Cover Adam Hrapko of Manu and Paraluman unveils his third bar in Siargao, Bar Principal | Learn about all the new restaurants and bars you should have in your radar this April
Adam Hrapko of Manu and Paraluman unveils his third bar in Siargao, Bar Principal | Learn about all the new restaurants and bars you should have in your radar this April
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From dual-concept cocktail bars and transportive nightlife destinations to outdoor kitchens and modern Asian concepts, April’s new restaurants and bars reflect a scene that evolves in both form and perspective
Keep your finger on the pulse of the local dining scene with Tatler’s Dining Radar—our monthly round-up of the most exciting new restaurants, bars and cafés across the Philippines.
Every month, we track the most notable restaurant, bar and café openings across the Philippines, spotlighting the concepts shaping how—and where—we dine now. April’s lineup of new restaurants leans into contrast and versatility: dual-concept spaces that shift from day to night, immersive bars rooted in storytelling and casual formats built around convenience and community.
Spanning cities across Metro Manila and one exciting concept in Siargao, these openings reflect a dining and beverage scene that continues to evolve in both form and perspective.
In case you missed it: March 2026 Dining Radar: new restaurants and cafés in Metro Manila
1. The Jury
Above Cousins Julia Virtucio and Rian Asiddao open a new bar concept, The Jury (Photo: courtesy of The Jury)
Cousins Julia Virtucio and Rian Asiddao open a new bar concept, The Jury (Photo: courtesy of The Jury)
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Location: 58 Jupiter Street, Makati City
By day, The Jury functions as a private conference lounge for a law office, before transitioning into a cocktail bar in the evening—an intentional duality that defines the space. Its drinks programme follows a single-vessel format, with every cocktail served in a rocks glass to emphasise balance and consistency. Interiors echo this restraint, combining classical architectural references with shelves of legal texts and structured design elements. Leading the charge are Julia Virtucio and Rian Asiddao, co-founders of Marikina’s Bar By East, which operates as an architectural firm before nightfall. Notice a pattern?
Tatler Trivia: The Jury is also a play on the founders’ names (Ju-Ri).
See also: Nose to Tail, Gills to Fin: Josh Boutwood and Miko Calo’s sutukil collaboration
2. Toma Toma
Tomo Tomo is the latest addition to Green Sun Building along Chino Roces, Makati City (Photo: courtesy of Tomo Tomo)
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Location: Green Sun, Chino Roces, Makati City
Toma Toma is run by bartender Arcadius Ryback and partner Michael “Mike” Hearn, with a setup that gives equal attention to both food and drink. Ryback leads the cocktail programme, which includes seasonal mixes alongside familiar classics, such as an Airmail made with Kasa Kana rum, Laguna kiwot honey from Kaya Kusina, lime and sparkling wine. In the kitchen, chef Stephen Duhesme was consulted to create their first menu, one that focuses on Filipino and Southeast Asian flavours. Dishes include prawn lumpia, skewers cooked over open fire and fried pompano finished with brown butter and calamansi. A panna cotta with honey and asin tultul rounds out the offering, and has swiftly become the crowd favourite. Across both kitchen and bar, their offerings are concise but considered, pouring their energy into attention to detail.
3. The Iron Fairies
Location: Smith Building, BGC, Taguig City
The Iron Fairies brings its globally recognised concept to Manila, drawing from the Hong Kong original while expanding into a larger, multi-room space. The interiors combine aged timber, rusted iron, buttery leather and velvet-draped corners, with over 30,000 butterflies suspended throughout. With more than 100 seats and six private rooms, the layout allows for both intimate and larger group settings. Live music starts at 9:45pm, with genres shifting across jazz, pop and reggae depending on the night. Cocktails include signatures like the Old Balete Tree and Delusion, alongside a food menu that ranges from baked camembert to sisig tacos. The result is an otherworldly nightlife venue built around storytelling, music and world-class beverages.
