Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest While the bar scene in Manila is booming, what with new concepts popping up left and right, the party scene needs a good shot in the arm. If you’ve been looking for something exciting happening in the nightclub scene, you’ve probably heard about Cove Manila, the biggest entertainment venue on this side of the world. And they’re set to change things up and put the city on the global club party map. Get greeted like royalty! More than just a nightclub, Cove Manila is an indoor beach club by day and a club destination by night. This upscale party hub opened its doors to the public last December. They’re not just glitz and glamor; they’re in this for the long haul. “We worked to create a brand which would last through time,” shares Heathcliff Motorga, Senior Manager for Operations of Cove Manila. The 23-year veteran of the nightclub industry has a vision of what Cove aims to be: “Cove is bringing back the wow factor that a nightclub should have. It’s a fun destination, which we aim to be the top nightclub in Asia and in the top 10 nightclubs in the world.” It’s a big place with so many things going on, so here’s a handy guide to help you navigate the newest and most ambitious party place in the country. The Complex Cove Manila is located inside Okada Manila, the biggest integrated resort in the Philippines occupying 44 hectares of the booming “Entertainment City” in Parañaque. The $120M, 9,000-square-meter facility flaunts picturesque views of the world-famous Manila Bay horizon, luxurious amenities, and a vibrant atmosphere, all enclosed under a column-free, 30-meter, UV-protected and hermetically controlled glass dome. To give you an idea of how big it is, the area is the size of about 18 basketball courts (four times bigger than the Palace Pool Club) and the dome is almost as high as the Eifel Tower (which is 324 meters tall), and can accommodate 4,500 guests. And since the glass dome is UVA and UVB-protected, you can lounge around the pool and swim without getting sunburned or worrying about the weather. Cabanas – Cove has 29 cabanas on three floors that can accommodate 15 to 60 people (depending on the cabana), where you can have your own luxurious private party with a spectacular view of what’s going on in the dome. The Miami-inspired rooms are styled with comfortable, stylish furniture and features interesting art pieces. Each room comes is equipped with private Japanese toilet and rain shower stocked with Roberto Cavalli toiletries, media systems with huge LCD screens where you can watch the live stream of the club, and some free Cove Manila merch. Some cabanas have their own hot tubs; others have a balcony or terrace. For P300,000 per night, there are the 40-square-meter cabanas (they have two), which have a living room with a karaoke machine, a dining room, a private bar, a projector for projection mapping, and a hot tub. While that’s a lot of money to spend for a night, the place has unique amenities in service and VIP treatment. Plus, it’s all consumable – no reservation charge, no door charge, just consume the money you commit to food and beverages for a fun night. Bars – The Cove contains five bars: two that service both the nightclub and area, two in the arena area, and the swim-up bar by the pool where lead bartender Alina Borovikova will be making classic and specialty cocktails. Pool – Their butterfly-shaped pool stretches 78 sqm in diameter and is 1 meter in depth. The Nightclub The nightclub is an immersive experience and a feast for your senses. This includes the most advanced audio, video, and ambient lighting technologies—such as Tony Andrews’ Funktion-One high resolution sound system, one of best in the world, designed to minimize ear fatigue and deliver incredibly crisp sound detail and quality (Tony Andrews himself supervised its installation), and a one-of-a-kind six-ring kinetic centrepiece that rotates and tilts and can produce up to 10,000 special effects, including choreographed LED video mapping. At 30 meters long and 18 meters high, it’s the largest screen in a nightclub in the world. They have dancers performing with DJs to add to the party element, and even have a suspended cage. It looks and sounds like what nightclubs are supposed to be: lush, with fantastic sounds that you feel in your bones, lights that take your breath away, performers that entertain, and a crowd that’s enjoying themselves. You have to see it for yourself. It opens at 10:30 pm and can accommodate 1,200 guests. Tables start at P3,000 and, same as booking a cabana, when you book a table, there is no reservation fee, no door charge, and the fee is consumable. Book early, as tables go quickly. The Pool Club Past the nightclub, is the pool club. It opens 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to the public and is where the pool and cabanas are located. The pool deck houses Sunset Sessions (Sunday to Wednesday), and has a great view of the Manila Bay horizon. At night, it also accommodates the spill-over of the nightclub as it gets full. Starting March, they will allow access to the pool and have weekly pool parties where guests are encouraged to swim and party in the pool. Drinks The extensive drink menu it accommodates all kinds of tastes and budgets. There’s bound to be something for everyone—whatever you can think to ask, they probably have it. You’ve probably heard of the P7.5M bottle of 30-liter Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” champagne, one of the most expensive champagnes in the world, which was purchased at Cove Manila by an anonymous woman on New Year’s Eve. You might think that their prices are exorbitant, but they are actually quite competitive and reasonable. Their local beers go for P180, you can have a bottle of wine for P1,500, or buy a bottle of spirits for less than P10,000. We got to try a few signature cocktails, which you can have at P400 each: Cove Gin and Tonic – Gin Mare, olive brine, lime juice, rosemary sprig, topped with tonic, and garnished with dehydrated grapefruit, olive, and torched rosemary sprig. Something to tickle your taste buds and warm you up. Cove Gin and Tonic Jasmine Bellini– Prosecco, white peach purée, jasmine green tea syrup. If you want something sweet and a bit tangy, this is the drink