Nightlife · Manila · Philippines
Manila nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Manila, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Manila's nightlife ranges from Poblacion's packed bar streets and BGC's polished clubs to bayside casinos and karaoke, with bars often open very late. The main areas are Poblacion, Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Entertainment City and Malate.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Poblacion, Makati
Where to go out
Poblacion, Makati
Cocktail bars, craft beer, rooftop terraces and street food around P. Burgos and Kalayaan Avenue.
Bonifacio Global City
Upscale bars, clubs and restaurants around High Street and Uptown.
Entertainment City
Casino resorts with lounges, shows and late-night dining near the bay.
Malate
Older bar scene around Remedios Circle with live music.
Nightlife tips
- Use ride-hailing apps to get home late at night.
- Karaoke (videoke) is a national pastime; private KTV rooms are common for groups.
- Some bars have dress codes, especially in BGC and hotel clubs.
Evening sights
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Waterfront · Ermita and Malate
Manila Bay sunset
Clear evenings in the dry season, roughly December to April, give the best colours.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
- Photo spot
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. April has the warmest evenings, with lows around 26°C (79°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:46 | 24°C (75°F) | 4 |
| April | About 18:10 | 26°C (79°F) | 4 |
| July | About 18:29 | 25°C (77°F) | 22 |
| October | About 17:36 | 25°C (77°F) | 16 |
Getting home late
- Ride-hailing — Book outside rush hours where possible; journeys of a few kilometres can take an hour at peak times.
- Metro — Trains are packed at rush hour; use a stored-value Beep card to skip ticket queues.
- Taxi — Ask for the meter before setting off and decline drivers who quote a fixed price.
- Bus — Jeepneys, the colourful shared minibuses, run fixed routes for very low fares, and the EDSA Carousel bus runs in a dedicated lane along the main highway.
- Walking — Intramuros, Binondo, Makati's business district and BGC are walkable; elsewhere pavements are uneven and crossings difficult.
Late-night bites
- Balut — Evening street vendors, often near bars and parks.
- Hopia and Binondo dumplings — Bakeries and dumpling houses along Ongpin Street and its side alleys in Binondo.
Staying safe at night
Pickpocketing and phone snatching happen in crowded markets, on jeepneys and in rail stations, so keep valuables secure. Use metered taxis or ride-hailing, and be wary of strangers offering drinks or tours. Typhoons and flooding can disrupt travel from June to October.
- Emergency number
- 911 (national emergency hotline)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Poblacion, Makati
Poblacion, Makati's original town centre around P. Burgos Street and Kalayaan Avenue, is now the city's busiest bar and street-food district, with hostels, cocktail bars, rooftop terraces and late-night eateries alongside old houses and the Saints Peter and Paul church.
- Good
- Best nightlife in the city; Good-value hostels and boutique hotels; Walk to Makati CBD
- Watch out
- Loud at night; Some rough edges on side streets
- Nearby
- Makati CBD, P. Burgos Street, Rockwell Center
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Manila?
Poblacion, Makati, Bonifacio Global City and Entertainment City. Cocktail bars, craft beer, rooftop terraces and street food around P.
+Which area of Manila is best for nightlife?
Poblacion, Makati: Old town of Makati turned bar and hostel district.