Being outside is a blessing. Whether you’re working from home or in the office all week, there’s nothing like actually being outside and experiencing the world beyond the walls you’ve got tattooed on the inside of your eyelids. While the city doesn’t offer the fresh, clean air that our body needs, it’s still a welcome change in pace from being stuck inside at home or chained to your desk all day.
There’s something emotionally rewarding about doing simple things, like hanging out at a café or running errands. You get to see people, but you also choose how to interact with them—unlike the mandatory interaction requirements at your job.
The following establishments are decidedly outside material for more reasons than one. Aside from serving up great vibes and refreshments, most of these places either open early, close late, or both.
If you’re in the mood to work outside or have a business meeting and immediately want to blow off some steam afterward, these cafés, bars, and restaurants can keep you company from day to night to morning.
Annex House
In case you didn’t know, the Poblacion staple isn’t just a bar anymore. Annex House has expanded operations into the day with a café serving drinks inspired by local flavors, like biko, ube, and leche flan lattes.
If you’re familiar with the bar, the ground floor is transformed into a café (with matching breezy outdoor seating) you can use as your office for the day. There’s also a retail corner that sells items like clothes and accessories from local artists and designers.
And when you’ve sent out your last email of the day, the bar opens at 6 p.m. so you can let loose and dance the night away.
Annex House is located at 5836 Don Pedro St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City. The café is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the bar is open Wednesday to Sunday, 6 p.m. ’til late.
Assembly Hall and HereAfter
Here’s another café and bar concept for the work-from-anywhere crowd. Assembly Hall is a café that’s directly connected to a cocktail bar for after-hours fun. The café is a favorite among the young creative crowd with its extensive coffee menu and Instagram-worthy interiors.
Aside from drinks, the café also sells small bites to tide you over your hectic mornings and slow afternoons. If you’re working from here, there’s also a lot of outlets so you can plug your devices and not have to worry about battery life.
When the clock hits 6:30 p.m., you can make your way over to the adjacent HereAfter for a much-deserved round of cocktails.
Assembly Hall and HereAfter are located at HMA 733 Bldg., J.P. Rizal Ave., Makati City. Assembly Hall is open from Monday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and HereAfter is open from Friday to Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ’til late.
Bolero
In my personal experience, it’s a little difficult to find a relaxed place in BGC that’s open late. Well, that is until Bolero came and saved the day. Bolero is a modern European restaurant that’s a mix of business and pleasure.
They have one of the best pork chops I’ve ever tasted (to the point it gave me an emotional reaction), and likely the best cheesecake in Manila right now—you can quote me on that. The restaurant opens at noon, but doesn’t close until either 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. on most days.
It’s the clear choice if you’re having a business lunch or dinner in BGC because of its delicious food and refined interiors. Once you get business out of the way, though, there’s a DJ on standby during the weekends which turns it into a more laid-back yet exciting, lounge-type experience.
Bolero is located at Verve Tower 2, High Street South, 26th and 27th Street, Bonifacio Global City. The restaurant is open daily from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Mondays to Wednesdays, and 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Thursdays to Sundays.
Bolo
Another one of my favorite places to work during the day is Bolo Coffee Club. The new-ish Poblacion spot is a Hong Kong inspired café that serves all sorts of coffee and non-coffee items during the day, and brings out the big guns (a.k.a. huge bottles of Tsingtao beer and unique cocktails at night).
It’s a cozy space that also serves some Hong Kong-style pastries—like their namesake bolo bao or pineapple bun—and other favorites like ham and cheese rolls, sausage rolls, and pork floss buns.
For pet owners who can’t leave their babies alone at home, the café is also pet friendly. Aside from that, they have great wifi and tons of sockets for when you need to charge.
Bolo Coffee Club is located at JKL Bldg., Don Pedro St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City. It’s open on Sundays to Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. ’til late.
High Grounds Café
If you ever find yourself in the Quezon City area and don’t know where to hang out, check out High Grounds Café. The establishment is huge—and that’s kind of putting it mildly. There’s a lot of space for you to work, meet up with friends, or just spend time by yourself.
Aside from drinks, the café also serves all kinds of dishes that can serve as a snack, or something heavier if you’re looking for a real meal. If you’re in need of a bit of a break from work (or you’re just a little bored), there’s also a gaming center at the café so you can play to your heart’s content.
High Grounds Café is located at 67 Sct. Rallos St, Diliman, Quezon City. It’s open daily from
Royal Indian Curry House
If you’re unfamiliar with Royal Indian Curry House (RICH), you’re probably a little confused. If you’re familiar with the restaurant, you know exactly why it’s on this list. RICH is one of the most iconic (and delicious) Indian restaurants in Metro Manila.
It has locations all over the Philippines (including Boracay), but its largest location is in Makati. It’s popular among the lunch crowd due to its mouthwatering, high-quality Indian cuisine, but not many people know its top floor also transforms into a club during the evening.
Grab a samosa, order that bowl of paneer, and party the night away after a draining day at work. You for sure deserve it.
Royal Indian Curry House is located at 5345 General Luna St., Makati City. It’s open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
