Go (coco)nuts! Share this story with your friends.

Note: Let’s get this out of the way: In 1988, Pasong Tamo was renamed Chino Roces Avenue, after the journo Chino Roces. But by force of habit, commuters still refer to the street as Pasong Tamo. This guide is specifically for that part of the street beginning EDSA northbound-Magallanes onward to Lawton.

The 5th wine crawl of the International Wine and Food Society is happening on Saturday, Feb 28. Like previous years, it is still happening on Pasong Tamo Extension, a wine hub in its own right given the four wine stores located one after another in this long stretch. Unlike previous years, IWFS has gathered all 10 participating wine sellers in one spot. At the Green Sun Hotel…which is also on Pasong Tamo Extension, anyway.

This made us ask: Why not explore the whole the street all together? Pasong Tamo X is already bustling, nay bursting, with so much food and art and wine!

It’s time to explore. We suggest three things: 1) do it on a Saturday, when traffic is not a bitch. 2) Start early, and 3) start where there’s ample parking space (read: leave your car, you paying customer!) and tread on foot.

9am: Drop-off your dog at BetterDog

G/F, G&A Building, 2303 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. Website. +63 2 7549958

BetterDog is a day-care and behavior center, a salon, and hey even a hotel for dogs. You can leave Snoop for a day, a week, or if you’re leaving for a bit of a long term, for as long as a month.
Shell out: PHP600 if you’ll pick your dog up at 6pm and PHP800 if you’ll go beyond 6pm.
Photo: BetterDog website

9:30am: Try Pilates at Onelife Studio

2/F BCS Prime Building, 2297 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. Website. 6am-10pm. +63 2 7292676

Start your day in OneLife Studio. It’s a wellness center offering Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi classes and more. What’s better: OneLife Studio is located in a building with good, ample parking. What’s best: The studio offers free trial classes, the whole of Saturday in fact, is about free trial classes.
Try: The Reformer Pilates Level 1 (9:30am) is highly recommended. One Life says a week’s lead-time is best, but as of Wednesday, there are still free trial slots available!
Photo: OneLife Studio Facebook
 

10:30am: Eat breakfast at Cantino

2296 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri. 8am-2pm, Sat. Closed, Sun.

Cantino is one of Pasong Tamo Extension’s best-kept secrets. It is, essentially, a glorified canteen/carinderia. You can go turo-turo style, sure, but there are ala carte dishes that you will want to order. The interiors are so cute: black wooden counters, chalkboards displaying the menu, a second floor set-up vintage style, which by the way, overlooks European Motors Philippines. The food is affordable and good; and the staff is down-to-earth, keeping-it-real helpful and very friendly. Take your time, eat a lot because the next stop will have you walking a bit.
Order: Tino’s Paborito (PHP130) features regular or spicy longanissa from Isabela with egg and rice. The Chori Pasta (PHP135), which features Batak chorizo, kesong puti, and sukang Iloko, is highly recommended, too.
 

1pm: Check out some art at Silverlens

2/F YMC Building, 2320 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. 10am-7pm, Mon-Fri. 1-6pm, Sat. Closed, Sun. +63 2 8160044

When Silverlens was established in 2004, it was originally the only photography gallery in the Philippines. Four years later, it expanded adding 2 more spaces: Slab, and 20Square Project Space. All three now host contemporary art, be they photography, painting, drawing, sculpture.
On exhibit now: It’s the opening weekend of Christina Dy’s Roads, Isabel Santos and Ian Jaucian’s In the Year 2000, and Milo Sagueco’s House of the Peculiars.
Photo: Silverlens Instagram

2:30pm: Take a coffee break at Kitchen’s Best

Unit 5B, Building B, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Pasong Tamo Extension. 8am-9pm, Mon-Sat. 9am-3pm, Sun. +63 917 8966248

When Kitchen’s Best opened in 2009, it was all about their cakes and pastries. The restaurant has since branched out to serving savory dishes — and to BGC as well. The 40-cloves Chicken is insane, but one thing people always go back for? Their cakes.
Order: A slice of its Purple Yam cake (PHP160) pairs well with coffee. If you’re more a chocolate person, the Chocolate Obsession (PHP135) should give you your fix.
Photo: Kitchen’s Best Facebook
 

3pm: Walk to Green Sun Hotel to shop

2285 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. +63 2 5489200. Soma Stores: 1-9pm, Tue-Sat. Closed, Sun & Mon.

Green Sun’s slant towards creativity and culture is fast earning the hotel quite a reputation. On the ground floor is Soma Stores, a 25-boothm open-space that features young, local designers. It opened only in November 2014, with 20 young designers holding fort. They have their spaces for only 4 months, with SOMA having a line-up change come April. There is also the SOMA Gallery, but it’s best to call ahead to make sure it’s open. Here, you can opt to join the Wine Crawl festivities, or you can hop to the next stop and have your own happy hour.
The goods: Some of the brands we’re excited about are Proudrace, Garapata, Purveyr, and Raw.Tura.  
Photo: Soma Stores Facebook
 

4:30pm: Go for happy hour at Premium Wine Exchange

G/F Smith Bell Building, 2294 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. +63 2 8405319. Website. 11am-8pm, Mon-Sat. 11am-6pm, Sun

Premium Wine Exchange is one of the four wine stores that make the wine hub that is Pasong Tamo X. It started with just California wines, but its repertoire has grown through the years. Here’s the tip: you buy your wine at Premium, and then enjoy it there, too. You can even bring your own tapas, or order from Terry’s, which is just a stone’s throw away. There’s a round table that can accommodate up to 7 people, as well as a bar, for smaller parties. A wine noob? Not a problem. The staff of Premium Wines is well versed with wines. They should and can and will be able to help you out.
Your best move: Call in advance so you know that much coveted round table is yours.
The deal: You’ll have to leave by 8pm.
Photo: Courtesy of Premium Wine Exchange

7pm: Sober up at Staple and Perk

G/F Ecoplaza Building, 2306 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati. +63 2 9251122. 24/7 Mon-Sat. 12am-10pm, Sun

Don’t head home drunk, please. A few steps away is Staple & Perk, a bakery/coffee shop with interiors so refreshing it should help you sober up a bit. Their price points will have you think you were in QC instead of Makati — that should sober you up some more.
Order: the TPK Sandwich (PHP90) aka Tomato Pesto and Kestong Puti, or The Fried Ham and Cheese Sandwich (PHP150) to go with your coffee, and you’ll be ready to drive home. Wait, don’t forget to pick up Bantay.
Photo: Staple and Perk Facebook

Main photo: Mktcitymobbin/Instagram

Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.