Finding Poblacion's Best Curated Vibe at Electric Sala

One random Saturday evening, after catching a play at the Mirror Studio Theater along Kalayaan, we made the mistake of entering yet another Poblacion hangout. We were instantly met with the familiar disappointment: sticky floors, cocktails that were too sweet, and deafening EDM that forced conversations among 20-somethings into loud but empty small talk. Not exactly the scene for this 30-something who just wanted a post-show pagpag. After one quick meal, we were off, never to look back.

Where do you go when you crave quality, ambiance, and connection without the chaos?

The answer, as it turns out, is Electric Sala along Ebro Street, just above Lokal Hostel.

Electric Sala, which opened in April 2025, was founded to be the exact antithesis of the noisy bar scene, a place born from the love of music, culture, and connection. As co-founder Renato Robles explains to Esquire Philippines, "We wanted to create a place that feels alive, where people can walk in, hear something new, meet someone interesting, and feel like they belong."

It does take four flights of stairs (and some cardio exercise) to get to the space, but that only means you get some kind of transition from the chaos downstairs to the lounge vibe behind the curtains. And then, after the heavy drapes that separate the outside world, a massive shelf stands with a display of old movies in Betamax and VHS, vinyl records, and small toys similar to ones you may still have in your childhood bedroom. A box of the OG PlayStation rests on one side, behind portable but clunky televisions from the '90s.

The space is inspired by the golden age of live music and retro energy, but reimagined for today’s creative crowd. It was explicitly built as a "living room for the scene"—a sala where artists, musicians, and good-vibe people can gather, collaborate, and celebrate.

This intentionality is obvious. As Marketing Director and Partner, Samantha Nicole notes, "It's a very owner-led space. There's a level of personal hospitality when you think about it." She emphasized this hands-on approach, giving as example that you can see them moving around, wiping the tables, and so on. Sam mentioned this as she got me a drink from the bar: a glass of Stratocaster (bourbon, apple, lemon, pear, cinnamon, soda), a comforting mix to get me started for the rest of the conversation-heavy night, something we could actually do even while there's someone mixing music at the DJ booth.

This hospitality she mentioned also means that, unlike typical bars trying to rush turnover, the owners encourage guests to truly settle in. The interiors would want you to, anyway. A long sofa is pushed against the shelf, and extends from one side of the room to the other, its blue velvet upholstery inviting you to sit back, relax, and keep those drinks coming.

Electric Sala’s uncompromising approach to curation makes it a unique spot in Poblacion. "It’s not just another bar, it’s a full-blown creative space," Renato says. The philosophy here is simple: quality and identity always precede mass commercial appeal.

The music selection is deliberately eclectic. Sam describes their playlist as a "chop suey of music that we do want to listen to," covering everything from jazz and funk to Latin rhythms and conscious hip-hop. This commitment immediately establishes a boundary with the mainstream clubs. "We're not gonna be playing what The Palace Manila or Xylo is playing on a Saturday here. Definitely not because it's not us," she firmly asserts.

The goal is to build trust through consistency. Renato stresses, "The idea would be that people know this place, that it doesn't matter which day you go here, there's gonna be quality music. Quality ambience that is curated." This curation acts as a crucial filter, ensuring every experience has what he concisely calls a "sense of soul."

This commitment often runs against the grain of easy profit. "If we wanted to sell out, we could do EDM here; we'll be so much richer, right? But it's not the point," Sam says. For the business to be sustainable, however, there must be a balance. "We still need to be smart," she admits. "There needs to be a sweet spot without killing our identity, essentially. It's possible." They are dedicated to finding that equilibrium where passion and profitability coexist.

"The vibe is always evolving, part lounge, part studio, part dance floor, but always with that sense of authenticity that Poblacion is known for," Renato adds.

Renato is a veteran of the Makati nightlife scene, having been part of the "first boom of Poblacion" as one of the founders of Pura Vida, a Costa Rican restaurant and reggae lounge, and one of the neighborhood's original pioneers.

