On the night of the Michelin Awards, we entered BOLERO MANILA, unaware that it would soon be honored with a Bib Gourmand distinction ,and that this very evening would ignite a passion project: the quest to experience all 108 Michelin-recognized restaurants in the Philippines in 12 months
We visited Bolero Manila on October 30, perfect timing, because it had just snagged a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and after our meal, it was crystal clear why. Bolero balances that sweet spot between elegance and ease: chic interiors, a polished vibe, and a bar that absolutely owns the room.
We started with cocktails. The Flirtation Twist (₱390) was a seductive mix of ripe berries, subtle spice, Borbeiri Aperol, strawberry purée, lemon, cinnamon syrup, sweet vermouth, cava, raspberry syrup, and cherry brune. Smooth, aromatic, refined—exactly the kind of drink that makes you linger.
The Pristine Piña (₱490) took us somewhere tropical: coconut & banana–infused rum, milk wash, lemon, pineapple jam, and a coconut rim. Bright, silky, and unexpectedly elegant.
Then came the dishes highly recommended by the restaurant …
Chipa Buns P270
Our culinary journey at Bolero began with their Chipa buns—a nod to the traditional South American snack of small, baked cheese buns. Bolero’s interpretation elevates the classic: made with cassava flour, a trio of cheeses—Gruyère, Parmesan, and goat cheese—and enriched with sun-dried tomatoes, these buns are at once savory, aromatic, and irresistibly chewy
Creamy Sweet & Sour Tomato Salad P590
I never imagined that a simple tomato salad could captivate me , yet this one did so with disarming ease. The creamy sweet-and-sour tomatoes (₱590) arrived beneath a bright yellow-orange gazpacho foam which when gently parted revealed its hidden ingredients – pickled tomatoes bursting with bright, precise acidity; crisp pangrattato adding subtle, toasty depth; briny fried capers offering sharp counterpoints; cool, clean cucumber; and the natural sweetness of fresh tomatoes. Simple yet sublimely elegant.This is a dish I would eagerly return for.
Signature Potato Fries (P690)
Bolero’s take on patatas bravas elevates the classic to an entirely new register. Their layered confit potato millefeuille, finished with parmesan, is exquisitely crisp, deeply savory, and undeniably moreish—the kind of potato fries that spoils all others by comparison. Think potato pavé, but taken a few degrees further in refinement and indulgence.
Charcoal Grilled Lasagna P990
We were particularly intrigued by the charcoal-grilled lasagna (₱990)—a minimalist construction of two delicate sheets layered with roasted bolognese, salsa verde, and béchamel. I was prepared to dismiss it as a culinary novelty, yet the gentle smokiness imparted by the grill transformed the familiar into something unexpectedly nuanced, elevating its flavors with quiet sophistication.
Roasted Tuna Belly P1590
For the second entree, we had the roasted tuna belly.
Think sumac-roasted, imparting a bright, lemony tang. Then accompanied by a creamy romesco, which added a subtle, smoky nuttiness to the dish. To tie all the flavors together , there was yogurt and nuoc cham. The tuna itself was cooked just so , that it remained delicate and succulent, each bite revealing a harmonious interplay of freshness and richness.
Award -winning Spain cheesecake P590
And dessert? A must! Their award-winning Spanish cheesecake (₱590) is silky, slightly runny, and tastes like a first-class ticket straight to the Basque Country.
Total bill: ₱5,330 for two (₱2,665 each).
A Bib Gourmand experience worth the price
Though the prices might give pause, each dish at Bolero quietly asserts its worth, fully justifying the Bib Gourmand distinction it received.
The sunlit gazpacho-foamed tomato salad, the sumac-roasted tuna belly, the smoky grilled lasagna, and the indulgent Spanish cheesecake unfold like chapters in a story of flavor—meticulous, deliberate, and deeply satisfying. In a space where elegance meets warmth, and cocktails charm as much as the cuisine, Bolero demonstrates that true value is measured not in cost, but in the artistry, care, and lingering memories a meal can create
Bolero fits the Bib Gourmand ethos not because it’s inexpensive, but because it offers elevated cuisine at a price that still feels fair for what you receive. Value, in this case, is measured not just in pesos—but in experience.
Elegant, flavorful, and thoughtfully curated—Bolero Manila shows that value is as much about what stays with you as what you spend.
Pigoutmanila 