At night, there are many choices of bar strips to aim for in Metro Manila. Malate is one of the most famous ones, reminiscent of, but much more lively than, Lang Kwai Fong in Hong Kong. Makati and Global City also have bar strips in the Greenbelt and Bonifacio High Street malls respectively. In Quezon City, Morato Avenue is dotted with bars, dining places and comedy clubs. Eastwood City in Quezon City is another favourite hangout of locals.

Most bars close at 0200 and may extend during weekends and holidays. Dress codes vary among establishments. The legal drinking is 18.

ClickTheCity (website: www.clickthecity.com) and The Manila Guide (website: www.manilaguide.com) are the best sources for listings in Manila.

To really see the local culture, visit the hole-in-the-wall 70s Bistro, 46 Anonas Street, and Conspiracy Bar, Visayas Avenue, both in Quezon City. Both are owned by Filipino artists and feature some of the top musicians in the country. 70s Bistro, in particular, has been the breeding ground for the local music scene. Try visiting them when the following award-winning performers are onstage: Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander, Noel Cabangon, and The Jerks.

An eccentric establishment in Malate is the Hobbit House in Mabini Street. This club typifies the mash-up of cultures that is common in the country: it used to be owned by a retired US serviceman and performers are mostly country and folk singers. All these in a club where the décor is unmistakably Tolkien and the guests are served by hobbits.