Ito

Ito is a seven-seat counter on the ground floor of 107 Aguirre Street in Legazpi Village, Makati, set up in a home-like space by Niko Tiutan and Alex Atienza-Tiutan. In 2026 it won the Best Service award for bars in Tatler's Best-in-Class awards for the Philippines.

With only seven seats, every guest sits at the counter and is looked after directly, which explains the service award. The bar opens earlier than most, with afternoon tea and coffee flights, and in the evening it switches to an à la carte menu of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. That makes it as suitable for an afternoon break as for a night out.

The drinks programme is produce-first and particularly strong on low and zero-alcohol options. If you are not drinking, it is a good place to have a serious, crafted drink without alcohol. Tatler picked out Tomato is a Fruit, Last Leaf and Apples and Oranges as must-tries, names that give a sense of the bar's playful, ingredient-led approach.

Booking ahead is strongly advisable given the size of the room. Check the bar's social channels for opening times, the current menu and how to reserve. Plan to stay for a drink or two rather than a long session, as seats are in demand, and let the team know your preferences so that they can guide you.

Ito works well at different times of day. In the afternoon, a coffee flight or afternoon tea makes a calm break between sights, while the evening menu suits a quiet pre-dinner drink. Groups larger than a couple will take up a significant share of the counter, so if you are more than two, ask about availability before you go. Because the bar is so small, arrive on time for any booking, and let the team know about allergies or ingredients you dislike, as they can adapt drinks with this in mind. Cash and card policies can vary for small venues, so check before you go.

Legazpi Village has plenty of restaurants nearby, including Sarsa and Your Local, and The Curator is a short walk away for a different style of cocktail bar. Ito suits couples, solo travellers, non-drinkers and anyone who prefers a quiet, attentive experience to a crowded bar. It also works well as a calm finish to a day of sightseeing, before dinner in the neighbourhood.