#ReviveManilaSwagger: A Proper Gentleman's Cut and a Tipple at Thirsty Barber...

A cut and rinse followed by a shot of Macallan on the rocks, the Thirsty Barber is a true hidden gem along Wilson Street reviving the elegance of bygone era...

Customized grooming, a round of handcrafted cocktails, and some pretty good eats. The Thirsty Barber brings back the days of bespoke grooming with a proper gentleman's touch, staying true to Felipe and Sons' mission of "safeguarding the heritage of our fathers as models of propriety..."

The Thirsty Barber by Felipe and Sons Barberdashery, located at the ground floor of The Promenade in Wilson Street, San Juan, offers customized and bespoke grooming services, from the basic Cut & Rinse, Shave, and Beard Sculpting; to handcrafted cocktails with its Prohibition-era speakeasy inspired bar.

You'll find some of the metro' best barbers right here at Thirsty Barber, and if you need a great looking cut, Nilo is definitely the man. The Thirsty Barber offers the basics, from Cut & Rinse (P 360), Shave (P 450), Beard Sculpting (P 450), and Color (P 1,300/P 1,750) to complete packages like the Afternoon Delight (P 650), their signature Cut & Rinse with neat extras; the Two Bits (P 700), for a clean cut and shave; the Manscape (P 700), with the Cut & Rinse and Beard Sculpting; the Luxury Shave (P 800) for that old-fashioned touch; and the Dye Hard (P 1,600), a cool cut and color combo. Other treatments offered at the Thirsty Barber include the classic Facial (P 950), Hair Spa (P 950), Anti-Dandruff (P 1,250), and Anti-Thinning (P 1,250) to bring back that unmistakable dapper look in you. From haircare to shavecare and beardcare, and soon, accesories, menswear and footwear, the Thirsty Barber by Felipe and Sons Barberdashery's got you covered.

At Thirsty Barber, it's all about the details, from the rich dark woods, the rustic brick walls, and the supple leather upholstery, each one exuding tradition and timeless old-world elegance.

The classic Barber's Chair, upholstered in luxurious leather, immediately stands out and you just know this is old-school, just the way it should be. Refurbished, re-chromed, and re-tooled to automatically adjust to any position or height, this is your front seat to personalized grooming at the Thirsty Barber.

Each barber exudes pride in their work, and this is immediately felt with the first gentle brush as he follows the natural lines of your mane to the precise first snip. Quick work with the electric shaver followed by delicate cuts with the barber's shears slowly leads to a transformation.

After a refreshing rinse, the barbers at Thirsty Barber then perform the little things that matter, like a gentle facial massage, a back rub and the traditional hot towel for your face to gently ease away all the stress from a long and busy day. But there's more to the Thirsty Barber, if you know where to look for it...

Behind a wooden bookshelf, a secret passageway leads you to the bar, where guests can enjoy a wide range of premium spirits and handcrafted cocktails as well as modern interpretations of classic Filipino cuisine. It's one of those little surprises that make the Thirsty Barber special...

Inside the spacious bar, wood and leather tones complement the bare brick walls for that cool speakeasy vibe. Start with their signature Blunt Scissors (P 215), a refreshing mildly sweet and sharply tart cocktail with Stolichnaya Vodka, lemon, sugar, soda water, and cucumber garnished with parsley...

...followed by the wittingly named Please Don't Tell (P 225), an exciting and vibrant blend of Johnnie Walker, Campari, and fresh grapefruit juice garnished with a smoky and crisp strip of bacon. First, take a bite of the bacon, then a refreshing sip, and all the flavors come together in a seamless blend. The Thirsty Barber's range of signature cocktails include other unique libations, like The Undercut (P 220), a cool tequila-based cocktail with a little heat from the cayenne; the Don't Play Dead (P 235), a vodka cocktail with watermelon and egg white; and the Bloody Razor (P 220), with Bombay Sapphire, grapefruit and oregano syrup. You'll also find classic cocktails, like the Old-Fashioned (P 180), the Whiskey Sour (P 180), the Cosmopolitan (P 180), Mojito (P 180), Tequila Sunrise (P 180), Long Island Iced Tea (P 180), and the Margarita (P 180), along with a premium selection of Single Malt, Tequila, Cognac and Brandy, Vodka, and Rum with an equally extensive range of premium imported beer. You don't have to go far for a tipple after a proper gentleman's cut, it's all here at the Thirsty Barber.

Pair your cocktail with the Thirsty Barber's inventive take on Filipino cuisine reinterpreted by Chef JR Royol, a band vocalist from Benguet and grand prize winner from the first season of Master Chef Pinoy Edition. Chef JR goes back to his roots with local, regional dishes like the savory Dinakdakan (P 280), with tender pork, cheeks, ears and brain topped with delicate sous vide egg. The flavors are rich and pure, and you won't find find a trace of mayo in this dish. Chef JR prefers to keeps it real and honest, staying true to his culinary heritage. You'll find other regional dishes as Chef JR recreates classic flavors like Pulpog, an Ilocano-style grilled pork belly with native onions and soy-vinegar dip, and the ever popular Bagnet. Don't forget to request for their housemade chili sauce for that extra heat.

Chef JR then presented his plump shrimps draped in rich crab fat for another winning combination. Shrimps and crab fat, what more can I say, you'll probably want some rice with this...

The Tapang Barako (P 295), fork-tender local beef tenderloin cooked with kapeng barako-infused butter and topped with garlic, offers a delightful spin to their take on salpicao. The garlicky notes plays well with the coffee-infused butter sauce, bringing out the beefy richness of the dish. It's dishes like these that make a stop at the Thirsty Barber so definitely worth it.

For heftier appetites, you can always go for the Thirsty Barber's Rice Meals, like the Pork Binagoongan (P 245), a comforting bowl of soft and fluffy rice topped with tender strips of pork and vegetables draped in a rich shrimp paste sauce. The hearty meal just satisfies both your palate and appetite, with the richness of the pork perfectly tempered by the bold notes of the shrimp paste sauce. Other Rice meals include the Beef Estofado (P 255), Seafood Rice (P 265) with crab meat, fish fillet, and squid; and Chicken Piyanggang (P 240), another regional dish with chicken breast topped with burnt coconut husk and turmeric.

A proper gentleman's cut, a few cocktails, and tasty bites, the Thirsty Bar is on its way to reviving that long lost gentleman's swag. It's an experience that transforms and nourishes, and you can find it all here along Wilson Street, at the Thirsty Barber...

Thirsty Barber by Felipe and Sons Barberdashery is located at the Ground Floor, The Promenade, Wilson Street corner P. Guevarra Street, Addition Hills, San Juan City or call 0995-457-2594 for inquiries and reservations.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.