Wil and I were on the hunt for a new bar to explore around Makati. After searching for online recommendations for hours, we stumbled upon this enchanting place called Agimat at Ugat Foraging Kitchen and Bar. What made us go is the fact that it is the first foraging restaurant bar in the Philippines.
Agimat at Ugat Foraging Kitchen and Bar is a two-storey traditional Spanish-era kind of old house, giving off a mysterious vibe that definitely piqued our interest.
UGAT
The first floor, known as the Ugat (roots) is a bar perfect for hangout with friends or just chilling to their acoustic nights. It wasn't that crowded, making it an ideal for intimate events.
That night, we skipped Ugat because we're craving some party vibes. So, we headed to the second floor where the Agimat is located.
AGIMAT
Inspired by Filipino folklore and myth, Agimat is named after the Filipino amulet known for having supernatural powers.
When we were going to Agimat, the staircase railings were decorated with burnt red candle wax.
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Inside Agimat, the Balete tree behind the counter caught our attention. Its vines are connected to Ugat below, where the roots were. The bars were literally interconnected, embracing the concept that the Balete tree is a dwelling place for dark supernatural beings in Filipino folklore.
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Despite being a weekday, Agimat is still filled with a large number of people. Luckily, when we entered the bar, the staff helped us find seats at the bar counter. It felt like we were the 'dark supernatural beings' dwelling at the Balete tree 🤣 10/10 for the ambiance! It really felt like we were in an enchanted forest or something.
To order, we scanned their QR code for the menu, and a staff member assisted us to get our orders.
Their menu is all local drinks and food with Filipino craft cocktails categorized into five (5): apoy (fire), tubig (water), lupa (land), hanging (air), and buhay (life).
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For our initial order, I went for their water craft cocktail - Gayuma ng Sirena (Mermaid's charm/potion) - consists of Gayuma liqueur, Sirena Dry Ginm Mogu Mogu strawberry, and lemon juice, while Wil tried one of their land craft cocktails, Marikit (beautiful/charming) that consists of Kanto Salted Caramel vodka, lime juice, and mint leaves.
One unique aspect of this foraging kitchen and bar is the ritual involved in preparing their signature drinks. It involves Filipino folk beats and sounds. Lucky for us, we got the seats at the bar counter, we got to enjoy their awesome performances!
Play this video to see how they prepared my drink - Gayuma ng Sirena (Mermaid's charm/potion).
Of course, we would like to try their food too! We tried their Bahay Kubo Fried Platter. It consists of crispy fried kamote, kangkong, sitaw, kalabasa, and onions, accompanied by three sauces. I love the kangkong! Sooo crispy!
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For our second batch, we ordered their large chicharon. I loved the vinegar sauce! It was actually one huge chicharon but we requested to cut them in pieces. Perfect! And for our second batch of drinks, we decided to try the ube drinks. I opted for their signature drink - Ubest I ever had (Ube cream liqueur, coconut rum, and bourbon) while Wil ordered Tatlong Hari (Kanto popcorn vodka, gayuma, and ube cream liqueur).
We loved everything we ordered so it's a 10/10 for the drinks and food! 🌟
As we were about to leave, a staff invited us to check out Ugat and even handed us a microphone, tempting us to join their acoustic night. Sadly, it was already late at night and we had other plans. But we promised to return and explore Ugat next time!
Have you been to Agimat at Ugat? If not, would you consider giving it a try?
All images are mine unless otherwise stated.
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