It was such a coincidence that I was at Back to the 90's yesterday and it was apparently--Hashtag:…read moreThrowback Thursday. My friends from Concerned Artists of the Philippines in UP held a back to back gig of two independent bands there last night (Plagpul and KALIS), so I passed by and gave my support. It was my first time in this bar but I already knew about it for quite some time; it's Back to the Future signage along Tomas Morato, corner E. Rodriguez is simply hard to miss. I was curious at first to see what it's like inside Back to the 90's, only to find out that it's actually no different from most bars ideal for gatherings of independent bands and the underground music scene. The only difference with Back to the 90's is practically, its 90's theme. You will definitely see a lot of Throwback posts on their walls because of the framed movie and music posters from the 90's era. Haha! What a virtual way to describe it, but I would rather stick to such description than say nostalgic because I simply did not get the feel. I was born 1991, so I really wasn't able to get a glimpse of how bars then were like. Although, when I asked some of my older friends there, they said that 'yes, this is actually a recreation of a 90's bar.' What I like about it, is it's cozy but rock and roll ambiance that went well with its small, vertical space; comfortable couches are leaned against graffiti walls showcased by dimmed pin lights. They also have a very cute menu placed in an old school CD case where they offer alcoholic beverages and bar dishes like Nacho's, Fries, Buffalo Wings, etc. Although, I wasn't able to have a taste of any because I was a little broke last night (P200.00 per order), and their selections were not really that inviting, the waiter said that their best seller is the Tapsilog. Overall, it was an OK bar for me. I would go here if good bands will be playing but probably not for a usual late night chill or beer nights.

This place is way overpriced and on top of that they have bizarre extra fees too…read more Drinks and food are just ok. Views are nice: basically a rooftop city skyline. But for the high price, the quality, quantity and services are seriously lacking. They also have strange extra-charges. For example if you ask the left-over food boxed they will charge you a substantial fee for that! We had never seen or heard of such policy anywhere else and they don't inform you of such bizarre fee in advance either! The humidity and pollution don't help this place either. Will not go back and don't recommend it.

Sky Deck View Bar offers delicious Filipino and international dishes, friendly and attentive…read moreservice, and an unforgettable ambiance with 360° views of Manila--especially magical at sunset. They offer extensive mix of local and international dishes, standout items like bagnet and calamari; some variability in temperature and taste

Z Roof Deck lives up to its name as a solid rooftop bar in Poblacion. While it isn't the highest…read morevantage point in the area, it still offers a great perspective of the neighborhood, with particularly nice views of the illuminated Rockwell buildings and the distant BGC skyline. The atmosphere is definitely a vibe--chill and social. Music starts up later in the evening (around 9 PM, I believe), which helps transition the mood as night falls. We visited fairly early and enjoyed the shift when the music began. However, one interaction notably dampened the experience. A brief, joking conversation with a bouncer took an unexpectedly dark turn. When I lightheartedly asked if anyone had ever tripped on the spiral staircase, he replied, "Only if I throw them off." Joking or not, for someone responsible for patron safety, this felt in poor taste and sounds like he wants to look or sound intimidating. It's a remark that unfortunately sticks with you. And it was of bad taste. Overall, Z Roof Deck has much to offer in terms of views and ambiance, but attention to staff training and customer interaction would elevate it from a good spot to a great one. 2 star from poor choice of words from the security at the roof deck. You want to be funny? Tell a better wholesome joke.

The happy hour is awesome- you get a free drink! The view is cool, you can see a lot of the city…read morefrom here. The only drawback coming here is that you need to buy a bracelet and put a minimum amount 300 pesos per person but if you choose your poison correctly it can get you 2 drinks or 3 beers :)

Good place to hang out, live band and pretty good food food, get your group several buckets of beer…read moreand you are set. The ambiance is okay, an almost too high of a stage is the main focal point to an almost urban-western setting, of course the servers have play their part as well wearing almost awkward cropped western top and hat. Overall this place is alright and for a Tuesday night, the place is hopping! I can only imagine how this place is on a Friday and on the weekends. Cheers!!

