Manila
Malate
Girly Bars, Beer BarsMalate is Manila's traditional adult entertainment district, centred around Burgos Street and the surrounding blocks of Ermita. It's been running in some form since the 1970s and at its peak in the 1990s was one of the busiest bar districts in Southeast Asia. It's quieter now — various crackdowns and the shift toward Makati have reduced the number of venues — but the bones of the scene remain.
Open-fronted bars line Burgos Street and the adjacent streets, with Filipinas sitting outside or visible from the street. The format is familiar if you've been to Fields Avenue in Angeles City: companionship, lady drinks, and a bar fine if you want to take someone out. English is universal. Prices are lower than Bangkok equivalent.
Malate peaks from 9pm to 2am. The neighbourhood is not upscale — keep your phone in your pocket and use Grab to get back to your hotel rather than walking. The bar scene itself is safe; the surrounding streets less so late at night.
Venues in Malate
Club ZZYZX
BarsLarge multilevel nightclub on Remedios Circle, Malate — dancefloor on the main level, mezzanine lounge overlooking the crowd. Plays EDM, hip-hop, and pop to a mixed local and tourist crowd. One of the few remaining high-volume clubs in the Malate area. Open 10 PM–6 AM daily.
HD Prime Lounge
KTVUpscale KTV lounge in Malate with spacious private rooms, strong sound systems, and a good drinks selection — positioned slightly above the standard Malate KTV in fitout and ambiance. Popular among Korean and Japanese visitors to the area.
Jungle KTV Bar
KTVHostess KTV bar in Malate with private rooms and Filipina companions — one of several adult KTV venues clustered around the Adriatico and General Malvar corner. Targets the tourist and expat crowd looking for the traditional Manila hostess bar format.