Cover Cafe Aurora’s beef tartare (Photo: Cafe Aurora official website)
Cafe Aurora’s beef tartare (Photo: Cafe Aurora official website)
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Check out these new restaurants, bars, and cafés around Poblacion, Legazpi Village, Salcedo Village, and BGC, including a popular Siargao brunch spot and a cocktail flight specialist
Keep up with the latest food buzz and stay in the loop with our Dining Radar—our monthly round-up of the newest restaurants, bars, cafés, and more to tick off your list.
Salcedo and Legazpi Village definitively established themselves as exciting food and beverage destinations, beaming with a wealth of diverse options for every need. This is further underscored by its most recent additions, including an innovative cocktail flight bar, a comfortable brunch spot hailing from Siargao, and all-new concepts by well-known names in the industry. Beyond these two beloved neighbourhoods, discover an intimate Mediterranean eatery in Poblacion, and an Italian restaurant serving up all the classics in BGC.
In case you missed it: January 2023 Dining Radar: Antonio’s at PGA Cars, Blind Pig, and more
1. La Pita
Location: Poblacion, Makati City
This small Mediterranean restaurant is among Pobalcion’s newest additions. Since its soft opening towards the end of January, the humble establishment has become a popular haunt for hummus, baba ganoush, and freshly-baked pita bread. Open from noon, La Pita closes as soon as they sell out, so come early to ensure you can make the most of their fresh offerings.
See also: Where to order falafels in Metro Manila
2. Ito Beverage Space
Location: Legazpi Village, Makati City
Ito offers a one-of-a-kind drink experience curated for the adventurous. This strictly reservations-only beverage space offers coffee and tea sets in the afternoon and cocktail flights in the evening, each complete with small bites. Choose the package and duration that’s right for you, and let the team take care of the rest.
Read more: Bartender’s handshake: 7 cocktails to order to show you’re in the know
3. Cafe Aurora
Location: Salcedo Village, Makati City
Headed by chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Villar (Hey Handsome, Sambar), Cafe Aurora is among the year’s most anticipated openings. Now open for lunch and dinner service, the casual bistro is a modern celebration of vibrant Asian flavours: yukhoe-inspired beef tartare, Taiwanese-style pork adobo, and donburi topped with smoked salmon, ikura, mentaiko, and shiitake are just a few of the dishes you can look forward to.
Tatler Tip: this talented culinary duo is also set to open a fine dining concept, Celera later this year. Stay tuned for more updates.
In case you missed it: Café Aurora: Chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar make their comeback
4. Sampiro
Location: Salcedo Village, Makati City
Sampiro is the newest concept by Dark Wing, the robust F&B group behind Poblacion favourite, Polilya. “Part of Dark Wing’s vision is making sure we echo the neighbourhood we choose to open in, and never force the neighbourhood to adapt to our concepts,” says co-owner Ian Paradies. Found in the heart of Salcedo Village, Sampiro aims to bring diners an upscale yet comfortable resto-bar experience complete with global flavours and crave-worthy cocktails.
Read more: Sampiro, a new name in Salcedo
5. Tattooed Baker
Location: Legazpi Village, Makati City
Freshly-baked loaves, savoury danishes, elegant pastries, and reliable breakfast fare—get it all at the Tattooed Baker. Swing by to pick up some goodies to bring home, or opt to dine in and tuck into hearty sandwiches, shakshuka, and pasta.
See also: Richard Manapat's Brie & Rye Bakery
6. Tartufo Ristorante (BGC)
Location: BGC, Taguig City
Tartufo Ristorante is now open in BGC! With its original outlet at The Grove, the Italian restaurant offers a selection of antipasti staples fit for grazing, as well as pizzas, pasta, and other mains for a heartier meal.
See also: 10 of the best restaurants for date night this 2023
7. The Spotted Pig (Legazpi Village)
Location: Legazpi Village, Makati City
This beloved breakfast spot from Siargao is now in Legazpi Village, armed with Filipino breakfast bowls, flakey viennoiserie, and quality coffee by Good Cup Coffee Co. Their extensive beverage menu alone gives you countless reasons to come back, boasting over 10 coffee bean options to choose from.
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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
