Words by Tiffany Isis Torres
Photos by Chio Gonzalez
From the era infamous for all its secrets, deceits, and lies comes another secret–the speakeasies. Derived from the prohibition era in the 20s where manufacturing, selling, and drinking liquor was prohibited that even conversing about it is interdicted whether inside or outside the bar, hence the name speak easy. With everything retro making a comeback in the digital age, speakeasies are alive, now more than ever.
One Thursday night, a self-proclaimed lola decides to venture out of her wall of comfort and experience what the fuss is about. First stop was at Bonifacio Global City; a go to for foodies beause of its selection of restaurants; one of which is Frank & Dean. Known for it’s Instgram-worthy thematic furnishing and cuisine resides a red telephone booth that you’d dismiss as decor. But push the door and you go from a café, to London, to a whole other world: Ocean’s Telephone Company. After a bottle and a few pictures, we left and moved on to Makati.
Ocean’s Telephone Company
At the basement of an establishment along Jupiter street lives a small burger and frank joint, Lazy Bastard. With the dinner feel because of its counter and bar stools and a red neon light that says, “long live bacon,” you would never expect to find an old-fashioned elevator shaft; especially ones that take you back to the 20s.
Alcohol by Volume
From Jupiter street we went to Legazpi street, the place where most speakeasies hide behind cafes and street corners. Along Paseo de Roxas comes Belle & Dragon. Known for its inside-out bar setting and the closet that hides a bar behind it. Yes, it is Narnia. Albeit without fantasy but with the magic of single malt whiskies and the smoothest cigars.
Mandalay
A few turns from Belle & Dragon will bring you to Corinthian Plaza where Plaza Cafe is. Located at the end of café sits a halfway isolated from lights, with boldy shouting red neon signs that spell out E, X, I, T. Nothing new, nothing special. But when you try to wander off and learn the literal take on this bar’s name, you’ll see that it’s anything but ordinary.
Exit Bar
To cap the night, just at the end of the street from Plaza Café sits our last destination for the evening. Disguised at a corner of a concrete building without anything but a braille plate on the outside and the bar revealed to you in a few simple knocks. With candle-lit tables, a few whispers and soft jazz music, Blind Pig, sits as our favorite. As a speakeasy in its truest form, it sure did not have to say a lot to be the loudest.
Blind Pig
*As seen in the September-October 2016 Digital issue of adobo magazine
We’d love to hear your favorite speakeasy or if you’ve been to any other hidden bars. Let us know on Twitter @adobomagazine!
