Bonifacio High Street

Taguig city’s answer to New York’s Fifth Avenue is Bonifacio High Street, a 400-meter-long esplanade full of designer retail shops, diverse cuisine, and live street performances. Found at the heart of Bonifacio Global City, Bonifacio High Street aims to redefine the mall experience as “a walk in the park.”

(Photo by MrLoFi)

High life on the High Street

Bonifacio High Street seeks to celebrate the high life in its fashion, home, health, beauty, technology, sports, and specialty shops. It has eight buildings straddling along twin boulevards, which are studded with mostly franchise stores like Gap, Crocs, Topshop, Krispy Kreme, Billabong, Bo Concept, and Dimensione.

Day to night destination

During daytime, pet owners can be seen walking their dogs along the street’s well-manicured lanes and giant fountains that dabble as installation art forms. Come lunch time, restaurants start to open their doors to diners, offering quality meats and sparkling wine.

The restaurants New Orleans Bourbon Street Steaks and Oysters, Clawdaddy, T.G.I. Friday’s, Texas Roadhouse Grill, Brothers Burger, and Pancake House bring a piece of Uncle Sam to Manila through their American-inspired cuisine and interiors. Offering a break in the chain of All-American diners are the Asian-themed Mini Shabu-Shabu and Kirin Chinese Dining. There are also Italianni’s and Cav Wine Shop and Café, which are swathed in European élan.

For those seeking for homegrown favorites, the Filipino-owned Kabisera ng Dencio’s and Mag:net Café offer Filipino cuisine alongside beer and cocktails. Mag:net dabbles as an art gallery of contemporary Filipino art and as a weekend getaway for stand-up comedy and live bands. If you want to dance, Ascend bar offers disco music and a small dance floor. After the party, the coffee shops Bo’s Coffee Club, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Seattle’s Best, and Starbucks may provide a cozy atmosphere for cooling down.

How to get there

Taking a taxi (P30 flag down rate) to Bonifacio High Street from anywhere in Manila is your best option when going to the place. If you want to save, you may ride the MRT, get off in Ayala station, and walk going to the shuttle terminal of The Fort. The jeepney terminal is at the back of Shell gas station along EDSA, while the bus terminal is just across the street, at the corner of EDSA and McKinley Road, on the way to Forbes Park. The bus has a big “The Fort Bus” painted on its body. A one-way bus ride costs about P15 per ticket while a jeepney costs only P7. Ask the driver to drop you off in NBC Tent. From there, you just have to take a five to 10-minute walk to the High Street.

(Photo by Jan Michael Alcarez)

Alternatively, you may ride a jeepney from Guadalupe going to Market! Market! (P7 fare). Get off in Market! Market! and walk your way to Bonifacio High Street.

Tags: Bars, Bonifacio Global City, Day trip, Entertainment, Manila, Nightlife, Restaurants, Taguig