Ermita District. My playground of choice
Old-time horn-dog visitors to Manila wax poetically about the Ermita district's heyday, which began its precipitous decline about 25 years ago. Plenty of guys still visit its most prominent club, the Midnight Haven (LA Cafe). But the area used to offer so much more for primarily Western visitors.
My first visit was 20 years ago and continued yearly until I moved here permanently. Fondly I remember Club Amazonia, Speedy Bar, Hussy's, The Bistro, and the Southern Cross bar / hotel, along with a few others whose names escape me. My go-to hotels were the Cherry Blossoms and La Corona. All gone now, with no replacements (except the Dusk to Dawn Bar).
There are still a few foreigner-centric bars left in the area, but only one offers "bar fines" for outside companionship. All have western-style menus with varied types of moderately-priced comfort foods, which is great for us who live here and aren't enamored with Philippine cuisine. My nightly routine is to start with dinner, beers, chatting, and music at one place, then walk (stumble) to another one or two venues. If the evening gets late and I have not yet found / rented a companion, I head to Midnight Haven to find a sure thing.
I would never recommend anyone visit the area explicitly for naughty nightlife, as it's quite limited compared to Makati and Malate. But I always manage to have a good time. Just watch out for the shitty sidewalks.
Here are my opinions about each remaining club (sans Midnight Haven, which has been chronicled extensively in this thread). Locations are easily found on Google Maps.
G-POINT: Great place to relax, play pool, and listen to live music. Easy to chat with other foreigners and pick their brains about available carnal options. Waitresses are generally attractive, but none are barfine-able.
Most nights there are upwards of 5-15 freelance hookers awaiting customers who will buy them a drink (regular price, no surcharge) and hopefully whisk them away for erotic interludes. Similar in scope to the Midnight Haven.
In its prime, there was a nice mix of young and well-seasoned women. Today, the young ones are gone, and the older ones have morphed into well-worn dragons who ask outrageous fees for service. Even my 2 am Beer goggles can't turn them into keepers. But it's perfect for the guy who desires a little sag in their hag.
DUCK INN: Similar to the G-Point, except freelancers are not allowed to ply their wares inside. Waitresses are friendly and talkative, and a sign on the wall states that customers can offer to buy them beverages with a P50 surcharge. None are barfine-able.
MCKIE'S BAR AND RESTAURANT (Toshie's): Another good place to hang out and talk with the guys. Has a "U" shaped bar seating arrangement. Female staff is friendly and most likely a chatty one will ask for an inflated-priced beverage called a Lady's Drink (LD) from which she earns a commission. The problem is the price is a bit steep at P380 and she will remain inside the bartender's area so you can't sit close and cuddle and "explore". No barfines offered here.
Before the Pandemic, Toshie's used to allow outside gals to sit with customers to solicit LDs. Not anymore.
DUSK TO DAWN BAR: Newer and more upscale than other clubs in the area, but with reasonable prices for drinks and food. Friendly and flirty waitresses attired in somewhat skimpy outfits. You can offer to buy one a lady's drink, which she will keep at your table and come back to visit when there are breaks in her duties. No barfines, but conversations indicate that fun is negotiable if you're a persuasive guy, haha.
I've never made contact with any obvious freelancers looking for business, but I'm usually never there alone.
Nice place, located a stone's throw north of the Midnight Haven club.
DAKOTA CABIN: Located across the street from the large Calle 5 Filipino-centric bar complex. Aviation-themed club that centers around the old "C"-47 cargo plane. Friendly owner, friendlier expat patrons. Ownership does not allow unescorted women (freelancers) to sit there. No naughtiness at all, but it's a comfy place to hang.
I heard through the grapevine that ownership changed hands a couple of months ago and the club has been renamed.
THE AUSSIE SLOUCH HAT: I saved the best for last. The complex has two bars and an upstairs hotel. The larger pub is just a regular beer bar with pool tables. No sultry waitresses, but still a relaxing place to down a beverage or three.
