Enjoy Drinks with a View at Edge, Discovery Primea’s New Rooftop Bar

• Location: 16F Discovery Primea Ayala Avenue, Makati City
• Contact Number: +632 955 8888 local 71620
• Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday 4 p.m.  to 12 mn; Fridays and Saturdays 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Price per head: P700++ for two cocktails
• Signature drinks: Baroo, Tallulah, Noli Mi Tangere, Good Morning, Makati, The Remedy, Khao San

We always say that the drinking experience is enhanced by your surroundings. A great view is certainly a bonus when it comes to picking a place to hang out and have a few drinks with friends. Discovery Primea’s new rooftop cocktail bar, Edge, is the newest bar with a view that will be your next tipple destination.

Edge, which just opened last December 2017, is 16 stories above the city. That doesn’t seem like a high enough vantage point, but since it’s facing Urdaneta Village with basically no obstructions, you’re given an almost 180-degree view of Makati to the left, Rockwell front and center, and Mandaluyong to the right. You can’t find that anywhere else. It was one of the best places to watch the New Year’s fireworks and was a great spot to witness the Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse.

The quaint cocktail bar is decked in comfortable seats and low tables. Once you’ve taken in the sights, you’ll be drawn to the well-stocked bar. It’s filled with the staples, as well as special bottles, books about cocktails and bartending, and little design touches that let you know that this is a place that is committed to making exceptional drinks. The bar prides itself in using homemade, home-brewed elements, and specialty infusions. They use specially styled liqueurs and syrups, aged in-house with the help of a number of Portholes, a unique infusion vessel designed by Martin Kastner, originally designed as a custom device for the bar chefs of The Aviary in Chicago, IL.

The unique perspective from Edge is fantastic and is certainly a draw, but it’s the inventive drinks and delicious food that make people keep coming back. The drinks have drama in presentation and are delightful and surprising. Head bartender Lennon Aguilar came up with concoctions that are complex yet have familiar flavors. The menu has a mix of famous libations, revived classics, playful original creations, sophisticated mocktails, and an extensive liquor selection with almost anything you might want to drink.

Here are some of the fancy and playful signature drinks that wowed us at Edge:

Baroo (Very Old Captain Rum, pickles mangoes, bird’s eye chili-infused honey, served with powdered bagoong) definitely has some drama in presentation. Inspired by the vessel used for fermenting kimchi, this spicy-sweet cocktail is served in a glass cone atop a bowl with edible dry ice underneath. The homemade pickled mango and bagoong adds a lip-smacking quality that marries that very traditional Filipino flavor combination with a sophisticated cocktail.

Tallulah (Jura 10, Amaretto Disaronno, spicy peanuts, Coke, almond-infused sugar syrup) takes the classic whisky-cola and Coke-peanuts combos, mashes them together and gives it a twist. The almond flavor adds a layer of flavor and the spicy peanuts adds a hint of spice (plus you can munch on them in between sips).

Noli Me Tangere (Bacardi Ocho, Benedictine, Midori, Gallano) is another drink a dramatic flair. Served with smoked wood chips, this spirit-forward, smokey cocktail contains barrel-aged Bacardi Ocho.

Good Morning, Makati (Lambanog, Manille Dalandan Liqueur, orange juice, ginger ale, thyme-infused honey, served with orange marmalade and dragon fruit slices atop a slice of toast) is another cocktail with Filipino flavors. A great option for those looking for something fruity and refreshing.

The Remedy (Carlos I Spanish Brandy, Triple Sec, TWG Sweet France Tea, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, ginger slices, lemon peel, fresh lemongrass leaves, honey) is a soothing cocktail with deep flavors of herbs and spices. The sweetness of the brandy and the bitterness of the tea, combined with the herbs and spices, results in a comforting drink that is true to its name.

Roasted Negroni (Tanqueray 10, espresso, Kahlua, Campari) is a Negroni with a coffee twist. Perfect for Negroni lovers looking for something new that will perk you up as well.

Khao San is a playful and unconventional mocktail that takes the flavors of Tom Yum soup (minus the spiciness) in a frothy and fresh coconut drink.

Edge serves a curated selection of bar chow is inspired by a world of flavors from the property’s executive chef Luis Chikiamco. Dishes like the Warm Salmon Nigiri with crispy sushi rice and caramel soy put a new twist on conventional sushi dishes. The trio of Kataifi Prawns, served in shot glasses filled with guacamole, sweet chilli sauce, and salsa brava, fried perfectly crisp and juicy are crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The Cochifrito, a skewer of roast pork, grilled peaches, shallot jam, and a chickpea cake. is a fine mix of savory-sweet goodness. The Wagyu Cubes with the tender beef, a ground white and black sesame soil, garlic slivers, and a Madeira-mirin, served in a glass vessel make for an excellent option for those looking for something hearty.

The space at Edge can only accommodate around 40 people at a time, so reservations are encouraged. They get a rush of people who come after work to unwind, have casual meetings, or have pre-dinner drinks. The mood lighting and sexy background music also make it a nice little spot to take your dates. The view also offers a great vantage point to make a traffic forecast, as you can see parts of EDSA on one side and Makati Ave. on the other. You can see whether the traffic is moving and you can call a Grab to go home, or if it’s still pretty bad and wait out the traffic over another round (or two) of drinks. The limited space also makes Edge a great venue for intimate events and gatherings. DrinkManila recently concluded the Women and Tipple series at Edge. 

Edge is a welcome addition to the formidable roster of bars (Gilarmi Lounge at the lobby, 1824 on the 2nd floor) and restaurants (Tapenade at the lobby, Flame on the 16th floor adjacent to Edge) at Discovery Primea. The panoramic view, innovative drinks, delicious food, and attentive staff make Edge an ideal place to drink the night away.

“We’re incredibly excited to present our concept of what a bar can truly be, from the bites, to the original cocktails, to the bar’s wide selection of spirits. We’ve put together a very formidable collection of the familiar and obscure that we’d love for our guests to try out, while taking in the incredible view,” shares Discovery Primea General Manager David Pardo de Ayala.

Discovery Primea is one of five properties of The Discovery Leisure Company’s portfolio of distinctive hotels and resorts, and is a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ prestigious LVX Collection. Get updates through Discovery Primea’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @DiscoveryPrimea

Photographs by Star Sabroso