I have a set of friends who enjoy trying different kinds of alcohol. Once upon a time, we played a…read morebeer identification game, where we had to taste mysterious beers from a glass and figure out which beer bottle they came from. Of course, this being a drinking game, we had to do something stupid to make it fun. In this case, the losers got a slap in the face. Unfortunately, I suck at telling the difference between tastes and one of my friends there was a volleyball player. End result, I had a hand mark on my face for three weeks. If I'll ever hope to get my revenge when we eventually have our whisky identification game, I'm going to have to patronize Gilmore Wine's and Spirits more, since they have one of the widest ranges of products available in Metro Manila. That sounds like an excuse to get drunk all the time, but I'd prefer not to walk around like some Amazon ripped into my face.

Gilmore Wines and Spirits turned out to be a lifesaver for me at a specific time when I was selling…read moreJapanese whisky and my supply ran low. A friend was in search of a specific type of whisky that was very difficult to source but another friend suggested that I have a look at Gilmore's collection. Thank God I did because they had exactly what I was looking for! I was able to make a good cut out of it too. Haha. These guys are very easy to transact with and their physical address is right on Gilmore, hence the name.

This morning, I decided that I will end this day with a bottle of Malbec wine. It's one of those…read moresummer days where it's too hot to do anything and staying indoors is your best bet for a perfectly mediocre day. I headed to Metro Wine Center, a little shop by the entrance of Market! Market! to accomplish my morning goal and braced myself for what could be the hottest day of the year. This quaint laid-back shop makes wine selection easy for those short on time, knowledge, or both. The selections are fun and well-priced, and are backed by a helpful staff. The store is manned by its owner, who was fairly approachable and enthusiastic about his beer, wines and spirits. Once you've perused the selection at every pricepoint, it's hard to imagine not becoming a regular. Metro Wine Center has made buying wine a non-intimidating shopping experience for wine lovers whose only expertise is to drink.

From the owner: At Grand Metro Wine Center, we’re more than just an bottle shop — we’re your go-to destination for…read morethoughtfully curated, premium yet accessible wines and spirits in the Philippines. - Curated Selection: Every bottle on our shelves is handpicked — from celebrated classics to unique finds like Offley Port, Mio Sparkling Sake, and local treasures like Cebu Mango Rum. We focus on quality, taste, and value. - Local + International Vibes: We bridge local flavor and global taste. Whether it's world-renowned labels or homegrown favorites, we support both. - Accessible Expertise: You don’t need to be a sommelier. Our product descriptions and tasting notes make it easy for anyone — from first-timers to seasoned drinkers — to find the perfect match. - Fast, Reliable Delivery: We ship swiftly, with Metro Manila and provincial delivery options so your celebration never gets delayed. - Exclusive Deals & Discoveries: We offer promos, bundle savings, and rotating collections so you can always discover something new at a great price. - Passion-Driven Service: We’re wine lovers first, business second. Our passion shows in every recommendation, every bottle, and every customer interaction.

My go-to wine and chill place in the South! Perhaps the most casual but not tacky wine place to…read moredrink wine and stay for hours, Ralph's in Alabang offers good wine selections starting at P500! If you're not a wine connoisseur and just want to have a relaxed time over reds or whites, without having to dress up or worry about the shop closing on you, I highly recommend this place. The best thing about this branch in particular is the place and location. Ralph's has both indoor and al fresco seating, so you if you have friends who smoke, they can do that here. The al fresco tables are right in the middle of Molito's activity center so you hear the nice live performances in the background on weekends. Plus, you can order from the nearby restaurants (if these places allow it) and have it with your wine, just like the Hermano's beside it (yay, nachos!). And just in case there are lots of diners and you can't find a vacant table, you can bring out their wine glasses for a deposit you can get back upon return. They also have a number of cheese and meat selections you can enjoy with your wine, reasonably priced as compared to the cheese and charcuterie platters from Barcino or Planet Grapes. Just be careful with the chorizo--it is a bit oily and a lot, so you might want to share it with three or four others. Word of caution, don't bother bringing your own bottle even if you're ordering from them. They won't allow it, which is perfectly understandable. Cheers!

Came to the Philippines to visit family, so my siblings took us here on our first night. Casual,…read morerelaxing feel, and there are shelves and shelves of alcohol surrounding you! Wine, sake, whiskey, you name it! You can sit down and open a bottle of something to enjoy, and you can even order food from the surrounding restaurants and they will bring it right to you! Apparently my siblings are regulars here so they have a bottle on a shelf behind the counter that they continue drinking whenever they come back. They definitely make you feel at-home here! Will definitely come back when I revisit to Manila!!!!

Great one stop shop! Has everything needed for dinner or a party. One day they might add Gina Mango…read moreJuice in 1 liter cartons!

The thing I really love about Walrus is their atmosphere. Their door is like a portal. Once you…read morestep inside, there is a noticeable change in everything that you see. My take is that all the small changes and minute tweaks they did to the environment contributed to a very unique setting. Walrus feels a bit retro because of their designs and displays. Some might even call it hipster. Walrus is perfect for a couple of beers with friends, right after a test, work, or just for good times. One time, my friends and I tried to visit this place during lunchtime. The atmosphere was still there but it was different because we were the only ones there. There was also a considerable amount of sunlight and the night lights weren't turned on. We tried their strawberry mix that had alcohol in it. I found it very good. It was sweet and lite, perfect for a mid day drink. Walrus' atmosphere is best experienced at night. The people, the bright lights, the drinking vibe is there. They also have snacks that I find unique for drinking places. One I tried were the cheesy fries with beacon. It was quite okay

Right along Katpiunan you'll find Walrus, which is sure to catch your attention, with a barrage of…read moreKatip students sure to be flocking there for a quick drink. It's a cute bar, not too big but also never stuffy. The menu's cute, with a mixture of fonts and what makes it even more attractive are those low prices! At P45 for the standard beers (San Mig, Pale, etc.) you're sure to order bucket after bucket here. The Scooby Snacks (their take on pulutan) are cheap, with prices ranging from P40-P150. Some people have even likened it to being the new Cantina, and with good reason, with its chill ambience, cool wall art, and low hanging lights. The drinks are cold, the food is good, and you're probably bound to bump into someone you know. Walrus is in, and rightly so. Go ahead and sample the Walrus vibe yourself! You're not like to find anywhere else quite like it.

