11 Valentine’s Day Date-Worthy Restaurants in Makati and BGC
Here are some restaurants in Makati and BGC that are date-worthy for Valentine’s Day!
While Quezon City is where families settle down, Makati and BGC are home to all the BPOs and international company headquarters. As the Urban Jungle of Metro Manila and a kingdom of its own, Makati has a variety of restaurants to cater to the many families who have and are trying to build a life for themselves there. Whereas, BGC can be considered the Philippines’ version of Las Vegas. And after a long day at work in the Makati or BGC office, it’d be nice to have a meal in one of these date-worthy restaurants for Valentine’s Day.
1. Sala Bistro
A recommended wine-and-dine hangout for moms with their friends, Sala Bistro in Greenbelt 3 earns its approval as a date-worthy place for both its classy modern interior design and fusion-style dishes. Instead of focusing on one cuisine, they reinterpret and elevate classic favorites. Sala Bistro also has an impressive wine selection and a few cocktails to end the meal. Also, it’s near Greenbelt 5 for a little extra shopping.
Recommended dishes: Best to start with the Pear, rocket, blue cheese, and walnut salad. Then, the slow-cooked beef cheeks with Gruyere potato puree and Pedro Ximenez sauce are a must-try for the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth experience. Best enjoyed with a glass of red wine and finished off with their Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Address: 5658 Don Pedro St, Corner Jacobo, Makati, Metro Manila
Contact No.: 0917 168 2024
2. Japonesa
Poblacion is home to many bar-restaurants and Japonesa is one of those restaurants to go to for drinks and a meal. With the warm white lightning reflecting off the varnished wooden furniture, the restaurant creates a welcoming vibe while marrying some South American and Japanese themes with various plant life. Besides its curated drinks, the low-fi beats create a more relaxing atmosphere contrary to a typical resto-bar.
Recommended dishes: Do order the Lengua Katsu! It being fried doesn’t affect the softness of the Lengua. Their sushi rolls are also good to share and their yaki sticks have a nice spin to the usual sweet BBQ. For drinks, the Watermelon Basil Smash Tub is a nice citrusy sweet end to a delightful dinner date.
Address: 5658 Don Pedro St, Corner Jacobo, Makati, Metro Manila
Contact No.: 0917 168 2024
3. Bondi and Bourke
Having two branches — one in BGC and one in Makati, Bondi and Bourke restaurant offers Australian classics such as their Classic Steak Pie. They have a variety of Parma, which they switch up by changing the herbs and cheese that go with it. But what makes Bondi and Bourke so date-worthy as a restaurant is that the size of their orders is good for sharing. Meaning, more variety, and conversation starters!
Address: Cattleya Condominium, 235 Salcedo, Legaspi Village, Makati, 1229 Metro Manila
Contact No.: 0998 840 6268
4. Chesa Bianca Swiss Restaurant
Created and curated by the owner of Santi’s Delicatessen, Chesa Bianca Swiss Restaurant along Yakal Street, Makati can reignite memories of having a heartwarming meal in The Old Swiss Inn. The wooden ambiance adds a little warmth to what appears to be a wine-and-dine restaurant, offering salads and meats as their specialties. Despite the place, their orders are actually quite kid-friendly ingredients-wise with most of them being potatoes, butter, and meat.
Recommended orders: A fan-favorite is their Clochard Röschti, fried potato hash served with grilled sausage and egg. But their must-try is their Beef Fillet Mignon ala Chesa which they serve with Madagaskar green pepper sauce served with vegetables and French fries. For those who want a salad, their Ruccola Salad with Roasted Walnuts is a nice palate cleanser.
Address: 7431 Yakal, Makati, 1203 Kalakhang Maynila
Contact No.: (02) 8815 1359
5. La Picara
Known for its fusion of Hispanic and Filipino cuisine, La Picara offers casual wine-and-dine with a variety of tapas after a long day working in corporate. They also have a delivery and pick-up menu if it’s quite difficult to find parking. They’re one of the few alfresco restaurants that are not that hot and are still within the confines of the mall along High Street, BGC.
