Lazy Sundays are serious business at home. Nobody gets out of bed before 10 a.m., and the blackout curtains stay drawn until hunger finally wins. So imagine the panic when we remembered we had committed to Sunday brunch at Got Soul MNL.
Located in Forbestown BGC, Got Soul MNL has quickly become one of Metro Manila’s most talked-about listening bars. Pairing chef Chele Gonzalez’s vibrant Spanish-inspired menu with carefully curated music sessions and inventive brunch cocktails sounded very enticing.
A slow Sunday morning leads to Got Soul MNL
We were just 15 mins away and made it just before the lunch crowd spilled in. Two long tables were full when we got there, a celebration seemingly underway. We had reserved a table al fresco (we had our little furball with us), but were thankfully given a table indoors. With the noonday heat setting in, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to try their brunch cocktails and would have to settle for an iced non-alcoholic beverage to go with my meal.
BGC’s hottest listening bar turns into a soulful brunch spot
As we got seated and handed the Sunday Brunch Set menu, we were asked to pick a main dish and dessert to go with the tapas spread that was laid out at the bar. The well-curated Spanish-inspired brunch selection immediately transported me back to Donostia, Spain, specifically in San Sebastian, where time slows down when food is served, urging you to take your time to savor each bite. For my main dish, I decided on a pasta dish, and a dessert with ice cream.
True to form, chef Chele Gonzalez’s gastronomic lineup doesn’t disappoint. A quick review of the Filipino-Spanish fusion menu highlights familiar dishes, and yet what comes to the table are still welcome surprises. It’s almost like rediscovering an old friend or lover’s different side.
I’m usually skeptical of appetizers made of sliced bread and random toppings, but the Chorizo Pinxtos made me rethink if I may have, perhaps, been hasty about my judgment. It made me realize that with the right balance of ingredients and proportions, tapas like this could actually be deeply enjoyable. It was a perfectly orchestrated composition of flavors and textures that made for a truly enjoyable bite.
Spanish-inspired tapas worth going back for
The Humba Bomba is a croqueta filled with pork humba meat and topped with miso mayo, the sweet-salty sibling to the Adobo Croquetas’ vinegary, umami-rich flavor bomb which I’d previously tried. Another favorite was the Octopus Croquetas, a visually striking black ball of crunch filled with a lusciously creamy and briny black ink bechamel filling. The Crispy Lechon Taco was such a crowd favorite, that I kept missing it because the tray would be immediately emptied by the time I got up for a refill of my plate.
Rich, comforting pasta with bold seafood flavors
Our main dishes arrived just as we were finishing off round two of our tapas; right timing, too, as any longer and we’d be too full to enjoy the other courses. The Aligue and Seafood Creamy Pasta was the ideal portion for a dish so richly flavorful. The cannelloni’s seafood filling had the right chunkiness to it, and the gochujang bechamel was the perfect complement with spikes of heat to cut through the overall richness of the dish.
Sweet endings and morning cocktails
For dessert, I picked the Torrija, a slice of caramelized brioche served with vanilla ice cream and crunchy cereal-like bits to balance off the bread’s almost-pudding like core. The Brunch Drinks Menu run the gamut from coffee, tea and fresh fruit juices to immunity-boosting detox shakes and a section they call, “Morning Alcoholic,” which features three classic breakfast cocktails—Bloody Mary, Mimosa, and their signature GotSoul Sangria.
Jazz, soul, and the signature Got Soul MNL experience
As the latest listening bar in the city, Got Soul MNL stayed true to its promise in providing an exceptional musical experience as guests dined. Compared to its fast-paced, pulsing Friday night vibe, Sundays at Got Soul MNL was easy-breezy and leisurely. Strains of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Getting To Know You” filled the air, prompting one of the guests, a well-known theater actress, into an impromptu duet alongside Bing Crosby’s velvety baritone. Not long after, it was Etta James longingly singing about her lost love and wondering why, “there’s no sun up in the sky” when there’s “Stormy Weather.”
Got Soul MNL’s food and beverage offerings reminded me of a jazz performance—one that elicits an unpredictable mélange of emotions. Sometimes raw, other times sultry and smooth. At times upbeat but also slows down to an almost dream-like state. But always, always, soulful, expressive, and vibrant.
The Got Soul MNL Sunday Brunch Set starts at 11 in the morning until 2 p.m. And if that’s not enough for you, skip siesta and stay linger all through the rest of the afternoon for Tardeo Sunday Jam Sessions and enjoy their Buy 1, Take 1 Gin & Tonic happy hour until 6 p.m.
Got Soul MNL is located at Unit 125 Forbeswood Heights, Forbestown Road, Taguig, Metro Manila. For inquiries and reservations, call (63) 9566196020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got Soul MNL is known for its listening bar concept, Spanish-inspired brunch dishes, inventive cocktails, and curated music experience in BGC.
The food program at Got Soul MNL is led by Chele Gonzalez, known for blending Spanish techniques and flavors with local ingredients.
Yes. Their brunch drinks menu includes coffee, juices, detox shakes, and classic brunch cocktails like Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and GotSoul Sangria.
Unlike traditional brunch restaurants, Got Soul MNL combines elevated tapas dining with a listening bar atmosphere, curated jazz and soul music, and immersive hospitality.
Yes. Got Soul MNL is becoming one of Makati’s standout Sunday brunch destinations thanks to its relaxed ambiance, flavorful tapas spread, and music-driven dining experience.