The smaller next-door bar is well air-conditioned and has curtains over the windows. On duty are between 4-8 GROs (Guest Relations Officers), typically between 35-45 years old. Two gals on my last visits were definitely in their 50's!
Yeah, I know most guys don't come to the Philippines to hang out with older women. But this bar potentially offers experiences that are tough to find in other places (your mileage may vary, of course).
First, the Slouch Hat is Manila's equivalent of the bar in the old American TV show called "Cheers". It is geared toward the older western expat or frequent Manila visitor who enjoys being remembered and pampered by the staff. There is very little employee turnover there, and many gals stay for several months or years. I visit Manila a couple of times a year and the bartenders and a few of the girls always greet me by name. The attention and remembrance massages my ego.
Second, beverage prices are reasonable for a Manila girlie bar. P120 for a domestic beer and a lady's drink is only P200. The gals normally drink gin and tonic and they definitely are not watered down. A few months ago I bought 5 LD for a gal and she was totally shit-faced by closing time.
The gals are quite chatty and fun and are not pushy about asking for cocktails. They are also instructed by management not to gulp down their drinks.
Third (and most importantly), it is the only pub in the area that has bar fines. Prices are quite fair at P1,500 for short time or P3,000 for all night, which includes the early release fee and payment to the girl.
Short time rooms are available upstairs for P1,000. Be aware that not all girls are willing to be bar-fined, but I have not had one turn me down.
From my perspective, most of the customers are there just to relax and enjoy some attention. More than a few even bring their wives or girl friends, with a couple gals being former Slouch Hat employees.
But I've seen plenty of guys and gals "perving" away at their chairs / stools. And on many occasions, I've engaged in deep french kissing and pelvic area exploring, with nary a disapproving word uttered by anyone there.
As the male bartender there says, "Whatever happens in the bar, stays in the bar".
A couple of years ago, I saw a guy take three ladies away. When I visited a couple of days later, my regular gal said he took them upstairs for a foursome. Hopefully a memorable "Menage a Quatre".
The Slouch Hat appeals more to the attention-seeker than the vagina-slayer. Yes, the women are older and there are no diamonds in the rough, but most are quite accommodating. Prices are reasonable and I consider it to be an okay alternative to the Midnight Haven bar.
One huge advantage is that area hotels are reasonably priced. The local Go Hotel and Red Planet (Manila Bay) room rate is around $35 USA, with the nearby Rosas Garden, Anex, and Airo Hotels around $25. The Anex is right across the street from the Slouch Hat, making short time encounters quite feasible.
Of course, a guy is going to have a lot more fun on Burgos Street in Makati. But not every visitor has a fat bank account. So, if you're a bit underfunded or frugal, Ermita might be for you, as long as you dial down your sexpectations quite a bit. And thanks to the nearby Midnight Haven bar, no one has to go home empty bedded.
Second short trip to Manila
FR on my second short trip to Manila. As posted earlier in this forum, I was traveling to KL and took a 4 days detour to Manila. This time I stayed at City Garden Grand Hotel, as suggested by the learned counsel here. Absolutely no complaints. They would call me before and after the girl left my room. the way the receptionist asked if everything was ok, i had half a mind of inviting her as well LoL.
Since I had just 4 days, I mainly relied on MC and PL. I realized this time, girls on PL keep oscillating between their province and Manila. Most of them from my last encounter (which was just a month before this trip) were not in Manila. But again, there's always fresh stock to explore, and I found 2 cute Morenas. One of them even decided to stay back for 24 hours, and I had to kick her out after that, since I wanted some variety LOL. She said she prefers my room over a shared accommodation with some cousin. So I told her to bring her cousin along next time LOL.
MC as expected was professional and delivered what it promised.
My only gripe with Manila is food. It just doesn't suit me. I somehow survived on KFC, cheese and crackers, and occasional comfort food at the filling station cafe on Burgos.
Cheers!!
