There’s nothing quite like a New Year’s party–there’s always a unique excitement in the air all through the night ’til the countdown begins, and a feeling of starting anew when the clock strikes 12. In a lot of places in the world, this is a once-a-year celebration. But lucky for us in Manila, where Chinese roots run deep, we get to celebrate it twice.
Want to celebrate the Year of the Rat right? With good food, better drinks, and music to dance to way past midnight, these China and Hong Kong-inspired bars will keep your Friday and Saturday nights busy and help you enter the lunar new year swinging.
Ms. Gee
Ms. Gee has been on everyone’s radar since it opened last year, becoming a staple in the Poblacion bar crawl. The Lunar New Year also acts as a milestone landmark for the Hong Kong kitchen and bar, celebrating their first year anniversary the best way they know how: with free-flowing drinks and DJ sets that’ll bring the house down (not literally, we hope).
Head over to Ms. Gee this Saturday, January 25, in your best “Red Street” outfit and your favorite dancing shoes.
Lan Kwai Speakeasy
This Katipunan bar brings Hong Kong’s famous party street to Manila’s doorstep. With a limited Chinese New Year edition cocktail fishbowl worth just PHP250, three shots for PHP99, and a rice bowl for PHP139, Lan Kwai is offering a shit-ton of deals to get you feeling happy and fed this new year.
Stop by Lan Kwai Speakeasy for New Year’s Eve this January 24th for a party that’s as lit as it is easy on your pocket.
Buddha Bar
Another bar commemorating its anniversary along with the Year of the Rat, Buddha Bar is celebrating its 8th birthday in style with dragon dancers, fire performers, pole dancers, DJ sets, an All-You-Can-Eat dinner buffet, and cocktails by some of Manila’s best mixologists.
With such a list, you won’t run out of anything to do or be entertained by this Saturday.
5YNCO Bar
If your star sign is telling you to choose a more chill Lunar New Year celebration this year, try heading over to 5YNCO Bar and stuff your face for lunch with their unlimited dimsum for just PHP199. And if you do feel like having a drink or two, Saturday offers up Buy-1-Take-1 on Hennessy or Belvedere cocktails, so while they might not (strictly speaking) be having a Chinese New Year party this weekend, you could always start one yourself.
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