7 Private Dining Spots In And Near Manila For Low-Key Parties

'Tis the season once again for holiday reunions and get-togethers! While there are loads of restaurants around the Metro that are perfect for group dining, sometimes you can't help but crave a quieter setting—especially if you and your friends are trentahin (or trentahin at heart).

That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a scrumptious feast, especially with lots of great private-dining options in and around Metro Manila. You and your girls can have the dining venue all to yourself or have them cater at home. Whichever your pick is, these private-dinner options def won't fail you.

Location: 61 Orange Street, SSS Village, Marikina City

Cozy private-dining spot 61 Orange is located in the mid-century home of Chef Nathaniel "Nats" Imson and his partner Ethel. You and your friends can snap lots of photos of their colorful, retro interiors to your hearts' content as 61 Orange only hosts one reservation every night. At 61 Orange, Chef Nats wants you to feel like their home is yours for the night. