- Party atmosphere:
Filipinos are famous for their fun and outgoing personalities. They love to drink, to dance, to sing, and to play music. Clubs in Manila are rarely uptight or boring, and dress codes are rarely implemented. The ambiance can get really wild, especially in the more local venues that foreigners seldom visit (in Quezon City for instance).
- Reasonable prices for alcohol, entrance fees, and taxis:
Even high-end nightclubs will only charge US$10-15 for an entrance with 2 strong drinks included. You can easily spend a whole night out for US$50 in Manila, which is the price for two cocktails in some bars in Singapore.
Filipinos are famous for their fun and outgoing personalities. They love to drink, to dance, to sing, and to play music. Clubs in Manila are rarely uptight or boring, and dress codes are rarely implemented. The ambiance can get really wild, especially in the more local venues that foreigners seldom visit (in Quezon City for instance).
- Reasonable prices for alcohol, entrance fees, and taxis:
Even high-end nightclubs will only charge US$10-15 for an entrance with 2 strong drinks included. You can easily spend a whole night out for US$50 in Manila, which is the price for two cocktails in some bars in Singapore.
- Foreigner-friendly:
English is spoken everywhere in Manila, even by security guards or taxis.
English is spoken everywhere in Manila, even by security guards or taxis.
- Great dating scene
Filipino girls are very friendly and they are interested to meet with foreigners. Most are quite religious though (Catholic), and living with their families. For this reason, one-night stands and hookups are not that common unless you are looking for it specifically (on the luxury dating site Seeking.com, for instance, which is known to be straight-to-the point).
A good idea is to download a few dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Badoo or Skout. Those apps work best if you are living in the Philippines or at least in Asia.
If you are only a tourist, then I would recommend the very popular FilipinoCupid instead. It can have up to 5,000 girls online, and many among them do not mind if you live abroad. Ideally, you should register on the site a few weeks before landing in Manila so you can already organize a few dates.
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- Clubs and bars open late and every day:A good idea is to download a few dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Badoo or Skout. Those apps work best if you are living in the Philippines or at least in Asia.
If you are only a tourist, then I would recommend the very popular FilipinoCupid instead. It can have up to 5,000 girls online, and many among them do not mind if you live abroad. Ideally, you should register on the site a few weeks before landing in Manila so you can already organize a few dates.
You can go out any night of the week in Manila, you'll always find a crowded bar or nightclub. Also, there are no real curfews: Many clubs close at 6am, a few keep going until 8am (and the seedy LA Café is open 24/7).
- The negative sides of Manila
Not everything is perfect in Manila, unfortunately. The city is still developing so you have the usual pollution, poverty, mismanagement that you can see in HCMC, Jakarta, Phnom Penh, etc.
Hotels are usually a bit more expensive than elsewhere in Southeast Asia and their quality is average. The internet is terrible, even when advertised as being fast. During the day, you may spend a lot of time in traffic jams. There is a metro system but it is packed and hot. The food is not great unless you are a fan of junk food/fast-food chains.
Finally, security is an issue but it is quite exaggerated in my opinion. As long as you stay in the safest neighborhoods (like Makati) and use reputable taxi companies, you are not particularly at risk.
If you want to know more about Manila nightlife, this review will cover everything you need to know to party hard and to have fun. Where to Party in Manila?
You can click on the map above to enlarge it.
Metro Manila is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. It is actually made of several cities including Manila itself, Makati, Pasay, Taguig and Quezon City. You cannot visit everything in one night, of course.
The nightlife is active in the following areas, by order of personal preference:
Poblacion (Makati)
Makati is the main business and financial city in Metro Manila. As such, it is rather modern and it has a sizable foreign population (business travelers, expats, backpackers).
Within Makati, the most happening restaurants, bars and clubs are in a small neighborhood called "Poblacion". I counted at least 50 venues there in just a few streets. Many are trendy, with a unique concept, and they attract young, upper-class Filipinos and foreigners.
In the heart of Poblacion, on P Burgos Street, there is also a red light district with several gogo bars, massage parlours, some expat pubs, and a club. This aspect of the nightlife brings an older, male crowd (many Westerners/Arabs).
The hotels I recommend near Makati nightlife are the following:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'M Hotel - US$100/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1898 Hotel Colonia En Las Filipinas - US$60/night
⭐⭐ Lub d Makati - US$30/night
There are also many cheap hostels and guesthouses that attract backpackers from all over the world. White Banana and Z Hostel (rooftop) are well-known to host great parties.