That first generation of bars, starting in the mid- to late-2010s, shared a powerful, almost familial communal spirit. "Before, all the owners would go to the bar of the other all the time. It was so cool to be connected," recalls Renato. Sam adds, "We would buy stocks from each other," referring to, of course, a time before her team (along with Leah Castañeda and Sharon Atillo) closed down Futur:st (2019-2024) along Guerrero Street, also in Poblacion.

Today, that spirit has tragically waned, accelerated by the pandemic: "That really fucked us up." The communal bonds frayed, replaced by aggressive competition. "Now, there's a sense of every man for himself. It lost its soul," Renato laments.

"Cause everyone is just like, 'Oh, come in, out.' You know, that's it. There's no soul, there's no spirit to it," Sam adds.

This cultural loss forms the driving force behind the bar's mission: to bring that soul back. "Maybe that's also what we're trying to do here at Electric Sala, to bring back that soul of the community," says Sam. Renato's immediate, concise response sums up the difficulty perfectly: "That's why it's harder."

To directly address this gap in connectivity, Renato is thinking of starting a magazine project. "I want to try to revive it, to try to connect the people," he shares, intending to create a physical platform that forces networking and collaboration among the neighborhood’s creatives.

The physical space is highly versatile and fully equipped, designed to host a dynamic range of events beyond standard DJ sets. "We essentially have everything that the sound needs," says Sam, enabling them to expand into different mediums. One night it might host a live soul or jazz session; another, a vinyl listening night, a Latin dance party, or an underground DJ set.

Future plans are highly ambitious, signaling a shift to being a full cultural hub. This includes the vision for a recorded, intimate "tiny desk style" performance series, according to Renato, designed to capture the raw energy of the artists. They have a fully operational recording studio behind the bar (with Electric Sala likely the only one that has such a facility). A small glass window peeks from the studio and into the rest of the space, making possibilities endless.

They are also hoping to expand their event slate, especially with the demand for comedy nights, quiz nights, and maybe even musical raves. For high-profile, traveling acts, Renato envisions: "When big artists come here, kind of like a private place for these artists, a super intimate club night." Beyond structured programming, the venue can also be rented out for external projects. "We do private parties, shoots, everything, we are open to it, kasi it is a sexy space," Sam confirms, highlighting the venue's strong aesthetic appeal.

Electric Sala’s menu is guided by the same principle as its music: "Our bestsellers are all about comfort with a twist, elevated but approachable," Renato says.

For bar bites, the Smash Potato Crisps fried in wagyu fat are a crowd favorite, a perfect example of the simple-but-luxe approach. For larger meals, the Chorizo Chimichurri Pizza, the Wagyu Burger, and the Argentinian Ribeye Steak stand out, making sure that the food is also a highlight, not just an afterthought. These dishes are cooked on the rooftop, with a sturdy brick oven that's still from Renato's Pura Vida days.

"On the drinks side, guests love our signature cocktails, especially the Escape – Rupert Holmes, Black Magic Woman, Live Aid, and Stratocaster. Each one is crafted with personality, playful, balanced, and music-inspired, just like the bar itself," says Renato.

When asked if the Gen Z market's low alcohol consumption was hurting the business, the Electric Sala co-founder said that he sees it as an opportunity. "The younger crowd today values experience, authenticity, and wellness more than just 'drinking to drink.' [...] Electric Sala isn’t about excess; it’s about taste, vibe, and connection. We offer low-ABV cocktails, quality craft alternatives, and even non-alcoholic mixes that still feel elevated. At the same time, we focus on community and creative culture, our audience comes not just to drink, but to discover new music, express themselves, and be part of something real. That’s what keeps it fresh, and that’s what the new generation resonates with most," he explains.

As I was served my nth drink for the night, aptly called "Escape -Rupert Holmes," Renato candidly sang the verses to the Rupert Holmes hit. And maybe that's the real magic of Electric Sala: it's not a club you shout over, but a living room where the owners know your order, and the soundtrack is a candid, shared memory.

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