Makati Street Food Experience end with a Rooftop Bar

Come hungry, leave with a city view. This three-hour Makati evening pairs adventurous Filipino street food with a retro diner stop and a rooftop bar above I’M Hotel. I like the small group of up to 10 people, which should make ordering unfamiliar food less awkward, and I like the unusual mix of sisig, balut, intestines, desserts, and skyline views in one night.

The main consideration is the food itself. Chicken blood, chicken intestine, pig intestine, heart, liver, and balut are offered, so this is not the best pick if you want a cautious introduction to Filipino cooking. Drinks at the later bar and restaurant stops are not included, and the experience depends on good weather.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different stops: A street-food market, a 1950s-style diner, and a rooftop bar give the evening a clear sense of progress.
• A real ordering lesson: There is no English menu at the street-food stop, but your guide teaches you how locals order the food and drinks.
• Adventurous Filipino dishes: You can try sisig, balut, kwek-kwek, dynamite, chicken blood, and chicken or pig intestine.
• Vegetarian choices are available: Options include eggs, green chili, mussels, prawns, and sisig tofu, though the selection is not strictly vegetarian.
• Dessert adds a change of pace: Filling Station Bar and Cafe brings a playful 1950s diner setting and local desserts after the market food.
• The finale is visual: Antidote bar covers the rooftop of I’M Hotel and offers 360-degree views over Makati.

What this Makati evening is really about

This is not a polished restaurant crawl. It is a guided introduction to the way many Filipinos enjoy casual food, with dishes cooked and served in a market setting rather than explained on a formal tasting menu.

That difference matters. You are not simply handed small portions with a printed description. At Hott Asia Bazaar, you get help choosing food from a menu that is not in English, then eat it with a local beer as live music and comedy performances add to the setting.

I like that the experience does not stop after the first plate. The second hour shifts to dessert and photography at Filling Station, then the final hour moves upward to Antidote bar. The changes of setting keep the evening from feeling like one long meal.

The tour starts at City Garden GRAND Hotel Makati on Makati Avenue and ends at I’M Hotel, also on Makati Avenue. That makes the route fairly easy to follow, and both points are in Makati, near public transportation.

Starting with Filipino street food at Hott Asia Bazaar

The first stop lasts about an hour and is the most important part of the experience. Hott Asia Bazaar is where you get the food that many first-time visitors may not order on their own.

The choices listed include sisig, balut, chicken intestine, pig intestine, chicken blood, kwek-kwek, and dynamite. Sisig is generally the most approachable starting point, especially when served with fried rice. The tour includes sisig fried rice with beef or chicken, along with a selection of Filipino street food.

Balut is the famous challenge for many visitors. It is a fertilized duck egg, and its texture and appearance can surprise you. You do not need to treat it as a dare, but if you are curious about Filipino food culture, this is the sort of dish that makes the evening memorable.

Kwek-kwek consists of quail eggs covered in orange batter. Dynamite is a stuffed green chili preparation, so the heat level can vary. Chicken blood, intestines, heart, and liver bring stronger flavors and firmer textures. You can ask your guide for help before choosing, which is especially useful when there is no English menu.

The guide also teaches you how to order food and drinks in the local style. That may be the most useful part of the stop. Instead of simply pointing at a dish, you get a small lesson in how the market works and how to make choices when the signs are unfamiliar.

A local beer is part of the street-food setting described for the evening. Other drinks at the bars or restaurants are not included, so bring money for anything beyond what is provided with the food stop.

Hott Asia Bazaar also has a live band and comedy stunts. That gives the first hour a social, noisy feel. It may suit you if you like food with entertainment around you, but it may not appeal if you prefer a quiet meal where every dish receives careful explanation.

Why the food can feel challenging

The strength of this experience is also its main limitation. It offers food that you may not find on a standard sightseeing tour, but some choices are aimed at adventurous eaters.

You can take a gradual approach. Start with sisig fried rice, then try kwek-kwek or dynamite before moving to balut or the organ meats. Your guide can help you choose, and you do not need to force yourself to eat every item listed.

Vegetarian options are available, including eggs, green chili, mussels, prawns, and sisig tofu. That list needs a little care: mussels and prawns are seafood, and eggs are not vegan. The information provided does not promise a fully vegetarian kitchen, so you should explain your dietary needs clearly before ordering.

The food is dinner, not just a few samples. One useful tip is to leave room before the tour begins. The evening includes the street-food meal and desserts later, so eating a large dinner beforehand would work against the experience.

A retro dessert stop at Filling Station Bar and Cafe

After the market, the group spends about an hour at Filling Station Bar and Cafe. The name suggests a gas station, but the setting is a 1950s-style diner in Makati.

This stop changes the mood. After the intense flavors and unusual textures at Hott Asia Bazaar, a retro diner gives you a more familiar pause. You can take photos and eat desserts, making it a good place to slow down before the rooftop finale.

The photography is included in the experience, and the diner provides a clear setting for pictures. The information does not specify which desserts are served, so you should think of this as a dessert stop rather than booking it for one particular sweet.

I like this middle stop because it prevents the evening from becoming a test of food bravery. You get a visual setting, a change of pace, and time to talk with the guide and other members of the group.