Recommended orders: Make sure to try their Croqueyaki and Beef Cheeks Croquetas! The golden, crunchy Croqueyaki bursts in the mouth with a rich, bechamel-like creamy goodness before sealing the deal with the salty jamon decorated on the top. On the other hand, the Beef Cheeks Croquetas are a truly melt-in-the-mouth experience with all the beef juices playing with your tastebuds, making the accompanying croquetas the perfect partner to remove the meat’s usual gamey aftertaste.
Address: 2nd Floor, One Bonifacio High Street Mall High Street, corner, 5th Ave, Taguig, Metro Manila
Contact No.: 0927 172 4480
6. Corner Tree Café
A hidden gem along Jupiter Street, Makati, Corner Tree Café offers plant-based options for couples who are trying to transition to vegan/vegetarian diets. Focusing on dishes that promote “clean eating,” Corner Tree Café takes a page out of different cuisines including more exotic ones like the Egyptian Dukka – a dry spice blend made with seeds, spices & nuts that excites the palate when eaten together with their whole wheat bread and warm chickpea hummus or, the Greek Spanakopita — a fried pastry filled with feta cheese and enjoyed with a light dip into the cooling mint-yogurt sauce.
Recommended orders: If with kids, we suggest ordering the leafy Spanakopita to sneak in those veggies for starters. But if the kids are at home doing whatever they’re doing, be adventurous by either trying the Corner Tree Starter Plate with Dukka or their Spinach Feta Croquettes made with spinach, feta cheese, and organic red rice with their mint-yogurt sauce or their tongue-numbing exotic Harissa dip. And for the mains, we suggest their fresh Veg Bibimbap or their richly-flavored Spinach-Mushroom Lasagna.
Address: 150 Jupiter, Makati, 1209 Metro Manila
Contact No.: (02) 8897 0295
7. Las Flores
While they do have multiple branches, Las Flores in Greenbelt 3, Makati offers a better view with their alfresco dining. Dining outside means getting a good view of the rock garden and pond with the heat not being so inconvenient. Their Gambas go well with their Tallarines con Mariscos al Aglio pasta. But always go for their paellas, especially their Paella Setas or the Paella Negra.
Recommended orders: For those trying to stay away from the “red meat,” their Tallarines con Mariscos al Aglio pasta is a clean and smooth-tasting oil-based pasta with various flavors from the sea. But their being more of a brunch place also has a variety of Charcuteria — including their Tabla de Quesos for the cheese lovers and their Tabla de Embutidos for the meat-lovers. And for those looking for a laugh-trip, Paella Negra will be staining teeth black at every bite.
Address: Ground Floor, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City
Contact No.: 09260758538
8. Azuthai
Everyone usually goes for Italian or European food for Valentine’s but it’s nice to try out some Thai. Azuthai, along Arnaiz Avenue in Makati, is a Thai restaurant that has survived the pandemic by creating Zoom Party boxes with all their favorites in one. A fan favorite includes their Crispy Catfish Salad and Shrimp Cakes before enjoying some Pandan Chicken with Bagoong Rice or Pad Thai. Don’t forget to order some Tom Yum to help refresh your palate after eating.
Recommended orders: If our Valentine’s date is on a weekday and during lunchtime, Azuthai’s Weekday Lunch sets are a pleasure to the stomach. But our personal favorites include their Hot and Sour Prawn Soup with its cheek-sucking sourness and tongue-tickling spiciness. And for a sweet starter, their Shrimp Cakes indulge with a rich shrimp flavor that goes well with their Pad Thai.
Address: 150 Jupiter, Makati, 1209 Metro Manila
Contact No.: (02) 8813 0671
9. Nono’s
Brightly lit with a welcoming aroma of delicious continental home cooking, Nono’s restaurant offers various timeless heartwarming recipes that have filled the tummies of families living in Makati and BGC. With many of the fine-dining restaurants full, Nono’s may serve as a breath of fresh air with its bright but cool-colored interior with minor plant life decor. And when the date’s done for the night, make sure to pass by their goodies cabinet near the cashier and take home some Almond Crunch!
