Podium Social Officially Opens at Level 6 of The Podium
The newest hangout spot in Ortigas is now officially open as Podium Social welcomes guests at Level 6 of the Podium Mall. We had a brief preview of Podium Social last month when Brotzeit Ortigas held its grand opening here, but now everyone can enjoy all the chic and cozy dining destinations that you can find on this "hidden" level at the Podium.
Podium mall goers sometimes skip visiting Level 6 at the topmost floor, but now there are five good reasons to explore this new area as Podium Social brings together some of the most exciting restaurants all in one fantastic venue. Celebrities, VIPs, and media guests were invited last June 26, 2025 to the Grand Launch of the Podium Social where everyone got to hop over, explore, and taste the featured specialties of each establishment in a gigantic food crawl.
Guests were given a map and a wristband which gave us access to all five restaurants at Podium Social. Each one offered a sample of their menu and beverages, so it was really a festive evening going around from one place to the next.
Along the way, cocktails and refreshments were also spread out along the floor. We started with some glasses of Chandon Garden Spritz then some Hennessy cocktails.
We were welcomed by Malvin Ang, owner of Brotzeit Philippines which we were happy to support once again with their newest branch opening here at Podium Social.
Brotzeit occupies the biggest area among the restaurants at Podium Social, and it is really well deserved as they continue to be the most popular German restaurant and beer garden in the country today.
I really love this new spacious branch which really feels more like a German beer hall that just a restaurant. The place gives a lot of good vibes and energy for the guests who want to relax and enjoy drinking and eating with their friends.
Brotzeit was conceived in Singapore in 2006 and now operates across the Asia Pacific region. It aims to introduce authentic Bavarian cuisine accompanied by world famous quality German beer in a chic and contemporary setting.
One great feature of Brotzeit Ortigas is their al fresco dining area which offers a great view of the Ortigas skyline.
For tonight's launch, Brotzeit gave guests a taste of German cuisine with their Assorted Sausage Bites, Pretzels, Brotzeit Brot, Kasespatzle or Cheese Spatzle Bites, and my favorite that night, the Smoked Salmon and Black Forest Rosti. These were served together with glasses of their Premium German beers.
After indulging in German delicacies, we hopped over next door to H Proper Coffee Roasters to try some of their offerings.
H Proper Coffee Roasters is a third-wave specialty café & roastery which started in Cagayan de Oro City and has now opened several branches in Metro Manila.
We tried a few of their samplers including the H Proper Bistro Sliders, Dragon Fruit and Malasugue Ceviche Bites, Sweet Potato Fries, and Croquets Fundidas. They also served some of their featured beverages like the Cold White Brew, Cold Black Brew, and Passionfruit Nitro Iced Tea.
Another restaurant which recently opened at Podium Social is Osteria Antica from the Wildflower Group.
Osteria Antica brings an authentic taste of Italy to the heart of Ortigas CBD. It offers beautifully designed interiors featuring distinct sections for formal dining, casual meals, and a welcoming bar, all complemented by stunning city views.
Savor handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and fine Italian wines in an inviting space designed for every occasion. They offered their Sausage and Margherita Pizza plus a sample of their Agnolotti Pasta for guests that evening.
One of the most exciting new restaurants to open in Makati is Restaurant Aurora owned by Divina Law founder and managing partner Atty. Nilo Divina. They then opened their second concept Bistro Aurora here at Podium Social.
Bistro Aurora features Asian comfort food with a twist. One will find a more relaxed ambiance that is warm, bright and inviting. The signature dishes of Aurora, together with new and exciting flavors made exclusive for Bistro Aurora is what makes this new home special, prepared with the same care, attention and love that have earned Aurora its title of Tatler Dining’s Best New Restaurant for 2024 and its place on the prestigious Tatler’s Dining 20 list.
We grabbed some chairs by the counter and proceeded to sample some of the flavors that made Restaurant Aurora so popular.
We had the Salmon Avocado Toast Bites, Tamarind Glazed Pork Skewers, Seafood Nori Roll, and Chicken Poppers with Sambal Cream Sauce. They also served a few of their specialty drinks and mocktails like the Strawberry Fizz, Oolong High, and Kaya Toast.
Soon to open in August is Lazy Suzy which gave a small preview of their bar chows and drinks. They served Saamjang Tuna tartare, Sichuan Sesame Soba, and Molo Crisp with shiitake mushrooms. They also offered their Golden Gai cocktail with gin, yuzu, and ginger beer.
Podium Social is definitely the newest and most exciting dining destination in Metro Manila. All five restaurants offer unique and distinct cuisines and menus that can satisfy its discerning clientele every day of the week. So make sure to visit Level 6 at the Podium and discover your newest hangout spot.
It's pretty obvious that I really love Japanese cuisine. This is why we keep going back to Japan whenever we can to eat all the sushi, wagyu, and other Japanese items that we want. But what about the months when we are not traveling? Thankfully, we can always go to Sen-Ryo Philippines, one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in the city.
With outlets all over Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, this popular chain has made its way to Manila offering its premium line of sushi, sashimi, tempura, Japanese wagyu, unagi, and more. They opened their first Philippine branch at The Podium Mall and now have two other branches in Mitsubishi Mall and in Greenhills Mall.
