PUB REVIEW: What Makes The Handlebar One of Makati’s Most Enduring Pubs?
A recent trip to Manila, the Philippines' bustling capital city, is always fun, fun, and then more fun. It’s a chaotic, crazy city that never fails to excite visitors, and the bustling expat crowd who live here regularly eat and drink out seven days a week.
One particularly good pub that I always visit when I'm in town is The Handlebar Bar and Grill. It’s one of those Makati spots that has been doing the same thing for more than two decades and still feels like itself. Established in 2003 at 31 Polaris Street in Bel-Air, Manila, it is a biker-themed sports bar and grill that draws expats, motorcycle regulars, sports crowds, and people who just want a cold beer and a proper steak without the polished-mall treatment.
The room tells you the story immediately. Motorcycles and club memorabilia hang on the walls, pool tables sit under hanging jerseys, neon beer signs glow over the bar, and large screens are scattered across different zones so rugby, AFL, football, boxing, or whatever else is on can run at once. It is not a design-forward restaurant. It is a lived-in pub: a little gritty, a little loud on band nights, and comfortable if you like that kind of place. Outdoor seating helps when the inside fills up.
Food is the other half of the reputation. Handlebar sells itself on steaks, ribs, pizza, burgers, and pub grub, plus a few local favorites and bar snacks. Regulars and visitors often single out the steaks, Philly cheesesteak, and sizzling fajitas. Portions are in the hearty rather than delicate category, which fits the room. Prices generally land in the mid-range for Makati; think roughly ₱500 to ₱1,500 a person depending on how much you order and drink. The official pitch is comfort food done the way they have always done it, not a constantly rotating chef menu.
On this occasion I just fancied some typical pub food, so the Loaded Potato Skins did the trick. Two good-sized potatoes cut in half, hollowed out, and filled with a large helping of minced beef and melted cheeses. Nothing gourmet style - just good, simple pub grub.
Beer is part of the identity. Local bottles and drafts sit alongside some craft and international options, and the house line is that it comes out extra cold. Service reviews are mostly positive: staff gets mentioned by name, groups say events are handled well, and solo visitors have reported being looked after. Like most busy bars, it can slow down when a band is on or a big match is packed.
Live music is a regular Thursday and Friday fixture: “Rock It” nights with rotating Manila bands, plus sports coverage, are among the reasons people treat it as a destination rather than a random drink stop. If a match is not already on a screen, they will often put it on if you ask. That combination of bikes, beer, bands, and big-screen sport is the formula that has kept it going for 22-plus years.
Handlebar is not trying to reinvent Makati nightlife. It is a long-running Polaris Street institution that still delivers cold beer, grilled food, live music, and sports in a biker-bar setting. If that is what you are looking for, it remains one of the more dependable addresses in the area.
Handlebar
Address: 31 Polaris Street, Bel-Air, Makati, Manila.
Phone: (02) 8898-1976.
Official hours are Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., though Sunday closing can run earlier on some listings and holidays or major events can change the plan.
Reservations are worth making for live-music nights or big games; call, email, or message their Facebook page. The website is www.handlebar.com.ph.
Who it suits: people who want a classic Makati bar rather than a new concept restaurant. It works for watching sport with a group, a casual steak-and-beer dinner, or a night with a cover band. It is less ideal if you want quiet, refined plating, or a smoke-free boutique cocktail room. Google ratings hover around 4.3 from a large review base, which matches the overall picture: reliable, characterful, and popular with the crowd it was built for.
