Eat with your mouth and your ears.
Most restaurants that foodies have deemed their favorites are almost solely because of their food, but a lot more goes into it aside from its taste: its aroma, presentation, and the altogether ambience of the restaurant. Another factor comes into play, one that you hardly notice, but when you do, it’s gold: the restaurant’s playlist.
The music playing in any store says so much: the personality of the cafe of restaurant complements everything they put into the concept, and the music is the final touch.
UPDATE: Top 10 Most Loved Restaurants in Metro Manila for this month!
Hotel Bar – Shangri-la Hotel at the Fort
Behind the black curtains in Pink’s Hotdogs hides the Hotel Bar, their very own speakeasy. Reminiscent of the ’20s Chinese hotel bars decked out with framed photos of rock legends, patrons know them for their popular ’70s-’00s playlist.
Insider tip: Enjoy up to ₱250 off your total bill at Pink's Hotdogs! Read our full feature here.
No reservations accepted
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Shangri-la Hotel at the Fort, inside Pink’s Hotdog, 30th St corner 5th Ave, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 772-1147
Common Folk – Katipunan
Common Folk is a hip new coffee bar that serves coffee and light meals including open-faced toasts and hot off-the-press sandwiches. When they promise #NoBadDays, they mean it. Whether you’re there to eat, study, or work, their amazing playlist (that features Honne) won’t disappoint.
Also read: 22 New Cafes in Metro Manila for the Hipster in You
No reservations accepted
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79 Katipunan Ave, White Plains, Quezon City
(02) 277-6357
Yabu – multiple branches
Yabu is a proudly local Japanese restaurant specializing in all things katsu. It offers a small selection of premium katsu sets, including their bestselling Kurobuta. They serve all their dishes with unlimited sides and that includes rice refills. Your attention may be solely on the katsu (as it should), but if you spare a bit to their background music, you’ll occasionally hear Phoenix, Daft Punk, and Two Door Cinema if you’re lucky.
No reservations accepted
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Cibo – multiple branches
Cibo is a local restaurant chain by Margarita Flores serving authentic Italian dishes that are tweaked to suit the Filipino palate. Quite literally, Cibo means ‘food’ in Italian. Specifically for their branches with their own stores (that are not open-seating), they set the ambience with a lot of Bon Iver, Florence and the Machine, Local Natives, and more.
No reservations accepted
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Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – multiple branches
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf have been serving a wide variety of coffee and tea drinks. Operating since 1963, this coffee shop also offer savory and sweet treats like cakes, pastries and pasta. As many regulars can attest, CBTL is surprisingly known for their consistently awesome playlist. While it’s mostly Katipunan residents/students who agree on this, all branches stay current on what’s good: #nowplaying is a lot of Tom Misch, Boy Pablo, and sometimes Rex Orange County.
No reservations accepted
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Poison Coffee & Doughnuts – Chino Roces
Poison Coffee and Doughnuts offers uniquely-flavored doughnuts like garam masala, vanilla glaze, and egg custard brulee, as well as coffee. With their neon-noir atmosphere, their shop is a dispensary for caffeine and creativity – and best believe their taste in doughnuts is as good as their taste in music.
Reservations are not accepted
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Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Ave, Makati
(02) 752-0327
Jollibee – multiple branches
Jollibee is the country’s largest fast food chain and the birthplace of the iconic Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti. As far as we can tell, their branch in Santana Grove throws in a lot of Passion Pit (their Manners album, specifically) and CHVRCHES in the mix of their Jollibee jingles.
Calling all Jollibee regulars! Let us know if other branches have kickass playlists!
No reservations accepted
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