"Where can I get cheap beer in Makati that's not smokey and crowded?"
You'd be surprised (or not) that there's hardly any place in Makati that would fall under that. Thank god for 52nd State opening suddenly!
They call themselves a "gastropub", but really, hardly anyone eats there. For the couple of months that it's been open, I'm really glad that it's still relatively unknown, so it never gets crowded, even on a weekend night.
52nd State is built up like a loft-- so there's nothing on the first floor. The design gives the place an airy, spacious feel that sets it apart from other cheap watering holes in Makati (I'm looking at you, El Chupa!).
I also find it funny that they serve everything in mason jars, from their iced tea to their beers. It's a trying hard hipster aesthetic they don't pull of well (sorry!). I'd rather 52nd state just use normal or pint glasses... Oh well.
It's cheap beer in a hipster mason jar. Shouldn't bother me as much as it does, but there you go. read more