Sen-Ryo started in 1968 when Mr. Fumio Sairo created revolving sushi in Japan. Sen-Ryo is a premium sushi restaurant that brings an elevated Japanese dining experience. This was brought to the country by the same owners of Genki Sushi, which is also part of the Sen-Ryo chain of restaurants in Japan.
Aside from the lower floor, you can find more seats on the mezzanine level which also comes with two private horigotatsu rooms, a traditional Japanese table that has a recessed floor beneath it, and one private dining room for special gatherings.
Our friends got together one Thursday afternoon for an enjoyable lunch at Sen-Ryo at The Podium. It had been a while since we met with our The KTG blogger friends, so this was a really nice venue to catch up with the girls.
Our host Gwen Jacinto prepared a special menu for us to sample some of the new and exciting dishes at Sen-Ryo Philippines.
First, we ordered some of their refreshing beverages. The Ginza Spritz (P320) is a light and bubbly cocktail with a combination of sake, gin, passionfruit syrup, and lime juice. You can also try one of their fruit shakes like the Ripe Mango Shake (P220).
The California Roll (P450) is always a staple at Japanese restaurants here. This big serving comes with kanikama, ripe mango, cucumber and shrimp roe.
Sen-Ryo has a new and very unique sushi that actually sizzles! The Sizzling Spicy Tuna Roll is a fiery twist on the traditional spicy tuna as it is served hot on a sizzling grill. We really enjoyed this dish since it is the first time we have seen sushi rolls served like this.
If you want something more premium and traditional, the Signature Sashimi Set (P2500) is what you should order. This platter comes with seven kinds of sashimi including otoro (fatty tuna), akami (lean tuna), Norwegian salmon, Norwegian salmon belly, hamachi (yellowtail), ama ebi (sweet northern shrimp), and hotate or juicy Hokkaido scallops.
These sashimi are flown straight from Japan so you can really taste their quality and freshness. You can judge how good these are just by the way they look. It's like buying them from the Tsukiji markets!
Sen-Ryo also offers other appetizers like the Popcorn Shrimp (P650), a popcorn style shrimp served with a special dressing. I loved devouring these bite-sized shrimp poppers and almost finished the entire bowl by myself.
The Snow Crab Tempura Nigiri is another new highlight dish at Sen-Ryo Philippines. The delicate snow crab meat is cooked and served sushi style.
Noodle lovers like me will really enjoy the Seafood Yakiudon (P750), a stir fried udon mixed with seafood ingredients.
One of our favorite items in Japan is the unagi, so we were happy to find this on Sen-Ryo's menu. The Grilled Unagi (P880) is a grilled river eel with a special sweet unagi sauce.
You can also have the unagi as a rice bowl. Sen-Ryo also offers several rice bowls for those who want a complete meal in one order. The Unagi and Wagyu Beef Bowl is my favorite among their rice bowls because it comes with delicious unagi and wagyu beef on top of steaming gohan rice.
Another option is the Premium Chirashi Don (P890) with its premium sashimi and sushi on top of Japanese rice. Then there's the ever reliable Pork Katsu Don (P400) with tender pork cutlets on top of rice. This one can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike.
Finally, for dessert we had the Matcha Mille Crepe (P340) and the Strawberry Mille Crepe (P340). Both are fluffy layered cakes that Japanese desserts are well known for.
We would like to thank Sen-Ryo Philippines for hosting our small get together at The Podium Mall and showing us their new exciting menu items. Whenever we are craving for premium Japanese cuisine, Sen-Ryo always has the answer for our big appetites.
Sen-Ryo Philippines
G/F The Podium Mall, 12 ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Looking for a sign to have a mouthwatering burger? This is it! Order the juiciest burger in town, Salvatore Cuomo Wagyu Style Burger! Have it here or have it to-go! We'll wait for you at Salvatore Cuomo Cafe in Ortigas at The Podium mall . . . . #SalvatoreCuomoCafe #thepodiummall #bestburger #wagyuburger #salvatorecuomo #salvatorecuomostyle #wagyu #philippine #manila #ortigas #chefsalvatorecuomo #bestburger (presso Salvatore Cuomo Café) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDAj2eRl7R-/?igshid=1l1qlt09qlrnn
A spaceship with high-end boutiques? More like a mall wherein the interiors remind one of a “spaceship.” Hmm, I feel like saying, “Scotty, beam me up.” Happy weekend, everyone! #mall #atthemall #thepodiummall #interiors #interiorspaces #skylight (at The Podium) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzSaEhlAWP_/?igshid=ip6n2j5ayrts
Catch us at Thepodium tomorrow until Saturday for workshops (sumptuous snacks from The Curious Pair ) given by Shyla Sy and ravenfox13, on-the-spot art activities, and popup shop. 😊 #Ravenfox13 #ArtPh #ArtWorkshop #ThePodiumMall #CraftCarrot (at The Podium)
My demo piece this afternoon for my art exploration class with kids. Visit us here at the Craft Carrot pop-up shop, at the Podium. Check out arts and crafts materials and workshop schedules for all ages. See yah! We used Faber-Castell acrylic paints on canvas for this one. #Ravenfox13 #ArtPh #ArtWorkshop #FaberCastellPh #CraftCarrot #ThePodiumMall (at The Podium)