Wine Depot named their store Depot in the hope that people will think you can buy a lot of wine in…read morecartons here for a cheap price I think. This is not really the case. Sure there are lots of carton boxes here that save them money for decor, but the wines aren't that cheap. They make it seem like it though, by having signs with promotions on it. For a good bottle you do have to spend 500-600 php, where in rustans you can buy a good merlot for 400 php. There are free tastings here and there is a loyalty program I signed up for. Supposedly you get invited for tasting, but I never did so I don't really know what's the point. I only give them 4 stars because they sell D'arenberg here.

I do love patronizing local products…read more For beer, I have three favorites: San Miguel Beer - our trademark beer of course, Red Horse, and Cerveza Negra. SMB Pale is a recent favorite. I've upgraded from SanMig Light because I am now learning to appreciate a fuller bodied taste. Red Horse tastes best when it is cooled to below zero temperatures. I first got a sip of that in Davao, some years before the below zero beer phenomenon was brought to Manila. It's perfect with your sisig. Lastly, Cerveza Negra. I love the caramel notes from this beer. It's good to have with caramel and chocolate desserts. Or even cheesecake. And cheese!

Ludo is one of the most popular board game cafes in the metro, and I can totally see why. It has…read moredone so well with always ensuring a delightful time. I love this place to bits, it's almost like a portal to many magical worlds. At Ludo, there's a form of amusement for everyone, whether your gaming style screams Scrabble or Pathfinder. Playing the boardgames are absolutely free, but you DO have to order something from Ludo's menu. While the food isn't so remarkable, Ludo excels in many other aspects. Its board game collection is massive and you are guaranteed to never be bored no matter how many times you visit. The space is comfortable, nice and homey. Enlarged Dixit cards adorn the walls. The place seems to capture the feeling of playing in a gaming room at home. (Also, for some reason I feel like I'm in a foreign country when I'm inside Ludo.) The staff is impressively well trained; all of them are proficient at explaining the rules of the board games available for use, and they're also extremely attentive and friendly. However, I find that Ludo's most excellent offering is its awesome events. It always seems to be churning out different interactive geeky games every month. There are bi-monthly roleplaying murder mysteries which require you to play a character and dress up in costume, a backstabbing Valentines speed-dating dinner where the objective is to build your tablemate up just to bring them down, an audience-driven Choose Your Own Adventure performed by improv actors for which Ludo even developed its own app, and so much more. Join in the endless, delightfully creative, intelligent fun and immerse yourself even deeper into all sorts of worlds over at Ludo.

If you're looking for a place where you can spend hours bonding with your friends while having a…read moredrink or two, instead of hitting the typical bars or clubs, might I suggest you hit a boardgame bar instead? :D Sure, you might think "Boardgames? Like Monopoly, right?" Nope. Ludo's boardgame library holds about 600 games, and there's something for everyone! From newbie gamers to hardcore elitists, anyone can borrow any game in the café! (Just not Monopoly. Come on guys, seriously?) The rental for the games? Free! And in return, you only have to order at least one dish and/or one specialty drink from the menu. Their menu is mostly katsus with some side dishes like gyoza, and chips with dip. The price range is about P150-250 per dish/drink. Any geek would enjoy looking at their drinks list, where every alcoholic drink is inspired by some sci-fi, fantasy or pop culture reference. I've tried their Jack Sparrow, Queen's Gambit, Millenium Falcon, and Coffee of Cthulu (a particularly crazy mix of alcohol and coffee that got me wanting to cartwheel around the place in madness). My personal favorite, however, is their 10th Sonic Screwdriver (oh yes, they did!), with a very appetizing shade of TARDIS blue. (The 11th Sonic Screwdriver isn't bad either!) To play the games, just ask the owners or any member of the staff to assist you; they've been trained well. They also have games for sale, just in case you've had so much fun playing a game the entire day and you simply MUST have it to share it with your friends. Just check with the staff for prices and availability. Ludo also hosts some special geeky events throughout the year, like Murder Mystery parties, gaming marathons, movie/TV screenings, geek holidays (Hobbit Day, Talk Like A Pirate Day) and many more! Definitely a place worth visiting again and again and again and AGAIN! :D

I'M A HUGE FAN. Coming back from a trip where all I ever drank were pale ales for months, I really…read morehad intense cravings for a bottle or two - especially when I'm eating a burger or pizza! I came back around the time when craft beers were starting to gain some traction. So I had to look for these places! There are a lot of restaurants that sell Katipunan Craft Ales. They even have a stall at The Legazpi Sunday Market. My favourite would have to be Liberation. I first tried this out at Barley in Quezon City. Since then, I've been obsessed. Never mind paying P200 a pop as long as you get really good beer - and an IPA to boot! I do like my beer hoppy! I am really loving the craft beer revolution that's been going on for quite a time now. I hope more Filipinos get to try this kind of beer.