This holiday season, raise a glass to good cheer and great company. While southern Metro Manila often steals the spotlight for festive dining and nightlife, Quezon City is brimming with vibrant options. From inventive cocktail bars to dynamic dining hubs, these northern neighborhoods are perfect for celebrating Christmas, New Year, and every gathering in between.
ReCraft: Innovation meets nostalgia
ReCraft, one of Quezon City’s standout bars, has found a new home on Scout Tobias. Set in a renovated 1960s house, the bar blends nostalgia with modern flair. Beverage director Cedric Mendoza ensures every drink meets world-class standards, offering a cocktail experience comparable to New York or Tokyo—delivered with Filipino warmth.
“ReCraft is a very nice place. You could put it anywhere—New York, Seoul, Singapore—and it would fit right in,” Mendoza shared. “What we want is for Filipinos to not need to travel abroad to experience something different and awe-inspiring. You can get it right here, just a jeepney away.”
The refreshed menu includes reimagined classics like the pandan-and-ginger-infused New Manila, blending curry-spiced vermouth with pandan syrup and ginger beer for a spicy-sweet balance, and its whisky-based counterpart, Old Manila, which incorporates a touch of curry into the smoky notes of whisky and pandan.
Adventurous drinkers will enjoy the bold profiles of Grow in the Dark, mixing scotch, passionfruit, mint, chili, and soda water, and Bask in the Light, a vibrant concoction of mezcal, vodka, passionfruit, basil, lemon, and seltzer.
Bar.Flora: Gin and tea in harmony
Bar.Flora, located on Scout Rallos, has unveiled its new Volume II menu, spotlighting cocktails and mocktails infused with global tea varieties. These creative concoctions cater to a range of preferences, from light and floral to robust and spirit-forward. Led by soon-to-be tea sommeliers Rose De Guzman and Elli Tiongco, the team at Bar.Flora crafted a menu that blends the complex flavors of tea with the versatility of gin.
Signature drinks include the Florchata, a blend of Darjeeling-infused gin, rice liqueur, raisin, cream, cardamom bitters, and almonds, delivering a creamy, spiced profile inspired by the Indian dessert kheer. The Matchacallit pairs Sui Suntory Gin with cream cheese liqueur, dry vermouth, matcha foam, and a graham cracker garnish for a dessert-like cocktail. Catch Me If You Can uses Martin Miller's Winterful Gin, Fernet Hunter, Amaro Lucano, aperol, adjusted grapefruit juice, and chocolate-coated wafer. Non-drinkers are not left out, with mocktails like the Pineapple Cake, featuring Dong Ding oolong pineapple juice, brown butter, and saline solution, offering equally satisfying options. Bar.Flora’s inventive drinks and intimate setting make it a top pick for adventurous holiday gatherings.
Hydro Group: Where dining meets nightlife
For larger celebrations, the Hydro Group on Quezon Avenue offers a multi-concept venue spanning over 1,000 square meters. With four distinct outlets, the space combines upscale dining and high-energy nightlife under one roof. Wave Restaurant + Café serves Filipino, Spanish, and American comfort food in a chic setting, while Hydro, the centerpiece, provides a two-floor party venue that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. There’s even indoor golf, for those so inclined to play the sport during the holidays.
Wave Restaurant + Café is perfect for quieter gatherings, offering a refined menu designed to impress even the most discerning foodie. For those seeking a livelier setting, Hydro’s rave-like atmosphere delivers with music that keeps the crowd moving.
Limbaga 77 Cafe Restaurant: A taste of home in Quezon City
In Filipino celebrations, drinking is often paired with hearty meals, and Limbaga 77 Cafe Restaurant delivers just that. Since 2014, it has been a beloved dining spot offering classic Filipino dishes. Housed in a repurposed mid-century home, much like ReCraft, it has become a cozy haven for family gatherings and intimate celebrations over the past decade.
The menu features traditional favorites like Kare-Kare, Sinigang na Salmon, Adobong Tadyang ng Baka, and Pancit Bihon, alongside creative twists such as Stuffed Bulaklak ng Kalabasa, Sinigang na Baka sa Pakwan, Baked Lechon Paksiw, and Stuffed Laing. Their cakes, like the creamy Buena Mango, are perfect for any occasion, offering a sweet finish to any meal. For larger gatherings, Limbaga 77 also offers buffet sets with shareable portions of signature dishes, making it an ideal choice for group celebrations. The restaurant is located on Limbaga Street, along Tomas Morato Avenue.
Spend the holidays up north
The holiday season is all about creating moments that matter—and the right venue can make all the difference. While southern Metro Manila has its appeal, the unique charm of Tomas Morato, Timog, and Quezon Avenue offers a refreshing change of pace. These northern hotspots cater to every mood and occasion, from intimate dinners to lively parties. This year, skip the familiar southern spots and head to Quezon City to discover its dynamic drinking and dining scene. Cheers to exploring the north this holiday season.