The best bars and cafés Philippines

Timetable

Most cafes and coffee shops are open daily between 7am and 10pm.

Bars are generally open every day from 5pm to 2am or later.

Happy hours exist in the big cities like Manila, Cebu or Davao. It is usually from 4 or 5 pm to 7 or 8 pm.

Budget & Tips

For a coffee (Americano), count between 50 and 150 PHP. They are served in cafes and coffee shops. If you have a coffee in a sari-sari or street-food stand, it will cost you 20 PHP but these are powdered coffees and be aware that if you order a blackcoffee, you will probably receive a coffee full of milk and sugar.

For beers, the Philippines has some well known local beers like San Miguel or Red Horse. In a bar, count between 60 and 120 PHP. For imported beers like Corona or Heineken, count a little more. For the little anecdote, the Belgian beer Stella Artois is very appreciated by the golden youth of Manila and is reputed to be expensive (count more than 150 PHP), whereas in Belgium, it is the low-end beer par excellence.

Payments are made in cash and sometimes the 12% service charge must be added to the price indicated. Tipping is not mandatory but always appreciated.

Age restrictions

The legal drinking age is 18. It is of course illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol and prohibited to drink on public roads. During election periods, the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

What's very local

A very common practice in the Philippines is to serve bottles of beer or other beverages covered with a piece of handkerchief or paper towel. This allows the customer to remove any dust or impurities from the neck of the bottle, thus avoiding the risk of contamination.

Bars and cafés abound in the cities, but on the islands and in more remote areas, the custom is to buy your drinks in a sari-sari (small stalls you see everywhere) and drink them on the beach, for example.

Smokers

Smoking laws in the Philippines are very strict. Smoking is prohibited in public areas, cafes and restaurants. In practice, some establishments are allowed to provide a smoking area or terrace. Just ask or look for ashtrays.