Midnight Mercato – The Place For Street Food In Manila
Written by Jaillan Yehia
Food stall at Midnight Mercato Manila
Think Asian street food and you’ll probably think of stalls selling delicious and mysterious local delicacies cooked up by a smiling old lady on a dirty street corner. Street food can make us feel excited about the thrill to our taste buds and apprehensive about the danger to our tummies in equal measure, but they’ve changed all that at Midnight Mercato in Manila…
In Manila however the organisers of Midnight Mercato, which has been bringing artisan food to the Filipino capital for just over two years, had a mission to make street food 100% safe and 100% tasty all at the same time.
Vanessa and RJ founders of Midnight Mercato
Inspired by their extended-honeymoon travels in Europe, founders RJ and Vanessa set out to bring the concept of the central markets of Rome and Florence and London’s own Borough Market back home to Manila and created a covered food mecca to cater to the capital’s hungry night workers.
Midnight Mercato in full swing
A huge range of homemade meals, savoury snacks, sweets and treats are laid out before you at 80 tempting stalls in the happening Bonifacio area, and with the extra pull of rigorous hygiene standards and plenty of seating, as well as live music and ever-changing options this weekend foodie night market now attracts up to 5,000 people per evening from clubbers to tourists looking for somewhere with a relaxed vibe where they can eat, chill out and hear some music.
Durian cheesecake anyone?
There’s even something of a wait list from budding stall holders wanting to cook up everything from Mexican food to cupcakes via Spanish and Filipino fusion food and some cool concepts like Durian cheesecake and beer gelato are already being tried out – the only problem is what to do when you eventually get full.
More Info
Midnight Mercato Manila
Midnight Mercato
Where: 34th Street corner 8th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, 1634 Taguig
When: Friday and Saturday nights, 10pm – 3am
Tags: food, Manila, Market, Philippines, street food, The Philippines, Where to eat in Manila
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Oliver-Anne Golingai-Ambrose
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hi there..this will be my 2nd time visiting manila..this time around i’ll be staying near robinson mall..during my last visit, i had dinner at the food court in robinson mall (all of it tasted good)..will u be so kind to give me a tip or two for me to try the street foods and drinks..i prefer to dine where the locals dine and have beers where the price is cheap or reasonable..thank you.
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Jaillan Yehia
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Ah good old Robinsons! But yes my tip would be to try Midnight Mercato or any of the places mentioned in this piece: https://www.savoirthere.com/9014/food-in-manila/. Happy travels!
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Pie Rivera
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hello there! this is the first time i viewed your blog and its wonderful to know that more and more people are enjoying their visit in our country – the Philippines. i hope during your 5 weeks stay, you were able to bask in the numerous sights and tastes… grateful for travelers who post positive vibes about our country and our people 🙂
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Jaillan Yehia
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Than you Pie, I feel very positive about The Philippines and happy to share that with others – in fact I’ve been recommending the country to everyone I’ve met since coming home, it exceeded my expectations in a big way!
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Julian Dominique
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There’s really no public transportation to the site that late in the night and parking’s a problem too. I’m assuming the blogger/writer of this article was driven there so she really has no other perspective… Remember, this is STILL the Philippines… a 3rd World – country not Europe, so no matter what Utopian dreams might arise from the organizers… always be aware of your surroundings and guard your personal property. Thieves go to these places all the time to steal your things because they know that only people with cars can get there, and people with cars and drivers are usually the “rich”. It’s a fact so be careful…
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savoirthere
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Hi Julian, thanks for the comment. I did indeed go by car to Midnight Mercanto but I assume tourists could also take a cab, jeepney etc.I take your point about thieves and bag snatchers going to markets or busy places to try to steal things but honestly when I was at the Mercato the atmosphere was very laid back, it felt very safe and it wasn’t so busy that you would feel in danger of being jostled in a crowd – you can see from the photos that there were a few people there but not an overwhelming number. I have been all over the world and yet the only place I have ever been robbed was in London, so we have to remember that crime can happen anywhere.
I travelled around The Philippines for 5 weeks, and this is one of the only places which I went to by private car, the rest of the time I used public buses, jeepneys and boats with no trouble – in fact I have to say that while it is always important to be vigilant and mindful of danger, I’m happy to say that I found The Philippines and the Filipino people to be exceptionally friendly.
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Julian Dominique
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Jai, no doubt the natives are indeed friendly but when the first comment on your blog article comes, unsolicited, from someone who experienced a crime whilst visiting the very place you commend has to be disturbing to the other folks who read this article and might *consider* visiting such a place sight unseen based solely on your write-up! Look, I am only trying to assuage their angst by making it clear that whilst in a public place, it behooves them – us – to keep vigilant of one’s personal belongings. You yourself were lifted in London but does that make London a “bad” place to visit? I’ll presume not. But I bet, whenever you return to London, you are more careful right? Anyway, that’s the same point I’m making here.
Plus in this particular venue, you cannot get there by jeepney or bus that late in the night! Either you are driven there by private car or taxi, or you walk! The Midnight Mercato is only accessible via those modes of transport at that time of night in THAT location! Ask the organizers if you don’t believe me.
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savoirthere
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Hi Julian,
Thanks for your comment and your advice to potential visitors. It is always a good idea to keep a close eye on your belongings I agree, and that goes for this market as well as anywhere else in Manila, The Philippines and indeed, the entire world.
London is my home town, so no I don’t think it’s a bad place but I took my eye off the ball and an opportunistic person took advantage as people will do the world over.
The wonderful thing about travel is that 100 people can go somewhere and have 100 different experiences, sadly some will have a bad time, and everyone sees things differently but I think it is up to each person to decide for themselves how much ‘risk’ they are willing to take in order to see new places, people and sights, and I stand by my recommendation of the Midnight Mercato as I’m sure would the two friends with whom I was travelling, who also enjoyed the experience. Let’s hope everyone else has as positive an evening as I did there.
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Ray
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Was there last month.. great food selection. The place could use better lighting and better security. Watch out for your belongings. My friend’s cell phone was pick-pocketed while browsing for food.
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savoirthere
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I agree that the food selection is amazing and I found the lighting sufficient, but I’m really sorry to hear that you experienced pick-pocketing. As I said in my previous reply that sort of crime can happen anywhere and I was lucky enough not to see anything of the sort during my trip to The Philippines, but I will pass the feedback onto the organisers as I think it’s important for them to know about this.
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Kathryn Burrington
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This sounds wonderful! What a great idea and superb for locals and visitors alike.
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savoirthere
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It is such a great idea isn’t it! Still lots of great food, but with added food safety awareness, and you can come and chill out all here evening and just nibble your way through everything.
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