Street food, then a rooftop view. This Makati night experience strings together serious Filipino comfort eats with easy ordering help, then hands you a chilled end point at the rooftop bar above the iM Hotel. You also get included photography, so you’re not scrambling for shots while you’re busy eating.

I especially like two parts: the street-food lineup and the way guide V helps you order when there’s no English menu. I also like the finish at Antidote, a 360 rooftop bar experience that makes the whole night feel like more than just eating on the go.

One possible drawback: this tour can involve foods that are intense for first-timers, like balut and various offal-style dishes. If you’re easily turned off by strong flavors, this might not be your style, even though vegetarian options are available.

Key highlights you’ll actually notice

• Real Filipino ordering help (no English menu pressure) so you can focus on what to try, not what to say
• Hott Asia Bazaar tasting scene with sisig, balut, chicken intestine, pig intestine, chicken blood, kwek-kwek, and dynamite
• Local beer while you eat, plus live band energy and comedy stunts at the street market
• Filling Station Bar and Cafe in a retro 1950s diner setup with a dessert stop and photo time
• Antidote rooftop at iM Hotel to end the night with Makati views from a 360 rooftop bar

Why Makati street food feels like a whole evening, not just dinner

Makati is one of those places where you can eat well without needing a big fancy restaurant. What makes this experience worth your time is the structure: you start in a street-food atmosphere built for tasting, then you move to a classic American-style diner vibe for dessert, and you close with a rooftop bar finish.

The pace is also friendly for a first night out. You’re looking at about 3 hours, with short, concentrated stops that keep things fun instead of turning into a long slog.

And because the group is capped at 10 travelers, you’re less likely to feel lost or stuck waiting. In a food market, that matters.

Price and what $65 buys you (and why that’s not just a ticket)

At $65 per person, you’re not just paying for access to a couple of meals. You’re getting a guided food flow that handles the awkward parts for you: ordering, choosing, and timing so you don’t miss the best things while you’re hungry.

Here’s what’s explicitly included:

• Dinner featuring sisig fried rice (beef or chicken)
• A set of Filipino street foods such as chicken blood, intestine, heart, liver, and balut
• Vegetarian options including eggs, green chili, muscles, prawns, and sisig tofu
• A local beer as you eat
• Photography included

What’s not included: drinks to other bar or restaurant options. In other words, you’ll pay for anything extra beyond what’s built into the stops.

So the real value isn’t only the food list. It’s the fact that someone is guiding you through a no-English situation and keeping the night moving while you sample multiple stalls and vibes.

Getting started at City Garden Grand Hotel Makati: your easy first step

The tour meeting point is City Garden Grand Hotel Makati (8008 Makati Ave, Kalayaan Ave side). Starting at a hotel is practical in Makati because it gives you a clear landmark, and you’re not trying to guess which street stall is the right one.

The tour ends at the iM Hotel rooftop (Antidote bar) on Makati Ave. That’s handy because it means you don’t finish far from where the night’s “grand finale” happens.

Also note: this is near public transportation, which makes it easier to fit into a wider Manila plan without adding lots of extra transit time.

Hott Asia Bazaar: the street-food testing ground (and what to expect)

Your first stop is Hott Asia Bazaar, where the idea is simple: try popular Filipino street foods in a place built for exactly that.

You’ll be sampling items that include:

• sisig
• balut
• chicken intestine and pig intestine
• chicken blood
• kwek-kwek
• dynamite

…and you’ll pair it with best local beers as part of the night.

This is also where the atmosphere gets loud and entertaining. There’s a live band and comedy stunts tied into the market vibe, so you’re not just eating quietly—you’re in a show-like food environment.

Why this stop works

If you’ve ever been intimidated by a market menu, this is the antidote. There’s no English menu, so having guide V teach you the real way of ordering food and drinks matters a lot. It helps you avoid the common mistakes: ordering the wrong thing, ordering something you’re not excited about, or hesitating too long when the food you want is already gone.

The one consideration here

Some dishes are not mild. Balut and offal-style dishes are part of the lineup, and that means the tour is best for people who are curious rather than squeamish. If you know you dislike those categories, you’ll still be able to choose from the included vegetarian options during the meal portion—but the market itself is very much built around the hardcore favorites.

Filling Station Bar and Cafe: dessert, photos, and a 1950s-style break

After the street market, you shift gears to Filling Station Bar and Cafe. The name sounds like a gas station, but the theme is a retro 1950s diner in Makati, which gives you a nice contrast after the chaos of the bazaar.

This stop is about two things:

• Photos (and yes, your included photography is part of this rhythm)
• Desserts, described as the best desserts you’ll have during the stop

It’s a smart pause. When you’re eating lots of savory foods in a short time, dessert is not just dessert—it’s also a chance to reset your stomach and your brain.

