Opening at Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila the end of the year, Layara is a new destination bar that invites guests to discover the Philippines – one island, flavour and story at a time. Set above the Ayala Triangle Gardens in the heart of Makati, Layara will place the country’s landscapes, traditions and ingredients at the centre of an exciting contemporary cocktail experience.
Conceived as a modern tribute to the Philippine archipelago, Layara takes its name and creative spirit from ‘layag’, the Filipino word for ‘sail’. A 150-capacity space soaring above the Makati skyline, the bar’s visual identity is drawn from the fluid movement of the traditional Pangalay dance and its colour palette from the islands themselves. Interiors evoke the vibrant striped sails of the Vinta boats associated with the Tausug, Sama-Bajau and Yakan 2 communities, translating movement, colour and heritage into a bar designed to feel continually in motion. A ceiling of wood lattice, lush tropical greenery and natural materials transport guests from the city across the sea.
At the heart of Layara is an evolving beverage programme created by Bar Manager Kiara Opeda whose career has taken her from respected Manila venues including OTO Bar and Sabi Sounds, to Black Sheep and Happy Paradise in Hong Kong, most recently serving as Brand Ambassador for Pernod Ricard Philippines.
As Bar Manager, Opeda will shape a programme that combines a deep sense of place with international standards of creativity, craftsmanship and hospitality. “Layara is our invitation to experience the Philippines through flavour; not as a fixed collection of destinations, but as a living archipelago of ingredients, traditions and people.
By allowing the menu to travel throughout the year, we can celebrate the individuality of each island while giving guests a reason to begin, discover and return on a journey with us,” says Kiara Opeda, Bar Manager of Layara. Alongside a curated selection of classic and signature cocktails, a quarterly-changing collection will focus on a different Philippine destination, exploring its traditions, native flavour, seasonal produce, culinary traditions and local stories.
From island-grown fruit and artisanal ingredients to spirits infused with indigenous flavours, each drink will offer a new experience. Layara’s debut menu is split into two chapters inspired by Cebu, a major province and island in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, known for its rugged mountain ranges, beaches and rich marine life. Each drink carries a Visayan title and a short story, set against ink-wash illustrations of the archipelago.
“Chapter 1: Sailing the Philippine Archipelago” comprises seven cocktails drawing on the myths, legends and history that came to Cebu by water.
Highlights include:
• Maria Cacao, named for the mountain goddess who tends her cacao grove above Cebu, a delicate blend of Orientalist Dragon Whisky with yellow mango, passionfruit, pomelo and jasmine tea
• Bakunawa, named after the serpent said to have swallowed seven moons, an indulgent serve of Martell VS Cognac, black sesame, cacao and muscovado under a banana milk foam
• Princess Urduja, the warrior princess who bowed to no king, brings together Lady Trieu Vietnamese gin, ube, Earl Grey and goat’s cheese foam
• Raja Zula, named for the chieftain of southern Cebu who reached out to a newly arrived foreign fleet, is a vibrant, fruity cocktail of gunpowder gin, green mango, guava and ginger
• Lapu-Lapu & Raja Humabon, named for the two chieftains who chose different paths, is a mix of vodka, lychee, elderflower, fino sherry and bianco vermouth.
• Mactan, after the battle on its shores, a blend of Irish and Scotch whisky with coconut milk, jackfruit, sweet corn and banana.
“Chapter 2: The Islands After Mactan” comprises non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktails inspired by Cebu’s spirit world, people and land.
• Diwata, named for the island’s nature spirits, a refreshing blend of Sober Spirits Rum, citrus, mint and sugar
• The Offering, inspired by the gifts of rice and fruit left for the spirits, combines glutinous rice, yellow mango, ginger and coconut milk
• Babaylan, a tribute to the village healer, pairs Sober Spirits Amaretto and Aperitivo with tamarind, pineapple and lime
• The Child from Spain after the Santo Niño, a carved figure of the child Jesus, found in Cebu in 1565 and still celebrated every January at the Sinulog festival, is a blend of Sober Spirits Gin, a kaffir lime sugar cube and Saicho Osmanthus sparkling tea
• Aswang, named after the Philippines’ great night creature, is a low-ABV serve of salted calamansi, Three Cents Cherry Soda, Luxardo cherry bitters and a banana and coconut cream foam. The bar’s culinary offering will extend the journey through refined small plates and elevated bar fare inspired by regional favourites, reinterpreted with contemporary technique and premium ingredients.
A live music programme blending Philippine ethnic instrumentalists with acclaimed vocalists, bands and DJs will give Layara a distinct rhythm after dark, creating an energetic gathering place for Manila residents, international travellers and the global bar community.
Layara is designed as both a gateway to the country and a destination in its own right: a prelude to Siargao’s surf culture, Boracay’s golden sunsets, Cebu’s layered heritage, Palawan’s natural wonders and the many stories that lie beyond them.
Layara will open as part of Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila, marking the long-awaited return of the legendary hotel to a city where the brand helped shape social and cultural life for nearly four decades, from 1976 to 2014.
Rising above the two-hectare Ayala Triangle Gardens, the new hotel introduces a contemporary expression of Filipino luxury, bringing together local craftsmanship, nature-inspired design and Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service. The 275-room hotel will feature five distinctive dining and bar concepts, an extensive 800- square-metre Spa and Wellness floor, a 25-metre outdoor swimming pool and versatile 4 event spaces. Its location at the intersection of Makati Avenue,
Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas places guests at the centre of Manila’s financial, cultural and creative life. For further information on Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila’s restaurants, bars and experiences, please visit https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/manila/makati/dine and subscribe for news and updates.