The Curator Coffee & Cocktails

David Ong opened The Curator in 2013 inside a wine shop and deli in Legazpi Village, and it later took over the whole space. The front works as a third-wave coffee shop during the day; in the evening, cocktail service starts in the cosy back room, an industrial space of exposed pipes, polished cement floors and communal tables that get guests talking.

Coffee runs through the drinks programme, and the current menu, themed 'People You'd Like to Have a Drink With', names each cocktail after individuals and groups the team find inspiring, from Manila restaurant Toyo Eatery to the Dave Matthews Band.

A stalwart of the regional rankings, The Curator was No.33 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024, when it was named The Best Bar in the Philippines, and No.78 in 2025. Relaxed and unpretentious, it suits coffee lovers, solo drinkers and anyone starting a Makati bar crawl.