This place is a little bit under the radar and it maaaay have a slightly sketchy vibe (lol) but…read morewhen you get inside-- Wow. It's totally like being transported to the 80's! They really went all out in decorating the whole place with legit 80's band shirts and album covers on the walls, a whole line of famous records of the era crossing a panel in the ceiling, a giant rubik's cube that lights up dangling right by the entrance, a Super Mario game screen cap wall-art, and 80's movie posters all around that my John Hughes movie fangirl self got so excited about. It might have been the first time I honestly appreciated the 80's, hahaha. I'm not sure how it is on normal nights, but it's definitely a great place for themed parties, which is exactly what we did when we booked the whole place for an 80's themed office christmas party! It was perfect! The whole ambience really set the theme in motion, complete with an in-house DJ who gamely played an all 80's playlist for us the whole night and even assisted us with an 80's "Name-That-Tune" game that got super competitive, hahaha. As the night winded down, a couple of us got to hang by the bar counter watching the 1983 Star Wars Return of the Jedi (but of course. wooo!) on the TV by the drinks shelves, with ice cold beers. What a night. That's another thing, their beers are all perfectly chilled! And they're not too expensive either. Food may be a little too oily and pretty ordinary, but I don't think you really go here for the food anyway. It's a bit of a niche spot that nearby QC-office goers would frequent, so if you're from there, check out this cool little spot!

We found ourselves on October 21st, 2015, aka Back to the Future day, on the other side of the…read moreplanet, sad that we were missing the celebration with our friends in LA, but also happy that we didn't get inundated by it. And yet completely coincidentally, we find ourselves with a hotel in Timog, where, just half a mile away, there was a bar called CAFE 80's! The coincidence could not have been more perfect. The place is dark, but covered in 80's memorabilia, which is always fun to look at. The DJ played 80's hits as would be expected. They were playing Back to the Future on the TV, but afterwards instead of playing Part 2 (where the date would've shown), they switched to Cocktail starring Tom Cruise. The place was relatively empty when we got there around 9pm so maybe we were the only ones that actually knew about the occasion. The beer prices were decent, but the cocktails were both small-sized and not very strong. Stick to bottled drinks. Food was also just meh, only get it if you're super hungry and need something to absorb the alcohol.

Great ambiance, service and food. Excellent salpicao, wagyu…read morecubes and pomelo salad. Amazing sunset view.

Kurt, thanks for another amazing night. Crazy off the chain 5*Food and amazing cocktails. This…read moreplace rocks! Don't miss it if you're visiting

I've been an avid goer of gigs since 2007 and even started my own production company in 2009, but…read morebelieve it or not, I only started frequenting Route 196 in 2014. Of course, I would watch gigs there from time to time, but because I live in Makati and parking can get difficult, I used to get too lazy to go all the way to Katipunan. Since my first gig in April 2014, I'm probably there almost once or twice a week. It even came to a point that I was there four times in one week! Yes, parking can be difficult, but with Mak around, he's sure to find a decent and safe parking spot for you. Once you park, you pay an entrance fee to Ryan, who at times often tease me already. (See? I go there waaaaay too much.) There are times though that entrance is free. Usually for Rockeoke nights, which I've honestly never been to, but come on. Karaoke with a live band backing you up and everyone drunk enough not to judge your horrible singing? Come on. That's got to sound inviting. From time to time, I buy a bottle of scotch that is served to me by my favorite waiter, Mark. If you're a fan of How I Met Your Mother, just imagine Mark as Linus. He never leaves my glass empty! My friends and I have actually gotten close to the waiters,(and by close I mean, Facebook friends and commenting on each others' posts), that we would often tease each other with little inside jokes. On Tuesdays they have drink all you can for P300 on certain cocktails and every night they have buy one take one on pizza until 8 or 9 pm. If you're feeling cheap, go for those two options, but if you're really hungry, try the deviled chicken or deviled tofu with a serving of rice, which by the way, is not even expensive at all! If you're not a fan of spicy food though, try their other pizzas or their rice bowls. Basically, Route 196 has everything I need when I go out: good food, great staff and brilliant music. And of course, an unlimited amount of cheap drinks!

Joining the ranks of bars like Saguijo, Big Sky Mind, and Club Dredd, Route 196 has become a hot…read moreand sought-after venue for today's young artists. Most big names of the independent art scene frequent Route 196, if not for their own events, for the crowd. Route attracts writers, independent thinkers, music aficionados, filmmakers, and patrons of the underground community. Events I've attended here include Stereodeal's album launch, GeekFight! Trivia Night, Deus Sex Machina, a gig with indie bigwigs Bullet Dumas, Ebe Dancel, and Johnoy Danao, and a fundraiser for a dance film. Route may be a bit difficult to get to, with no direct commutes, but it doesn't stop the crowds from going out of their way to get there. The lure of the culture of Route 196 is just too strong.

