic. There's a full range of meals, including thin-crust pizzas, and it gets busy at lunch and dinner. Come early…
Boracay
Amid plenty of competition, Jonah's proudly boasts the best shakes on the island – the avocado and banana mix is sensational. Also has an extensive menu…
Manila
Gay-friendly O Bar has an infamous drag show and often gets raucous until the wee hours, especially on weekends. It's down an alley a little east of…
Puerto Princesa
A large place in the middle of town, Tiki heaves pretty much every night. It features bar games, beer buckets and revellers shimmying on the dance floor…
Leyte
A funky little cafe-bar built into the Superdome, popular with locals for a good coffee. In the evening it morphs into more of a bar with dangerously…
Around Manila
Head up to the Terrace Hotel's rooftop bar for ocean vistas, a dip in its infinity pool and a cocktail. The P300 entrance fee is redeemable against food…
El Nido
Best of the hotel bars, sophisticated La Salagane makes its own uniquely flavoured rums. The French-influenced food (mains P350 to P500) here is also…
Boracay
With nightly acoustic, often reggae and bongo-infused live music, laid-back Bom Bom is one of the best spots to kill time between dinner and late-night…
Manila
The classy Manhattan-style rooftop bar of the Seda hotel has great city views and two-for-one cocktails from 5pm to 7pm.
Sugar Beach
This bar perched atop the hill at the northern end of the beach, with its narrow but fabulous view, is good for a drink and the occasional live acoustic…
Bantayan Island
A fine juice and shake bar run by a welcoming Italian. All manor of tropical flavours are offered, as well as great ice cream, popsicles, snacks and meals.
Tacloban
Worth dropping by for its acoustic sessions (between Wednesdays and Saturdays) or – if you really insist – its dreaded Videoke on Monday and Tuesday.
Samar
Offering espresso coffee in the deep south of Samar, this is first choice in Guiuan for your caffeine fix. Also offers sizzlers, smoothies and snacks.
Cebu City
Lively bar known for its live music including good cover bands and reggae artists. It's down a little lane on the south side of General Maxilom Ave.
Iloilo
This dance club with resident DJ attracts mostly students and young professionals. Entrance fee for men is no problem: two beers. No flip-flops.
Moalboal
A large, two-storey American-owned bar with a keenly priced drinks list and a busy pool table. There's good service and live music some nights.
