The Secret's Out...Makati Shangri-La, Manila Unveils The Den.

Look for the bank behind Makati Shangri-La, Manila, head up the fire escape and discover the metro's newest nightlife destination...

Mysterious yet temptingly seductive, Makati Shangri-La, Manila unveils yet another novel concept for a limited two-month run guaranteed to spice up your next night out. It's all happening here...at The Den, the newest nightlife hideout at the heart of Ayala Center.

Finding it is part of the adventure. The location takes you away from the elegant lobby and deep inside a usually restricted area which makes it even more fascinating. The secret destination arouses your curiosity and the anticipation makes you pick up the pace. Once you spot the bank behind Makati Shangri-La, Manila and go through security, a door opens for something totally unexpected...

...simply follow the bold red signs leading you to the fire escape. Like any speakeasy, the hidden access adds to the mystery and excitement of the secret spot right in the middle of the commercial business district (for geotagging, just pin BDO in Makati Shangri-La, Manila and you'll find it).

You don't need a secret password for access. The staff will point you to the right direction. You can also take a short cut inside the hotel and forego the steep flight of steps at the fire escape, but where's the fun in that? A massive door opens up to the warm and elegantly dimmed interiors reminiscent of Prohibition-era speakeasy bars and hidden dens in exotic Chinatown...

...with its ornate oriental-themed design elements. The vibrant and nostalgic red hues of The Den's intricate lighting sets the mood for the evening, taking you back to the early days of Prohibition. Private and discrete, the mood is amplified by that liberating feeling of indulgent pleasures to come. And libation. Welcome to The Den...

The Den offers bespoke creative cocktails created by Makati Shangri-La, Manila's Beverage Manager, Clayton Munar. Drawing inspiration from the exotic flavors of Chinatown, Clayton Munar and his team of mixologists pull all the stops with a selection of refreshingly inventive cocktails to soothe both the palate and body.

Using a variety of fresh ingredients for a colorful palette of vibrant flavors, Clayton Munar's curated selection of bespoke cocktails and mocktails offer rich, indulgent and creamy notes all the way to bold and flavor forward expressions to complete your new and exciting nocturnal experience at The Den.  

The Jade Dragon (P 450) combines the soothing heat of chili-infused Citadelle gin and ancho reyes chili verde liqueur with the refreshingly sharp notes of salted bitter gourd puree capped by a splash of lemon. The distinct notes blend seamlessly for balanced flavors with each sip. The fresh and clean notes of the gin adds depth to the mildly spicy and delectably bitter cocktail. This is one of my many personal favorites that evening at The Den, zesty with just a whisper of subtle heat. 

The Den brings out the liquid nitrogen for the signature Shanghai Snow Garden (P 250), a floral blend of Sichuan button flower, liquid nitrogen elderflower syrup, cucumber pulp and aloe vera finished with the mildly sweet hints of fresh coconut water.

The elaborate Night and Day (P 400) is a rich and creamy blend of vodka and coconut milk served with coffee and coconut jelly. The nutty flavors of the coffee jelly and the rich notes of the coconut jelly offer contrasting flavors, perfectly complemented by a sip of the indulgent coconut milk infused with the sharp and deep flavors of vodka.

A bite followed by a sip, or the other way around, you make your own rules with The Den's  Night and Day cocktail. Each sip drapes your palate with the creamy richness of the coconut milk, followed by the lingering notes of the vodka.

Clayton Munar weaves comfortingly familiar flavors from Chinatown with his mildly sweet and nutty Fu (P 350) which means "fortune" in Chinese. The blend of Plantation Dark Rum, orgeat syrup, peach, lime, bitters and special house made sesame pineapple slush almost reminds you of mochi with the upfront flavors of sesame seeds with each sip, followed by bright hints of fruity flavors and the caramel-like smoky sweetness of dark rum. Clayton Munar impresses with his multi-layered approach to flavors in his curated selection of unique cocktails at The Den.   

To complete the fortune theme, the cocktail is garnished with a fortune cookie. Crack the cookie and have a sip before reading your fortune.

The Jasmine Lily (P 400) served in a tin cup features the sharp floral hints of rose syrup and lemongrass with house made jasmine tea espuma finished by the bright notes of lemon. The flavors taste "healthy" and fresh and should be good for you, warming up the body in a good way. Clayton Munar also offers a sweet mocktail, the Annin (P 250) served in a bowl with almond syrup, coconut milk, lychee and ginger and the potent Opi-Yum (P 375) with Hennessy VS, Chinese 5-spice syrup, rosemary, apple and bitters. Clayton Munar's cocktail creations are more than enough reasons to visit The Den. Shoot me another Jade Dragon. And the Night and Day.

