La Casa Del Habano, reimagining nightlife in Makati City
Ayala Triangle seems to be experiencing a renaissance as it breathes new life and adventure to Makati’s central business district. People thought, myself included, that upon the initial closure of the park, things will go south possibly depriving us a touch of nature amid the hustle and bustle of the city. However, upon the completion of the garden renovation along with the surrounding landscapes, the entire vicinity evolved into this modern and functional architectural gem.
Collection of vintage lighters along the entrance of La Casa Del Habano
I see lots of people jogging around the place, and it feels like the old and the new intertwines into this beautiful nostalgic scenery. This explains why, when I got an invitation to check out La Casa Del Habano, and upon learning that it is residing in Ayala Gardens Tower, I took that excuse to visit the area once more.
Other vintage collections displayed right at the entrance of the place
As briefly mentioned earlier, the people behind Ayala Gardens Tower managed to engineer its structure and landscape to house pockets of breathable spaces. Hence, those who want to take a breather and escape the mundane can take a stroll and idly let the tension dissipate. Anyway, we shall be focusing more on La Casa Del Habano as this is what this article is mostly about, but later you'll understand why it was relevant to bring up Ayala Triangle in general.
La Casa Del Habano - a hidden sanctuary in Makati
Housed on the second floor of The Shops (just beside Ruby Jack’s), this sanctuary is tucked almost invisibly at one corner. It easily misses the eye, and I needed to do a double take just to make sure that the door I’m entering into is indeed La Casa Del Habano.
Once you see these displays of vintage collections, you are in the right establishment
Do you know Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? Particularly the scene at the start wherein they enter a seemingly small tent, and once they went in, it was so much larger inside, complete with full furniture. That was how I felt upon entering. It's bewildering how a narrow passage actually leads to this huge space.
La Casa Del Habano as cultural spice amid the “old Makati”
Makati has evolved overtime, and just like its predecessor such as Escolta and Malate, it started to fade into the background, overshadowed by its younger contemporaries such as Taguig, particularly BGC. Needless to say, Makati is considerably old. However, old is not something to be taken negatively. Well, not in this case. In fact, old makes a classic, and when something is considered a classic, it sets up an opportunity to introduce novelty or innovation. This is something that La Casa Del Habano gives — a cultural spice to reinvigorate Makati as a “bagong luma” especially when it comes to life after office.
Intimately cozy, elegant yet with humility
The air in La Casa del Habano is surely sophisticated, but as soon as you acquiesce yourself with the place, the glass of intimidation quickly melds away. Soon, you’ll feel the generous warmth and intimacy of its coziness.
As I dwell longer in the den-like atmosphere, I begin to further appreciate the rustic and old-fashioned elements imbued upon the interior of the place. As I swirl a glass of cocktail, my mind drifts back into old movies as I look at this particular corner (see photo below).
A corner reminiscent of 60s or 70s drama or action movies
The bar area has a touch of gold giving delicate luminescence
More than just drinks - it’s an experience, a sensual one
The drinks at La Casa del Habano are carefully curated with their specific intentions. All elements are intricately thought of, and will rouse multiple senses. Take for example one of its signature drinks, Smoky Godfather. It’s not just a drink. It’s an experience. The moment it is freed from its glass enclosure, a mist of smoked cedar wood dissipates playfully in the air which then briefly tussles your olfactory sense. As you reach for the ice-cold glass, a sudden jolt dances through your fingers. This culminates into a kiss followed by a soothing warmth of the concoction. It was so good, that I still remember the sensations up to this moment.
A cedar wood is smoked and then enclosed in a glass enclosure before serving the Smoky Godfather
Aside from the Smoky Godfather, La Casa Del Habano carries other wide range of beverages including wines, spirits, cocktails and etc. The options are wide enough to cater to specific occasion or preferences.
Espresso Martini (left) and Habano Sour (right)
If you happen to be working in Makati, or want to experience a unique unwinding experience, I highly recommend that you check out La Casa Del Habano. You’ll only get to understand what I meant by the things I wrote here if you live that experience yourself.
La Casa Del Habano is located at the second floor of The Shops, Ayala Gardens Tower, beside Ruby Jack’s. It is also non-conventionally accessible through the jogger’s ramp along the garden trail.
