17 Restaurants for Power Brunches, Lunches, and Other Very Important Meetings
Sound decisions are made often when your body is full and your mind is lucid, which is probably why many life choices happen over a well-timed, well-placed meal. Where you make those life choices are consequently important. While a corner cafe would probably suffice for a standard confab, it's hardly proper for a major takeover. The venue, the ambiance, the acoustics are key and here are a few suggestions well-suited for brokering a deal.
Breakfast
Single Origin
A library-esque cafe with a well-curated, easy-to-navigate menu that will make it easy to get straight to the point. Single Origin is also equipped with a proper selection of caffeine and booze, perfect for dealing with the pressure of early-morning power deals.
Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; Edades Garden, Amorsolo Drive corner Rockwell Drive, Makati City
Wildflour
No conversation starter is more effective than food. At Wildflour, you're assured that every dish is a two thumbs-up. They also serve meals from breakfast to dinner (and maybe a little bit past that), so it can extend to a daylong affair for agreements that can't be reached.
125 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City; 111 Rada Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City; 4th Avenue corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; The Podium, Mandaluyong City
Locavore
Locavore's more secluded setup in BGC is a better setting for negotiations. Their power-packed iterations of classic Filipino breakfast dishes will energize your dealing skills.
Forbestown Road, Burgos Circle, Taguig City
Lunch
Grind Bistro
For deals that don't require you in a suit, the Grind Bistro finds the perfect balance between easy and elegant. The casual venue boasts seriously premium offerings, from owner-chef Stephen Carl's made-from-scratch philosophy to sommelier Cristina Carl's wine choices. Try the burger, a brawny but fuss-free meal for any power player.
Netpark Building, Fifth Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Cowrie Grill
Privacy and steak—requirement for any hardball bargaining. Cowrie Grill offers you both, featuring curtained booths along the farther end of the restaurant and a stunning prime rib.
Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan City
Salvatore Cuomo
Though unusually rackety in the evenings, Salvatore Cuomo is peaceful during the day, perfectly conducive to some hush-hush mediation. The high ceilings and leather couches go beyond trend so don't be surprised if you find yourself getting too comfortable.
Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Afternoons
Caffeinated by Mozaic Living
This exquisite coffee shop is a tiny nook in an unassuming Pasig location. With the natural light shining through the glass windows casting a nice glow on the cozy furniture (this is a showroom so you can purchase what you like), it's perfect for a friendly meet-up that can run up to hours.
7 Sheridan Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
Eight Coffee Bar
The tito to UCC's tita, Eight Coffee Bar is housed in the same swanky office building as Laduree, Balenciaga, and Lanvin. You'll spot UCC staples on the menu, but jazzed up with nitro techniques, Bailey's, or Kahlua.
2/F 8 Rockwell, Rockwell Drive, Makati City
Caravan Black
This coffee shop's two selling points are caffeine and booze, but the well-executed menu makes it the attractive for families during the weekends. On weekdays, however, it's a haven for weary cubicle dwellers upstairs who need a change of scenery. Just because the warm lights, leather seats, and high ceiling relax the senses, doesn't mean you can't hold a brief consultation here.
Netpark Building, Fifth Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Dinner
M Dining
The old restaurant on Valero played host to many negotiations, but the demolition of the SB Cards building paved way for a premature closure in February 2016. After a 10-month hiatus, Chef Tippi Tambunting is back, with Chef Tony Bascon leading the kitchen. Most of the favorites are back, and you can complement your meal based on the tempo of your conversation. Is it pizza light or beef cheeks earnest? Success? Toast with some whiskey at Bar M.
2294 Chino Roces Ave, Makati City
Grace Park
Start off with cream-stuffed chicharon and prosciutto-wrapped tempura squash flowers? Good mood ready? Proceed to the "tunnel" on the second floor; it's peaceful enough to get into the details of a contract.
One Rockwell, Rockwell Drive, Makati City
Myron's
Another restaurant making a comeback is Myron's, which has witnessed more than its fair share of handshakes and signatures. Its bigger space at Ascott allows a more widely spaced layout, perfect for a tete-a-tete without overhearing the next table's discussion (and vice versa).
Ascott, Ayala Center, Makati City
Conferences
Toyo Eatery
The beautiful bespoke table right in front of the exposed kitchen is a rather stunning locale for a group meal, but move on up to the mezzanine. There's a 15-seater private room that will definitely meet the demands of any meeting.
The Alley, Karrivin Plaza, Chino Roces Extension, Makati City
Manam
For more undemanding arrangements, like a brainstorming session, Manam more than satisfies. Feed your neurons with crispy sisig and watermelon sinigang inside their separate 10-seater space.
Netpark Building, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Terraz
Situated inside the picturesque Zuellig building and right at the heart of the central business district, Terraz was designed with conferences in mind. It has several private function rooms all equipped with presentation-ready screens. Because sustenance is always important in every power play, the Raintree Group (also behind Museum Cafe, Providore) makes sure their dishes matter.
3/F Zuellig Building, Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas Street, Makati City
Makansutra
Choices are important for decision-making and you get exactly that at this Asian food hall. Two corners are semi-private rooms that you can reserve in advance.
2/F SM Megamall Building A, Mandaluyong City
Lung Hin
There's nothing like clinching a lofty deal 44 floors up. Marco Polo's signature Japanese restaurant offers a breathtaking view of the city and it has a couple of closed-off areas that can be used for sumptuous lunch meeting.
Marco Polo, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
