The Mixmag Asia Clubbing Guide: Manila

There’s nowhere quite like Manila—chaotic, electric, and pulsing with a beat that won’t quit, especially once you slip into its underground.

While the city has seen the closure of iconic spaces like Futur:st and XX:XX, the handful of clubs that remain thrive through intimate yet intentional music programming, keeping the community woven well together.

And beyond the booths and basements, there’s a whole parallel universe of DIY crews like Smutt, Kaputt, Waaarphole, and transit nights who are re-drawing the map with pop-up raves, warped sonics, and a real sense of community. Ask the right person at the right party (or any party, for that matter), and they’ll hand you a breadcrumb trail to the city’s most vital spaces.

Nightlife in Manila is a living, mutating network of scenes that feel more like home than club. Stick around long enough, and the city might just rewire your sense of what a dancefloor can be.

Founded and curated by ‘90s hip-hop producer Arbie Won, Treskul remains a quiet foundation of Manila’s music scene that is running into its 14th year in 2025. Specialising in Original Pinoy Music, the quaint record shop also carries a good selection of jazz, disco, and PHP100 bins of dance music gems.

Tucked away in a corner of Mandaluyong, Treskul has become a home for record collectors in the city. Beyond music, Treskul serves comfort Pinoy dishes like sisig and tokwa’t baboy, transforming into a lively bar at night where veteran vinyl DJs spin everything from city pop, new wave, and house.

Bombvinos Bodega is the bar space for a local natural wine dealer that draws inspiration from "bambino", the Italian word for baby or young child, as a nod to their humble beginning in the wine scene. Established in 2020, Bombvinos initially delivered orders to homes during lockdown, eventually opening their bodega in 2023. Having housed parties such as Ultra Soft Sound, one of the city's few ambient nights, and Jasphonica, Papa Jawnz’ imprint for uplifting digs, the space is a home for selectors such as Blush, Daze, and Versailles.

With the recent installation of a locally crafted hi-fi system, Fatima Sound Practice, Bombvinos Bodega stands as a bar that deeply values music, prioritising both the system it comes from and the selectors behind it. In this bright, intimate wine bar, you can enjoy a nicely picked selection of natural wines, classic wines, and artisanal spirits, along with special cocktails made from ingredients like Moonbug Matcha.

Once known only as a red-light district, Poblacion has evolved into a vibrant hotspot for nightlife and music. If you’re out in Manila, chances are you’ll find yourself in Poblacion—and when you do, The Spirits Library is a perfect place to start your night. Located along Guerrero Street, this dimly lit, high-ceiling speakeasy has no dancefloor, but its wraparound counter facing the DJ booth provides an intimate setting for music and cocktails.

Behind the bar, an impressive liquor collection fuels signature drinks. The soulful atmosphere comes to life with live blues and jazz bands like Stank Tank on weekdays and lenient vinyl sets from DJ Honey, Escu, and Bing Austria, spanning house, jazz, soul, and funk on weekends.

Before Poblacion’s nightlife scene, its roots were in a community of agriculture and fishing. Although much has changed, that sense of home and community remains–especially in spots like Annex House. Marked by a typical Pinoy village gate, you’ll need to knock or ring the bell to enter this hip yet welcoming spot. Recently relocated, Annex House remains a staple of Manila's nightlife scene, and it’s easy to see why. Upon entering, you’ll find the local community of artists and musicians gathering at the bar, often starting or ending their night with a mango rum or a coconut gin of the night at its outdoor bar.

Upstairs, it feels like a house party where the living room is transformed into a dancefloor. DJs like FIERCEANGEL, Celeste Kuh, and Mafia lay down hip hop, disco, and house, while the occasional selectors like The Diegos bring out their crates of world, funk, and new wave. The charm of Annex House is in its simplicity, and it works—it just feels like home.

Walk along the corner of General Luna in Poblacion, and you’ll eventually come across a three-story building called the White Rabbit. Whether you’re dancing in the club, enjoying wonderful cocktails in the speakeasy, or kicking it back on the rooftop, this distinct structure by Quay Concepts offers a Poblacion experience with many layers.

