Nightlife MNL: Manila Gin Festival, Plus 9 More Hot Events

Another weekend in Manila is upon us and this spells for a jam-packed schedule of happy hour and cocktail nights, fresh raves and club nights, and dinners and food pop-ups you must not miss. We saved you the stress of planning your weekend with our rundown of the best nightlife events you cannot miss.

To keep your finger on the pulse of the city, follow The Beat Manila to see what’s best in store for nightlife and partying in the city from this Friday to next Thursday.  

1. Holiday Weekend Kick-off Party with Eva Le Queen & The Nectarines

“Drag Race Philippines” Season 1 contestant and Singapore’s “Drag It Out All Stars” first runner up, Eva Le Queen, is also a performer and drag hostess at Nectar Bar. This coming Friday, it’s time to let your hair down and party like a drag queen.

Dubbed “your cool tita,” Eva and The Nectarines will be performing with special guests, The Escandalo Boys. For table reservations, you may DM Nectar of Manila on Instagram or contact +639175428831.

When: 10:30 PM, April 21 

Where: Nectar Nightclub, The Fort Strip, 5th Avenue, Corner 26th Street, Taguig City

How much: P1,500 (inclusive of three drink tickets); P7,500-P15,000 (table rates)

2. Manila Gin Festival

Cheers to the biggest gin party in Manila this year! The Manila Gin Festival returns to bring the most renowned and beloved gin brands in the world. This event will be filled with gin tastings, masterclasses, live musical entertainment, and artisan pop-up food stalls. 

The festival is a three-day event, with sessions in the afternoon and at night. Each ticket includes single session admission, a Manila Gin Festival gin and tonic glass, free sampling of over 45 different gins, and two premium drink tokens. Get your tickets here.

When: 6 PM-11 PM, April 21-22

Where: BGC High Street Amphitheater, 7th Avenue, BGC, Taguig City

How much: P1,249-P1,499 (discounted tickets offered while supplies last); P2,000 (regular price)

3. Phum Viphurit Asia and Oceania Tour 2023 in Manila

Thai singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit is about to make summer in Manila sweeter as he will be performing indie pop music from his recently released album “The Greng Jai Piece.”

As part of his Asia and Oceania Tour 2023, he will be doing back-to-back shows at three separate Ayala malls in the city, where he will serenade his devoted Filipino fanbase. Some of his most popular songs are “Lover Boy,” “Wings,” “Hello, Anxiety,” “Softly Spoken,” and “Strange Land,” among others. 

To learn more about how to redeem tickets, read the complete mechanics here.

When: 7 PM, April 21-22

Where: Activity Center, Glorietta; Ayala Malls, Manila Bay; Activity Center, Market! Market!

How much: P2,000 worth of single purchase receipt

4. ‘Tumindig at Umibig: Walang Aray’

Want to add a musical production to your weeknight plans?

Check out PETA’s all-original musical “Walang Aray,” featuring Star Magic artists KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad, who will play Tenyong and Julia. On the other hand, seasoned actors Gio Gahol and Marynor Madamesila, as well as Jon and Shaira, will also be part of the cast.

“Walang Aray” is about literature and history that uses modern language with a blend of funk and pop tunes, clever subversions, and tongue-in-cheek humor to tell a story in a new and entertaining way.

When: 8 PM, April 21-23

Where: PETA Theater, 5 Sunnyside Drive, New Manila, Quezon City 

How much: P1,200-P2,500 via TicketWorld

5. Circus Music Festival 2023

#SupportOPM! Legendary rock icons such as Parokya Ni Edgar, Ebe Dancel, Gloc-9, Aia De Leon, Kamikazee, Ben&Ben, and more are set to perform at the Circus Music Festival.

It will be a full blast music festival along with the top local apparel brands like Francis M Clothing Co., HGHMNDS, Linya Linya, Toyo Wear, and Offset, to name a few.

Tickets are available for cash on delivery with a shipping fee of P100 (Metro Manila only), while those outside Metro Manila may vary depending on the rate charged via Lalamove or Grab. Buy your tickets here.