for you. Jasmine Bellini Rose of Althea – Bacardi Superior, bianco vermouth, Monin Hibiscus Syrup, lime juice, peach bitters, topped with soda water, and garnished with dehydrated lime wheel and served with a rose. A fresh cocktail to cool you down. Rose of Althea They also offer Carafe Cocktails for P950, which is good for four to six people. If you come with your squad, we suggest you try their Beach Berries. The berry-infused ice cubes add color and flavor to an already yummy cocktail. Beach Berries To entice people to come and to generate regular customers, they have Happy Hour deals and freebies that you can take advantage of. When we went there, they gave the first 100 or so customers a glass they could refill with as much Heineken as we wanted for an hour for free. That’s how they roll here. Just ask any of the helpful staff what the promo is, as they change periodically. Sunset Sessions A larger than life, sun up, sun down party, Sunset Sessions, is going to be where people want to unwind after a day of work, to catch up with friends, or just bask in the beauty of the Manila Bay sunset. Harking back to the vibe of Café del Mar, guests can party with their peers at the indoor beach area while also indulging in drinks of their choice during the cocktail window from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday to Wednesday. “It’s where people come after work, remove their jackets and loosen their ties, and come socialize, have good drinks with happy hour deals. Listen to good music, maybe a saxophonist, acoustic guitar,” adds Motorga. “This is also to show everyone that there’s a new place and this is what we offer, and day by day to gain the trust of the people.” Entertainment and Events “To gain an international reputation, you need to be able to book and to bring as many talents to play in your place,” says Motorga. The Cove has a very consistent programs of flying in DJs and artists. Last December 15, they featured featuring top international and Grammy nominated DJ and record producer, Steve Aoki. Future acts that are slated to play are American rapper and hip-hop icon Lil Jon on February 16, superstar DJ and producer Diplo on May 11 and Grammy-nominated house DJ Kaskade later in the year. Apart from the Sunset Session party from Sundays to Wednesdays, Cove Manila hosts its signature NEON (Nineteen Eighties Only Night) Party on Thursdays, with guest DJs spinning their own renditions of iconic club hits. It’s bound to be an all-out throwback dance party. In the future, they want to showcase different kinds of entertainment, like stand-up comedy, various musicians like acoustic performers and violinists. There are plans to even have live sporting events, putting a ring in the middle of the water and to have like a stadium, and showing big sporting events like the World Cup. They also want to influence the music trend in Manila. “Our direction is going to give what people know and once they come, they know the style, and to fill the rest with experience and build the trust,” explains Motorga. “And then later on, when we reach the level when people trust us and this becomes the place where they want to be because they feel comfortable, they feel like home, then you can slowly introduce different projects, different styles of music, which people are not used to. If you show them something new at once, they might get scared. But if you go gradually, then you can create a trend.” Food All that dancing is sure to make you hungry. The Cove offers a small selection of sandwiches and that can satiate your hunger. You can grab and go for Pepperoni Pizza, Cornflake Chicken Fingers, Loaded Nachos, or Truffle fries. If you’re looking for some good Asian food, we suggest you have dinner at one of the many restaurants in Okada, like Enbu, Kiapo, or Red Spice, before heading to the club. Dress code Like most upscale nightclubs, Cove Manila has a dress code. According to their website, guests are upscale fashion-forward club attire. Take note that the venue does not permit hats, sandals, slippers, baggy clothing, shorts, and overly athletic clothing. Collared shirts are required for men. Dress to impress, but be comfortable in what you’re wearing. No one wants a wardrobe malfunction or blisters to get in the way of a night of luxurious fun. Transportation Maneuvering around the Okada complex can be tricky. We suggest you take an Uber or Grab to and from the venue for comfort and convenience. Plus, we don’t condone drinking and driving, so ride-sharing apps or having a designated driver is the way to go. Poised to be one of the top nightclub destinations in the world, Cove Manila is not just aimed towards foreigners, but to locals, first and foremost. “For me, the most important market or demographic is Manila, the locals, much more than international, because the people you expect to come every week is mainly from Manila,” shares Motorga. “So we’ve come up with a system which we like to be more generous, open minded, transparent with the customers. We needed to think outside the box, and convince and gain the trust of the people of Manila, that there is a new place in town which is completely different and has never been done before.” It’s their inclusivity of people from all walks of life that may be the key to their success and longevity. “We pose as a very luxury venue, and we are. But the good part is that we are really open for everybody,” he explaines. “What I want people in Manila to understand is that it doesn’t matter how much money they spend, you can have the same experience as everybody else.” Ambitious, visionary, and inclusive, Cove Manila is set to change the landscape of partying in the country. With unparalleled video and lighting technologies, top DJ acts and performers, luxury amenities, and cool concepts and events, we can’t wait to see what happens next. It’s everything big under one roof, and whether you’re an occasional partygoer or a nightlife veteran, Cove Manila has something for you. Catch all of the sights and happenings by regularly checking out the official Cove Manila website (www.covemanila.com) and social media pages (@covemanila) for more updates. Okada Manila, Entertainment City, Parañaque City, 1701, Metro Manila, Philippines Contact: +63 2 555-5757 E-mail: covemanila@okadamanila.com