Care for some brunch?
Related video: Wondering what to do in the Philippine capital aside from having delicious brunch? Here’s a short video to whet your appetite!
Nowadays, breakfast seems too early and lunch seems too late for young’ns and yuppies alike. Hence, brunch! This gastronomic culture occurs any time a little before noon and before 5 p.m. with conversations that run on some bubbly. Here’s where to go to find Manila’s famed brunch menus and more!
Early Bird Breakfast
For those looking for a local taste but not within the outskirts of the metro, there’s no better place than to start the day at Early Bird Breakfast at The Fort.
The quirky upholstered chairs and wooden tables, and the bright murals of swallows and florals give that Better Homes and Gardens feel. Although the place seems like it was made for early risers, it does not discriminate late comers. “[Breakfast] is the most important meal of the day so it shouldn’t just be a 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. thing,” says owner Ellen Evangelista. “People can enjoy our food no matter what time they want to start their day.”
What to order: You can go eggy anytime of the day with their bacon and pineapple scotch eggs or Eggs Benedict, but what we urge you to try is their concoction of the Filipino breakfast. The Adobo Sunrise, a plate of fried rice topped with crispy adobo (vinegar and soy-braised) flakes, should not be missed. Also try the Lemon Butter Bangus made with pan-seared bangus (milkfish) fillet drizzled with garlic lemon butter relish. It’s also served with rice and topped with poached egg.
For those who have the sweet tooth, a must-try is the Puto Bumbong Pancake (a twist on a local rice cake). It’s a unique and original creation (only found here at Early Bird) that is inspired from a local tradition for Christmas. This rice-cake-turned-pancake stays true to its original recipe: topped with muscovado (unrefined) sugar, coconut, and butter.
Address: Unit C, Ground Floor, Fort Pointe 2 Building, The Fort Complex, 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Maple
Comfort can be rewarded in this quiet breakfast place across Santuario de San Antonio Parish along McKinley Road in a posh neighbourhood in Makati. Decked with floor-to-ceiling windows on one side (in which customers can gaze at the lovely church across) and set with marbled table tops and wooden chairs, this breakfast nook gives a modern country feel. Aptly called Maple, much of the restaurant’s comfort food are doused with the distinct taste of the golden syrup—from buns served at the start of every meal right down to sweet endings.
What to order: Can you believe this restaurant serves 22 dishes with eggs? From their Truffle Omelette Soufflé to their Chocolate Skillet Cookie! But what we can’t get over is their mouth-watering remake of the traditional Filipino breakfast favourite: the tapa (cured beef). Their version is taken to new heights with a marinated prime rib served with garlic rice, two eggs prepared the way you like it, and with a side of tomato-onion salsa and atchara (pickled unripe papaya).
Address: 2/F San Antonio Plaza, Mckinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City
Refinery
Perched outside the Joya lofts and towers in Rockwell is Refinery. Its concept is simple and does not reinvent what a hang-out is but, instead, gives it resurgence. Wooden tables and mismatched seats abound, and a cozy corner with a couch is set up in a corner. The coffee bar is busy, most especially at brunch. But then again, there’s no time limit as to when brunch ends anyway.
What to order: They don’t have best-sellers but what they do have, which the partners of Refinery like to call it, are crowd favourites! The grilled cheese sandwiches never fail because it’s perfect any time of the day, and it comes with a bowl of slow-cooked tomato soup. Choose from four: tomato-pesto, bacon, smoked salmon, and honey-basil. The latter is often ordered most times for its delectable simplicity. The honey is what makes the sandwich special. It is harvested by the Tagbanua tribe in Palawan.
Address: G/F Joya Lofts and Towers, Joya Drive, Rockwell, Makati City
