Eastwood City's best-kept secrets

MANILA, Philippines - In the past years, the Philippines has experienced a boom in the mall and high-rise development scene. And while most of these residential and retail establishments boast an eclectic mix of local and international fashion brands, gourmet restos, and entertainment centers, nothing can surpass the personalized service Eastwood City affords its clients.

Have you ever wondered why people all over the metro flock to Eastwood City in Quezon City? Simply because tucked in this amazing maze are hidden secrets — fashion boutiques, restos, bars, and beauty, wellness and fitness centers — waiting to be discovered and explored.

Eat’s More Fun in Eastwood

Finding the best local restaurant is not always a Google search away. One needs to spend time walking and talking to people who actually live or regularly dine in the area to get the pulse. And while there’s no way to guarantee three life-changing meals a day, there are some ways to up your odds of dining the good stuff while on the road. Use word of mouth to your advantage.

Galileo Enoteca Deli: Dine and wine

Dim lights, wooden furniture, soft Italian music, and bottles of wine make Galileo Enoteca Deli a romantic spot not just for dating couples but also lovers of good food, cheese and wine. The Formaggi and Salumi Misti, a cheese and cold-cut platter that has three types of cheese and three types of cold cuts, goes well with a bottle of red wine and a good conversation. Galileo Enoteca Deli also serves a good selection of pizza and pasta dishes.

Choi Palace: Dine like royalty

Choi Palace has been the talk of town since it opened. Situated on the third floor veranda of Eastwood Mall, the restaurant boasts a sophisticated ambience with its opulent gold and black color scheme. Here, diners are treated like royalty: the food is superb, the service is impeccable. We just couldn’t get our chopsticks off the curry hand-made fish balls. Served on a small pot, the fishballs, potato slices and bell peppers are deliciously soaked in curry sauce. The braised Australian abalone is to dine-for.

Milk tea: It’s tea-licious!

It can’t be denied...milk tea is taking the country by storm. The ubiquitous vacuum-sealed cup with your choice of milk tea and pearls is the coolest beverage to have any time of the day. At Eastwood you’ll find the best brands — Happy Lemon, Serenitea, Chatime, and Caprice — competing for customers’ attention.

M&S Bakery: Baked to perfection

Marks & Spencer at Eastwood City is their only branch in the Philippines that has a bakery. Take a shopping break with freshly brewed coffee and hot-off-the-oven bread and pastries from the British fashion and food retailer.

The Weekend Gourmet Market offers rare finds within the comforts of the swanky Eastwood Mall. It offers specialties in five categories: sweet, savory, fresh produce, healthy treats, and anything gourmet. Here, indulge in Cukay’s frozen brazo de mercedes, and cakes and pastries from Blue Sugar, Sonia’s and Sugar Cakes, among others. Native items such as kesong puti, dried fish and salted eggs abound. Those who opt for something healthy can give in to The Healthy Choice and Healthy Lifestyle products.

The Weekend Gourmet Market is so successful that it now has up to 50 tenants and occupies two spacious floors at Eastwood Mall to give market buyers exciting options.

Eastwood City: The 24/7 Bar Mecca

Eastwood City has earned a reputation as the place to party on a weekend or a happening Friday night. The Distillery, Rue Bourbon, Galileo Enoteca and Red Box are just some of the hotspots where the young and stylish prefer to party hard and rock the night away.

The brick walls, earthy wood accents give the place a “neighborhood bar” feel; the communal tables that encourage a sense of community. Known for its eclectic range of beer, The Distillery also boasts a selection of about 50 whiskies. Must-try drinks include Stella Artois, Beck’s, Orange Boom, Hoegaarden, Titje, Bass Pale Ale, Grolsch, Timmerman’s, and Chimay.

For only P50, partyphiles can affordably down Jose Cuervo Tequila shots all night, all week! Enjoy buy-one, take-on on selected cocktails during the Happy Hour from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

Dim lights, wooden furniture, soft Italian music, and bottles of wine make Galileo Enoteca Deli a romantic spot not just for dating couples but also lovers of good food, cheese and wine. The Formaggi and Salumi Misti, a cheese and cold-cut platter that has three types of cheese and three types of cold cuts, goes well with a bottle of red wine and a good conversation. Galileo Enoteca Deli also serves a good selection of pizza and pasta dishes.

Rock, dine and roll with your friends at Red Box Karaoke. Aside from the song selection and modern facilities, what sets Red Box from other karaoke joints in the metro is the food. Here, you can order a la carte, buffet, or just indulge in their exciting and delectable sushi selections.

The Rue Bourbon is the latest and coolest hangout in Eastwood. They offer the “Big Ass Beer,” which is a draft beer served in a huge mug for only P200. Rue Bourbon also offers the best-selling Manileno and other fruit-infused coolers such as peach, mango, strawberry, apple, pineapple and coconut-flavored mojitos.

Let’s Get Physical

When the party winds down, when everyone’s danced the ledge too often for the night, and had a drink one too many, it’s about time to sweat it out! Touted as a center for fitness buffs, Eastwood houses fitness establishments — Bikram Yoga, Barre 3 at The Spa and Fitness First — that can help you burn those calories and tone your muscles.

Founded by Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury, Bikram Yoga is a demanding series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises. The series helps improve skills of concentration, patience, determination and self-control, increasing mental clarity, and reduces stress significantly.

A brainchild of fitness trainer Sadie Lincoln, Barre 3 at The Spa integrates the best practices of ballet, yoga and Pilates to provide a full-body workout for a leaner, longer, and stronger body.

Located at the vibrant Eastwood City, Fitness First offers various fitness classes to suit your needs.

Eastwood also has a wide range of spas and wellness centers to help invigorate your wornout bodies or pamper your pretty nails and feet. Check out the services offered at Blue Water Day Spa, Big Apple Express Spa, Spa’ah, The Spa, Gloss Nails and Body Spa, Svelte and Nailaholics.

Hair ye! Hair ye!

Tokyo Posh lets you play around with your looks by changing your hairstyle as often as you want with its extensive line of clip-on hair extensions. For its newest branch in Eastwood, Tokyo Posh will offer three new fabulous services you definitely can’t resist: the Blowdry Bar, which offers nine possible hairstyles you can wear in various occasions; the eyelash extensions that are lightweight and affordable; and the VIP Lounge, which affords A-list clients the best services and privacy they deserve.

MAC fanatics have a heyday re-stocking their beauty kits at the newly opened MAC cosmetics at the ground floor of Eastwood Mall. Also watch out for the opening of California Pizza Kitchen, Aldo and Robinsons Supermarket at Eastwood City.

For inquiries on Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, call their concierge at 709-9888, 709-0888, 0917-8380111 or visit www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com