I was actually debating with myself whether I should share this place or not. But, fine, I'm…read moresharing one of my favorite drinking joints in the QC area! I discovered this place because a friend (who also didn't want to share it with me!) was having a super duper BAD day. Of course, I suggested we drink somewhere near his place. He said that he wanted to get wasted and that we should drink at his "secret place." So, why is Coal awesome? Be here on Sundays to Thursdays from 5-9PM to avail of their "Drink All You Can" Promo! It's only Php99 (2.11USD)! On Fridays and Saturdays, the same promo is Php168 (3.58USD); just stick to the weekdays! In the promo mechanics, you have to order a "pulutan" that will cost you about Php200 (4.26USD). But, still, all the beer you can drink for Php99. Looove it! It is such an awesome deal. I know that they just started this promo in September 2015. So far, they've kept extending it and I hope they will keep on extending it! :D About the food, it's your typical pinoy bar food. I recommend you try the Baked Mussels, Crispy Pork Strips, Chichaocoal Bulaklak, and the Coal Pork Sisig! If you wanna go cheap when you avail of their promo, here are the "pulutans" you should order: Onion Rings, Sweet Spicy Chicken, Smoked Hungarian Sausage, and Inihaw na Liempo! It's a bit difficult to get to but the trike drivers and guards in the area know the place very well. Also, they have private KTV rooms! Perfect for barkadas or an after office chill out session. :)

Good to enjoy w/ friends in very noisy open are environment. They also have individual rooms. We…read morecan watch sport TV programs there. Foods are not but and low price range. Consequently, their customers seems young people who easily get fights such environment.

My husband and I discovered the Music Hall when were looking for a place to chill somewhere in…read moreMetrowalk. With two floors and a mezzanine, this place is surprisingly spacious. Since we had dinner already at home we only ordered a plate of nachos and two bottles of beer (total bill was only Php350. They don't charge an entrance fee). We were disappointed with the nachos because it was served late and cold. We should have ordered the sizzling tofu instead. Anyway, it's a good thing the band playing that evening, Jek Manuel and The Stronghold, was good. We really enjoyed the group's performance. I like the place because it's separated from the crowded and smokey part of the Metrowalk. I don't like their chairs though, very uncomfortable. We will definitely go back there because food (mostly hotplate or grilled) is not expensive, band performances great, place cool, and location is fantastic.

With a very up-to-date sound system, scenic location, and the guest performances of many of the…read morecountry's well-known Original Pinoy Music (OPM) artists, The Music Hall has a simple name but a well-known concept in that is takes a bar with live music and an ambiance of cocktails, buckets of beer, and delicious samples of "pulutan" and other light meals served with alcohol to make it a bar-bistro. Seeing its walls lined with pictures of famous artists who performed there, one would instantly realize how many stars have graced the stage of The Music Hall. During my visit, I witnessed a concert where Philippine music legends Boy Mondragon and Richard Merk performed songs that made them famous. (Yes, not my generation, but it was a fun, entertaining, impressive show nonetheless.) All that while enjoying a smooth Daiquiri with Calamares, Drunken Shrimp, and Sizzling Tofu. With the cool air-conditioning and the live bands and groups like the FBC "Rebirth" and the L & S Femme stoking up the crowd's enthusiasm and letting them sing along to the hits of yesterday and today, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I'm sure you will too. Just check their schedule which is packed with events featuring artists from then and now.

I pride myself on having an excellent sense of direction, especially in Metro Manila. However, when…read morea friend of mine told me we were going to Tago, my inner GPS completely conked out. Tago's name is apt, then, because the bar is completely tago (hidden) somewhere in Cubao! The place itself hosts no gaudy signage. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find it if you've never been. Giving directions to tago is a BITCH! But it's absolutely worth it. The bar itself is small, and the outdoor area is narrow. Frequented mostly by jazz musicians and fans, Tago is an intimate little hideaway in Quezon City that's mostly for friends and fans. No annoying young millennials to be seen here, folks! It's all a bunch of old, funny farts who play really excellent music, and the retired hipster in me likes it this way. There's something comfortable about a place that doesn't require you to dress to the nines because you're not there to impress anyone. You're there to watch a fantastic show, and you are always guaranteed a good time. This is because the patrons are passionate about what they do, and when they go on stage, it is immediate the moment the first chord is strummed, or the first drumbeat is banged.

They weren't kidding when they decided to call it Tago Jazz Cafe. First of all, it was pretty…read moredifficult to find. Okay, granted that my friend who brought me there was just guessing directions, it would have taken some guessing regardless. Don't expect outdoor signage or anything fancy to let you know that you have arrived; Tago, after all, exists for the art, not for the attention. It is real music for real music lovers. My visit was an outlier to the more regular patrons who frequent Tago. They are serious jazz enthusiasts, all from a tight-knit community of savants and seasons musicians. All that talent convened in just one tiny place is both intimidating and humbling. I would compare the experience to seeing Julliard-trained talent performing on the street corners of New York City: overflowing talent, yet so understatedly served. On the one hand, I wish there were more places like Tago, or that people knew how to appreciate jazz and jazz bars more. On the other hand, all that attention might mean losing the charm and intimacy that tiny Tago provides its best patrons.