Ruby Wong's Godown: A Hidden Speakeasy Inside Admiral Hotel Manila
When I saw pictures of a new speakeasy inside Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery on social media, I immediately fell in love with its gorgeous designs and colorful interiors. I wanted to show it to some of my family when we had our reunion brunch at the Admiral Club a few months ago, but the problem was, I couldn't find it! I looked for it at the lobby and ground floor but there was no trace of it. Little did we know that we were actually standing right in front of its hidden entrance. So it was quite a treat when I was finally able to find and visit this hidden bar at the basement a few weeks ago.
This innocent-looking bookshelf at the lobby of Admiral Hotel Manila is the hidden gateway to a new speakeasy that will soon be Manila's guilty secret. We even took photos in front without realizing what it really was. So just find the handle somewhere on the bookshelf and open the door to the intriguing world of Ruby Wong’s Godown.
Head down to the basement where you will find not just a secret lounge, but also a very charming noodle house that will serve all your late-hour needs before or after your voyage to the bar.
Ruby Wong's Godown is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00pm to 1:00 am. Step inside this hidden and exotic locale that will transport you to another place and time.
Before you get to enter the speakeasy, you will pass through the Noodle Alley which looks likes you are somewhere in the streets of Old Shanghai. The restaurant offers a full Asian cuisine lineup for dinner or for late night snacks.
Lucky for us, the chef was more than ready to let us explore the various dishes and specialties they had, some of which are not even on the menu yet.
We started with the Honey Curry Lollipops, a sweet and savoury combination of crispy fried chicken that you can dip in the rich curry sauce.
Dimsum lovers should order the Golden Dimsum Basket (P880) with its colorful set of truffle hargao, shrimp and pork dumpling, scallop dumpling, and pumpkin dim sum served with soya and chili paste.
You can also just go for the simple Xiao Long Bao Basket if you want to enjoy more of this Shanghai specialty dumpling.
Noodle Alley is proud of its noodles so make sure to try the Chow Fun (P1580) with its crispy beef and flat rice noodles mixed with chili, garlic, and black pepper.
But if you really want to impress your guests, let them bring out the picture perfect Chow Mein. This crispy noodle dish literally stands on its own, chopsticks included. The sharing portion comes with an assortment of seafood and vegetables so it is actually an entire meal by itself.
Noodle Alley also offers main dishes on its menu so guests can enjoy a full dinner here. The Garlic Chili Tiger Prawns is so good, especially when you pair it with rice.
There's also the Canton Pork Connection (P1050) with its sweet and sour Kurobuta pork mixed with dragon fruit, peppers, and black vinegar. On the other hand, the Korean Fried Chicken with Honey Mustard Dip gives a different taste of Asia with its crispy double fried chicken.
All those main dishes will go well with the Yang Chow Fried Rice and the Kimchi Fried Rice, depending on your cuisine preference.
After that trip down the streets of Shanghai, it's now time to enter the side door and venture into the mysterious Ruby Wong's Godown. The very colorful bar calls out to its lost patrons who have seemingly stumbled into this hidden corner of the city.
I honestly believe that this is the most beautifully-designed bar and lounge in Metro Manila and it is getting more popular as more people get to discover it. Enjoy the wild ride with interactive and immersive entertainment, inventive bar bites and innovative mixology for the senses.
Aside from the bar area, the lounge comes with several semi private rooms that each offer a unique and distinct charm.
So who exactly is the mysterious Ruby Wong? The speakeasy comes with an elegant backstory for the illustrious Miss Ruby Wong who is known as a fixer of the sea, collecting stories, recipes, and friends from every culture.
I was surprised and happy to see Charles Lee, Chairman of Anchor Land Holdings which owns Admiral Hotel Manila. I first met Charles during his days managing Vikings Luxury Buffet which his family also owns and we have both come a long way.
So let's explore the many wonderful concoctions inside Ruby Wong's Godown. The Fiery Dragon (P500) is a magical interpretation with its mixture of Mezcal Durango, bell pepper cordial, fire water tincture, plus lime and grapefruit juice. The dragon exhales a puff of smoke and presents this chalice to its chosen warrior.
Another cool libation is the Green Opium Heaven (P800). This comes with jasmine-infused Roku, Tanqueray No. 10 gin, sage-infused Mancino Blanco, Kaffir tincture pandan, and a herb cigarette to complete the incantation.
The Queen's Fashion (P600) is a more laid-back and elegant cocktail. Ruby Wong's version of the Old Fashioned comes with butter corn washed Sazerac Rye, blossom syrup, vanilla tincture, and apricot.
As for me, I chose to partake of The Rising Sun (P1000) which has a combination of Yuzu Gin, Roku, Yume Hibiki, umashu, blossom bitters, lime, and annatto oil. These powerful cocktails together with the alluring setting makes this such a rich and memorable experience.
We would like to thank Ms. Katrina Nocom, Assistant Director for Marketing Communications at Admiral Hotel Manila for accompanying us on our journey here at Ruby Wong's Godown. I'm definitely planning a return trip here soon.
Ruby Wong's Godown
Basement, Admiral Hotel Manila, 2138 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila
