{"id":11209,"date":"2021-07-09T11:00:53","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T03:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/restaurant\/?p=11209"},"modified":"2026-02-05T14:55:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T06:55:15","slug":"sala-restaurant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/location\/philippines\/makati\/legazpi\/sala-restaurant\/","title":{"rendered":"Sala Restaurant in Makati: Home of Modern European Cuisine since 1997"},"content":{"rendered":"

For three decades, Sala Restaurant<\/strong> has stood as a celebrated institution in Manila\u2019s fine\u2011dining scene. Established in Malate in 1997 by Scottish Chef Colin Mackay from Edinburgh<\/strong>, who moved to the Philippines in 1996 after working in high-end catering in Hong Kong, Sala quickly earned a reputation as one of the city\u2019s top European dining rooms<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"IMAGE from Sala Restaurant<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A decade later, the restaurant relocated to its current home on the podium level of the LV\u202fLocsin Building at the corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues<\/strong> in Makati, <\/strong>a move that cemented its status among the city\u2019s most beloved fine\u2011dining destinations and one that has since borne fruit with the distinction of a Michelin Selected award<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sala\u2019s menu follows the seasons in Europe, highlighting premium ingredients and layered flavors. Three standout dishes capture this spirit.<\/p>\n

The Warm smoked duck breast, roast pear, goat\u2019s cheese, truffle honey and pistachios<\/strong> reflects winter game traditions, balancing smokiness, sweetness, and tang.<\/p>\n

\"\"Warm smoked duck breast, roast pear, goat\u2019s cheese, truffle honey and pistachios (Php 920) \/ IMAGE from Philippine Primer<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Grilled Westholme Cross Wagyu striploin<\/strong>\u2014a thoughtful blend of approximately 70% wagyu and 30% Angus\u2014offers less marbling but a more pronounced beefy character, appealing to diners who prefer depth of flavor over richness. It includes Cafe de Paris butter, celeriac pommes Anna, and sauteed spinach.<\/p>\n

\"\"Grilled Westholme Cross Wagyu striploin (Php 3,980) \/ IMAGE from Philippine Primer<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, you should not miss the White Peach, Strawberry, and Pistachio Baked Alaska, <\/strong>a delightful finale that is as visually striking as it is indulgent. Beneath its delicately torched meringue lies a harmonious layering of white peach and strawberry with the nutty richness of pistachio, creating a dessert that balances brightness, creaminess, and subtle crunch in every spoonful.<\/p>\n

\"\"White Peach, Strawberry, and Pistachio Baked Alaska (Php 620) \/ IMAGE from Philippine Primer<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

While Sala offers an \u00e0 la carte menu, it also caters to guests who prefer thoughtfully curated lunch sets. The special lunch set is priced at Php 1,680 for two courses and Php 1,980 for three courses. For the two-course option, diners may choose between a starter and a main or a main and a dessert, while those seeking the full experience may opt for the three-course set to enjoy all courses in one seamless meal.<\/p>\n

Set in an elegantly appointed dining room finished in soothing shades of duck\u2011egg blue, with blush\u2011pink seating, Sala accommodates about 35 guests in an atmosphere that is simultaneously warm, intimate, and exquisitely styled<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The restaurant\u2019s dining room is intimate and understated, with a small, elegant space that naturally lends itself to private gatherings. There is no formal VIP room, but the entire dining area can function as a private venue; one long table can seat around 20 in the center, and the room comfortably accommodates 32 to 35 guests.<\/p>\n

\"\"IMAGE from Philippine Primer<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

For full venue rental, Sala operates on a minimum spend of around Php 100,000 to Php 125,000 for lunch<\/strong> and Php 200,000 for dinner<\/strong>, plus service charge, making it a sought-after setting for corporate events, intimate weddings, and special celebrations.<\/p>\n

At the core of Sala is Chef Colin Mackay\u2019s steady vision: a modern European restaurant rooted in seasonal produce, intimate ambience, and quietly confident hospitality\u2014one that has helped shape Manila\u2019s fine dining scene for nearly 30 years.<\/p>\n

Chef Colin Mackay\u2019s influence spans other esteemed establishments, including the relaxed European\u2011style Sala Bistro<\/strong>, the popular People\u2019s Palace<\/strong>, and Blackbird at the Nielson Tower<\/strong>, a landmark Art Deco heritage building originally built in 1937 as the country\u2019s premier airport, each reflecting Mackay\u2019s signature balance of elegance, atmosphere, and culinary excellence<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Sala remains a timeless pillar of Manila\u2019s dining landscape\u2014where understated elegance meets culinary artistry, and each visit feels thoughtfully curated, whether it\u2019s for an intimate dinner or a special event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Philippine Primer features Sala restaurant in Makati, home of modern and classic European cuisine since 1997. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":64388,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[251,45,202,20,90,112,7667,2067,916],"tags":[313,5420,5422,5421],"class_list":["post-11209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-european","category-french","category-ayala-avenue","category-legazpi","category-makati-avenue","category-makati","category-fine-dining","category-french-2018","category-romantic-restaurants-2017","tag-makati","tag-sala-restaurant","tag-scottish-chef-colin-mackay","tag-twice-baked-prawn-and-dill-souffle"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11209"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64393,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11209\/revisions\/64393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}