Here are the 10 Best Restaurants/Cafes of One Bonifacio High Street!
1. Elephant Grounds
Elephant Grounds Manila is the Hongkong third-wave coffee franchise concept by The Standard Group (of Yabu and Ippudo fame) with the dynamic chef duo of Nicco Santos (executive chef) and Quenee Villar (formerly of Hey Handsome).
In Manila, it’s known more as an all-day brunch One Bonifacio restaurant, noted for its food more than its coffee. As the opening hype and queuing lines die down, here’s what we think of Elephant Grounds in Manila.
blog: Elephant Grounds Manila (A Review)
Verdict
Overall, you’ll love meeting up at Elephant Grounds because you can feel the creative energy from the people, the service and the food. Excellence attracts excellence; I do hope they maintain this culture and quality of the food and drinks.
It’s like a Chef Nicco restaurant with a third wave cafe hip vibe. Don’t miss the Duck & Waffle, Sourdough Toasts, Duck Krapow and Toasted Rice Ice Cream. Budget about ₱500/head.
Congratulations to Chef Nicco Santos and Quenee Villar for a job well done with the food and execution of the cafe concept at Elephant Grounds!
ELEPHANT GROUNDS MANILA
Independent micro-roaster and café concept from Hong Kong
Lower Ground Floor, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Operating Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday to Saturday 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Mobile: +63 999 887-1417
Facebook: Elephant Grounds Manila
Instagram: @elephantgroundsph
2. La Picara
First, La Pícara, pronounced as la pí-cara (with emphasis on the pi), means the mischievious or naughty.
It’s a Spanish restaurant with Tropical Cuban/Central American-inspired design that transports you from the city into an oasis in the center of the Philippine Stock Exchange.
The food was surprisingly very good, Spanish food with a naughty playful twist of Filipino ingredients or Asian interpretation but still classy elegant Spanish food.
We tried it three times in the last few weeks before their grand opening. Here’s what we loved that you should try:
blog: LA PICARA: This Awesome Spanish Restaurant at One Bonifacio High Street
Verdict
Honestly, we initially thought this was just-another-resto-riding-the-Spanish-wave in Manila, but it turned out to be one of the best restaurant concepts at One Bonifacio High Street Stock Exchange Mall.
We recommend starting with the Sangria Picara and tapas of Kimchi Croquettas plus Sisig Tacos and the Burrata Salad, ordering the Chili Crab Paella and Beef Cheeks for the main course and ending with Puto Flan de Queso for dessert. Budget about ₱1,000/head for a full meal + drinks.
Best to go with a group of 4-6 so that you can really enjoy the paella. Best to reserve the round or group tables inside because this area is where you get transported into a tropical oasis with a relaxing view after a hard day’s work.
Congratulations to Isabel and Felipe for the awesome Spanish restaurant concept. Welcome to the vibrant restaurant dining scene of Manila!
LA PICARA MANILA
High Street corner 5th Avenue, 2Floor, Exchange Stock Market Mall, BGC, Taguig
Mobile: +63 927 172 4480
Email: info@lapicara.ph
Facebook: La Picara Manila
Instagram: La Picara PH
Website: http://lapicara.ph
3. George Town Super Steak
George Town Super Steak is a steak house specializing in steaks and seafood cooked in the Spanish Mibrasa closed charcoal grill oven. The Mibrasa-cooked meats have a nice sear and are not dry because the oven keeps the juice sealed into the meat. Once you’ve tried it, it would be hard to appreciate other meats cooked on a normal grill.
La Cabrera, the Argentinian steak house, uses their own charcoal grill oven, and the steak houses in hotels often use a similar Josper grill to cook their steaks. George Town SS aims to make higher quality Mibrasa-cooked steak more accessible with better value for money in a mall setting.
We visited Super Steak with the family and here are some tips to make your visit memorable…
blog: George Town SUPER STEAK: How Mibrasa-Cooked Meats Ruined the Steak Experience Anywhere Else
Verdict
Overall, after enjoying the Mibrasa-cooked meats, it’s hard to enjoy other grilled meats in other places because you’ll look for that seared tight juiciness in your meat. I love that the ambiance is down-to-earth but with high quality of steaks you can only taste at steak houses in hotels.
Our favorites include Triple Cheese Potato Skins for the appetizer; Super Steak Signature Burger, Fire-Grill Baby Back Ribs, Dry-Aged Ribeye 700 grams, Norwegian Salmon Fillet Skin-On for the meats; and the Strawberry Pretzel Mousse for dessert. Budget about ₱1,500/head. Best to go with a group to share and try more dishes.
Congratulations to George Pua and the No Limits Food, Inc. team for an awesome home-grown steak house concept!