What I like about this switch in setting

It stops the night from becoming one long “food sprint.” Instead, you get a change of pace: more seated, more structured, and more photo-friendly.

If you’re traveling with friends who want a mix of food and atmosphere (not only tasting), this stop helps keep everyone happy.

Ending at iM Hotel Antidote: how the rooftop changes the whole night

Your finale is at the Antidote bar, perched on top of the iM Hotel in Makati. This rooftop stop is described as offering a 360 rooftop experience, and it’s the kind of ending that makes the earlier eating feel like part of a real night out instead of a quick snack tour.

You’re also finishing with a chill tone. After eating street foods and dessert, you want something that’s easy to enjoy: views, conversation, and time to slow down.

Drinks and expectations

Drinks to other bar or restaurant options aren’t included. That means the rooftop is likely where you’ll decide how much you want to add beyond what’s already covered (like the beer included earlier). If you’re trying to keep costs controlled, this is also a spot where you’ll want to set expectations early.

The no-English menu part: how to order without feeling awkward

One of the most useful parts of this experience is the way the guide handles ordering when you don’t have an English menu to lean on. The tour is built around the idea that you’ll be taught how to order the real Filipino way—so you’re not stuck translating in your head while everyone else seems to know what to do.

Here’s how you should approach it:

• Go in ready to point, ask, and try what the guide recommends
• If you have any clear food limits, say them early in the night so the guide can steer you toward included options
• Don’t judge things by the first bite—street foods can be salty, sour, and spicy in quick shifts

Also, the tour includes a mix of proteins, plus vegetarian options, so you’re not forced into one type of eating.

Vegetarian options: what you can choose and how to plan your comfort level

The vegetarian options listed include:

• eggs
• green chili
• muscles
• prawns
• sisig tofu

That’s an important detail for your planning. Even though the tour calls these vegetarian options, they include seafood and eggs. So if you follow a strict vegetarian diet (no seafood), or if you avoid certain ingredients for religious or medical reasons, you’ll want to communicate that clearly to the guide.

Still, the overall message is positive: there are non-meat options, so vegetarians and flexible eaters both have a path to enjoy the night.

Group size, timing, and why the 3 hours feel right

This is a 3-hour tour, and the stop lengths are kept tight:

• About an hour at Hott Asia Bazaar
• About an hour at Filling Station Bar and Cafe
• About an hour at Antidote rooftop

Those tight time blocks matter because street food is at its best when it’s fresh and quick. A longer tour can mean you’re still hungry and tired by the last stop. Here, you’re pushed through the highlights while you’re still in the mood to try things.

The max group size of 10 travelers also helps. In a setting with live noise and strong smells, a small group tends to move faster and stay together better.

Weather and why it can change your plan

This experience requires good weather. If weather turns poor, you’ll either get a different date or a full refund.

Since the last stop is on a rooftop, it’s logical that weather matters. If your trip dates are tight, still plan to keep the night flexible enough to take the reschedule if needed.

Who should book this Makati street food to rooftop experience

Book it if:

• you’re new to Manila and want a guided introduction to Filipino street food
• you like your food tours structured, not chaotic DIY wandering
• you want included photos and a rooftop finish, not just a meal
• you enjoy lively market energy with live band and comedy stunts

Skip it if:

• you strongly dislike offal-style foods or balut
• you want a quiet, mild-food evening with low sensory intensity
• you’d rather spend money on your own restaurant choices than a set tasting night

Should you book this tour?

If your goal is a fun first-night taste of Makati—street food up front, dessert in a retro diner setting, and a rooftop view to close—this is a very practical choice. The included sisig fried rice, the variety of street foods, and the fact that guide V helps you handle a no-English menu are the big reasons it feels worth the $65.

The decision mostly comes down to one thing: are you open to trying foods like balut and offal-style dishes? If yes, you’ll likely leave happy, full, and with a better understanding of how locals order and eat. If no, the vegetarian options may save the experience—but the market atmosphere will still be built around the foods listed for the tasting.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours.

How much does it cost, and is it per person?

It costs $65.00 per person.

Where do we meet, and where does the tour end?

You start at City Garden Grand Hotel Makati and end at the iM Hotel rooftop bar (Antidote).

What food is included in the dinner?

The dinner includes sisig fried rice (beef or chicken), plus Filipino street foods such as chicken blood, intestine, heart, liver, and balut, with vegetarian options like eggs, green chili, muscles, prawns, and sisig tofu.

Are drinks included?

A local beer is included as you eat, but drinks to other bar or restaurant are not included.

Is the menu in English?

No. There is no English menu, and the guide teaches you how to order food and drinks.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is the cancellation refundable?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.

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