Vinta-inspired interiors, a wood-lattice ceiling and tropical greenery will shape Layara, the new signature bar above Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati. Mandarin Oriental has announced that the 150-capacity venue will open at Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila at the end of 2026, with Philippine ingredients, regional food and music at the centre of its programme.
The bar’s name comes from layag, the Filipino word for sail. Its opening menu will begin in Cebu, with later collections exploring other Philippine destinations. For travellers spending time in Manila, the appeal is a drinks list that draws on the country’s fruit, botanicals and culinary traditions, in a setting high above the city.
Island references above the Makati skyline
Layara’s interiors take inspiration from the vibrant striped sails of Vinta boats associated with the Tausug, Sama-Bajau and Yakan communities. The bar’s visual identity also draws on the fluid movement of Pangalay dance, while its colour palette comes from the islands themselves.
Wood lattice overhead, natural materials and tropical planting will carry those references into the room. The combination gives the design specific Philippine foundations, with the skyline and gardens providing its urban setting. Movement is a recurring influence, expressed through the dance references and sail-inspired interiors.
Mandarin Oriental’s description of the bar adds warm textures, layered lighting and Lampara, an intimate dining room within the larger venue. That smaller space should appeal to guests who want dinner to be part of the evening, alongside the cocktails and planned music programme.
Kiara Opeda’s changing cocktail collection
Bar Manager Kiara Opeda will lead Layara’s beverage programme. Her career includes Manila venues Black Sheep, OTO Bar and Sabi Sounds, as well as Happy Paradise in Hong Kong. Most recently, she served as Brand Ambassador for Pernod Ricard Philippines, bringing experience across bars and the spirits industry to the new role.
The destination-led cocktail collection will change every quarter, according to Hospitality Asia Media’s account of the launch. Each edition will explore a different Philippine destination through seasonal ingredients, indigenous plants, food customs and stories from the locality, while retaining an ongoing selection of classic and signature drinks.
Cebu is the focus of the debut collection, which is divided into two thematic chapters. Visayan titles and accompanying narratives will appear with ink-wash illustrations of the archipelago, giving guests more context for the ingredients and names on the page.
The first chapter, Sailing the Philippine Archipelago, comprises seven alcoholic cocktails. Among them, Maria Cacao combines Orientalist Dragon Whisky with jasmine tea, pomelo, yellow mango and passionfruit. In Raja Zula, green mango, guava and ginger accompany Gunpowder gin, while Bakunawa pairs Martell VS Cognac with black sesame, cacao and muscovado, finished with banana milk foam.
Princess Urduja uses Lady Trieu Vietnamese gin, ube and Earl Grey, with goat’s cheese foam. Mactan pairs Irish and Scotch whisky with banana, sweet corn, jackfruit and coconut milk.
Lapu-Lapu & Raja Humabon follows another direction, bringing fino sherry and bianco vermouth together with vodka, elderflower and lychee. The opening collection gives Opeda room to work across different spirits and textures while maintaining the menu’s regional focus.
Low-ABV drinks with their own chapter
The second chapter, The Islands After Mactan, gathers non-alcoholic and low-ABV drinks. Giving them a separate section makes the opening menu useful for guests who want to spend an evening at the bar while moderating their alcohol intake.
The Offering combines glutinous rice and coconut milk with ginger and yellow mango. Babaylan brings Sober Spirits Amaretto and Aperitivo together with tamarind, pineapple and lime, while Diwata uses Sober Spirits Rum with citrus, mint and sugar.
The Child from Spain pairs Sober Spirits Gin with a kaffir lime sugar cube and Saicho Osmanthus sparkling tea. Aswang, identified as a low-ABV drink, combines Luxardo cherry bitters and Three Cents Cherry Soda with salted calamansi, topped with banana and coconut cream foam. Fruit, rice, tea and creamy finishes receive as much attention here as they do in the alcoholic selection.
Sharing plates, Lampara and evening music
Layara’s food offering will draw on ingredients from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Small plates designed for sharing will reinterpret island flavours, while the broader bar-food programme will pair regional favourites with modern methods and high-quality ingredients.
Lampara provides the venue’s more intimate dining setting. Mandarin Oriental describes it as glowing like a lantern, a detail that fits the wider scheme of warm textures and layered lighting. Within a 150-capacity bar, a smaller dining room gives the evening another setting beyond the main drinks space.
The evening entertainment programme is planned to include vocalists, bands and DJs, as well as instrumentalists from the Philippines’ ethnic traditions. Music will therefore be another part of Layara’s regional focus, alongside the ingredients, menu narratives and design references. For guests choosing where to spend an evening in Makati, that combination is central to the bar’s appeal.
Staying at Mandarin Oriental Makati
Mandarin Oriental’s 275-room Makati hotel is scheduled to open in November 2026, ahead of Layara’s announced year-end launch. The property marks the group’s return to Manila, where it previously operated from 1976 to 2014, and has views across the Makati skyline and Ayala Triangle Gardens.
The group says Filipino craftsmanship and nature-inspired design shape the new property. Deluxe Rooms begin at 50 square metres, with separate bathing and showering areas and walk-in wardrobes. Connecting accommodation and family rooms and suites offer options for groups, while Club accommodation includes lounge access and a dedicated 24-hour butler service.
The planned 800-square-metre Spa and Wellness floor will incorporate Philippine healing traditions, including Hilot massage and Sukob ng Manggagamot rituals using native botanicals alongside herbal medicine. The hotel also lists a 25-metre outdoor swimming pool overlooking the gardens.
Two other venues offer contrasting settings for hotel guests. ILÓY’s all-day dining includes a terrace overlooking Ayala Triangle Gardens, with Western and Asian dishes at lunch and dinner. Alambik’s whisky and bespoke cocktails will be served behind an unmarked door, in interiors featuring a repurposed wooden veranda frame and machuca tiles.
Planning an evening at Layara
Layara will be at Ayala Triangle, on the corner of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. Seating is listed as first-come, first-served. The dress policy bars casual footwear such as hotel slippers, flip-flops or comparable styles, and gentlemen are asked to wear attire with sleeves.
Guests under 18 may enter the bar until 7pm. After that, they may use the terrace when accompanied by an adult, a useful distinction for families staying at the hotel.
Hotel enquiries can be directed to momnl-reservations@mohg.com or +63 2 7958 8888.
