By Khris Marc Ronquillo
There’s something about a classy bar that makes kicking back and unwinding an effortless, soothing experience. If that’s your thing, you need to check out Bar27 of the Diamond Hotel along Roxas Boulevard in the City of Manila.
Upon entering, you become hyper aware of the elegant atmosphere exuding from the décor and the interior design. There is an overall space-age feel, especially with the clever placement of the lights working well with the angled glass windows that overlook the spectacular Manila Bay sunset when you arrive early enough.
The bar is open any day of the week, and their 27 new exciting cocktails and mocktails might just entice you to try them all from sundown to moon-up. The crowd was pleasant and friendly, all of us with the mutual understanding that the night was for enjoying good food, having a good buzz, and listening to chill music. This is what Friday nights are made of.
To help you with your choices, the drinks have been grouped according to your mood. Is it Chill, Upbeat, or Party? I tried one of each, first with the flaming AK B27, a mix of sweet and strong liqueurs from the Upbeat column. It playfully taunts you to consume it in one go, with its colorful clean gradations and gentle blue flame. It’s sweet, but hits hard and fast. But I wonder how much harder something called Hangover Delight or the Absolute Knee-bender would be.
As the night went on, the buildings from all around Diamond Hotel signal the beginning of the City of Manila’s night life, in which as of that moment I was at the very top.
My server urged me to try Cool as a Cucumber from the Chill section next. It comes highly recommended and not without good reason. The lime juice and the mint works well with the rum and goes down smooth and refreshing, with a Tropical Caribbean twist.
The drinks go well with the perfect trio of Iberico Bellota, San Daniele Parma ham and Serrano—known collectively as the Jamon Experience. Together with the creamy smooth Croquetas, it was all indulgent and sophisticated.
Of course, Bar27 understands that sometimes you just got to have your all-time favorites, and for that good old Filipino classics like Crispy Pata and Sisig are available—perfect for those occasions when you are treating out your balikbayan friend who longs for a taste of home.
The live musical entertainment that goes along with the moonrise enhances the friendly ambiance with talented professionals to serenade you and even take your requests.
From the Party selection of drinks, I went for the friendly-sounding Tres Marias, providing enough liquid courage to grab the mic on center stage. The Marias, however, convinced me that the night was all about the company around the table, and we drank to that. So, get your cocktails upgraded and experience the night life in the Manila Bay area at Bar 27 of Diamond Hotel Philippines.