Regina Troy Barrios

Article (news)

Bank Bar

<p>Ten years ago, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bank.bar/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Bank Bar</strong></a> opened almost stealthily in BGC, a speakeasy behind a secret door. It was thrilling to know exactly where to look for the entrance, to have entrée into a bar with some of the best cocktails in town. Today, Bank Bar announced it will close on December 27, 2025, ending what it calls “an unforgettable decade” of cocktail-filled evenings. Clichéd as it may sound, it really does feel like the end of an era.</p><p>The news came via an Instagram post that thanked the people who made the place what it was:</p><p>“Ten years ago, we opened a secret door that led to countless cocktail-filled evenings. We set out to create a hidden sanctuary that felt both exclusive and alive. While it is the end of an era, reaching this milestone feels like the natural point to conclude the Bank Bar story. Thank you for being the most essential part of an unforgettable decade. Cheers to you, and all the tipples we shared here together.”</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSZc2OAEqcb/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A330889%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Restaurants and bars close all the time. But losing this one stings, because Bank Bar didn’t just serve drinks; it became a defining landmark of Manila’s cocktail culture. It was part of what made Manila’s modern nightlife feel effortlessly vibrant.</p><p>When Bank Bar opened in the mid-2010s, Metro Manila was already drinking well, but it was still developing sophistication. The decade had seen the rise of ambitious kitchens, chef-driven menus, and a dining public eager to follow the next big thing. And bars were catching up—some loud and celebratory, many technically adept. Bank Bar carved out a different space: low-lit, composed, a sanctuary as much as a nightspot. In a city of performative dining and drinking, the unmarked entrance signaled a preference for discretion over spectacle—for refinement over performance.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17665247638292.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Goodbye to the bar that made BGC nights unforgettable | Photo: Bank Bar</span></span></span></div><p>Its cocktails arrived tailored to preference rather than trend. There was a sense that the bar was paying attention to you, which, in nightlife, is rarer than it should be.</p><p>This is not to say Bank Bar existed in isolation. It was part of a broader maturation of Manila’s bar scene, a period when bartenders became authors of their own menus, spirits lists grew more curious, and guests began asking not just what’s strong, but what’s good. Bank Bar stood for the idea that pleasure could be private, that hospitality could be hushed, and that the best nights didn’t need to be shared online immediately.</p><p>Which is why we are going to miss Bank Bar deeply. If you have the time, head there for a last call before or on December 27. Bank Bar lived quietly in BGC for a decade; let’s see it go out with a bang.</p>

<p>After a decade of shaping Manila’s elevated cocktail scene, Bank Bar in BGC will close on December 27, 2025, marking the end of an era for the city’s discreet, refined nightlife.</p>

After a decade of shaping Manila’s elevated cocktail scene, Bank Bar in BGC will close on December 27, 2025, marking the end of an era for the city’s discreet, refined nightlife.

The Last Call Behind The Unmarked Door: Bank Bar Closes

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

Food

The Last Call Behind The Unmarked Door: Bank Bar Closes

Troy Barrios

Published Dec 18, 2025 05:25 AM PHT

|

Updated Dec 24, 2025 05:23 AM PHT

Read More:

bank bar manila

bgc nightlife

bgc speakeasy

the moment group

manila speakeasy

secret bars in manila

intimate bars manila

cocktail culture manila

top cocktail bars manila

foodbymetro

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.