When: April 22

Where: Circuit Makati Event Grounds, Riverfront Drive, Makati City

How much: P999-P2,999

6. ‘Season of Love: Love In The Air’ Fan Meeting

“Love in the Air” is a Thai BL series that follows the lives of two architecture college students as they search for and ultimately find their “true love.”

If you are enamored with this beautiful love story and ship for BossNoeul (Payu and Rain) and FortPeat (Prapai and Sky), you shouldn’t miss out on their upcoming fan meeting in Manila this Saturday. For more information, go here.

When: 5 PM-9:30 PM, April 22

Where: SM North EDSA Skydome, North Avenue, Quezon City

How much: P3,500-P12,500 via Wish Us Luck

7. PowerPoint Party #05

“Palakasan ‘to ng trip!” Imagine TEDxTalk where all the speakers are tipsy.

If you’re seeking extra fun than usual this weekend, then PowerPoint Party #05 is for you. This exciting event is organized like a classroom setup, and speakers will each have a PowerPoint presentation to accompany their discussion of whatever topic they want (subject to moderator’s approval, of course).

You may also bring index cards like you would for a class recitation, dress up as if you were presenting your final thesis defense, or any kind of gimmick that you believe is fun for the party. Just don’t forget your PowerPoint presentation.

The participation fee for speakers is priced at P450, which includes two tickets and two bottles of beer. Speakers must take a shot of alcohol prior to presenting their PowerPoint, and each of them has a maximum of 10 minutes to speak. However, there is a drinking penalty for those who go overtime. The maximum overtime is five minutes. Get your tickets here.

When: 8 PM, April 22

Where: 2 Scout Rallos Corner, Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City

How much: P250 (inclusive of one bottle of beer)

8. “Dick Talk”

“A theatrical play about dicks, for those who have dicks, for those who want to have dicks, and for those who love them.”

This theater production aims to spark enlightening and provocative discussions on how male genitalia, masculinity, and manhood impact relationships between people of all genders. It will debunk stereotypes and put aside antiquated ideas about defining masculinity.

Seasoned thespian Archi Adamos will join the show, as well as promising and fast-rising artists Gold Aceron and Mikoy Morales, upcoming actor, transgender man Nil Nodalo, and critically acclaimed and versatile actor Jake Cuenca, who will perform their respective monologues on dicks.

When: 8 PM, Until April 23

Where: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Theater, Makati City 

How much: P2,060-P3,759.50 via TicketWorld

9. Gig: Gloc-9, Greyhoundz, Shanti Dope, Chocolate Factory

Four bands in one epic night! Wrap up your weekend with OPM and jam live to the music of Gloc-9, Greyhoundz, Shanti Dope, and Chocolate Factory at 12 Monkeys Music Hall & Pub.

The gig starts between 9:30 PM and 10 PM and we highly recommend booking a table reservation to fully enjoy the show. The pub also serves dinner in case you find yourself feeling peckish during or after the jam session.

For inquiries, contact +639175703222 between 1 PM and 1 AM, Tuesday to Sunday.

When: Starts at 9:30 PM, April 23 

Where: 12 Monkeys Music Hall & Pub, G/F Estancia Mall, North Wing, Capitol Commons, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

How much: P1,000 (door charge)

10. United at The Palace: A Fundraising Series

The Palace Manila is hosting a fundraising series featuring personalized shows produced by their resident DJs. Proceeds of the virtual clubbing will be donated to all COVID-19 efforts of UNICEF Philippines.

The campaign started on April 17 and will run for two weeks (until April 30). Partygoers can make their nightlife worthwhile by clicking the donate button when the Facebook live show begins. Don’t miss out on the set of your favorite DJs at The Palace Manila, including Ace Ramos, Marc Naval, Mohit Alamchandani, DJ Euric, Kat DJ, and Martin Pulgar, to name a few.

When: Starts at 9 PM, Until April 30 

Where: The Palace Manila Facebook page

How much: N/A

Promote your upcoming event now! Click here to submit your event and have it considered for inclusion in our upcoming coverage and newsletters.