Malagihay loosely translates to being in a pleasantly buzzed state—that sweet spot where the drinks have settled in and everything around you, from conversations to company, become fun and easy. There’s a new bar in San Juan that proudly takes on the name, which is validated not only through their cocktails, but through the experience itself.
Conceived as a bar that’s less intimidating and more familiar, Malagihay Cocktail Club aims to create an orbit where conversations loosen, laughter lingers, and people become more present with one another. It’s a place designed to pull guests into the here and now, which is a rare proposition in a drinking culture that often prioritizes showmanship over connection.
It’s something the team behind Food Records Inc.—the same group behind Mabuhay Craft Coffee and Binondo Boys—felt was missing in Metro Manila’s nightlife: a place that encourages people not just to drink, but to linger, engage, and settle into the moment.
The concept was founded and developed by Ian Libang, who continues to steer the bar’s day-to-day operations, beverage program, and overall creative concept. From teaching beverage courses in Lyceum of the Philippines University Laguna and competing in flairtending competitions, Libang eventually found himself behind the bar, committing to the craft—not merely concocting cocktails, but also offering drinking experiences rooted in feeling, not formality. That philosophy now finds a home in Malagihay.
Why Malagihay chooses connection over exclusivity
“The ‘Cocktail Club’ in our name is not about status or exclusivity. It is about belonging and community,” he says. “We wanted to remove the pressure that sometimes comes with cocktail culture and instead create a space where great drinks exist alongside comfort, conversation, and familiarity.”
Hence, the setting seems and feels like a lived-in retro sala of sorts, with a kind of warm service that is more personal than performative. The same goes for their cocktail philosophy, which taps on emotions to make them more real and relevant, rather than passive and technical.
“We focus on cocktails that evoke something emotionally recognizable—whether nostalgic, celebratory, comforting, or quietly intimate. Filipino culture, flavors and references are interpreted through a contemporary cocktail lens, but always in a way that remains approachable and emotionally grounded,” says Libang.
How emotions and nostalgia shape Malagihay’s cocktails
Their beverage program progresses from light to more spirit-forward, each categorized into Mood, Memory and Moment. Mood has approachable cocktails that set the tone for the experience and get you into the groove smoothly. It flows into Moment where the drinks are meant to linger and be relived, before arriving at Memory, which are bolder libations that leave impressions that stay for a while.
Each evoking nostalgia, the drinks cull inspiration from local culture, ingredients, flavors, and even social rituals that Filipinos can easily relate to with. The Magic Gulaman, for instance, mixes coconut water and nata de coco with vanilla, banana and vermouth—a riff of Quiapo’s viral Magic Water; Banana Con Royale, a liquid take on banana con hielo, which has dry gin, saba milk, lakatan olio, and Prosecco; and Seeds combines tequila, pink guava nectar, grapefruit soda and pinot noir float, and harks on the childhood scare of having guava seeds stuck in your appendix.
Apart from the Malagihay signatures, the bar also has all-time classics, highballs, and easy-drinking options in the bank, ready to appease the preferences of the guests.
Familiar snacks and pulutan get a creative twist
As Filipino inuman feels incomplete without pulutan, the club designed a slew of bar chow that turns familiar favorites on their head. Sky Flakes and tuna, and Ding Dong are among those that appear in a different shape or form.
The chef responsible for the food’s creative executions is Mikel Zaguirre, who is no stranger to converting the ordinary into something rich and a lot more mouthwatering. Malagihay’s fried chicken is breaded in crushed garlic Boy Bawang and served with “manong” sauce, and tender juicy, hotdogs are sautéed with caramelized onions that’s draped with sweet barbecue glaze before being topped with cheese foam.
In a nightlife scene that often moves fast, Malagihay Cocktail Club makes a strong case for slowing down and staying longer as it invites its guests to indulge in being at the moment.
Malagihay Cocktail Club is located at 2/F, 193 A. Mabini Street, San Juan.
Looking for easy, refreshing drinks to make at home? Try this Homemade Lemonade Recipe!
Frequently Asked Questions
Malagihay Cocktail Club is a cocktail bar in San Juan that creates drinks inspired by moods, memories, and moments while encouraging guests to connect and stay awhile.
Malagihay loosely translates to being in a pleasantly buzzed state—when drinks settle in and conversations feel lighter and more enjoyable.
Malagihay Cocktail Club is located at 2/F, 193 A. Mabini Street, San Juan.
The bar focuses on emotionally driven cocktails and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere rather than exclusivity or traditional cocktail culture.
Signature cocktails include Magic Gulaman, Banana Con Royale, and Seeds, alongside classics, highballs, and easy-drinking options.
Malagihay serves elevated Filipino bar food and pulutan, including dishes inspired by Sky Flakes with tuna, Ding Dong, Boy Bawang fried chicken, and reimagined hotdogs.
The concept was founded and developed by Ian Libang, together with the team behind Food Records Inc., which also operates Mabuhay Craft Coffee and Binondo Boys.
The menu is organized into Mood, Moment, and Memory, guiding guests through drinks designed to evoke different emotions and experiences.
