Life is nothing short of a celebration. Milestones are always being met, memories are always being made, and one thing or another manages to make us happy enough to want to pop open some bubbly and throw a party.
We hope today is one of those days. And if it is, first, we’d like to extend our congratulations. Congratulations on whatever it is you achieved, on whoever it is you made smile, on whatever it may be that made you want to celebrate.
Here’s a couple of places you might want to take the celebration to if you want a drink or two to get the party started.
- Ralph’s Wines and Spirits, Makati. Although many may know Ralph’s as a place to buy wine, not enough people stay for the other drinks and the delicious menu that the restaurant also offers. Ralph’s, located along Arnaiz Avenue in Makati, opens late for those nighttime parties that have spilled over from dinner to a nightcap. It even has a very attractive and warm ambiance, making it perfect for gatherings intimate or large. The venue also carries a selection of other hard drinks and liquors such as rum, vodka, and tequila which you can purchase to-go or to drink in-store. Their menu, meanwhile, ranges from tapas to full course meals like their delectable osso buco, their filling pizzas, and their excellent desserts. Most people who dine in need not ask for more!
- Rambla, Rockwell. Named after the famous La Rambla in Spain, Rambla Cocina Moderna is a mix of laid-back, friendly neighborhood tapas bar and exquisitely innovative Spanish cuisine. The food is always a hit with the regulars, from their well-prepared tapas all the way to their peculiar selections like the Spherical Olives. But what really hits the experience ball out of the park for Rambla is their ever-changing selection of wines and spirits. Yes, they have their mainstay selections of reds, whites, roses, and champagnes, but they also offer a collection of wine concoctions (like ones infused in tea!). Their cocktails and spirits are no different, with special limited edition releases and mixes being thrown into the menu every now and then. One can even make their own mix to get the party off the ground!
- Le Bistro Du Dr. Wine, Poblacion. Championing that ‘wine is the healthiest of all beverages’ Dr. Wine is a classy, casual, French cafe bistro that transforms into a wine bar at night. French and Swiss wines dominate the selection of red and white wines, with a happy hour being served every day. To accompany your drinks, their food menu includes well-curated cheese platters and charcuterie board. Ambiance wise, the crowd can go from luxe and chill to party-happy on any given day, so prepare yourself accordingly. They have a private dining area called the 3rd Floor, though, and we highly recommend booking a table there for celebrations as it includes a special menu all its own. Regulars of this lowkey swanky but easy-to-love place would agree, however, that it’s the warmth of the ambiance that makes people want to come back again and again. With a communal table fit for a crowd to make new friends by, and with warm lighting and exquisite design taste, it’s easy to see why coming together in a place like Le Bistro Du Dr. Wine is a no-brainer.
- The Cellar, Manila Grand Hyatt BGC. Step into the wine cellar of your dreams in a venue that literally tells you that that is exactly what you are about to experience. The Cellar in the Manila Grand Hyatt located in BGC boasts elegant, European-inspired, warm-lit interiors and handpicked centerpieces, tables and chairs, and other dining ware for guests to enjoy. The Cellar offers up a wide but well-curated selection of only the most premium wines, paired with delectable Mediterranean cuisine and traditional tapas and charcuterie. In truth, however, people come for the food but stay for the experience. Sitting in your own private enclave with only your selected party of people in a dim-lit, arched-ceiling cellar that really sets the mood, make one’s celebration all the better. On top of that private experience, The Cellar holds monthly sessions with expert sommeliers, where guests can enjoy a wine tasting lesson that is enjoyable hands-on.
Wherever you choose to spend special days, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to celebrate it with a glass or two of well-selected, well-thought-out wine selections or spirits. After all, picking the glass of the day is half the fun already!
