Love by Design: 6 Best Restaurants for Valentine’s Dates According to PH Architects
With Valentine’s Day soon upon us, restaurants that provide an exquisite dining experience fit for the occasion are once again on the spotlight. Apart from the delectable menu, they also need an ambiance to match. Who else to ask for recommendations on the best spots that meet these requirements than architects themselves? Not only can they help you discover potentially new fare and flavors to fall in love with. You can be sure that their picks also showcase gorgeous interiors or breathtaking views (or both!) that will make you and your date swoon.
That said, if you still haven’t settled on a place that will satiate you and your partner’s love for great food and heart-stopping design, here are six spots that will prove perfect for the entire Valentine’s season. Or any special occasion, in fact!
Antonio’s (Tagaytay)
In terms of design and architecture elements of the restaurant, which detail/s is/are your favorite/s?
The architecture in Antonio’s pays homage to traditional Filipino Architecture, making use of elements such as wooden shutters, patterned tiles, and Heirloom furniture pieces. My favorite detail would be how the structures wrap around the lush tropical gardens. It recreates a Filipino Eden of sorts.
How do you think its design complements or enhances the mood for the Valentine’s season?
The design complements Valentine’s season because of the thoughtful details in every corner of the restaurant, they create a cozy atmosphere, that in tandem with the soft lighting for an evening dinner definitely sets the mood for romance.
Lastly, what are your food and drink recommendations from these restaurants?
I believe everyone has a personal favorite in the Antonios, but a stand out to me has always been their Dark Chocolate Dairy Free Iced Cream. I observe a dairy-free diet and this is a treat like no other!
Sirena Restaurant & Clifftop Bar (Shangri-La Boracay)
In terms of design and architecture elements of the restaurant, which detail/s is/are your favorite/s?
Sirena, ambient lighting and good acoustics of a restaurant are very important. Sound barriers and sound absorptive surfaces are great. I particularly enjoy the Al-Fresco feel or bringing the outdoors in through plants.
How do you think its design complements or enhances the mood for the Valentine’s season?
The ambient lighting makes everyone look more dashing and lovely.
Lastly, what are your food and drink recommendations from these restaurants?
I have always loved the Sirena Lobster Bisque & Butterfly King Prawns at Sirena.
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Toyo Eatery (Makati)
In terms of design and architecture elements of the restaurant, which detail/s is/are your favorite/s?
I would recommend Toyo Eatery because of how they present local flavor and culture. They blend together local ingredients to come up with exciting, mouthful bursts of flavor in each bite. I like the simple concrete, black, wood, and warm lighting of the place. I also like the open kitchen and that there is outdoor seating as well. I also like that the servers are very interactive and they explain each course. The stories complement the design of the space as it turns into a multi-sensory experience. Of course, the company is a plus too. The place is really cozy and intimate, especially at night.
How do you think its design complements or enhances the mood for the Valentine’s season?
The seating can be arranged and a table for two is cozy and intimate. The mood lighting also has a nice play with light and shadows. We’ve been celebrating anniversaries and birthdays here so it’s definitely tried and tested.
Lastly, what are your food and drink recommendations from these restaurants?
I would recommend getting the degustation course for a special occasion. They usually pick out dishes depending on the availability of ingredients so there are some staples such as the barbecues. But overall, the food changes, so every trip to Toyo is a different and exciting experience. I would also recommend getting the pairing of beverages they offer to go with each plate. The combination of exquisite artistic food and craft beverages is excellent as well.
Blackbird at the Nielson Tower (Makati)
In terms of design and architecture elements of the restaurant, which detail/s is/are your favorite/s?
It is more of the combination of the following: historical architecture, nature, location, and the park-like setting, that somehow creates its own very tiny bubble of genus loci (spirit of the place). Nielson Tower is probably the only pre-war building in the Makati CBD within one of the few parks in the city. If I am not mistaken, a table at the control tower can be reserved and that provides you a romantic venue, as the intimate space is surrounded by glass windows, around you are the treetops of Ayala Triangle.
How do you think its design complements or enhances the mood for the Valentine’s season?
Blackbird restaurant uses Art Deco Style to resonate with the building’s history. It was done in a very clean and sleek fashion that somehow made the style contemporary. What makes this special is that you rarely find a setting like this in the CBD filled with high-rise structures. It is our humble version of the restaurants in NYC’s Central Park. The Nielson Tower provides you an authentic heritage building, adaptively re-used for a modern but cozy dining experience, surrounded by nature, nestled in the heart of a financial district, like a special gem in the city. If you put it that way, I am sure your date will feel special!
Lastly, what are your food and drink recommendations from these restaurants?
I like Blackbird’s Spiced Grilled Chicken and Yellow Dahl with Basmati.
Gallery by Chele (Makati)
In terms of design and architecture elements of the restaurant, which detail/s is/are your favorite/s?
Gallery by Chele is really a sensorial experience, having an urban garden as part of the dining experience.
How do you think its design complements or enhances the mood for the Valentine’s season?
Like Blackbird, Gallery by Chele has a nice ambiance for intimate occasions. It has a different approach with a more fun casual engaging dining. Apart from the organic touches of wood textures in the interiors, bespoke organic plates, art installations, and it has a romantic viewing deck with views of BGC.
Lastly, what are your food and drink recommendations from this restaurant?
You can start and open your palate by ordering a very innovative cocktail called “Shitake” – a delicious gin-based concoction of mushroom-infused with honey to have that umami and savory flavors. They used Proclamation Gin, a local handcrafted gin that uses Sampaguita (our national heritage flower) but with toasted sticky rice smooth undertones that is simply delicious. Regular menus have an amazing degustation that gives you that journey of anthropological cuisine. But during this love season, you should order their Valentine Feast: a multi-course experience with lots of premium ingredients and includes one of my favorite lobster dishes.
M Dining and Txanton (Makati)
In terms of design and architecture elements of the restaurant, which detail/s is/are your favorite/s?
M Dining & Txanton are on the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Manila. The Bar is probably my favorite place to be at M Dining. Its long counter, the deep burgundy color of the room, and dramatically lit liquor display highlight every liquor bottle you can imagine. Behind the long line of liquors is a sleek bronze mirror wall that provides a sense of space and transparency, giving you a glimpse of what’s happening in the main dining behind. This long bar is softened by Mayfair hanging pendant lamps which casts an indirect light and glow that makes M Bar inviting, warm, and visually appealing.
How do you think its design complements or enhances the mood for the Valentine’s season?
The main dining of Txanton has a completely different aesthetic, with its twin solid oak tables and matching oak bench nestled on the main open dining area. This is complemented with oak wine display cabinetry that surrounds the entire space. It has a very informal and relaxed aesthetic.
Lastly, what are your food and drink recommendations from these restaurants?
On top of the excellent cuisine prepared by Chef Tom of M Dining and Chef Justo of Txanton, top-notch wine list, and the great service of their staff, the interior architecture of both restaurants completes the overall experience of anyone who dines there. Each restaurant offers a different ambiance, but both certainly deliver a special experience. For M Dining, a few of my favorite dishes are the Spaghetti Bottarga, the Roasted Pork Belly, and the CAB Prime steak. For Txanton, you can’t go wrong with the Huevos Rotos con Jamon with Bellota, Secreto Iberico, and the Txuleton. Both restaurants boast of an impeccable wine list!