Established in 2023 by a mix of artists and restaurant owners, the White Rabbit building is gradually shaping the Poblacion nightlife scene, striving to preserve the spirit of the underground music community.

On the first floor, you’ll find Apotheka, the building’s main nightclub. The main room usually hosts collectives such as Orange Juice Asia and Ritmo spinning baile-funk, global club and house, while an elbow room on the mezzanine delves into deeper electronic sounds like Detroit techno, jungle, and ‘90s electro, featuring crews like Amenta World and Dancefloor Therapy.

The warehouse-style club also invites queer parties such as Elephant, Church, and Mighty Real and has more alternative programming such as Unearth, a Thursday night for underground electronic music, and Terminal Dogma, a party run by local underground teacher Obese.Dogma777. Moreover, Apotheka has invited international guests such as Youknowsong, ddwy, and Yamarchy.

While Apotheka commands the ground floor, the White Rabbit building offers more layers to explore. Upstairs, you’ll find Cheshire, a newly opened speakeasy already drawing Poblacion regulars despite its soft-opening phase. For those seeking open-air vibes, the rooftop bar Ugly Duck sets the mood with neon-lit city views and an eclectic soundtrack of nu-disco, house remixes, and hip hop.

The Poblacion district is truly just a stone’s throw away from various bar concepts, each upholding cocktail culture and supporting the music community. Just like Annex House, you'll find the local scene of artists and musicians enjoying song-inspired cocktails at OTO—a space with striped walls reminiscent of a road, but is really alluding to the Japanese word for ‘sound’.

One of the first listening bar concepts to emerge in Manila, OTO remains one of the underground institutions that have withstood the test of the pandemic. The space’s centrepiece is a custom-made JBL speaker system from the ‘70s, backed by a wall of records spanning the popular and alternative from hip-hop, classic rock, jazz, and dance music. At OTO, the DJ booth runs parallel to the bar, featuring selectors like Al Jones, Someguy, and Mulan, with its own set of bartenders.

Although it only opened last year, Cova—a microclub in Poblacion—has already undergone a rebranding that has worked in its favor. Once catering to mainstream EDM, the space has transformed into a promising home for techno and underground electronic dance music in Manila.

With a solid, direct sound system capable of handling sub-frequencies—an unfortunately rare feature in the city—Cova has welcomed forward-thinking collectives like the techno-focused Sonic Ulam by Adri Malaki and OK.Hara and the FLINTA queer rave, Bliss Club Night comprising of Dignos, Lance Navasca and T33G33.

And if you get a chance to visit Cebu, try to stop by Pavement Records. Since 2015, Pavement Records has been Cebu City’s local record shop, fostering crate digging and a small community of regulars, both local and foreign.

Pavement Records’ shelves hold classic and contemporary hits, but nestled between these selections are rare and local grooves—from world to disco to funk. The neighborhood shop is similar to Manila’s Treskul—a cozy space for record collectors where you can kick back with a beer and listen to local DJs like Budots legend, Libya Montes.

Over the past decade, vinyl culture has flourished in the Philippines, with Pinoy music lovers building their collections and seeking out their favorite albums on wax. While local appreciation for the format has surged in recent years, it can be traced back to the '90s with Groove Nation, a pioneering record store owned by Toti Dalmacion, one of the key figures behind the country’s rave and underground scene.

This Is Pop! is the spiritual descendant of the now defunct Groove Nation. Parallel to its penthouse location, This Is Pop! is located literally underground in Makati's Legazpi area. It sets the standard for record shops in the country, offering adventurous Pinoy music lovers a curated selection of what Toti might consider pop—from rock, jazz, house, and techno to noise and other music styles.

Carrying the spirit of its predecessor, This Is Pop! stands as the modern-day heir to Groove Nation’s legacy. Hidden underground—both metaphorically and literally—This Is Pop! is located in a basement in Makati’s Legazpi area, in contrast to Groove Nation’s former penthouse setting. The shop has set the standard for record stores in the country, offering adventurous Pinoy music lovers a carefully curated selection of what Toti might consider “pop”—from rock, jazz, and house to techno, noise, and beyond. Come to think of it, This Is Pop! just might have the best selection of dance and electronic music in the country right now.

