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New Poblacion, Makati eats: Modern Filipino and Korean fare, farm-to-table and NY-style cafes

When was the last time you were in Poblacion, Makati? If your answer was before the pandemic, then, chances are, most of its restaurants, cafes, and bars are totally new to you. Old haunts have made way for new and exciting places worth revisiting the famed nightlife district. Here are some of them.

Sawsaw by Sau

8491 Kalayaan Ave., Poblacion, Makati
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cuisine: Modern Filipino

Claim to fame: Helmed by renowned Kapampangan chef Sau del Rosario, serving modernized Filipino classics

Price range: P450 to P750 for appetizers, P695 to P1,550 for mains, P375 to P450 for cocktails

Plant-based options available

Full menu here

Lunes Everyday Dining

6060 R. Palma St., Poblacion, Makati
Open Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cuisine: Modern Filipino

Claim to fame: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, serving Filipino cuisine with a twist

Price range: P320 to P390 for breakfast bowls, P590 to P1,250 for mains, P290 to P450 for cocktails

Vegetarian options available

Full menu here

Japonesa

5658 Don Pedro cor. Jacobo Sts., Poblacion, Makati 
Open Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Cuisine: Japanese Peruvian

Claim to fame: Live DJ sets on certain days

Price range: P200 to P850 for starters, P420 to P900 for mains, P300 to P500 for cocktails

Full menu here

Assembly Hall

773 J.P. Rizal Ave., Poblacion, Makati
Open Monday to Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cuisine: New York-style cafe

Claim to fame: Instagram-worthy modernist interiors, perfect for co-working; serving cocktails soon

Price range: P125 to P225 for coffee and non-caffeinated drinks, P265 to P280 for pastries

Non-dairy options available

With Meraki Caffeteria

6032 R. Palma St., Poblacion, Makati 
Open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cuisine: Farm-to-table

Claim to fame: Organic produce, zero-waste store with a quaint, warm, and plant-filled space for dine-in

Price range: P180 to P450 for food, P180 to P300 for coffee and drinks 

Plant-based options available

Full menu here

West 32

8464 Kalayaan Ave. Poblacion, Makati
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Cuisine: Modern Korean American

Claim to fame: New York-style speakeasy with comforting Korean-American fare

Price range: P200 to P700 for appetizers, P350 to P850 for mains, P250 to P400 for cocktails

Full menu here

Christian San Jose: