Blackbird Makati

Should You Book Blackbird Makati?

Blackbird Makati sits in a price tier that remains unconfirmed in public data, but what is confirmed is this: a Michelin Plate recognition for 2026 and a ranking of #113 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual Asia list for 2025 put it among a small group of Makati dining rooms worth planning around. Chef Colin McKay leads the kitchen, cooking international cuisine from a kitchen that has earned credibility on two separate critical frameworks. For a first-timer in Manila looking for a reliable, well-regarded international dinner in Makati, Blackbird is a sound choice; and easier to book than most venues at this recognition level.

The Room and the Experience

Blackbird sits at 6752 Ayala Avenue in Makati City, one of Metro Manila's most active dining corridors. The visual anchoring point here matters: the space is set within a building that gives it a physical presence distinct from the strip-mall restaurant format common in the neighbourhood. For a first visit, the bar and counter seating area is worth requesting specifically. Counter seats at a venue like this; where the chef's team is cooking international cuisine at Michelin Plate standard, give you a direct line of sight into the kitchen's pace and precision. You can watch technique, ask questions, engage with the meal at a different level than a standard table allows. If your group is two people and you want to understand what the kitchen is doing, counter seating is the right call.

The room's visual character is part of what the dining experience delivers before the food arrives. For a first-timer, this is relevant: you are not walking into a casual canteen. The setting signals an occasion without demanding black-tie behaviour. International cuisine at this level in Makati tends to read formal in the room, relaxed in the service register, which is the combination that works well for business dinners and date nights alike.

Credentials and Trust Signals

Two specific awards are on record: the Michelin Plate (2026) and the Opinionated About Dining Casual Asia #113 ranking (2025). The Michelin Plate is not a star, it signals that Michelin inspectors consider the cooking good without placing it in the starred tier. That is a meaningful distinction. It means the kitchen is operating at a documented level of quality, but the experience is not priced or structured like a full tasting-menu destination. OAD's casual Asia list is a peer-nominated and critic-weighted ranking; placement at #113 in a competitive regional field is a verifiable signal of standing among people who eat professionally across the continent.

For broader context on where Blackbird sits relative to Manila's international dining scene, see our full Manila restaurants guide. If you are building a trip itinerary, our full Manila hotels guide and our full Manila bars guide are useful companions.

Booking and Practical Details

Reservations: Booking difficulty is rated easy, this is not a venue where you need to plan six weeks out. A few days' notice should be sufficient for most nights, though weekends in Makati can fill faster than the mid-week. Address: 6752 Makati Ave, Makati City, 1229 Metro Manila. Awards: Michelin Plate 2026; OAD Casual Asia #113 (2025). Chef: Colin McKay. Cuisine: International. Budget: Pricing is not published in available data, confirm current menu pricing directly with the venue before visiting. Dietary needs: Contact the venue directly in advance; no published dietary policy is on record.

Nearby and Related

If Blackbird's international format is not what you need, Manila has options worth considering across formats. Toyo Eatery is the reference point for serious Filipino cooking in the city. Helm in Makati is a closer geographic alternative if you want to stay in the neighbourhood. For something outside Makati, Linamnam in Parañaque and Antonio's in Tagaytay are both worth the trip for specific occasions. Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill in Pasay is the obvious international-brand alternative if name recognition matters to your group. For regional comparison context, TRB in Beijing and Marcel von Winckelmann in Passau operate in a similar Michelin Plate international-cuisine register, which helps calibrate expectations. See also Asador Alfonso in Cavite and Lantaw in Cebu if you are extending your Philippines itinerary beyond Metro Manila. For complete destination planning, browse Manila wineries and Manila experiences via Pearl.