George Town Super Steak (Meat and Seafood)
3rd Level, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Operating Hours:
Sunday to Thursday (7.00 am – 10.00 pm)
Friday – Saturday (7.00 am – 11.00 pm)
Telephone: +632 8363-1447, 8361-3937, 8293-5562
Mobile: +63 917 532-0000
Email: georgetown.supersteak.1BHS@gmail.com
Facebook: George Town Super Steak
Instagram: @georgetownsupersteak
4. Food District Signatures
Food District Signatures, curated by the Foodee group, is your everyday BGC food hall located in the basement along the 5th. Instead of establishing a high-end food hall like The Grid or Hole-in-the-Wall, they created the cheapest yummy place to eat (under ₱300/meal) in BGC.
Here’s what to expect at the first official food hall in Bonifacio Global City…
blog: Food District Signatures: What to Expect @ BGC’s First Official Food Hall on the 5th
Verdict
Overall, it’s a great addition to the BGC culinary scene, especially for days when you are on a budget but still want to enjoy good food. I would go here for our Bakmi Nyonya and Hawker Chan cravings in BGC.
You’ll also notice that people are willing to spend more to indulge in a dessert that they can show off while saving on their main meal. Budget about ₱300/head.
Food District Signatures on 5th
L/G One Bonifacio High Street, 5th Ave, Taguig
Open Daily 11.00am–10.00pm
5. M Bakery Manila
The cupcake shop that sparked the worldwide cupcake craze with its appearance on ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’ is about to open its doors in BGC this August 22.
M Bakery (Magnolia Bakery) is most famous for their banana pudding and Instagram-worthy pastel cupcakes. But cupcakes only make up a portion of the desserts available; they have a full line of freshly baked products with rows and rows of cakes, cheesecakes, pies, cookies and puddings available on display.
What sets them apart from everyone else in the dessert field is that they bake everything on the premises. The desserts are made the old fashioned way—everything is made from scratch without the use of preservatives—just how desserts are meant to be!
Here’s a list of our top five favorite items on the menu…
blog: M Bakery Manila: Iconic ‘Sex and the City’ Cupcake Shop MAGNOLIA BAKERY Opens in Manila!
Verdict
The cupcakes and desserts are baked and made to taste exactly the same as those in their branch in New York.
Though the cupcake craze might be over, there’s more to look forward to than just cupcakes in this shop! Plus it’s perfect for pasalubong to take home!
Congratulations Phil Jacobe Ventures, Inc. for bringing M Bakery to Manila!
M Bakery (Magnolia Bakery)
One Bonifacio High Street Mall
5th Avenue corner 28th Street, BGC, Taguig
Landline: 028479829
Facebook: mbakeryph
6. Chino Manila
Chino Manila is a Modern Mexican Japanese restaurant by Filipino American Chef Erik Idos. It is the second branch of the Asian Mexican fusion restaurant originally from Hong Kong, popular among Filipinos traveling to the city. The name is Mexican slang for people of Asian descent.
The Manila menu is almost similar to that of Hong Kong but with unique specialties based on local produce. Most people agree that it is quite good, befitting its One Bonifacio High, BGC location. What’s more, you don’t have to travel to Hong Kong to enjoy it.
However, most people also say that it is a bit expensive given its portion sizes. We tried it for the first time, and here’s what we think…
blog: CHINO MANILA: Modern Mexican Japanese Fusion by Chef Erik Idos (Review)
Verdict
Congratulations to Chef Erik Idos and Manila partner Dom Hernandez for the successful opening of Chino in Manila!
Overall, we enjoyed our first Chino experience with Maong and Caryl. It was a perfect place to meet up with friends who appreciate good food and cocktails.
We would recommend you start with the market fish ceviche and blue corn chips with chorizo queso fundido to share. It would be nice to dine here with more friends so that you can order additional guacamole dip.
For tacos, we would recommend the white fish tostada, wagyu beef soft taco and whatever is their off-menu special taco for the day. Order the clams and chorizo for sharing. We regreted not ordering the chorizo fried rice to pair with this.
Budget about ₱1,500/head for the full experience—starters, cocktails and tacos (skip the desserts). It’s good value considering the quality of the ingredients, cocktails, attentive service and cozy ambiance for bonding. The tacos were a hit and miss, so make sure to order the good ones.
chino manila
ground floor one bonifacio high, bonifacio global city
operating hours:
mondays to saturdays: 11.00am – 3.00pm, 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
sundays: 11.00am – 8.00pm
mobile: +63 917 142 0588
email: info@chinomnl.com
website: http://www.chinorestaurant.com
7. Wolfgang BGC
During my recent #OneBHSEats food tour, most of the participants were raving about how good the steak was at Wolfgang’s. We recently visited the resto with the family for an awesome steak brunch experience in BGC.
Here are some tips on what to order from the menu, how much the items for consideration are and how best to enjoy the experience.
blog: Wolfgang Steakhouse BGC: Best Steak Brunch in Manila! #OneBHSEats
Verdict
Overall, this is the best steak brunch in Manila with the best One Bonifacio High Street vibe. Kudos to Chef Chris Oronce because this branch is tops in terms of steak flavor. This is the finest place to celebrate with a Wolfgang steak.