Recommended orders: Their juicy Home-styled Fried Chicken is a meal worth crunching into, served with a creamy and smooth country-style gravy that goes well with both fries or their rice. But their Pork Belly Balsamic Adobo invokes warmth with a sweet and mildly sour-savory flavor that goes well with the Adobo Rice which absorbed all the juices and deglazed sauce from the pan. And for those avoiding meat, the Nono’s House Salad provides a balance of fiber and protein, tossing candied walnuts and almonds with assorted greens.
Address: Upper Ground Floor, Uptown Mall, 9th Avenue corner 36th Street, Uptown Bonifacio, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Contact No.: (63) 967 472 4917
10. Maisen Tonkatsu
Japanese is also a fan-favorite especially when it comes to Katsu. Maisen Tonkatsu restaurant in BGC makes its way to the date-worthy list because of its different delicious Katsu and its bar. Instead of the typical wine, it’s worth trying a bit of Sake — a form of rice wine. With a more zen approach to their interior, the restaurant appeals more to couples who would enjoy a contemporary approach to their food and plating. Filling hungry tummies since 1920, this Katsu restaurant’s chefs carefully prepare each and every meal to pay tribute to the different seasons in Japan.
Recommended orders: Besides their mouthwatering, crunchy yet soft and juicy pan-fried Gyoza to elevate the experience, their signature katsu set, the Kurobuta Set — sold in either Tenderloin or Loin part — melts in the mouth with a rich, deep, umami that seduces you to partake it with the special Kurobuta sauce. For something deep-fried, it leaves no oily aftertaste in the mouth, leaving us open to enjoy their various flavors of sake.
Address: H22W+RQ3, Taguig, Metro Manila (Shangri-La The Fort)
Contact No.: 0956 189 3784
11. Blackbird
A timeless classic restaurant in Makati, the former Nielson’s Tower repackaged its name as Blackbird at Nielson’s Tower to encourage parents — both young and old — to date with a bit of romantic wine and dine. Nestled behind the greenery of Ayala Triangle, the restaurant became a beloved spot for anniversary dinners, quiet and classy family birthdays, and even graduation celebrations because of its style and high-end recipes. The restaurant’s interior pays tribute to a classic design with French windows and wrought iron-black and white colors, making any commemorative photo of the meal and date vibrantly and vividly pop with color and life.
Recommended orders: Start the meal with their Grass Fed Beef Carpaccio that encircles the confited egg yolk, dusted with Parmesan, and served with truffle oil drizzled potato chips. From there, either share their earthy yet juicy Tomato and Mozarella di Buffala pizza or their creamy and rich Spinach Gnocchi served with the smokey and salty Proscuitto that emphasizes on steak-like tones and richness of the truffle cream (Tartufata). But the star of the date can be a custom Steak dinner, served with their spiced peppercorn and green herb gravy, smooth and creamy bearnaise sauce, or tart and spicy horseradish cream. And for dessert, the light Vanilla Panna Cotta will seal dinner with a mildly sweet kiss.
Address: 6752 1229 Makati Ave, Makati, 1229 Metro Manila
Contact No.: (02) 8828 4888
There are a lot of restaurants in Makati and BGC that are date-worthy!
Most of the time, we just reserve restaurants in hotels and call it a day. But it’s nice to change it up a bit instead of going to the usual haunts to make it look like we put in some effort. Besides, with all the work and routine coming back, some of us are looking for a bit of an adventure, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to explore many other date-worthy restaurants in BGC and Makati.
More Valentine’s Day stuff:
6 Romantic Comedies To Watch On Valentines Day
LOOK: How These PH Celebrity Moms Celebrated Valentine’s Day
Last-minute Valentine’s Day Gifts For The Whole Family
