Nearly 100 bars across Metro Manila will join the weeklong celebration, featuring global guest bartenders and the recently crowned World’s Best Bar, Bar Leone.
Manila’s bar scene is about to have its biggest moment yet. From November 17 to 23, nearly a hundred bars across Metro Manila will come together for the first-ever Philippine Cocktail Fiesta, a city-wide celebration of Filipino creativity, flavor, and community.
What’s the Fiesta about?
The event is co-presented by DrinkCollectiv.com, the country’s first drink-focused publication, and DBWY (Drinks Be With You), a community that connects bartenders and enthusiasts through events and competitions.
Festival director Tatum Ancheta says the goal was to capture that same energy seen across Asia’s bar capitals. “We’ve seen how these festivals unite their communities and raise the standard for their local scenes,” she explains. “It’s time we do the same for Manila.”
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But why call it a fiesta? Co-founder Mic Flores says the name reflects Filipino warmth and hospitality. “A fiesta is about coming together—families, friends, neighbors—to celebrate food, drinks, and community. That’s the heart of what we’re building here.”
Bars, bartenders, and big collabs
Expect bar takeovers, pop-ups, and pairing dinners across Makati, BGC, Quezon City, San Juan, Marikina, and Alabang. Homegrown favorites like The Curator, The Spirits Library, The Back Room, and The Grasshopper Bar will host some of the biggest names in the regional scene.
Joining the lineup are regional standouts from Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Palawan, La Union, Cagayan de Oro, Siargao, and Davao each bringing their own twist to Filipino mixology including Cebu’s Lost Unicorn, Dumaguete’s Apartment 5 Coffee & Cocktails, Palawan’s Ap Kala, La Union’s Ugly Bar, and Davao’s Taste of Home by Gay Drinking with Carlos.
The Fiesta’s official hub will be Solaire Resort Entertainment City, which will host international guests and headline events throughout the week.
Global names behind the bars
Manila will welcome more than two dozen award-winning bartenders from around Asia, including Lorenzo Antinori of Hong Kong’s Bar Leone (recently crowned World’s Best Bar 2025), Yangdup Lama of India’s Sidecar, and Antonio Lai of Hong Kong’s Quinary and The Opposites.
Also flying in are teams from Malaysia’s Penrose and Backdoor Bodega, India’s Lair and ZLB23, Singapore’s Cat Bite Club, Indonesia’s Modern Haus, and Taiwan’s Vender—some of the top names from Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025.
Festival co-founder Aaron Limpe Aw says the lineup is meant to “bridge communities and showcase the Philippines as a serious player on the global cocktail map.”
Pairings, talks, and parties
The week will feature cocktail-pairing dinners, masterclasses, and industry talks across the city.
One of the highlights is a five-course dinner at Finestra in Solaire, pairing Italian dishes with cocktails from Bar Leone. Other must-book experiences include Malaysia’s Three X Co collaborating with Brazilian-Japanese spot Uma Nota, and Macau’s Wing Lei Bar teaming up with chef Sau del Rosario at Café Fleur Alabang.
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There’ll also be panels and talks covering everything from local rum and lambanog heritage to brand storytelling and women in bartending plus a major discussion on the big question: Do awards really matter?
The Cocktail Fiesta Passport
For those who want to go all-in, the Fiesta Passport is your golden ticket. Priced at ₱1,800, it gives you access to exclusive promos at nearly 100 bars with discounted drinks, buy-one-get-one offers, freebies, and other perks, along with a canvas tote, stickers, and hangover-friendly goodies.
Passports are available via Klook, and you can find more details at thecocktailfiesta.com.
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