Ibiza Beach Club Opens in Bonifacio Global City
The best of both worlds in dining and entertainment has finally arrived as Ibiza Beach Club opens in Bonifacio Global City. One of Cebu’s most popular and fashionable hotspots has made its way from Mactan to Manila as Ibiza Beach Club brings its vision of a total lifestyle dining experience to Manila's hottest business and lifestyle district. The Hungry Kat was invited to check out this sparkling new dining destination which is destined to be one of the most talked-about venues in the months to come.
Ibiza Beach Club emulates the vibe of Eivissa in Spain, a place where one could let loose while remaining elegant and refined. I had my first Ibiza Beach Club experience during my stay in Mövenpick Hotel Mactan in Cebu a few years ago where I feasted on their Churrasco buffet while partying with drinks and live entertainment. Now, I don’t have to go all the way to Cebu to experience that fun and energetic vibe once again as Ibiza Beach Club BGC opened its doors last April 16, 2017 at the 6th level of the new W City Centre, a 29-storey office tower along 7th Avenue right next to Bonifacio High Street.
The massive 1,000-seater flagship restaurant occupies the entire level and this is by far the biggest and grandest dining and entertainment hub I have ever seen in Manila. Ibiza Beach Club is a brand unique to the Philippines, conceived and established by award-winning vintner, entrepreneur, and prominent tourism player, Manny Osmeña. The 4,000-sqm Ibiza BGC reported cost P300 Million to complete is divided into several sophisticated and stylish sections surrounded by plush seats and enticing lounges with a view of the Center Stage and its outstanding nightly performances.
The vision that is Ibiza Beach Club was embodied and distilled by the country's premier designers - Ivy and Cynthia Almario, Manny Samson and Fred Valdes. These inimitable creative minds forged the brand's unmistakable visual DNA from the vision of Manny O., as he is fondly called. Guest Service Officers are in Cary Santiago, while Service Attendants' uniforms are designed by fashion biggest names as well.
The indoor bar, as well as the restaurant interiors, are designed with clean white and pastel colors, adding to the relaxed and playful ambiance where guests can unwind and chill out during their lunch break or after a tiring workday.
Ibiza BGC also has an al fresco area suited for events and parties, especially with its water features and pool club vibe similar to their Mactan property. While you won’t be able to see the beach from here, the gentle breeze and panoramic view of the city skyline also creates a unique Ibiza atmosphere.
They even have a giant jacuzzi in another area where guests can actually take a dip! Showers and changing rooms are accessible right here so you can jump inside the water and then head over for dinner a few minutes after.
But what sets Ibiza Beach Club apart from other dining venues is the quality of entertainment and themed shows they offer for guests to enjoy while leisurely dining. The restaurant showcases nightly performances by the Ibiza Beach Club Show Team, composed of budding Filipino artists, featuring a 45-minute visual treat with live singing and dancing to retro pop, disco and Latin music, as well as Broadway and movie musical sequences alongside daring exhibitions. A showband, featured artists or DJs also take the stage during evenings. Everyone can chill out to the music as they dine, dance or drink throughout the night until closing time.
With its vision of Lifestyle Dining + Unrivalled Entertainment, Ibiza Beach Club is also an ideal place to host special events and gatherings. Its dynamic team is ready to cater to your needs and make sure every last detail is taken care of when organizing your successful event. All packages can be individually tailored to your requirements, from the essentials to added premiums.
Since we came during lunch time, we were not able to witness their musical performances on Center Stage, but we were there for something even better. Ibiza BGC also brings to Manila the restaurant's Balearic-inspired, Signature 15-Course Grill! This epicurean specialty features an unending array of meat and seafood basted with Balearic sauces and marinades, with a twist of Asian sensibilities from the restaurant’s original secret flavouring.
Little Skyler, also known as The Food Alphabet, Jr., gamely dressed for the occasion and was ready with his Ibiza-inspired beach attire!
We ordered a few beverages and cocktails to make our lunch even livelier. I had the Pineapple, Banana, Apple & Coconut Milk Smoothie (P390) for myself but one of their signature drinks is the Ibiza Sour (P450) which is highly recommended.
The 15-course grill starts with unlimited servings from the Salad Bar. This includes breads like their Pao de Quejo cheese bread, macaroni, and an entire spread of greens and ingredients to complement your plate. You can also opt for a serving of Caesar Salad instead if you want something fancier. This is topped with garlic-anchovy dressing plus parmesan and bacon bits.