You have to decide whether to get the Filet Mignon & Eggs (250g – ₱2,388) set brunch specials or the Rib-Eye (600g – ₱4,488) a la carte. The set brunch is good value for money and the biggest of the big US-serving standard that’s good for two. For steak lovers, you’ll appreciate the Rib Eye more, so best to share this and go with your family and friends. Budget about ₱2,500/head for the Wolfgang set brunch.
Don’t forget to reserve the long wooden table or the tables near the window for the best brunch feels.
Congratulations to Wolfgang Steakhouse BGC for the steak brunch concept!
WOLFGANG STEAKHOUSE BGC
LG/F One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Contact Number: +632 586-4892, 618-3975
Mobile: +63 917 710 1682
Email: reservations@wolfgangssteakhouse.ph
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday 7.00am – 12.00mn
Friday to Sunday 11.00am – 12.00mn
Facebook: Wolfgang’s Steakhouse PH
Instagram: @wolfgangssteakhouseph
Website: http://www.wolfgangssteakhouse.ph/
8. Because Coffee
This is one of the landmark cafes at the center of BGC on 5th Avenue corner Bonifacio High Street.
Because Coffee by fashion brand Harlan + Holden is known to be a cashless coffee shop where you can order your coffee in advance. The branding is on point, and the place is the simple answer when you are stressed or pondering on your whys in life.
Apart from the intimidating sleek minimalist design, is the coffee any good?
blog: Because Coffee by Harlan + Holden (A Review)
Verdict
We love the concept—very efficient—and service is very helpful. I like my coffee or tea for dessert so the sea salt latte or loose leaf almond milk is our favorite.
Best to order from the Harlan + Holden Coffee’s app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
It’s a great place to have a quick meet up with friends on 5th ave or a quick catch up on work with inspiring interiors.
Congrats to Harlan + Holden BGC team for the awesome Because Coffee concept!
Harlan + Holden Coffee
G/F One Bonifacio, Philippine Stock Exchange, 5th Avenue, BGC, Taguig.
Email: coffee@harlanholden.com
Website: http://www.harlanholden.coffee
Facebook: harlan + holden coffee
Instagram: @harlanholden.coffee
9. Nikkei Nama
A big benefit of the Japanese diaspora is the merging of their culture, particularly their cuisine with the countries they emigrated too. Nikkei refers to the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. First popularized by Nobu Matsuhisa, the cuisine has since trickled down to smaller restaurants and found its way to Manila.
Nikkei has been in the Philippines for over 3 years now, and they recently opened their sister restaurant Nikkei Nama in One Bonifacio in BGC. Nama translates to “fresh” or “light” which reflects in the food served at Nikkei Nama by Head Chef Juan Barcos.
It caters to the younger, well-traveled appetite and value-conscious BGC dining crowd. It also exclusively features the Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) rice bowls.
blog: NIKKEI NAMA BAR BGC: Japanese-Peruvian with an Awesome View at One Bonifacio
Verdict
Overall, most of the food at Nikkei Nama is excellent with good value. It’s an ideal spot to have a quick lunch break or an intimate sunset dinner with friends.
We recommend the Chalaca Tiradito (Php 195), Causa (Php 180), Unagi Asparagus Roll (Php 450) to start. Order the Chifa Bao (Php 280), Iberico Pork Ribs (₱420) or Pollo Saltado Nama Bowl (Php 320) for your mains and end with the Mango Tres Leches (Php 295). Budget at 600/head for two.
Congrats to Nikkei for the Nama One Bonifacio expansion – great concept with an awesome view!
Nikkei Nama
2/F One Bonifacio High, 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Operating Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Monday to Thursday, Sunday) 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Friday to Saturday)
Mobile: +63 966 533 7573
Website: www.nikkei.com.ph
Facebook: Nikkei Nama Bar
10. Malongo Barista Atelier
Malongo Barista Atelier is a French specialty coffee studio featuring premium and organic coffees and teas plus a coffee roasting facility inside the workshop. The chain’s first branch outside of Paris, the BGC store also serves authentic French crepes with savory versions by Chef Alain Llorca and sweet versions by Chef Jean-Michel Llorca.
blog: Malongo Barista Atelier in Manila (Review)
Verdict
Malongo, with its coffee roastery and retail shop feature, is one of the cool European cafe places at One Bonifacio. It’s a bit on the premium side, but it’s a great place for a casual meeting or for a co-working space for the day with good coffee.
Malongo Barista Atelier Philippines
Ground Floor, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Operating Hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 7.00am to 10.00pm
Friday and Saturday: 7.00am to 11.00pm
Email: info.malongo@oneworldandsevenseas.ph
Instagram: @malongoph
Facebook: Malongo Atelier Barista Philippines
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
Pin It. If you have a Pinterest Account please share or pin it for later.
Thank you, this list is very helpful!
An excellent information to me and my friends from the USA and Europe.
Philippines has change a lot in Gastronomy .