Cover Photo: courtesy of Bar Flora
Photo: courtesy of Bar Flora
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Learn all about Bar Flora and the female team hoping to change Quezon City’s cocktail culture
Bar Flora’s mission is simple and direct–as the words run on the website’s banner: No need to drive south for quality cocktails. It is true that not too long ago, discerning drinkers from north of the Pasig River had to cross bridges just to have a well-crafted concoction. However, this quaint watering hole in Scout Rallos, Quezon City has provided its residents with a place where drinkers of all genders and predilections can imbibe premium booze and blends in peace.
Bar Flora is the brainchild of founder and creative director Charlene “Shao” Falcis, who is the visionary behind the bar’s concept and atmosphere. Helping her run things is general manager Louiza Juano, who remains on top of operations and guest relations. Denise Castro and Bella Artuz are the marketing director and PR director, respectively. On the other hand, co-founders Tana Picar-Reyes and Rose Amor de Guzman act as the leads in the creation of their food and tea and gin programmes. It is a proudly women-led company helmed by a collective of creatives and hospitality professionals. While their admittedly feminine perspective drives their concept, the desire to deliver an excellent product resonates regardless of gender. “Flora is women-led and made with women in mind. From our seasonal gin and tea cocktails to our soft-lit interiors and safety-first policies, everything is crafted to feel warm, thoughtful, and story-driven,” Falcis explains.
Falcis and her cohorts opened in Quezon City, hoping to provide the area with a bar experience that intoxicates on a different level. “We opened north of Metro Manila with the hope of creating a new kind of drinking space,” she says, “one that feels less like a bar and more like a botanical escape where the flavours are layered, the music is considered and you never have to look over your shoulder. The journey’s been intimate and intentional, with each new volume of cocktails reflecting our growth and evolving creativity.”
These days, craft cocktail bars pepper the streets of Makati and BGC because perhaps the clientele demands it more. Opening one in the north is truly a bold, downright ballsy move. Falcis admits that opening Bar Flora in the Scout area has its pros and cons. “There is space here to stand out and build a community,” she points out, “and guests are mostly curious, supportive and deeply appreciative of thoughtful experiences.” However, the market remains mostly green and unexposed, and Falcis is aware that they are mostly responsible for moulding it. “It takes time to educate the market on complex, non-mainstream cocktails.”
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Above Photo: courtesy of Bar Flora
Photo: courtesy of Bar Flora
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For now, she takes consolation in the fact that the tides have startlingly turned, with many southerners braving EDSA traffic to drink and eat in their little QC bar. They have just launched Bar Flora’s volume III cocktail menu, which Falcis calls “an ode to the four seasons told through gin and tea.” They have also just opened their wine and sake bar, Matador, with their modern take on tapas. What they call their most ambitious project yet is Flora Tea Bar, which will open in Annapolis Street, Greenhills, promising a full tea experience that transforms from serene tea service by day to cocktail bar by night. With the beverage scene globally shifting its preferences toward non-alcoholic beverages, team Flora takes it all in stride as they evolve with the tea and bar culture in the Philippines.
In the short time that Flora has been in operation, it has made its indelible mark on the local beverage scene. Falcis ponders their contributions which, when ruminated, is quite the impactful list. “We’ve helped redefine that a bar in Quezon City can be more than a night out,” she says. “Flora has become a space for community, creativity and connection. We’ve introduced a softer, more story-led style of cocktail culture and inspired other establishments to approach bar experiences with more intention. We've also become a go-to for brand pop-ups, women-led events, and tea-infused innovations.” Flora is not only offering something new to do and visit in Quezon City, but it is also changing the way people gather and, ultimately, live.
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Jaclyn Clemente Koppe is a food and lifestyle writer, as well as a consultant to some of the country’s beloved food and beverage brands. Her passion for food and drink is only surpassed by her devotion to her family, most especially to her soulmate, Pepa the poodle.
