Featured image from The Spirits Library
Live sets, low lighting, and provisions and pours worth lingering over.
There’s a certain kind of night that doesn’t need a crowded dance floor or a hushed dining room. Somewhere between that, jazz bars in Manila have found their own rhythm, where drinks flow at a relaxed pace while soulful melodies drift through dimly lit, cozy spaces. If this is your kind of evening, here are six spots worth visiting.
Photo from 78-45-33
1. 78-45-33
Named after the three standard rotation speeds of vinyl records, 78-45-33 is an intimate speakeasy-style sanctuary designed for audiophiles. This jazz cocktail bar in Salcedo Village, Makati City, pairs raw, unamplified jazz performances with their specialty cocktails like zoe’s dirty chocolate cream soda and Nasty Julius, and more. It also features a massive collection of vinyl records played through vintage high-end speakers.
Open daily from 4:00 PM to midnight, the bar welcomes walk-ins and reservations via Viber until 5:00 PM daily. For exclusive gatherings, the entire venue can seat up to 26 guests comfortably with access to the front deck with fully consumable rates starting from ₱45,000.
Photo sourced from The Spirits Library
2. The Spirits Library
Housed in Poblacion, Makati City, The Spirits Library is a dramatic, vintage-inspired jazz bar for mixology and live music. Floor-to-ceiling shelves trade books for rare liquor bottles, antique glassware, and historical cocktail literature.
Operating daily from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM, this atmospheric lounge hosts weekly live jazz, blues sessions, and disco or low-techno DJ sets alongside signature creations like Saranggola and Avoid This. Its second-floor mezzanine lounge and exclusive cigar-and-spirits Detention Room additionally offer a refined escape for cocktail enthusiasts and music lovers alike.
Photo courtesy of Fat Cat PH
3. Fat Cat PH
Tucked inside Makati Cinema Square, Fat Cat PH is a stripped-back, living-room-style listening jazz bar where coffee, cocktails, and vinyl culture meet. Operating Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00 PM to 1:00 AM, this intimate haven operates as a vinyl-led jazz listening lounge with occasional acoustic or small jazz ensemble sessions.
It also offers an inventive cocktail menu inspired by the 22 Major Arcana tarot cards, where each card is playfully illustrated with the owners’ actual cats. Apart from the vinyl listening sessions, this jazz bar is also open for community gatherings, informal tarot readings, and intimate private table or lounge reservations for small groups.
Photo credits to Top of the Alpha
4. Top of the Alpha
Perched on the top floor of Alphaland Corporate Tower, Top of the Alpha is a luxurious bar and entertainment lounge for jazz aficionados. This high-altitude jazz bar includes an open-air wraparound terrace called The Bird’s Nest with panoramic skyline views. It also features two bars with a collection of top-shelf wines and liquors, three VIP rooms equipped with TVs, and a Tabacalera Cigar Divan.
Operating on select nights, the venue offers handcrafted cocktails, wines, spirits, and elevated pica-pica plates. Along with live bands, Top of the Alpha hosts sunset sessions with acoustic bands and themed-club nights with DJs to deliver a sophisticated nightlife experience above the city lights.
Photo from 78-53-86
5. 78-53-86
Sister venue to 78-45-33, 78-53-86 is an intimate audiophile haven with branches in White Plains, St. Ignatius Village, and Greenhills. The name comes from the old telephone number of the owner’s childhood home.
Operating daily from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM, this cozy speakeasy trades loud crowds for warm analog sound, playing classic jazz vinyl records through vintage tube amplifiers and high-end speakers. In a dimly lit space, guests can enjoy complimentary popcorn and expertly crafted drinks like In a Silent Way, a signature cocktail named after the owner’s favorite Miles Davis album.
Photo sourced from Tago Jazz Cafe
6. Tago Jazz Cafe
Hidden behind a signless facade in Cubao, Tago Jazz Cafe is a converted house jazz club, bar, and resto for a growing community of musicians, artists, and enthusiasts. The name is derived from the Tagalog word for “secret” but the monthly programme of jazz bands, singers, and open-mic nights shines out in the open.
It operates Wednesday through Sunday from 8:00 PM until 1:00 AM, offering cold local beers at cheap prices and Filipino pulutan. Free from cover charges and bottle-service pretension, Tago stands as an authentic, community-driven jazz bar where unfiltered experience of live music remains accessible to everyone.