List of Hotel Bars and their Specialty Drinks

As of last year, with the Department of Tourism’s push for everything being more fun in the Philippines, it was decided that if Singapore had the aptly named Singapore Sling in the historical Raffles Hotel, then the Makati Shangri-La would also have a signature drink for Manila, called, the “Manila Sunshine” of course.

 The “Manila Sunshine” is made with lambanog, a coconut wine, as its base. It is also mixed with local fruits including mangos and pineapple, with a dash of triple sec, and the local rum much loved by tourist, Tanduay. The cocktail is then garnished with lemongrass and a sliver of sliced pineapple. A non-alcoholic version of the drink is also available, appropriately called the “Virgin Manila Sunshine”.

 Not to be outdone, The Mandarin Hotel’s Martinis Bar provides live music in a sophisticated setting, and of course –excellent martinis. Have your fill of the hotel signature drinks in the form of the Ginger Martini, Calamansi Martini, and the Coconut Martini. If you’re looking for something not easily replicated in other bars though, have a “Manileno”, a mojito/caipirinha mix made of the local dark rum muddled with fresh ginger and topped with ginger ale.

If cocktails aren’t quite your thing, then head over to Dusit Thani Hotel’s bar and restaurant called Fiesta San Miguel.  Here you can take partake of their signature drinks in the form of unlimited San Miguel Draft Beer with beer matches such as currywurst, fish and chips, and adobo pizza. You can take your drinks in the main area backdropped by big brewery kettles while listening to the Top 40 tunes provided by the house DJ. If you’re looking for a more laidback evening with your friends or workmates, head over to the terrace to bask in the open air for a relaxed evening.

 A reliable list of hotel signature drinks in Manila would not be complete without mentioning the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s grand restaurant Spiral. With 21 dining ateliers to cater to your every gustatory need, including a peking duck oven, a churrasco, a cheese room, a hug chocolate station, and all the sushi and sashimi you could ever hope to eat in an evening –there is certainly the a drink to match your every need. But because this is a French-run hotel, you might as well have something from their impressive wine cellar. Have their in-house sommelier choose a wine to go with your food, and don’t be afraid to tell them your budget beforehand, they won’t sneer at you if you want something affordable.

 The Salon de Ning of the Peninsula Manila provides the setting for a 1930s Shanghai ala Wong Kar Wai’s film “In The Mood For Love”.  Lose yourself in the cocktail lounge’s signature drink “Ning Sling”, a blend of Belvedere Pomerancza, lychee liqueur, passionfruit fruit puree, and orange juice.

List Manila - Ramen Spots

There's nothing like a nice, steaming bowl of ramen to warm a hungry belly. Japanese restaurants have been a common inclusion in the food and beverage services in Manila for a long time now, many of which know how to whip up a mean bowl of noodles. Below is a list of just a few places where you can satisfy your ramen craving.

Kenji Tei Ramen House, with its sleek interiors, lends a contemporary feel to the traditional ramen bar. The menu includes hot options with their house-made noodles in your choice of broth, including shoyu and miso, as well as cold noodle options . The restaurant has recently expanded with new branches in Alabang Town Center and Greenbelt 5.

Any ramen fiend in Manila has eaten at Ukokkei Ramen Ron, or has at least heard of it. It often tops lists of the most authentic Japanese ramen in the area. You can watch as the chef whips up a bowl of Miso Chasu with ramen noodles brought in from Japan.

Raku Hokkaido also brings in noodles imported from Japan. The good food and cozy atmosphere keeps their branches relatively packed, so be sure to come early if you want to snag a table.

In Makati, there is a short strip of Japanese restaurants that has been lovingly dubbed as Little Tokyo. The strip houses a handful of culinary gems and is also home to Choto Stop. At first glance, this Japanese mini-mart seems like a strange place for noodles, but their miso ramen is well known among the foodie crowd. Stop in for a bowl and do a little shopping while you wait!

Not too far away, bright neon lights lead the way to Nihonbashitei. Don’t let the karaoke bar exterior fool you; the menu brings in Japanese food lovers all day and all night long. For something a little different, give their Cold Sesame Noodles a try.

Another big player in the Japanese food and beverage services in Manila is Ramen Bar. The restaurant lives up to its name providing various shio, shoyu and miso options. Enjoy a hefty serving of noodles off their Big Bowls menu.

Ajisen Ramen in Quezon City is part of an international chain that first opened in Japan over 40 years ago. Its claim to fame is its original white pork broth and al dente noodles made from whole wheat. Branches can be found in countries around Asia and in the United States and Australia.

New ramen places are always popping up around Manila. Go out and find a bowl of your own favourite kind today.