About +81 Bar — The Story, Values & Philosophy

Our Beginning

Built for a Different Kind of Night Out

+81 Bar was born from a desire to create something Makati didn't have — a space where the energy of the music, the craft of the cocktail, and the quality of the food existed at the same level, in service of the same purpose: a genuinely great shared experience.

We chose Makati Cinema Square deliberately. Hidden below street level, tucked behind a toy shop façade, UG-1 is a space that rewards the curious. You have to want to find it. And those who do tend to understand what it is they're looking for.

Since opening in late 2024, we have welcomed over 10,500 followers on Instagram, hosted more than 50 events, and earned the kind of regulars who bring their friends and call this their place. That community is the whole point.

"Curated, not crowded. Craft without compromise. Every detail matters."

What We Stand For

The Principles That Guide Us

Five values shape every decision we make — from the music we play to the way we pour a drink.

Ichigo Ichie

One time, one meeting. The Japanese concept that reminds us every night together is unrepeatable. We treat it that way — in every cocktail, every set, every interaction.

Curated, Not Crowded

We keep tables limited by design. A smaller room means more intentional energy. Everyone who walks in was meant to be there. That exclusivity creates warmth, not distance.

Craft Without Compromise

Every cocktail is considered. Every dish is designed. The +81 Smoke Sirloin Burger has a limited daily run because we refuse to make it at scale. Quality over quantity, every time.

Music as Architecture

The playlist isn't background noise — it is the structure of the experience. Our DJs build the atmosphere the way an architect builds a room: with intention, proportion, and a sense of arrival.

Community Over Hype

We are not chasing trends or rushing to scale. We are building a community of regulars who bring their people and call this their place. Loyal, curious, and genuinely good company.

Cultural Collision

Japanese flavors meet Filipino warmth. Techno meets R&B. Speakeasy discretion meets genuine hospitality. The tensions and contrasts at +81 are the point — they create something entirely our own.

The Journey

How We Got Here

Mid 2024

The Build-Out Begins

The UG-1 space at Makati Cinema Square is transformed from concept to reality. The speakeasy entrance — disguised as a toy shop — is installed. Every detail of the interior, from the lighting to the bar layout, is considered for the kind of night we wanted to create.

Late 2024

Soft Open

+81 Bar quietly opens its doors. No big launch. No PR push. Word spreads through the people who find it — and those who find it tell exactly the right people. The community begins to take shape organically.

Oct 2024

Halloween at +81

Our first major themed event. The bar transforms completely — and sells out. The energy of a fully committed crowd filling a hidden underground space confirms what we always believed: this community knows how to celebrate.

Feb 2025

Galentine's Night

A night designed entirely for women, by a team that understood what they wanted: great drinks, great music, a space that felt safe and electric at the same time. One of our most successful events to date.

Mar 2025

10K Followers · Klangnacht · Sushi Taco Launch

Three milestones in one month. The @speakingof81 Instagram crosses 10,000 followers. Klangnacht — our most ambitious music event — brings a new level of DJ talent to the floor. And the Crunchy Sushi Taco collection launches to immediate acclaim.

Apr 2025

PASSAGE x +81

Our first major brand collaboration. PASSAGE and +81 create a night that blends both communities — a collision of cultures, sounds, and aesthetics that confirms +81 as a genuine cultural venue, not just a bar.

Finding Us

The Art of Getting Here

Part of the +81 experience begins before you even sit down. Getting here is deliberate.

Head to Makati Cinema Square via the Fernando Street entrance. Walk underground to UG-1. You will pass what looks like a toy shop. Look closer. The entrance to +81 Bar is hidden behind it.

If you get lost, message us on WhatsApp at 0962-969-2794 and we will guide you in.

Get Directions Message Us

About +81