Regina Troy Barrios

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Rockwell's Michelin Trail

<p>Manila can be an unforgiving city for diners. Traffic snarls, crowded streets, and frenetic schedules that make even running errands a minor battle. But in Rockwell, the city shrinks. Shops, services, and MICHELIN-recognized tables cluster together, all just a few steps apart. You can walk from modern Filipino tasting menus to a classic steakhouse without ever touching a steering wheel, allowing you to trace a spectrum of dining that feels both luxurious and immediate.</p><p>I’ve always thought food was Rockwell’s secret weapon, and last October, The<a href="https://metro.style/food/2025/10/30/helm-gets-two-michelin-stars-a-first-for-the-ph-1910" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> MICHELIN Guide Philippines </a>made it official, recognizing seven Rockwell-based establishments (plus one pop-up). Here’s a tour of the restaurants that now form <strong>Rockwell’s MICHELIN Trail</strong>.</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/1765183135376Rockwell Michelin Trail.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Rockwell&#x27;s new MICHELIN Trail | Photo: Rockwell </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hapag.mnl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Hapag</strong></a><strong> – 1 MICHELIN Star</strong></h3><p>Hapag, which means “family table,” treats Filipino cuisine with a seriousness that never tips into stuffiness. Modern techniques highlight traditional flavors, and local ingredients are handled with care, producing dishes that are precise without feeling precious. Erin Recto, the Operations Director and Sommelier, earned the MICHELIN Service Award for her calm, attentive professionalism—she moves through the room with quiet authority, ensuring service is polished but never intimidating.</p><div><em>7/F, The Balmori Suites | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hapag.mnl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@hapag.mnl</em></a></div><div><br/></div><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/1765183196817Hapag.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Hapag | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aya.manila/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Aya</strong></a><strong> – MICHELIN Selected</strong></h3><p>Aya, at the mezzanine of The Balmori Suites, is a glass-walled lounge perfect for sipping cocktails at sunsets. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu includes kinilaw and beef short rib kare-kare as well as house-made calamansi and coconut cocktails. Familiar flavors get a contemporary polish here, and the atmosphere walks the line between relaxed comfort and careful execution. It’s the kind of place where you can linger without guilt—or hurry.</p><div><em>7/F Mezzanine, The Balmori Suites | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aya.manila/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@aya.manila</em></a></div><div><br/></div><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/1765183246937Aya.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Ayá | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/taupedining/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Taupe</strong></a><strong> – MICHELIN Selected</strong></h3><p>Chef Francis Tolentino’s Michelin-recognized flagship is in BGC, but his pop-up at Balmori Suites (running until January 4, 2026) is a rare opportunity to see him in Rockwell. Tolentino’s fusion of Filipino roots and New York training is evident in his inventive, thoughtful dishes. Highlights like Street Basket and Scallops with Champagne reveal his meticulous approach without ever feeling precious. The pop-up may be temporary, but the quality is unmistakable.</p><div><em>Balmori Suites Chef’s Table — until January 4, 2026 | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/taupedining/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@taupedining</em></a></div><div><br/></div><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/1765183288299Taupe.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Taupe | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thetestkitchenmnl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>The Test Kitchen</strong></a><strong> – MICHELIN Selected</strong></h3><p>Josh Boutwood opened The Test Kitchen in 2017 on Kamagong Street, a gritty stretch of Makati where parking was scarce and rainy days left shoes caked in mud. Few could appreciate his experimental ethos then. Now relocated to One Rockwell, the kitchen carries that same restless spirit into a minimalist space serving tasting menus and à la carte dishes. An upstairs fermentation lab supports Boutwood’s creative menu, while his signature plates—braised Wagyu beef cheek and rum baba with date purée and Chantilly cream—combine precision and inventiveness without a hint of preciousness.</p><div><em>G/F, One Rockwell | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thetestkitchenmnl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@thetestkitchenmnl</em></a></div><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/1765183341076Test Kitchen.