By early evening the offices of the central business district are emptying and the sidewalks fill with people deciding where to eat before they drink. Lights come on around the park at Greenbelt, tables appear along Makati Avenue, and in Poblacion the first customers settle in at bars that range from plain beer gardens to carefully designed cocktail rooms.
Makati's nightlife is spread across a few distinct zones rather than concentrated in one strip, and it suits visitors who are happy to move between them over the course of an evening. The business district side is polished and restaurant-led; the streets northeast of Ayala Triangle and the Poblacion area are looser, busier and better for bar hopping. You can eat well, drink well and walk between venues in most of these areas, though you will want to know which zone you are heading to before you set out.
Where to go out in Makati
1. Greenbelt
Greenbelt is described as the epicenter of Makati's nightlife, with some of the city's best restaurants, cafes, bars and karaoke joints clustered around a park in the middle of the main business district. The setting is a park surrounded by venues, so an evening here can move easily from dinner to drinks to a private room for singing without leaving the complex.
This suits a night when you want choice and convenience rather than a single destination, and it is the most straightforward area for a visitor staying in the business district. One practical note from the sources: the Museum Cafe sits on the ground floor of the Ayala Museum at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street, adjacent to Greenbelt 3 and 5, and is described as a swanky joint that usually features live music.
2. Makati Avenue
A series of bars stretches out along Makati Avenue, northeast of Ayala Triangle. This is a street-based night rather than a single complex, so you move along it as the evening goes on.
It suits anyone who prefers to compare a few places in one stretch before settling. The sources note that this stretch includes the P Burgos Street red district area, so expect that part of the street to have a different character from the bar rows closer to the Triangle.
3. Poblacion
Poblacion sits next to, and is arguably part of, the red light district, and the sources call it possibly the best place for bar hopping in the Metro. Historically low rents by Makati standards drew in trendy bars and restaurants, and the range now runs from cheap beer gardens to some of the best bars in the country.
This is the area for a long, unstructured night where the plan is to wander rather than book. The practical approach given in the sources is simple: start around Don Pedro Street and walk until you find a bar you like.
4. Karaoke joints
Karaoke venues appear among the restaurants, cafes and bars clustered around the park at Greenbelt, making them part of a normal night out in the business district rather than a separate excursion.
This suits groups, or anyone who wants a seated, enclosed end to an evening after eating nearby. Since karaoke places are listed as part of the Greenbelt cluster rather than as standalone destinations, the easiest way to work one into your night is to decide on it while you are already in the area.
5. Members' clubs
Some venues in Makati operate on membership rather than as open bars. The Manila Polo Club on McKinley Road is named in the sources as an exclusive example: if you are only a guest and not a member, you cannot order or even get water inside.
This is relevant mainly if a member invites you, since access depends on them rather than on you. The sources note that there is ample parking inside and that the comfort room is operating and wheelchair accessible.
How a night out unfolds
The sources describe Greenbelt as a place where well-heeled expats are commonly seen sipping mimosas at noon, which tells you that eating and drinking in the business district starts early and runs through the day rather than waiting for nightfall. Beyond that, the material does not give specific hours for dinner, for when bars fill, or for how late venues stay open, so the timing of your evening is best settled by choosing your area first and then checking with the venues themselves.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- All Saints' Day — 1 November
- All Souls' Day — 2 November
- Bonifacio Day — 30 November
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception — 8 December
- Christmas Eve — 24 December
- Christmas Day — 25 December
- Rizal Day — 30 December
- New Year's Eve — 31 December
- New Year's Day — 1 January
- Lailatul Isra Wal Mi Raj — early January, tentative date
- Lunar New Year's Day — early February
- Ramadan Start — early February, tentative date
Frequently asked questions
Which area is best for bar hopping?
Poblacion, which the sources describe as possibly the best place for bar hopping in the Metro. Start around Don Pedro Street and walk until something appeals to you.
Where can I find live music?
The Museum Cafe, on the ground floor of the Ayala Museum at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street, is described as usually featuring live music. It sits adjacent to Greenbelt 3 and 5.
Can I go to the Manila Polo Club without a membership?
Not in the usual sense. The sources state that if you are only a guest and not a member, you cannot order or even get water inside, so a visit depends on being brought by a member.
Is there a legal drinking age I should know about?
The source material does not state a legal drinking age or any other local rules for drinking in Makati, so check current local requirements before you go out.
Decide which of these areas fits the evening you want, then build your route around it before you leave your hotel.