Vibrant Nightlife of Manila

Nightlife in Manila: Something for Everyone

Manila is justifiably well known for its colorful, and vibrant nightlife. The length and breadth of the city are interspersed with bars, pubs, lounges, clubs, and casinos. Manila also has the dubious honor of being home to a number of “girlie bars.” However, recent moves by the government have cleaned up the sex and sleaze underbelly of this city to a great extent, though the legacy still survives for those who care to look.

The main nerve centers of nightlife in Manila are Makati Avenue, JM Nakpil Street, Pasay Road in Makati, Malate District, and Ermita District. Most night spots stay open till 3 am on weekdays and during weekends, you can party till the sun comes up. Dress codes vary according to the venue, but most places are usually casual.

Variety of Nightlife

Manila has a number of excellent bars modeled after night spots in metropolitan Western cities. You can find everything from posh 5-star restaurants to dives to live concerts. And for those who want to try their luck, it’s nice to know that Manila has no shortage of casinos and better areas. For entry into these gambling dens, you need to be at least 21 years old, produce your passport, and pay an entry fee.

The Manila night life scene also includes numerous dance and music clubs where the twinkle-toed can indulge in everything from ballroom dancing to night long raves with trance music. Live music by Filipino bands is famous across the region, so try and catch a few performances. Not even Whitney Houston can perform her songs better than the various cover bands that proliferate throughout Manila. Restaurants and pubs that have live bands also offer karaoke singing, and partiers are encouraged to warble with the locals.

The city’s famous girly bars are located around P. Burgos in Makati and the International Centre, just off Roxas Boulevard. The bars open around noon, though the women come in only around 7 or 8 in the evening. A round of drinks for the ladies as well as other “charges” can be pretty expensive when compared to Bangkok. Besides the usual dance routines, most of these bars also put on a variety of contests. Be informed about the rules before deciding to participate; fines for losing can be really steep.

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