Tucked away on C. Palanca Street in Legazpi Village, Makati, The Grasshopper Bar doesn’t need flashing lights or loud music to get your attention. It just needs a sip of its cocktails.
This is not your average Makati night-out spot. If you’re looking for a bar that doesn’t shout but instead quietly impresses, you’ve found it. The Grasshopper Bar is a place where the spotlight is on flavor, not flair—on ingredients, not gimmicks. From 5 PM to 2 AM daily, it invites guests into a different kind of bar experience, one where every drink and dish tells a story.
A Bar Without the Noise—Literally
Let’s start with the vibe. Walk in, and you’ll notice the calm. Music plays, but it doesn’t drown out conversation. The lighting is low, warm, and easy on the eyes. The space feels like a hidden lounge—one you don’t stumble into, but seek out.
There’s no oversized LED signage, no overly themed decor, no over-the-top glassware. Just an intimate space where attention goes to what’s in your glass and on your plate.
The Grasshopper Bar Approach: Ingredients First, Always
At the heart of The Grasshopper Bar is a philosophy that’s both simple and rare: let the ingredients do the talking.
Cocktails here are made with precision and curiosity. They’re built around native, often overlooked ingredients—things like asin tibuok (a traditional Filipino salt), gamet seaweed from Ilocos, biasong (a native lime from Visayas and Mindanao), and pili nut. These aren’t used as exotic gimmicks—they’re chosen for their character and how they fit into the drink’s story.
Signature Sips Worth Slowing Down For
One of the bar’s namesake drinks, the Grasshopper, is a comforting blend of crème de menthe, crème de cacao, cream, and nutmeg. It sounds simple, but it’s silky, cold, and perfectly balanced—not too sweet, not too heavy.
The Bendita layers guava with tequila, lime, kaffir, and that punchy asin tibuok. It’s fruity, but grounded, with a saltiness that makes the guava pop.
If you’re feeling adventurous, go for All That Glitters. It blends Japanese gin with gamet seaweed and cucumber—unusual on paper, but refreshing and savory in a way that makes total sense once you try it.
Then there’s Raw Remedy, a thoughtful combination of whisky, ginger honey, biasong liqueur, lemon, and coconut sabayon. It’s earthy, tangy, and soothing, almost like a bar’s take on a home remedy—if your home made remedies tasted this good.
From 5 to 8 PM: Tasting Menu Time
Before the bar hits full swing, there’s something special that happens from 5 PM to 8 PM—The Grasshopper Bar’s tasting menu.
Think of it as a warm-up for the night, or a light dinner with a twist. The six-course menu includes small but satisfying plates inspired by Filipino comfort food but reimagined. You might get kare-kare made with beef cheek in crispy golden bites, or chicken inasal done up in ways that surprise you.
Each course is designed to be paired with a drink, and the pacing is just right—slow enough to enjoy, fast enough to keep the evening moving. It’s a smart way to start your night, especially if you want a full experience of what the bar is about, beyond just cocktails.
Small Bites, Big Flavor
Even outside of the tasting menu, the food here goes beyond the usual bar fare.
The Kare Kare Balls are rich, crunchy, and peanutty, and make you wonder why more people haven’t tried turning kare-kare into bar snacks. The Sisig Nachos are bold and bright, with just the right balance of heat and crunch. And for dessert, the PB&J is nothing like the sandwich—it’s a play of textures and flavors: pili nut gelato, crepe crumb, peanut brittle dust, and frozen strawberry.
It’s these thoughtful touches that make The Grasshopper Bar more than just a place for drinks. It’s a place where food and drink are clearly given equal respect.
Not Loud, Just Good
The Grasshopper doesn’t try to be trendy. There are no “Instagram walls” here. But it has earned serious respect—Tatler named it one of the 20 Best Bars in the Philippines in 2025, and it’s clear why.
They’re not trying to be the biggest, the flashiest, or the most viral. They’re just quietly making some of the best drinks and food in the city, and doing it in a way that feels personal and warm.
Whether you’re a cocktail nerd, a foodie, or just someone who appreciates a bar that gets the details right, you’ll feel right at home here.
Final Sip
If you’re tired of loud bars with overpriced drinks and no soul, The Grasshopper Bar is your antidote. It’s quiet, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in Filipino flavor—without making a fuss about it. Come early for the tasting menu. Stay late for another round. Just don’t expect theatrics. Expect substance.
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