Makati Street Food Experience end with a Rooftop Bar

Come hungry, and leave with Manila stories. This three-hour Makati evening combines Filipino street food with a local beer, retro diner desserts, and a rooftop finish at Antidote bar. I like the generous range of dishes, from sisig and kwek-kwek to balut and grilled intestines, and I like the way the guide teaches you how to order without an English menu.

The main consideration is that some dishes are adventurous, and drinks at the later stops cost extra. The tour also depends on good weather, so the rooftop ending can change if rain gets in the way.

Key things to know before you book

• A real Filipino food introduction: You can try sisig, chicken blood, intestines, heart, liver, balut, kwek-kwek, dynamite, and more in one evening.
• A small group of up to 10: The group size gives the guide room to explain unfamiliar food and help with ordering.
• Three very different stops: The route moves from an open-air street food setting to a 1950s-style diner, then up to a rooftop bar.
• Dinner is included: Sisig fried rice, street food, and vegetarian choices are part of the price, while later drinks are not.
• A photo-friendly finish: Photography is included, and Antidote bar at I’M Hotel offers 360-degree views over Makati.
• Good for first-time Manila visitors: The evening gives you a quick introduction to Filipino food, drinks, nightlife, and local dining customs.

What the $65 price really covers

The tour costs $65 per person, which is not the cheapest way to eat in Makati. Filipino street food by itself can cost far less if you order independently. The value here comes from the structure, guidance, and variety rather than from the raw cost of the food.

In three hours, you receive dinner, a local beer during the street food stop, dessert at a retro diner, a visit to a rooftop bar, and photography. You also get help with food that may be hard to identify or order on your own. That matters most if you are new to Manila and want to try local dishes without guessing at every counter.

Drinks at the diner and rooftop bar are not included. Keep that in mind when setting your budget. The tour price is easier to justify if you plan to try several unfamiliar foods and want a guide to explain them. It is less appealing if your main goal is a low-cost meal.

The small group limit of 10 helps. You are not being moved through the evening in a large crowd, and there should be more room to ask questions about ingredients and preparation. The tour is recommended by 100 percent of the 33 ratings shown, with a 5 out of 5 score. That is a strong sign that the format works well for people seeking an easy first taste of Manila food culture.

Starting at City Garden GRAND Hotel Makati

The meeting point is City Garden GRAND Hotel Makati, at 8008 Makati Avenue near Kalayaan Avenue. This gives you a clear starting point in Makati, a practical area for an evening food outing. The tour ends at I’M Hotel, so you finish at a different location rather than returning to the starting point.

The experience lasts about three hours, with roughly one hour at each stop. The schedule is simple enough to follow, and the stops are near public transportation. Since the tour uses several locations, arrive ready to move between them rather than treating the evening as a single seated meal.

Your guide introduces the basic approach before the food begins. A key part of the experience is learning how Filipinos order from a place without an English menu. That small lesson can be more useful than a list of dish names because it gives you a way to approach similar food stalls during the rest of your trip.

The group size can make a difference here. With no more than 10 people, the guide can explain the more unusual dishes without turning the meal into a lecture. You can also decide how adventurous you want to be while still having someone nearby to answer questions.

Hott Asia Bazaar: the boldest hour

The first stop is Hott Asia Bazaar, where the evening begins with the most distinctly street-based food. The menu includes sisig, balut, chicken intestine, pig intestine, chicken blood, kwek-kwek, dynamite, and other local choices.

Sisig is one of the easier starting points for many first-time visitors. It is a well-known Filipino dish often served hot and seasoned, with the tour pairing it with sisig fried rice as part of dinner. The included meal also allows a beef or chicken option, giving you some control over what you eat.

Other dishes ask more of you. Balut, a developing duck egg, is famous far beyond the Philippines and can be a memorable food challenge. Chicken blood, heart, liver, and intestines give you a clearer picture of how Filipino street food makes use of the whole animal. You can approach these foods with curiosity, caution, or a polite pass. The point is to see what local eating looks like, not to prove anything.

Kwek-kwek adds a more approachable choice. These are quail eggs coated in orange batter, a familiar street snack in the Philippines. Dynamite, a stuffed green chili preparation, brings heat and a different texture to the table.

Vegetarians are not left without options. The included choices list eggs, green chili, mussels, prawns, and sisig tofu. The menu information also mentions vegetarian choices, but some listed items, such as mussels and prawns, are seafood rather than vegetarian in the strict sense. If you avoid meat or seafood, clarify your needs with the guide before ordering.

A local beer is included during this stop. That pairing fits the setting and gives you a chance to try a Filipino drink with the food. Drinks at the other bars and restaurants are extra, so this is the main alcoholic beverage included in the tour price.

Hott Asia Bazaar also includes a live band and comedy stunts. That adds entertainment to the meal and makes the first hour feel like an evening out rather than a formal tasting. The tradeoff is that this may not be a quiet place for detailed conversation. If you want a calm culinary lesson, the noise and performances could distract. If you enjoy food with a bit of energy around it, the setting should suit you.

Filling Station Bar And Cafe: a retro dessert break

The second stop changes the mood completely. Filling Station Bar And Cafe is designed as a 1950s-style diner, with a look that invites photographs before dessert arrives.

