Makati's Nokal Reopens at Makati Cinema Square
Formerly stationed
at the heart of Poblacion, it was hard to miss the neon, pink lit “NOKAL” sign
along Kalayaan. Originally launching with a three-floor concept back in 2018;
one had the option to grab a drink and dance to house music on the second
floor, make their way up to the rooftop and meet a new face or two, and perhaps
end the night with a bowl of their best-selling “Steak Rice”.
NoKal grew into
an all around bar and diner that many Poblacion goers would end up in at one
point in the night; as the area at that time was one that was known for hopping
from one joint to another – depending on the night. From hosting several local
talents, to bringing in international DJ’s, NoKal was successful in providing a
venue that eventually developed into a community. When they were forced to
close at the height of the pandemic in 2020, it was a big loss for the scene;
with hopes of a return one day.
Thanks to the partners behind the brand: Marco Viray, Lee Watson, Raul Fores,
and Jason Soong, their patrons, known as “Lokals of NoKal”, now have something
fresh to look forward to as they relaunch in a thrilling new location in Makati
Cinema Square. Bringing with them their core of experiencing community through
promoting Filipino talent, self-expression, and creativity, this new NoKal is
an elevated version of everything you’ve missed. From new, exciting cocktail
variants such as “Studio 54” that has a mini disco ball on the glass curated by
Bar Specialist Lee Watson, to classic go-to’s like the “NoKal Burger” made
famous by Kitchen Consultant Chef Raul Fores.
Marco Viray, Lee Watson, Raul Fores, and Jason Soong aka Lokals of NoKal |
This New York inspired club takes you away as you dance to the rhythm of the
beat with a crafted cocktail on hand – hopefully giving way to connect with
both old and new faces. The establishment is definitely one that has the
potential to further elevate the stage for our industry – showcasing our
underground scene along with Philippine talent. We now have a new homebase
stage to host artists from overseas and get them to witness what our scene has
to offer here, too. Co-Founder and Managing Director, Marco Viray, shares that “We've
always been a safe place to go to. I think the culture that we promote is one
that expresses peace, love, and responsibility. ‘In our house we are all equal’, as they say.”
Kicking off with “Basement Grooves” as their residency night, one can expect
underground tunes from disco to techno and everything in between – definitely
having that groove and sound which one can not only hear, but also feel as they
enter this club with their top of the line soundsystem, D&B Audiotechnik.
In charge of the Music and Entertainment programming, Jason Soong promises that
“It actually might be the first thing you will notice when you walk in, it just
sounds so good without hurting the ears. Look for the sweet spot when you’re
there!” In the past, he’s been heavily involved in making sure we also get a
taste of international artists such as Chromeo, Phil Weeks, Amine Edge and
Dance, and Lovebirds, to name a few. Just like him, several partners are also
DJ’s, so you can lookout for the younger ones playing alongside the veterans
such as: Sky Dominique, Paolo Paras, Mikko Santos, Coox Moreno, Knoxville,
Manolet Dario, Bombi Balquiedra, Inkee hidalgo, Samantha Nicole, Margachi,
Owens Soon, David Jacob,Herb Cabral, Emel Rowe, Angelo de Dios, Arnel
Genterone, Marie Garcia, Abdel Aziz, and many others. Him and the team have
already come up with a list of close to 40 Filipino talents who they will host
at NoKal. Record labels such as Defected, Tropical Disco, Razor n Tape, Tool
Room Records, and Editorial.
NoKal officially
launches to the public on October 26, 2022 - hidden at Basement 1 of Makati
Cinema Square. The club will be open weekly from Wednesday through Saturday at
8 pm to 5 am. For venue rentals, table reservations, and guest list bookings,
kindly contact : +639171395178
You may keep tabs on their upcoming events at their Facebook and Instagram
pages: @nokal.mnl
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