Makati City is home to many establishments offering a variety of experiences that make one’s weekend truly memorable. For years, Salcedo Village has been a go-to area for its gourmet comfort food and weekend market. Before it became the center of boutique hotels and unique concept bars in the city, Poblacion was known as its cultural and heritage district. We could go on and on about the many things to see in every corner of Makati. And even today, new spots are entering the scene—offering numerous ways to have a good time and build a community—just waiting to be discovered.
A good example of this is The 210 Weekend Club. Located inside Makati Terraces Condominium, the hangout spot was formerly an office for Raj Bay and Rocky Zaragoza’s MadHouseMNL business from 2017 to 2020. When the pandemic introduced the idea of flexible working arrangements, the two decided to gradually transform the space into a studio. In 2023, it opened its doors to anyone in need of a place for photo shoots and video content. Now, it also features a coffee shop and hosts weekend events and pop-ups.
“The space is literally in Unit 210... We considered opening the space to the community just this year. We’ve had small weekend events, and people got excited,” Raj tells Style Weekend. “Since we are all coffee lovers, we already had a small machine and some beans. We started making coffee for friends, and they loved it. It was in April that we decided to share our coffee, have a pop-up café, and turn the space into a weekend club.”
Vibe and atmosphere are everything these days when it comes to hangout spots. Raj and his team want The 210 Weekend Club to exude the feeling of “a warm, fuzzy hug on a slow weekend.” It features a mix of warm accent walls adorned with artwork to offset the monotony of studio whites. Potted plants and the wooden floor add an organic feel to the place, while mixed-match furniture and stacks of books and magazines bring out its character. Yellow, dimmed lights set the mood.
To bring The 210 Weekend Club to life, Raj and Rocky worked with their team, which consists of Jef Pestano (their all-around creative guy), Lucy Almoroto (who handles all the financial matters), and Elmer Almoroto (who leads the food and beverage operations).
Over a cup of coffee
Guests should not miss the drinks and treats at The 210 Weekend Club. The team underwent a series of training sessions to perfect their brews and curate a selection of baked goods and dishes to complement them. When it comes to their coffee mixes, customers also have the option to make their drinks less sweet or add more shots of espresso at little to no additional cost.
A standout is The 210 White Latte, which features three kinds of chocolate—milk, white, and dark. Its Caramel with Sea Salt Foam is a must-try, while the Matcha Strawberry is perfect for non-coffee drinkers.
“We recently introduced a selection of cakes, cookies, and sweet and savory croissants,” Raj adds. “Our Asian noodles have been moving fast in recent weeks. We offer our signature Spicy Peanut Dry Noodles (inspired by Taiwanese flat noodles), Pinoy cheesy noodles, and Black Bean noodles.”
For all the senses
Apart from its food and drink offerings, customers can find many ways to enjoy their stay at The 210 Weekend Club. Think of it as an amalgamation of all the elements that make the ultimate #StyleWeekend. It currently has a self-shoot studio with free prints, board games and card games for those who wish to play, and has soft-launched a dried flower corner where guests can pick, buy, and take home the blooms they like.
Something to look forward to is the future runs of their Sniff Session. Launched last May, it features international and local perfumes for frag heads and beauty babes to try and test.
“We’re also considering hosting mini-markets near the holiday season,” Raj says. “We usually offer local owners free space inside our weekend club.”
Only on the weekends
What makes The 210 Weekend Club different from other hangout spots is that it is only open on weekends. Its studio is almost fully booked on weekdays, but studio guests can still order coffee or use the board games from the club. Given that Raj and his team have day jobs, the weekend-only schedule also works well for them. They want to keep it as an after-work retreat, allowing their guests to fully enjoy the club and just chill on the weekends.
“After the chaotic work week, we want our space to be a refuge where you can slow down, quiet your mind over a cup of coffee and cookies, or just have a fun catch-up with friends,” Raj muses. “This space has witnessed our entire journey—all our ups and downs—with lots of good times in between. We wanted it to be a safe space for people to hang out and make memories.”
If you want to learn more about The 210 Weekend Club or rent its space for events and workshops, visit @the210.ph on Instagram.
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