Verde, Heineken’s First Co-Branded Bar, Paints Poblacion Green

Poblacion is currently the beating heart of the local nightlife scene, with new places to eat, drink, and be merry popping up left and right. It’s a prime area for new ventures because of its free spirit and dynamic energy. These places add more flavor to the growing community of the party district, drawing in crowds of locals and tourists all year.

Verde, a concept bar and creative space and the first co-branded bar of Heineken, recently opened its doors, adding another layer of color in the vibrant nightlife scene of Poblacion. The bar location used to be where Mulligan’s, a sports bar and one of the area’s institutions along Kalayaan Avenue, used to be. This partnership between Heineken and Mulligan’s Jonathan Thorp and his daughter Nicole aims to bring a different drinking experience for the Poblacion crowd.

“Poblacion has always served as the hippest backdrop for some of the coolest events in Manila, so, when we were presented with the opportunity to partner with Nicole and Jonathan Thorp to co-brand a bar, we knew that this was also a great chance to bring Heineken’s world-class experiences to Filipinos. This is where cultural trends are being birthed, and this is where we want to strengthen our community,” says Christian Aguilar, group marketing manager of Heineken Philippines.

Nicole’s presence injects new blood and vibrant energy into the place and bridges the gap between the old and the new. She grew up watching the neighborhood evolve from a smattering of sports bars around the red light district to its current state as a nightlife center. “My dad’s had these bars for years,” Nicole shares. “So I used to visit him in one of his bars after school, play billiards in my AC (Assumption College) uniform, and bond with him. I really grew up in Pob before it became what it is now.”

Verde fuses the best in local creative culture and the spirit of Heineken. “When my dad invited me onboard to give the place a younger touch, I was thinking, ‘How can I do that and also integrate what Heineken is all about?’ That’s when I came up with the tagline, The World Awaits. So, when you come here, you get a world-class experience but not too intimidating.”

She’s setting up Verde to be a creative space and more than just a bar that plays music. “We have DJs every week because that’s what everyone here is doing, but I want people to anticipate something more, something fresh,” she shares. “I’m planning to do art exhibits here and some fashion shows. Things that people don’t have the venue for but need the creative space in Poblacion. Definitely, around 70 to 80 percent of this place is going to be about music, but the rest will be about cultural stuff,” Nicole adds.

They have big plans for Verde, but she emphasizes their focus on getting people connected. “Verde is a place to meet people, have good food, good drinks, but at the end of the day, it’s about the connection,” she says.

Verde is an emerald beacon on the streets of Poblacion. Lit inside and out in Heineken’s trademark green hue, the bar inside has an industrial feel. A mixture of concrete and metal, with cool accent pieces like the working gin still by the entrance, a sitting area at the end of the bar, a DJ booth backlit by green light, and a couple of Heineken installations, the interiors are cool yet inviting. The alfresco area has a more casual feel, with bar stools and tables around the center bar.

Verde has a curated selection of food taken from Howzat’s (the sports bar next door also owned by the Thorps), that range from small bites to more generous offerings. The alfresco area has a sizable grilling station where they grill meats and other food perfect for pairing with beer.

Heineken prides itself on its quality and freshness, and Verde offers guests the choice of having their Heineken from the tap or by the bottle.

The Heineken Draught Blade Machine, a small tap machine that dispenses around 30 servings (if you do the perfect pour), is featured in the bar. This cute little beer machine may make you want to serve the beer for yourself. You can get one of these bad boys for your home from Heineken which is available at Drinkies.ph. A kit will set you back Php 30,000. But you can rent them for as low as Php 2,000 for three days.

Heineken’s seasonal treat, Heineken Magnum 1.5L, is perfect for upcoming holiday celebrations. You can grab these babies at big supermarkets or go to Drinkies.ph and have them delivered right to your door. You can have this festive bottle for only Php 450.

If you want to hang out with friends in a cool spot where you can get the freshest Heineken beer, head over to Verde. You’ll get a different experience every time. You can dance the night away when they have DJs, get to know new artists when they have an exhibit, witness a special performance, or pig out on grilled meats while bonding with friends over beers. Verde is a creative space that offers diverse experiences for people who enjoy going out.

Verde is located at 8479 Kalayaan Avenue corner Fermina Street, Poblacion, Makati City. Operating hours are from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am daily. For inquiries, contact ngthorp@gmail.com or +63 917 836 0539. Check out Verde on Instagram @verde_mnl for updates, deals, and upcoming events.

Follow Heineken Philippines on Facebook and Instagram at @heineken_ph and visit Drinkies.ph for all your Heineken party needs. Be part of the Heineken community by using the hashtags #TheWorldAwaits and #HeinekenPH on your social posts.