Mono by Phono is a listening bar that feels like someone's living room—but is actually someone’s showroom for HiFi speakers. Located on the fringes of Poblacion, Mono by Phono is the Makati spin-off of its original space, Phono, in Quezon City. The interior feels like a scene from a Kubrick film—carpeted floors, moody lighting, and mid-century furniture.

Each night brings a different energy, with under-the-radar but serious selectors spinning breakbeat, post-punk, downtempo, soul, and rock. Sometimes, it even becomes the unofficial afters spot for touring acts like St. Vincent or Jamie xx.

Shortened as Mono, the space has hosted events like Aeterna’s New Year Party, highlighting femme-led DJs, Ezzrei’s Continuum Bass nights, showcasing underground bass music, live analogue jams by Synthicide, and community gatherings by Let Them Cook. It may seem pretentious at first glance, but the vibe is anything but. Whether for befores, afters, or a full night out, Mono is true to its name—where music takes center stage.

Formerly based in Makati's Poblacion nightlife district, NoKal relocated and upscaled in 2022 to the basement of the iconic Makati Cinema Square. Its name, an abbreviation for 'North of Kalayaan,' pays homage to its origins. As one of the few clubs in the city championing underground music, NoKal draws inspiration from the birthplace of disco, New York City and the sounds it helped cultivate. Its interior is reminiscent of Studio 54—glitter, glass, and neon lights—but the staff is as friendly as those in dive bars.

Beyond the music, NoKal also delivers on the culinary front, serving up crowd favorites like steak fried rice and chicken poppers—perfect fuel for a long night of dancing. Their d&b Audiotechnik system is wide yet deep, ideal for groovy dance tunes spanning minimal house, classic disco, and electro breaks, drawing in both new and old crowds while setting a high standard for sound in the city.

Nokal is home to some of the best club nights in the city, including Roll the Dice, a party that doesn’t take itself too seriously; Moving Parts; Nomoclassiq; Shrugs’ fun little thing that pushes deep house and its many forms; and Face 2 Face, which focuses on unconventional b2bs.

A staple of the Mixmag Asia audience, the club has hosted international guests such as Hidden Spheres, Jesse You, Kirollus, Demi Riquisimo, and DOTT, along with local favorites such as Badkiss, Junoy Manalo, Bins, and Tomas, plus hosted the first Circuits event with headliners Rafiki and Mengzy.

The Philippines is far from small—it's larger than both Koreas combined, bigger than Italy, and significantly larger than the UK. Traveling across its many regions is no easy feat, but if you ever find yourself in the southern city of Davao, Huckleberry is a must-visit.

A true institution in the local dance music scene, Huckleberry just celebrated its 10th anniversary, solidifying its status as Davao’s go-to spot for dance music. Beyond its Stateside Southern-style cuisine and strong yet refined cocktails, the bar is known for its thoughtful music programming. Over the years, it has welcomed renowned DJs from across the country, including Samantha Nicole, Badkiss, Free The Robots, and Jay Ru.

Barbosa is making waves in the global music scene while staying rooted in Siargao, the Philippine’s surfing capital, thanks to captains, Free the Robots and Jay Ru. Located in Mindanao, the archipelago’s third-largest island, Siargao is a cultural crossroads that attracts musicians and artists as much as tourists and surfers. Amidst the island’s ever-growing nightlife, where we pray it doesn’t become as hectic as Bali’s, Barbosa remains a sanctuary for music.

The intimate yet intentional record bar is a home for the island's DJ community, including Gutinbear, P. Pounder, and Dr. Carps, serving special local delicacies and delicious music while hosting international acts such as Aldonna, Baldo, FU, and the Yeti Crew. Barbosa also hosts a monthly show on Radio Alhara, underscoring its dedication to the craft.

Jacob Mendoza is a freelance writer for Mixmag Asia, follow him on Instagram.

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