While freelance writer and editor Chiara Cui, 29, lives in Poblacion, she lives near enough P. Burgos to witness all the interesting things that go on in the red light district that she fondly calls it “Williamsburgos,” referencing the original hipster ‘hood Williamsburg of New York CIty. And why shouldn’t she? “We live a stone’s throw awat from P. Burgos, the infamous red light district, and it’s made for some interesting nights.” Below are some of her cool neighborhood recommendations.
BEST THING ABOUT YOUR LOCALE: I love that everything’s a five to ten-minute walk away. Powerplant’s about a ten-minute walk away, that’s where we do all our groceries, and all my favorite bars and restaurants are just a couple blocks away. My boyfriend, Joff and I live a stone’s throw away from P. Burgos, the infamous red light district, and it’s made for some interesting nights. You see a lot of crazy shit when you’re walking home at 4 am.
BRUNCH: The tocino breakfast at Howzat (8471 Kalayaan Ave. Tel. No. +63 2 8973335) is surprisingly good so if you must have your eggs and are in the area, that’s your best bet. The Dutch Bakery on Gen. Luna cor Matilde (Tel. No. +63 2 5539598) has some good breakfast pastries, too.
LUNCH: El Chupacabra (5782 Felipe St. Tel. No. +63 2 8951919) If a quesadilla, a street taco, and a shawarma had a menage a trois, the Gringas Al Pastor (PHP190) would be their delicious frankenbaby. But if you’re in the mood for something simpler, their carnitas tacos are good, reliable (and cheap) nosh.
COFFEE: Tommy’s Freshly Roasted Coffee (8483 Kalayaan Ave. Tel. No. +639175338792) My go-to for a strong, smooth cup of coffee, at just about PHP85 a pop. Their Hacienda blend, a dark roasted arabica-robusta mix, is good stuff and has gotten me through many a deadline.
DINNER: Jumong Korean Restaurant (5650 Don Pedro St.) Of all the Korean restaurants in the neighborhood, Jumong’s my favorite. Their lunch sets are really good and filling, but the real reason I keep coming back here is for the side dishes that accompany the meal. Also, I could live off their Pajeon (scallion pancake).
DRINK: Le Café Curieux (Bel-Air Soho Polaris corner Badajos, Makati. Tel. No. +639054826371) My friends and I are here so much we’re on first-name basis with most of the people who work here. A typical night for us starts at El Chups for cheap beer and good food, we then mosey on down to Curieux for ginger rum or chill rum shots (PHP80) and draft beer (PHP90), then to Platinum for some drunk karaoke. Before stumbling home we grab a chicken shawarma (PHP120) from Arabian Nights on P. Burgos, the best food in Poblacion.
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