That Sunday night, Feb. 8, Raion bar in San Juan pulsed with energy. Julie Tu, a media visitor from China, a boisterous figure, had the crowd in the palm of her hand, even cajoling her fellow foreign delegate Paul Hsu from Shenzhen with a playful, “Take it off, show us your abs!” while he tended bar. Paul represented Obsidian Bar, No. 51 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025. Despite Julie insisting he was the handsomest bartender in China, I would argue his skills behind the bar were far more impressive. Poor Paul and his eight-pack abs did not get much of a break that night from Julie’s teasing, though it was all clearly in good fun. I leave it up to the reader to guess whether we eventually saw those abs at the bar that evening.

Julie laughed and handed out free shots, roaring encouragement as the music thumped. The foreign guests enlivened the takeover, drawing even a few shy locals out of their shells. By the time we were about to leave for another bar, we were hoarse, dancing in place and bonded with strangers like old friends. Around us, friends from across Asia moved easily behind the counter, guests spilled onto every available space, and the energy reflected what had been building throughout the week. In every sense, it was the grand finale of an unprecedented festival sweeping Metro Manila, the first-ever Philippine Cocktail Week (PHCW), and the bar was alive with collaboration and possibility.

The festival transformed Metro Manila into a cocktail playground. Over four nights, international cocktail bars partnered with Manila establishments for one-night collaborations across several districts. Instead of a single venue, the experience encouraged guests to move freely from bar to bar, discovering different styles and menus throughout the evening. The format turned entire neighborhoods into stages for experimentation, with each venue offering something unique.

The week opened in Bonifacio Global City, where visiting bars from across Asia took over local counters and introduced their signature creations. Makati followed with equally dynamic pairings, while nights in Poblacion and Jupiter carried the momentum forward with packed venues and curious crowds eager to try cocktails unavailable anywhere else. Even daytime events joined the celebration through open-air sessions and panel discussions that explored sustainability, creativity and the future of the industry. By the time the festival reached Quezon City on its final evening, the city felt fully immersed in cocktail culture.

Each visiting team brought its own approach to flavor. Guests encountered floral gimlets, savory blends and creative uses of herbs and spices more often associated with kitchens than bars. Jasmine, pandan, gingerm and tropical botanicals appeared in drinks that challenged expectations and showcased how diverse modern mixology has become. For many local bartenders, the exchanges were as educational as they were celebratory, offering inspiration that could influence menus long after the event ended.

Every neighborhood felt the buzz. Regulars and newcomers alike gathered shoulder to shoulder, sipping off-menu creations that existed only for a single night. The crowds told a story of their own. These were not merely gatherings of industry insiders but rooms filled with people genuinely curious about the evolving cocktail scene.

As a lifestyle journalist covering the beverage scene, I felt as though I’d been embedded on a thrilling campaign. I spent that Sunday night riding shotgun in a van shuttling foreign delegates, alongside fellow writer and friend Cyrene de la Rosa–a veteran drinks journalist and consultant, and one of the organizers of PHCW –and my longtime colleague Anton delos Reyes of Malaya Business Insight. We started at Three Dots in Greenhills, went on to Raion, then AKA, After Hours, and finally the Skybar at Solaire North, all in Quezon City. Throughout the night we sampled exotic cocktails and swapped stories with these visiting mixologists. I was amazed by each sip: every drink had a twist I’d never tasted before–floral essences, hints of savory fermentation, velvety creams–inspiring me to want to travel and taste yet more global creations.

Throughout the evening, Cyrene pointed out something she found encouraging. She noticed new people in the crowd, not the usual bar classmates or the same industry faces she often sees during guest shifts. There was nothing wrong with seeing industry peers, she said, but the bar industry needs new customers to survive. In a small scene, it is easy for the same people to appear everywhere, which is exactly why she wanted to organize PHCW. Seeing unfamiliar faces, she noted, was a strong sign that the event was doing what it set out to do.

By the end of the night, Anton and I found ourselves saying the same thing as we moved from one bar to the next. The talent was already here, along with the ingredients, creativity, and drive to experiment. Visiting bartenders worked side by side with local teams, swapping techniques and ideas across the counter, while guests watched and tasted the results. The exchange showed how far Manila’s cocktail scene has come and where it can go next.

PHCW did more than bring international names to the city. It encouraged collaboration, sparked conversations about sustainability and business growth, and introduced new audiences to a culture that can sometimes feel niche. The packed bars suggested a growing appetite for craft cocktails and a willingness to explore beyond familiar choices.

PHCW was proof of concept: global experts pouring their art in Manila showed us that we can mix, shake, and serve at the highest level. If Manila’s neighborhood bars have quickly embraced these innovations and filled up with eager patrons, it’s clear that the future is bright. With events like this and a growing spirit of collaboration, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next chapter of Manila’s nightlife includes more entries on Asia’s best bar lists–our own fingerprints on world‑class cocktails. Cheers to that.