Best Bars and Clubs in Poblacion:
Great little club with eclectic music genres (funk, house, techno). 70s disco theme. Also serves burgers.
Cocktail bar, chic crowd. 500 pesos entrance.
One of the most popular venues in Poblacion. Bar/club on 2 floors with a Mexican theme. For Gen Z/Millenials. Mainstream dance music.
Rooftop bar with uplifting music. Popular with both Filipinos and foreigners. Free for ladies before 1AM. 500 pesos after with 2 beers.
Biggest club in Manila. EDM music. Lots of foreigners and prostitution. Not my vibe.
URBN
A pub that turns into a nightclub after midnight. Middle-class crowd. Can get pretty wild. They also have a branch in Quezon City.
A pub that turns into a nightclub after midnight. Middle-class crowd. Can get pretty wild. They also have a branch in Quezon City.
Bonifacio Global City (BGC or The Fort)
This is a newer business district that currently competes with Makati. It is more modern and attracts younger Filipinos and expats. It is built on a grid, with wide roads and sidewalks, making it easier to go around. It's probably the safest area in Metro Manila. The clubs and bars are located either in The Fort Strip (Bank Bar, Craft), Forbes Town Center (Tipsy Pig), or in The Palace Complex (#1 upscale nightlife spot in Manila).
Compared with Poblacion nightlife, clubs in BGC tend to be pricier, and they attract an older crowd (late 20s, 30s). You will see less students, less backpackers, and more executives and expatriates.
Accommodation is harder to find in BGC, especially in the budget segment. The available hotels near the nightlife are all quite expensive, for instance:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Shangri-La at the Fort - US$250/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Seda Bonifacio Global City - US$150/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ F1 Hotel - US$90/night
Best Bars and Clubs in BGC:
Probably the top club in Manila in terms of design, sound system and atmosphere. They attract many foreigners, especially when there is a famous guest DJ. Expensive (1,500 pesos for the male entrance with 2 drinks), but if you book a sofa with a group of friends, you can reduce the cost. Music is usually EDM.
In the Palace, there are several other clubs and bars such as:
Revel: Luxury bottle club for an older, wealthy crowd (corporate type, expats). Do not visit if you are alone.
Clubhouse: Smaller than Xylo, with a student crowd (but expensive nonetheless).
Yes Please: Cocktail bar, has a busy night on Mondays
Versus Barcade: Arcade-themed bar
Quezon City
It is actually the most populated city in the Philippines, before Manila. It is very authentic, mostly residential, but you have one area, on Tomas Morato Avenue that is full of bars and clubs. The crowd is usually young, middle class, and almost 100% local. Usually very fun and friendly.
The hotels I recommend near Quezon City nightlife are the following:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxent Hotel - US$75/night
⭐⭐⭐ Hopp Inn Tomas Morato - US$30/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxent Hotel - US$75/night
⭐⭐⭐ Hopp Inn Tomas Morato - US$30/night
Best Bars and Clubs in Quezon City:
Lots of places that are quite similar: Adrenaline, Amnezia, Corte Ibiza, DD Club, GSide, URBN QC and Guilly's. I think it's best to go to one of these venues then explore the area by foot.
Ermita/Malate
These are two districts of Manila located next to each other near the Manila Bay. They attract budget travelers, backpackers, tourists and Koreans/Japanese businessmen. It is also where most government buildings are. The area can be considered a red-light district with its Korean-style karaokes and its pubs with freelance prostitutes. You also have some street prostitution and a few popular expat bars. For partying, go to Adriatico and nearby streets.
These are two districts of Manila located next to each other near the Manila Bay. They attract budget travelers, backpackers, tourists and Koreans/Japanese businessmen. It is also where most government buildings are. The area can be considered a red-light district with its Korean-style karaokes and its pubs with freelance prostitutes. You also have some street prostitution and a few popular expat bars. For partying, go to Adriatico and nearby streets.
The club ZZYZX is one of the busiest in the area, especially with Koreans. Lots of girls but the majority seemed to be professionals.
The hotels I recommend near Ermita/Malate nightlife are the following:
The hotels I recommend near Ermita/Malate nightlife are the following:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sheraton - US$220/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ New Coast Manila - US$170/night
⭐⭐⭐ lyf Malate-Ermita - US$40/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ New Coast Manila - US$170/night
⭐⭐⭐ lyf Malate-Ermita - US$40/night