Makati Bar Crawl & Nightlife Tour with Local Guide

Summary

Poblacion Pub Hopping: Drinks, Stories & New Friends

This is your chance to join a real Makati bar crawl with a local guide who knows every shortcut and secret menu. Taste Filipino beer and lambanog, try Japanese cocktails in Poblacion, meet locals and travelers alike, and end up swapping stories on a rooftop as Manila glows below you — memories you’ll carry long after the night ends.

What’s the experience like?

We met V just outside this tiny bar in Makati — he waved us over like we were old friends, even though I’d only messaged him once before. The street was already humming, tricycles zipping past and someone grilling something smoky nearby (I never figured out what it was, but it smelled good). Inside, the first cocktail came quick — sweet, sharp, a little too strong for me honestly. V laughed when I made a face and said, “That’s how we start here.” He introduced us to the bartender by name. It felt less like a tour and more like tagging along with someone who actually lives here.

After that, we wandered through Poblacion’s maze of neon-lit alleys — I kept losing track of where we were, but V always seemed to know which door led to the next spot. At Buccaneers (the one everyone talks about), there was this group of regulars playing cards at the bar. One guy tried to teach me a Filipino drinking game; I lost badly but got a free beer out of it. The music was loud but not in that “can’t hear yourself think” way — more like background energy. We tried some local wine too (V called it “lambanog,” which I probably mispronounced). He grinned and said my accent made it sound French.

Kampai was next — Japanese cocktails in the middle of Manila? Didn’t expect that twist. The bartender did this whole show with smoke and citrus peels; my drink tasted like summer if summer had a bit of bite. We ended up on a rooftop somewhere near Forbes Town, watching city lights flicker while the air cooled down just enough to make you forget how sticky Manila gets at night. Someone started telling stories about old Makati — half in English, half in Tagalog — and I just listened, not understanding every word but catching the vibe anyway.

The last stop was supposed to be “the best cocktail bar in Poblacion.” Maybe it was; honestly by then everything blurred together in a good way. I remember laughing with people whose names I never caught and thinking how different this felt from any night out back home. There’s something about sharing drinks with strangers who don’t stay strangers for long — I still think about that view from the rooftop sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Makati Bar Hopping Experience

• Start at best cocktail bar in Makati
• Visit famous Buccaneers bar
• Enjoy Japanese cocktails at Kampai
• Chill with view at Forbes Town Makati
• End at No.1 cocktail bar in Poblacion

Top questions

How many bars do we visit on the Makati bar crawl?

You’ll visit around five different bars during the tour, all within walking distance in downtown Makati.

Is food included on this Makati nightlife tour?

No full meals are included, but some bars may offer small snacks or bar bites for purchase.

What drinks are included in the booking?

Your first cocktail is included; after that, exclusive drink specials are available at each stop.

Can solo travelers join this Makati pub crawl?

Yes! Solo travelers are welcome and often join groups during the night.

Is transportation provided between bars?

No need for transport — all bars are within easy walking distance in Poblacion, Makati.

What’s included

Your evening includes your first cocktail at the starting bar, exclusive drink specials or free entry at each venue along the route, plus guidance from a local host who leads you through Poblacion’s lively streets until late into the night.