In the elegant style of the hotel, tasty bites of The Den's signature bar chow were also served that evening...

...like crisp and savory Chinese Scrolls (P 450), deep-fried spring rolls filled with tender Wagyu beef...

...the decadently rich Duck Wrap (P 600) with roast Peking duck, leeks, cucumber and hoisin wrapped in thin pancakes...

...the General's Chicken (P 380) inspired by the classic chicken dish named after General Tso and the crisp and spicy Szechuan Shrimp (P 350). The Chinese-inspired bar chow also includes the Lotus Flower Scallop Dumplings (P 400), Yellow Lantern Fried Wontons (P 225) and Kai-Lan Chinese Broccoli (P 250). 

Each of the dishes pairs well with the signature cocktails at The Den, but it's the Dragon's Skin (P 550) that will have you coming back for seconds and thirds...

Just how can you say no to crunchy deep-fried fish skin draped in salted egg? The bar chow at The Den recreates comforting and familiar Chinese flavors with a playful and modern yet elegant spin. The Den is a silky smooth and finely woven concept with the bar chow and the cocktails rounding it out for a unique experience.

Later that evening, an old friend heads to the bar. The Liquid Maestro has arrived...

Creative alchemist, prolific forager and mad scientist all in one, Kalel Ervin Demetrio of Alamat Foraging Bar and Kitchen joins Makati Shangri-La, Manila's Clayton Munar for a limited time at The Den. The two masters behind the bar churn out an endless line of cocktails, each one meticulously prepared in their own distinctive style. 

Kalel Demetrio's cocktail creations will be be available for a limited time only, so look for the bank and head up the fire escape as soon as you can. As more guests arrived at the The Den, Clayton Munar and Kalel Demetrio whipped out their creations with their usual flair...

The Liquid Maestro began his stint at the bar with his Imperial Mojito (P 450) featuring his very own Sirena Gin blended with lime, ginger, passion fruit and soda garnished with torched tarragon and the elegant Violet Lotus (P 450) with Sirena Blue Pea Gin, eldeflower, rosemary and lime topped with blue pea flowers.

The Liquid Maestro then serves up another cocktail that's as mysterious as The Den...

The Chinatown (P 450), an elaborate cocktail made with Kalel Elvin Demetrio's Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka, osmanthus, soya milk and grass jelly draped in dry ice mist is a showstopper. The sweetness of the Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka and nutty soya milk combine for another beautifully blended cocktail creation.

The Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka gives the cocktail a distinctive sweetness and depth of flavor...

...and it's also great as is. Like it? Go ahead and have another shot.

Have a Highball with just a hint of orange zest and you'll be hooked with the Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka. Guaranteed.  

Then, there's Kalel Demterio's Sirena Blue Pea Gin...

...with its mesmerizing bluish tint that transforms to lavender with a splash of citrus.

After several cocktails, your palate craves for something sweet for that change of pace. The Den satisfies your sugar craving with their Pandan Cookies (P 200)...

...and the Red Bean Pancake (P 250) with its sweet filling wrapped in a flaky dough sprinkled with sesame seeds and topped with candied walnuts.

The Oriental theme is consistent throughout your experience at The Den, from the ornate interiors to the curated cocktails and the bar chow.

The dj spins her tunes...

...as the bar whips up another cocktail.

One more tasty bite...

...and Makati Shangri-La, Manila's Clayton Munar and guest mixologist Kalel Demetrio fill out the orders for The Den's signature cocktails.

One for the road before midnight calls for the tart Diplomatic Sour (P 450) with Plantation Dark Rum, rose syrup, lemon and allspice and the Year of the Dragon (P 450) blended with Plantation Dark Rum, house made black tea liqueur, lime, mint, lemongrass, orange and bitters.

If you have that sudden urge to escape from the usual, crowded bars without leaving Makati's dynamic center, The Den is your perfect perfect spot. Think of it as your own private den, your secret sanctuary in the metro. The Den at Makati Shangri-La, Manila is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 6 pm to midnight. Have a few rounds of soothing cocktails and unravel the evening's infinite possibilities at The Den...but better hurry. The Den will only be around for a limited two-month run.

The Den at Makati Shangri-La, Manila is located at behind the hotel beside BDO. For inquiries, guests may call restaurant reservations at at (632) 8814 2580 or send an email to rric.slm@shangri-la.com. For more updates, guests may also follow The Den on Instagram on @TheDen.Makati and Makati Shangri-La, Manila on Facebook and Instagram @MakatiShangriLa.

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