Baguio City Night Life

Ever wonder where to go around after that exciting day tour of Mines View Park, Burnham, PMA, or Camp John Hay? One of the many things I enjoyed doing in Baguio City is barhopping with my husband, friends or my dear in-laws. Some of you may think that night life in Baguio is nothing compared to the usual night mood in Manila. I agree. There may be a little truth to that, however, you can still enjoy the extremely cold night scene of Baguio if you only knew where to go in the first place. Having said that, I think I’d like to write about the places we normally hang-out at night everytime we’re visiting husband’s hometown. I will now chronicle some of Baguio’s exciting bars, which I thought might not be missed out in your itinerary the next time you tour the City of Pine.

Here’s the first part of my post about the bars and clubs in Baguio City. For today, I will list my most frequently visited bars/club in Baguio – the Nevada Square, Overtones, Ayuyang, Gilligan’s Island, and 18 B.C.

Photo taken by Bert Mumpar while we're all having fun at the Latino Bar in Nevada Square (Dec 2007 Baguio City)

Nevada Square – Think of it as little Libis. What I like about Nevada Square is you can easily move from one bar to another bar next door. These establishments include Latino Bar and Restaurant, Cribs Bar and Restaurant, Brew Yard Bar and Restaurant, Red Box Bar, Club Sugar Bar and Restaurant, Friday's Bar, Clock Work Bar, Hawaii Nevada Cool Internet Cafe and Sports Bar, Gelo's Wharf, Otaka Ya Resto-bar, Filter Bar and Coffee Shop, Locus Bar and Coffee Shop, Caffeine Addict Bar and Coffee Shop, and Block 88 Bar and Darts. I heard that Nevada Square has been tagged as the Gimmick District of Baguio. The crowd here is very young and aggressive. The place recently has been very chaotic that’s why they added police for more security. Nevada Square I guess has became even more famous being the location of the scandalous video that shocked Baguio in I think early or mid 2000. Like I said, it’s youthful;it’s hip, and wild.

Nevada Square
Address: Loakan Road, Baguio City

Ayuyang – Familiar with the name? If you’re thinking of a certain Piolo Pascual and Judy Ann Santos movie, hmmm, you’re absolutely right. As a matter of fact, I was brought to this place because of that movie. I was curious if there was really a bar in Baguio by that name or if it was just made for the movie’s sake. My sisters-in-law confirmed that there was such a bar. Ayuyang is another artist’s haven in Baguio. The place is very native and homely. I also noticed that people going there typically know each other. It looked like a meeting place for common friends. It’s a nice place for people looking for acoustic kind of music.
Ayuyang Bar
Address: Gov. Pack Road, Baguio City

Gilligan’s Island Restaurant and Bar – The usual branch you’d normally see in Manila. Nothing special about it except that the place is normally frequented by Baguio based Koreans.

18 BC – This is where we found the best Reggae music. I honestly forgot the name of the band but they were really good. We discovered them when we were then in search of the band that would play for our wedding party. Paul was very impressed that he almost insisted we hired them. But nah, not for my wedding!
18 BC
Address: 18 Legarda Road, Baguio City

Overtones - Lastly but definitely the first on my list. Ok, I maybe a little subjective here. Overtones is the bar I truly enjoyed in terms of music, ambiance, and crowd. You can enjoy good music without the noise. The crowd is very likable. Just make sure to be there as early as 9:00 pm because I think their 3rd set finishes as early as 12 midnight. I have written a full article of Overtones Windplayers Workshop and Music Gallery featuring Overtones Project Band before, if you haven’t read it, click here.
Overtones Windplayers Workshop and Music Gallery
Address: Assumption Road, Baguio City