Are you looking for a new hip place where you can dine and hang out in Poblacion? The newest Spanish concept in Metro Manila, Hola Bombón, is worth checking out!
Located in the middle of Makati's hottest gastronomic hub, Hola Bombón delivers a modern interpretation of Spanish dining with its fast-forward approach that's matched with a playful touch.
Upon entrance, you will notice that the restaurant draws its inspiration from the Art Deco style with a dash of Spanish-era colonial architecture. Its 88-seat restaurant is covered with colorful tiles, vibrant splashes of red, yellow and teal, and fun geometric shapes — a design as bold and playful as its food and drinks.
Whether you're by the open bar or at the sala with a group of friends, everyone's welcome to enjoy an authentic Spanish experience without frills or pretensions. At Hola Bombón, they integrate Filipino ingredients with classic Spanish techniques while adding their own touch.
From pintxos on the bar to the tapas and platos on the menu, their menu offers a well-rounded list of options that balance the modern and the traditional. Here's a peek at what you can expect from Hola Bombón:
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What's a Spanish restaurant without pintxos and tapas? Begin your feast with some and order a plate of Chipirones a la Andaluza (P455), fried baby squid tossed in nori, and served with a side of bagoong aioli. If you're like me who loves the crispy bottom of the paella, the Socarrat Negro (P355) is a must-order. Packed with so much flavor, it is the socarrat in paella negra that becomes toasted and caramelized on the bottom of the pan when it's cooking. A serving is topped mussels and aioli.
Hola Bombón is not just for eats, they offer fun cocktails you can pair with their dishes as well. Aside from eight classic cocktails, resident mixologist Leroy Thorsen has crafted eight signature cocktails for the aficionados.
A popular Spanish drink, Tinto de Verano (P280) is a cold wine-based drink that's similar to sangria which we're more familiar with. It is usually a summer drink because it's fizzy, fruity and refreshing. Another fruity and refreshing drink to try is the Lope de Vega (P390), a rosemary-infused gin mixed with fresh pomelo juice, grapefruit bitters, Blanco vermouth and tonic water.
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Moving on to the platos, the slow-braised beef cheek dish that's called Carrillera (P795) is a must-order. The fork-tender meat has crumbled lucban longganisa and sits atop a smooth and creamy manchego mashed potato. And then there's the Bisugo (P675), crisp filleted bisugo fish and a mouthwatering truffle pea puree drizzled with jamón oil.
Hola Bombon has three kinds of Paella. One of which has mushroom, duck and foie gras — yes, this is definitely not the kind we're used to. We had the Paella Negra (P925), bomba rice and squid ink topped with salmon gravlax and piparra which is a type of chili pepper.
Seal everything in with some dessert. For the Churro con Coco (P275), they take the classic hot and crisp churros and add more flavor with a somewhat coconut powder that's served with the melted chocolate dip. Another offering for the sweet tooth is the Tarta de Santiago (P275), pieces of cinnamon almond cake sitting on smooth squash and orange cream cheese, topped with hazelnut ice cream, almond crumble and chicharron. Scoop and take everything in one bite for an amazing texture.
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Not yet ready to go? Order Hola Bombón's other signature drinks and enjoy the night away. A pretty straightforward drink is the Marianito (P390) which is made with Rojo vermouth, gin and Campari. If you're looking for a tiki-style drink, order their interactive drink that is called Jungle Gym (P350). It's a mixture of rum, pineapple juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water and powdered Campari which you need to mix in the drink.
Lastly, the Tenerife Sea (P380), a fun cocktail penned from a popular Ed Sheeran song. It's a mix of three liquors — tequila, rum and vodka but doesn't taste strong at all, which is quite dangerous if you ask me. They mix in some clarified milk punch, honey syrup, Cointreau, lemon and lime to make it smooth and easy to drink, a perfect mix to mask such strong spirits.
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Hola Bombón is located at 2/F 5887 Fermin St. corner Enriquez St., Poblacion, Makati. For reservations, call (02) 7 504 2977 or +63917 5201880, or e-mail reservations@holabombon.com. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram for exclusive news and promos.