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">The Test Kitchen | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/carmelossteakhouse/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Carmelo’s Steakhouse</strong></a><strong> – MICHELIN Selected</strong></h3><p>Carmelo’s keeps things simple. Australian Wagyu and Japanese Saga beef arrive grilled and carved at the table, paired with classic sauces and attentive, unfussy service. Its Proscenium branch brings the restaurant’s long-standing reputation to Rockwell, offering a refined steakhouse experience that feels deliberate rather than flashy. Here, the luxury is in restraint.</p><div><em>2/F, The Proscenium Retail Row | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/carmelossteakhouse/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@carmelossteakhouse</em></a></div><div><br/></div><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/1765183379076Carmelo_s Steakhouse.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Carmelo&#x27;s Steakhouse | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/twelvetenph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>12/10</strong></a><strong> – MICHELIN Selected</strong></h3><p>Chef Gab Bustos delivers Japanese cuisine that is both sophisticated and approachable. Two years after closing in Guijo St., 12/10 reopened at 8 Rockwell, bringing back signature dishes alongside inventive new plates. The modern, streamlined interior mirrors a menu designed to welcome longtime patrons and first-time diners alike—there’s no pretense, just thoughtful cooking.</p><div><em>G/F, 8 Rockwell | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/twelvetenph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@twelvetenph</em></a></div><div><br/></div><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/176518341897912_10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">12/10 | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><h3><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ramenron.ph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ramen Ron</a> – MICHELIN Selected</strong></h3><p>Diners used to line up for Ukokkei Ramen Ron in Arnaiz, where Chef Tamura’s rules—no photos, no distractions—were enforced with a quiet iron hand. It was the first time Manila diners obeyed without complaint. Reimagined in 2020 with Chefs Margarita and Amado Forés, the first dine-in at Rockwell opened in 2021. The space is spare and purposeful: stone-and-wood interior, bare tables, a visible kitchen. House-made noodles arrive with pork chashu, perfectly cooked eggs, and rich miso paste. In this case, discipline in the kitchen translates directly into pleasure on the plate.</p><div><em>G/F, Edades Tower | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ramenron.ph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@ramenron.ph</em></a></div><div><br/></div><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/1765183504119Ramen Ron.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Ramen Ron | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pilyaskitchenph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Pilya’s Kitchen</strong></a><strong> – Bib Gourmand</strong></h3><p>Tucked inside The Grid Food Market at Power Plant Mall, Pilya’s Kitchen turns approachable Chinese classics into quietly precise, satisfying dishes. Ribbon-like noodles, crisp pork-and-shrimp wontons, and other signature plates carry the stamp of the chef’s New York experience, showing that comfort and technique can coexist on a single plate.</p><div><em>The Grid, R2 Level, Power Plant Mall | Instagram: </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pilyaskitchenph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@pilyaskitchenph</em></a></div><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/1765183546918Pilya_s Kitchen.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Pile&#x27;s Kitchen | Photo: Rockwell</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Eight Michelin-recognized tables. One walkable neighborhood. In Rockwell Center, Manila’s dining map has contracted into a single, flavorful corridor—where exceptional meals are just steps away.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Explore Rockwell’s new MICHELIN Trail, where eight acclaimed restaurants sit within walking distance, offering world-class dining without the hassle of Manila traffic.</p>

Explore Rockwell’s new MICHELIN Trail, where eight acclaimed restaurants sit within walking distance, offering world-class dining without the hassle of Manila traffic.

Rockwell’s New MICHELIN Trail Lets You Walk To The City’s Best Tables

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Rockwell’s New MICHELIN Trail Lets You Walk To The City’s Best Tables

Metro.Style

Published Dec 06, 2025 04:55 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 08, 2025 04:52 PM PHT

Read More:

rockwell center

michelin guide philippines

michelin trail rockwell

michelin restaurants manila

pilya's ktichen

the test kitchen

hapag

aya

taupe

the grid food market

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