The best thing about the 15-Course Balearic Grill at Ibiza BGC is that diners don’t even have to stand up as roving chefs will serve them with freshly cooked, a la minute variety of meat cuts, slicing them off a long skewer and directly onto their plates. The kitchen at Ibiza BGC uses grills from Scheer Brazil, the leading producer of the world's best grills for over 20 years which gives the utmost quality.
Our first course was the grilled Chicken Thigh lined up nicely on the skewer. The chicken was grilled perfectly, with a slight charring outside but tender and juicy meat inside.
The U.S. Angus Fillet Mignon was a sight to behold with its salty bacon strips rolled over flavorful Angus beef. It’s impossible to have just one piece so I asked the server for a few more rounds after he finished serving the others.
Seafood is also part of the 15-course grill and it starts with some grilled Salmon and Jumbo Prawns that everyone was raving about. I love prawns so this menu is really so good for me because I can have everything I want without even having to leave the table.
Other seafood items included were the Calamari and the Catch of the Day which for today was Parrot Fish. You don’t have to eat all of the dishes offered, but everything is just so delicious and it will be difficult to resist getting all of them.
The meats are still the favorites at the Signature 15-Course Grill and you can also have Baby Back Ribs and Beef Short Ribs, to name a few. The menu is extensive so make sure to allot a couple of hours for lunch or dinner to enjoy this Balearic-inspired feast.
The New Zealand Lamb Chops were also one of the favorites as these are served hot off the grill. The lamb is not gamey at all and one of my friends (ehem, Mr. Jeng) even finished four whole servings of these.
But the highlight of any buffet or smorgasbord is always the steak. The U.S. Angus Ribeye Steak is simply outstanding as the server cuts off slice after slice of tender and flavorful beef. If you like your steak more well done, then ask to be served the outer layers with its seared portions. But if you want your steak rare then go for the inner parts with its reddish meat.
A welcome change from all the grilled meats is the Crispy Pork Belly with its deep fried pork belly served with soy sauce. This Filipino classic always gets the job done wherever it is served.
For those who want something exotic, have some of the Ostrich Meat which is served somewhat rare. Ostrich meat is low in cholesterol so it is actually a healthier alternative to beef. If you haven’t eaten ostrich meat yet, then this would be a great time to try it for yourself.
The 15-course grill ends with its speciality dessert, the signature Queen Pineapple. This whole pineapple is roasted with cinnamon sugar and served with honey, fresh yogurt and crushed nuts. It was a surprising dish as the sweet cinnamon and honey blended well with the acidity of the caramelized pineapple.
The Balearic-inspired, signature 15-course grill is being offered at P2,500++ per person. Guests can also add P600++ for an unlimited serving of the award-winning Manny O. Wines. Ibiza BGC also offers an Executive Lunch Set from 11:00am to 2:00pm priced at P1,000 nett. This includes unlimited servings from the Salad Bar, a Soup, a Side Dish, and a Plated Main Course with one entrée from the seven premium meats and seafood from the Balearic grill plus the Signature Queen Pineapple for dessert. They even have an Early and Late Seating Special Lunch Set priced at only P500.00 nett for guests who come in between 11:00am to 12:30pm or 1:30pm to 2:00pm with a more limited selection for the main course. The restaurant has an a la carte and Tapas Menu as well.
But the best way to cap off any meal at Ibiza BGC is with their imported Mövenpick Ice Cream. The Swiss brand’s world-renowned collection of ice cream creations are some of the highest quality you can find anywhere in the world with its rich and creamy consistency and flavours that bursts with every mouthful. The latest collection features eight flavours with best sellers such as Espresso Croquant, the most refined interpretation of the classic roast theme with aromatic coffee sauce; Maple Walnut, perfected by genuine Canadian maple syrup and the sweetness and crunch of caramelized walnuts; and Caramelita, a creamy perfection folded with a caramel ripple and punctuated with sweet fragments of caramel. These are all available for P350 per scoop.
Ibiza Beach Club BGC is sure to set a new landmark in Manila for its unrivalled combination of dining and entertainment all in one spectacular venue. Evenings will certainly getting hotter as Ibiza Beach Club brings the sizzling party atmosphere of Spain to Bonifacio Global City.
Ibiza Beach Club BGC
7th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
755-1777 / (0917) 633-7499
www.ibizabeachclub.global
www.facebook.com/ibizabeachclubbgc