This stop is useful because it breaks up the more daring street food. After chicken blood, intestines, or balut, a dessert course gives you a familiar pause. The food focus here is the best desserts available at the diner, though the exact dessert choices are not specified.

Photography is included throughout the experience, and this diner is especially suited to photos. The retro setting gives you something visually different from the market and rooftop. If you enjoy recording your evening, this is one of the stops where the camera can become part of the fun without taking over the meal.

The one-hour stop may feel long or short depending on the group and the dessert service. Since the tour is built around three one-hour visits, you get time for photos and conversation, but this is not a quick grab-and-go route. The evening is designed to move at a relaxed pace.

Filling Station is also a useful reminder that Filipino dining in Manila is not limited to one style. The tour puts street food, a themed diner, and hotel nightlife together in one compact route. That range is one reason the experience works well as an introduction. You get a taste of different ways to spend an evening in Makati.

Antidote at I’M Hotel: finish above Makati

The final stop is Antidote bar at I’M Hotel, located at 7862 Makati Avenue. The bar sits on the hotel rooftop and covers the rooftop level, with 360-degree views over Makati.

This is the polished finish after the rougher edges of the street food market. You can settle into a rooftop setting, look over the city, and decide what you would like to drink next. Your drink here is not included, so budget for it separately.

The rooftop is the strongest visual ending of the evening. You have already eaten, tried local beer, and sampled desserts. Now you can slow down and take in the city from above. Photography is included, which makes this stop especially useful if you want a record of the night beyond food snapshots.

The weather rule matters most here. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund. That is reasonable for a rooftop-based ending, but it means you should not treat the bar view as guaranteed in every forecast.

The tour ends at I’M Hotel rather than at City Garden GRAND Hotel. That is convenient if you want to continue your evening in the Makati area, but you should plan your return from the final stop. The ending is clear and practical, with no expectation that you will be taken back to the starting point.

The food is adventurous, but you set the pace

The food selection is the heart of this experience. You can try dishes that are common in the Philippines but unfamiliar to many international visitors. That creates a stronger connection to local eating than a standard restaurant meal built around familiar versions of Filipino food.

Still, the menu is not designed for everyone. Balut, blood, organ meats, and intestines can be difficult if you have strong food preferences. You should book this with an open mind, but you do not need to force yourself to eat every item. The presence of several choices means you can sample carefully.

The guide’s help with ordering is important. There is no English menu, so you are not simply choosing from a translated list. You learn how to approach the food in the way locals do, with someone explaining what is available and helping you make sensible choices.

A guest named Alyzza praised the mix of street food, the retro diner, and the guide’s communication before the tour. A practical tip from that experience is simple: leave plenty of room. The evening includes more food than the three stops may suggest, and the variety can add up quickly.

Who will enjoy this Makati evening most

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want a fast introduction to Manila’s food and nightlife. It is also a good fit if you prefer a guide to handle the ordering and route rather than working out every stop yourself.

Food-curious couples, small groups of friends, and solo visitors who like meeting people should find the maximum group size appealing. The live band, comedy performances, dessert stop, and rooftop bar give the night a social feel.

This is less suitable if you want a quiet tasting menu, a private tour, or a tightly controlled meal. It may also be a poor match if you avoid meat, seafood, eggs, or spicy food, although vegetarian choices are available. Ask about your dietary needs before you commit, especially because the street food menu includes many animal products.

The tour also suits people who want photographs. The retro diner and Antidote rooftop provide two very different backdrops, and photography is included. You still need to pay for drinks beyond the included local beer.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

The experience is often booked about 36 days ahead, so planning early is sensible if your dates are fixed. Confirmation is sent at booking, and the activity is near public transportation.

Most people can participate, and the group is capped at 10. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Within 24 hours, cancellations and changes are not accepted for a refund.

If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the operator can offer another date or experience, or provide a full refund. Poor weather can also lead to a different date or full refund. These rules are worth noting because the rooftop bar is an important part of the plan.

Should you book the Makati Street Food Experience?

Book it if you want more than a meal. For $65, you receive a guided introduction to Filipino street food, an included dinner, a local beer, dessert, photography, and a rooftop ending. The best value comes from the range and the guidance, especially if you are new to Manila.

Skip it if you only want the cheapest possible food, dislike organ meats and unusual textures, or prefer to choose every dish at your own pace. For everyone else, this is a well-shaped evening that gives you a taste of how Makati eats, relaxes, and looks after dark.

FAQ

How long does the Makati Street Food Experience last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours, with about one hour at each of the three stops.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at City Garden GRAND Hotel Makati, at 8008 Makati Avenue near Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Antidote rooftop bar at I’M Hotel, at 7862 Makati Avenue in Makati City.

What food is included?

Dinner includes sisig fried rice with a beef or chicken option, along with Filipino street food such as chicken blood, intestine, heart, liver, balut, and other listed dishes.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes. Listed options include eggs, green chili, mussels, prawns, and sisig tofu. If you have strict dietary requirements, confirm the suitable choices with the guide before ordering.

Are drinks included?

A local beer is included with the street food stop. Drinks ordered at the other bar or restaurant stops are not included.

How many people can join the tour?

The experience has a maximum of 10 participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient number of participants cancels the tour, you can receive a full refund or choose another option offered by the operator.