The Back Room
Bonifacio Global City, Manila
Bar in Manila, Philippines
Book with PearlThe Read
Hotel Bar, Competition Weight
Why go
The Back Room is worth prioritizing in Manila when cocktails matter more than dinner. Its Shangri-La The Fort address gives it a polished BGC setting, its Asia's 50 Best Bars and Top 500 Bars recognition makes it a stronger choice than a generic hotel lounge for date drinks or a focused after-dinner stop.
About The Back Room
The Back Room in Manila has a smart casual dress code and recognition from Top 500 Bars Best Bars #399 (2025) and World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #50 (2019). That makes it a reasonable shortlist option in Manila, especially if third-party recognition matters to your decision.
The verdict: consider The Back Room when the plan is centered on a visit in Manila rather than a food-led dining experience. Do not build the evening around assumptions about cuisine, menu format, seating setup, price point, or service style. Compare it with High Street Lounge, Commune Café + Bar + Roastery, Oto, or Lit depending on the broader mood of the night.
Choose it for recognized credentials, not a food-led night
The food question is the key filter. This should not be chosen as the serious dinner portion of the night unless the food offering is central to your plan and you have checked it directly. If the plan needs a stronger food anchor, start with our full Manila restaurants guide, then come back to this as a possible stop.
For someone who has been once, the next decision is about occasion and certainty. The Back Room has notable bar recognition and a smart casual dress code. Before planning around seating format, group policies, or menu specifics, check those points directly. If you need a different style of outing, consider another option such as High Street Lounge, Commune Café + Bar + Roastery, Oto, or Lit.
Where it sits in a Manila night
Think of this as a recognized Manila option rather than a broadly documented all-purpose night out. For a deeper Manila bar scan, use our full Manila bars guide; for trip planning around the stay, pair it with our full Manila hotels guide.
The better comparison is with other places that fit the specific kind of night you want. Oto, Lit, High Street Lounge, Commune Café + Bar + Roastery can all serve as comparison points, while other Manila dining and drinking options should be judged against your needs for food, atmosphere, logistics. Quick reference: pick The Back Room when recognized credentials and a smart casual Manila setting matter; look elsewhere when you need firm plans around food, outdoor seating, group format, or pricing.
Planning details
- Location
- Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, 30th St, Taguig, Metro Manila
- Website
- shangri-la.com/manila/shangrila/dine/bars-lounges/the-back-room
- Phone
- +6328653844
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Back Room presents a quietly assured cocktail experience inside a hotel setting. It favors restraint over spectacle: lighting and service are calibrated, street noise is kept at bay, and the room operates with a low-key confidence that rewards close attention. That measured approach pairs with an elevated technical program—one that has earned regional and global recognition—so the atmosphere reads as intimate and elegant rather than flashy. The result is a sophisticated, cozy bar where the craft and the company feel like the point of arrival.
Best For
The Back Room is best for low-key, elevated evenings—date nights and special occasions where attention to craft and discreet hospitality matter. Its hotel location and polished service style make it a natural stop before or after dinner in Bonifacio Global City, especially for visitors seeking a refined cocktail program rather than a bustling nightlife scene. Regulars and visitors who appreciate technical mixing and a quieter setting find it particularly rewarding, and its awards-backed reputation signals a program worth seeking out.
Ordering Tips
Trust the bartenders: the profile emphasizes that 'the person behind the counter is the program,' and the bar is built on disciplined repetition and technical judgment. Ask for the bartender's recommendation rather than a specific drink if you want to experience the core of the program; expect carefully composed cocktails rather than gimmicks. Given the deliberate service and intimate room, allow time for crafted pours and conversation—this is a bar where technique and hospitality are the primary draws.
Planning details
Location
Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, 30th St, Taguig, Metro Manila · Directions
shangri-la.com/manila/shangrila/dine/bars-lounges/the-back-room
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- High Street Lounge, Notable alternative
- Lit, Notable alternative
- Oto, Notable alternative
- Commune Café + Bar + Roastery, Notable alternative
- Makati Shangri-La, Notable alternative
Bar context
How It Compares
The Back Room is the stronger pick over High Street Lounge when cocktail credibility is the reason for going out. High Street Lounge makes more sense for a lower-friction hotel-lounge plan in BGC, especially if seating flexibility matters more than bar recognition. Choose The Back Room for a tighter drinks-first evening; choose High Street Lounge when the group wants an easier lobby-style meeting point.
Oto is the better cross-shop for guests who want a more music-led bar night rather than a polished hotel setting. The Back Room feels more appropriate for dates, client drinks, after-dinner cocktails in Taguig. Oto is the alternative when ambiance needs to feel less formal and more record-bar driven.
Lit, Commune Café + Bar + Roastery, Makati Shangri-La serve different use cases. Lit is the whiskey-leaning alternative, Commune is better for a casual daytime-to-evening plan, Makati Shangri-La is the safer hotel-lounge comparison if location pulls toward Makati. The Back Room is the pick when the night is built around serious cocktails in BGC.
Explore Manila
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Back Room guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Back Room
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Back Room | Manila | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #3992020 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #452019 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #50 |
| High Street Lounge | Manila | No published awards |
| Lit | Makati | No published awards |
| Oto | Manila | Top 500 Bars 2027 · #4712019 World's 50 Asia's Best Bars · #47 |
| Commune Café + Bar + Roastery | Makati | No published awards |
| Makati Shangri-La | Makati | No published awards |
How The Back Room Manila compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Back Room good for groups?
Does The Back Room have happy hour deals?
Do not count on happy hour here unless the venue confirms one directly. The venue has recognition from Top 500 Bars Best Bars #399 (2025) and World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #50 (2019), but pricing and promotions can change.
Is The Back Room good for a date?
It can be considered for a smart casual outing in Manila, especially given its bar recognition. For a different feel, compare it with Commune Café + Bar + Roastery, High Street Lounge, Oto, or Lit.
Is the food good at The Back Room?
Do not choose it for a food-led night unless you have reviewed current menu details directly. It is safer to treat The Back Room as a recognized Manila venue and confirm any food plans directly with the venue.