Read more: Hara hachi bu: why some Japanese meals end before you expect them to
4. Wooshi
Above Expect unconventional rolls and bowls at Wooshi (Photo: courtesy of Wooshi)
Above In addition to Wooshi’s siganture rolls and bowls, guests also have the option to customise their own bowls (Photo: courtesy of Wooshi)
Expect unconventional rolls and bowls at Wooshi (Photo: courtesy of Wooshi)
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Location: Central Square, BGC, Taguig City
Wooshi is a sister concept of Singapore’s SaladStop Group, applying a create-your-own format to Japanese-inspired dishes. The menu includes both signature rolls and poke bowls, alongside fully customisable options where diners can choose their base, protein, and toppings. Combinations lean unconventional, with options like the Ebi-Thing with tempura shrimp and yuzu teriyaki, or the Seoul Sister with bulgogi beef, cheese and kimchi. For something more filling, there are rice bowls such as the Torinik-ooh with baked chicken thigh. The overall focus is on convenience, flexibility and nutrition, with an emphasis on balanced, build-your-own meals.
See also: The Italian cheese bible: how to pair and prep 8 iconic classics
5. Bar Principal
Above Bar Principal bridges the worlds of Cuba and the Philippines (Photo: courtesy of Bar Principal)
Above Signature drinks include the Bar Principal daiquiri with rum, lambanog, honey and calamansi (Photo: courtesy of Bar Principal)
Bar Principal bridges the worlds of Cuba and the Philippines (Photo: courtesy of Bar Principal)
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Location: General Luna, Siargao
Bar Principal draws from the shared histories of the Philippines and Cuba, referencing a time when trade and culture moved between Manila and Havana. The cocktail programme reflects this connection, with signature drinks like the Bar Principal daiquiri with rum, lambanog, honey and calamansi. Guest bartenders, such as Cedric Mendoza of Recraft (Tatler Best Philippines 2026 Best Innovation • Bar) and Dicky Hartono of Firefly in Bangkok, contribute to the lineup, too. Music is central to the space, with DJ sets curated around sounds from the 1940s to the 1980s, spanning son cubano, Afro-Cuban jazz and OPM.
Tatler Trivia: Steering the ship is founder Adam Hrapko, the bartender also responsible for Manu Siargao and Paraluman, which explores the histories of tiki culture and mid-century Philippine glamour.
Read more: Beyond calamansi: 5 Filipino citrus fruits you should know
6. Salty Dog
Location: Heart Tower, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Salty Dog serves “modern American soul food with a Boston edge”, led by chef Jeffrey Lebon, a Culinary Institute of America alumnus who has honed his craft around Asia before moving to the Philippines. The menu covers both brunch and heartier mains, with dishes like banana French toast, huevos rancheros, roast chicken mole with dirty rice and cured salmon pastrami flatbread. House favourites include the pulled pork sandwich, which they highly recommend you pair with their namesake cocktail made with gin, grapefruit, rosemary and a salt rim.
Read more: SPAM® Brand collaborates with Legazpi Village favourite, Your Local
7. Sarsa Field Kitchen
Location: Overland Kings, West Service Road, Parañaque
Sarsa Field Kitchen brings JP Anglo’s cooking into a more relaxed, outdoor-inspired setting, now with a permanent home at Overland Kings. The concept is rooted in campsite-style dining, where guests can eat by their cars, bring their own gear or settle into simple setups arranged by the team. There is also a small 12-seater indoor space, but the focus remains on shared, open-air meals. The menu adapts Sarsa’s flavours into more playful formats, with dishes like batchoy ramen, kaldereta lasagna, longsilog and squid florets in batwan butter. Service is intentionally informal, with an emphasis on creating a communal, unstructured dining experience.
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About
Lauren’s love for food came much later in life than one would expect— an obsession awakened in the streets of Melbourne’s multicultural dining scene. Armed with this newfound passion, she returned to the Philippines determined to discover the best eats in her home country, with a personal advocacy to champion local cuisines and homegrown talent. Nothing is off-limits; if it’s delicious, it’s worth celebrating.
Work
As Tatler Dining associate editor, Lauren covers all things food and drink, from listing the latest openings in our monthly Dining Radar to interviewing chefs and bartenders about the biggest obstacles crippling the industry today. Beyond the digital space, she also organises Tatler Dining’s tentpole events, including Off Menu and Tatler Dining Kitchen, as well as the annual Tatler Best Philippines awards night and guide launch, detailing the best restaurants in the country.
For leads and event invites, contact her via lauren@tatlerphilippines.com or follow her on Instagram at @laurengolangco.
Photo: Ralph Mendo
