What used to be a flower shop at the foot of a residential building in Salcedo Village has blossomed into something else entirely: a hybrid ice cream shop, listening café, record bar, and lounge designed to appease and indulge different kinds of cravings depending on the time of day.
How Kariton Sorbetes Sets the Stage for Sabi Sounds After Dark
Two-thirds of the rectangular space belongs to Kariton Sorbetes, an Australian-born gelato brand known for turning familiar Filipino flavors into creamy scoops of nostalgia. Mango float, turon, champorado, iskrambol, and even taho have all found their way into the freezer, while a glass dessert case by the cashier tempts with cookie pucks, ice cream sandwiches, and slices of layered cake.
At the far end is Sabi Sounds, a dimly lit extension that comes alive at 6pm on the dot—a detail I probably should have checked before arriving at five in hopes of kicking off happy hour.
With an hour to kill, I settled on a scoop of Kariton’s limited-edition gourmet flavor, PBJ or Pili Nut Butter Jelly, which leaned a little too sweet for me. I could only hope the cocktails waiting on the other side weren’t quite as generous with the sugar.
Those 60 minutes dragged, but Curtis Mayfield, Allen Toussaint, and the conversation between two guys in semi-porma office outfits at the next table kept me sufficiently entertained. The shop was mostly occupied by twenty-somethings who looked like they had just clocked out of work, treating themselves to ice cream as momentary relief from the stresses of a Tuesday. And if that didn’t do the trick, I figured I’d probably see them at the bar later.
Sabi Sounds Pairs Cocktails With Vinyl in Salcedo Village
I met up with a friend then returned half an hour past six, partly because I was afraid I’d eventually have to eye-bully someone out of a seat.
I needn’t have worried. I was alone, except for a couple that arrived moments later. I think we came to the party pretty early.
The bright ice cream shop gave way to retro couches, dim lighting, vinyl records on wall display, and a bar that felt like it was intentionally made for settling in rather than simply grabbing a drink and leaving. And so I found a corner and indulged as intended.
My first choice, the Guava Sgroppino, wasn’t available, so I ordered the Ovaltine instead, cheekily named so because the guy who developed the drink is named Milo. The cocktail came with guava gelato and a dusting of Tajin Mexican seasoning blend. It also came with instructions from the server to take a little gelato before having a sip. It was essentially dessert and a cocktail rolled into one. I liked the drink well enough on its own, but hey, I wasn’t about to complain about getting a free scoop of gelato.
As a kid, I was told not to mix dairy with alcohol, or I would be forced to have multiple visits in the toilet. Kariton Sorbetes and Sabi Sounds dispel that.
Four 90’s songs in and the Heart of Glass arrived. Light, fruity, and dangerously easy to drink, it was the kind of cocktail I’d liken to a femme fatale—pretty but I just know I’d get in danger if I give in to her temptation. Behind the beauty hid its real intentions.
Before I knew it, the glass was empty. I blame it to low EQ.
Maybe that’s exactly the appeal of Sabi Sounds. By day, the space satisfies one kind of indulgence with scoops of ice cream and sweets. Come evening, you simply move a few steps deeper into the room, sink into a retro couch, listen to a record, and graduate to something stronger.
And on a Tuesday after work, that sounds like a really good proposition.
Kariton X Sabi Sounds Salcedo is located at Tiffany Place, Salcedo Village, 156 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo, Makati.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kariton Sorbetes is the Philippine branch of the Melbourne, Australia-based gelato brand. They are most well known for their familiar FIlipino flavors of gelato.
Sabi Sounds is an extension of the Kariton Sorbetes Salcedo Village branch that at night turns into a listening bar serving cocktails, records, and retro lounge vibes.
Sabi Sounds Salcedo occupies the same space as Kariton Sorbetes.
They are located at Tiffany Place, Salcedo Village, 156 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo, Makati.