Still, anyone expecting a second major savory meal may find this hour less substantial. Its purpose is dessert, photos, and atmosphere. The strongest food experience remains the opening market stop.

Finishing above Makati at Antidote bar

The final hour takes place at Antidote bar, on top of I’M Hotel. The bar covers the hotel rooftop and offers 360-degree views across Makati.

This is a smart way to finish the evening. You begin at street level with food and entertainment, move to a themed diner, and end above the city. The rooftop gives you time to relax after dinner and look back over the area you have just explored.

The end point is I’M Hotel at 7862 Makati Avenue. The tour ends there, rather than returning you to City Garden GRAND Hotel. That is useful if you are staying nearby or want to continue your own evening in Makati. If you need to return to your hotel, plan that separately.

Drinks at the bar are not included. You should budget for your own order if you want to sit with a cocktail, beer, or another drink. The rooftop view is part of the experience, but the cost of additional beverages is not covered in the listed price.

The rooftop is also weather-dependent. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy makes sense for an open-air rooftop stop, but it means you should avoid building an important onward plan too tightly around this evening.

Is $65 a fair price?

The price is $65 per person. That is more than you would spend by visiting a single street-food market on your own, but the value comes from the combination of food, guidance, dessert, photography, and the rooftop stop.

You are paying for a host who helps you order food without an English menu. That can remove much of the guesswork, especially if this is your first evening in Manila and you are not familiar with dishes such as balut, kwek-kwek, or sisig.

The group size also matters. With a maximum of 10 people, the guide has a better chance of explaining dishes and helping with choices than on a large bus tour. The experience has received a five-star rating from 33 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. One especially useful detail is the praise for guide V, who handled communication before the evening and showed the group places they might not have found alone.

The price is less attractive if you do not want to try unfamiliar food, do not drink, or have already visited Makati’s rooftop bars. In that case, you may be paying for several elements you will not use fully.

For someone new to Manila, though, the price is reasonable for a compact evening with three distinct settings. You get more than dinner, but less than a full-day cultural tour. The experience works best when you value help with ordering and prefer a planned night rather than assembling the same stops yourself.

Timing, group size, and practical planning

The advertised duration is about three hours, with roughly one hour at each stop. That is long enough for a full evening without taking over your entire night.

The meeting point is City Garden GRAND Hotel Makati, at 8008 Makati Avenue and Kalayaan Avenue. The ending point is I’M Hotel at 7862 Makati Avenue. Since both locations are in Makati, the route is more practical for people staying in or near the district.

Mobile tickets are accepted, and confirmation is sent at booking. The tour is near public transportation, and most people can take part. The maximum group size is 10, a useful limit for a food experience where people need individual help with ordering.

You should wear something comfortable for eating and moving between stops. Specific walking distances are not provided, so you should not assume every transfer is by vehicle or that the route is suitable for anyone who cannot move easily between nearby venues.

Book at least a few weeks ahead if your dates are fixed. This experience averages bookings about 36 days in advance, which suggests that popular evening slots may not remain open close to your trip.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted. The operator can also cancel if the minimum number of people is not reached, in which case you receive a different option or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this food tour most

I would recommend this experience to you if you are visiting Manila for the first time and want a guided introduction to Filipino food without spending an entire day on a formal tour.

It is especially suitable for:

• Curious eaters who want to try balut, sisig, kwek-kwek, and organ meats
• People who like live music, comedy, and busy food settings
• Couples and small groups who want photos and a rooftop ending
• Visitors staying near Makati who want a planned evening
• Anyone who feels uncertain about ordering from a menu that is not in English

You may want another type of tour if you need a quiet meal, strict dietary control, or a detailed culinary lecture. This is also not the best choice if you dislike changing venues or prefer to choose every drink and dish yourself.

Families and mixed groups can make it work, since not everyone has to choose the most daring food. Still, the food list includes strong flavors and unusual ingredients, so make sure everyone in your group understands the style of the evening before booking.

Should you book the Makati Street Food Experience?

Book it if you want a lively, compact introduction to Filipino street food and like the idea of ending with city views. The combination of a helpful guide, a small group, dessert at a 1950s-style diner, and Antidote bar gives the evening more range than a simple market visit.

The best reason to choose it is the ordering help. You can try local dishes without pretending you already know what everything is. Guide V has also been praised for clear communication and for showing people places they might not have found alone.

Skip it if you want a quiet fine-dining evening, a fully planned drinks package, or a menu built around familiar food. For curious eaters who leave room for dinner and dessert, this is a good-value way to spend three hours in Makati.

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 experience begin?

It begins at City Garden GRAND Hotel Makati, located at 8008 Makati Avenue and Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City.

Where does the experience end?

It ends at Antidote bar at I’M Hotel, located at 7862 Makati Avenue in Makati City.

What food is included?

Dinner includes sisig fried rice with beef or chicken and Filipino street food such as chicken blood, intestine, heart, liver, balut, and related dishes.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes. Listed options include eggs, green chili, mussels, prawns, and sisig tofu. Mussels and prawns are seafood, so you should explain your exact dietary needs before ordering.

Are drinks included?

A local beer is described as part of 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 travelers.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Weather or minimum-group cancellations may result in another date or a full refund.