10 Certified Tito Bars in Poblacion

One step into Poblacion, the inuman capital of Metro Manila, and you’ll find yourself amid a crowd of young energetic yuppies looking to get wasted at the next hottest bar on the block—and there are many. Poblacion is chock full of dive bars, concept bars, fantastic restaurants, and speakeasies each created to cater to specific crowds. And nestled in the heart of Poblacion are dens designed to act as a refuge for the ones who are just too damn tired to party like it’s 1999—the titos of Manila. All they want is good food, good drinks, and for the love of God, good air-conditioning, not to mention a crowd that doesn’t look like their parents are picking them up later.

So without further ado, here are 10 certified bars in Poblacion for the tired tito.

1| Buccaneers

The pirate ship concept mixed with a brilliant selection of rum makes Buccaneers a fun experience for titos looking to relive their childhood dreams—only with alcohol. Jack Sparrow approves.

5668 Don Pedro Street

2| Pedro Tap House

This bar’s idea of fun is right up our alley. Aside from good beer and music that’s not blaring from the speakers, Pedro Tap House has a set of events throughout the week like open mic Sala Sessions, '90s hits played at Kick It, and GeekFight trivia night.

5910 Matilde Street

3| YOI

The sophisticated interiors of YOI Sake Bar are enough to make anyone stay. But it’s their carefully curated selection of Japanese alcohol, from light beer to hardcore drinks, that’ll make you want to bring your friends and drink the night away together.

5579 Alfonso St. Corner Fermina Street

4| Agimat

The eclectic, mysterious vibes of Agimat are a magnetic force for the curious drinker. The bar’s wild concoctions are perfect for the adventurous tito, but the bar itself is a refuge from the streets of Poblacion.

2F, 5972 Alfonso co. Fermina Street

5| The Workshop

Part retail store and design studio, The Workshop moonlights as a bar and music venue on Friday nights when its doors open to some of the coolest underground bands in the city. A must-try drink: gin buko.

5856 Alfonso Street

6| LOBO Filipino Tavern

LOBO’s ambiance will remind you of your typical neighborhood drinking hole, but in the best way possible. It’s a comfortable spot for those looking for a down-to-earth experience, partnered with some pretty damn good Filipino cuisine.

4898 Durban Street

7| Kermit Manila

Kermit’s stunning interiors have a way of making everything taste and feel better. It’s a cozy den that serves some of the best pizza in the city to accompany your beer.

4636 Molina Street

8| Joe’s Brew

Joe’s Brew is the definition of a man cave. Its intimate quarters are intentional and makes every inuman session all the more memorable, especially when partnered with some smooth locally brewed Filipino beer.

5834 Matilde Street

9| Run Rabbit Run

This is on everyone’s Poblacion bucket list, and with good reason. Behind its bright red door are one of the best bars and some of the best mixologists in the city.  

4991 P. Guanzon Street

10| Handlebar Bar and Grill

We’ve reached the end of our list, and it wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the bar that should get the tito bar award of the year: Handlebar Bar and Grill. The bar hosts screenings of some of the biggest sports events when it’s not blaring tunes from the early 2000s from its speakers. It’s the peak tito bar of Poblacion, and proud.

31 Polaris Street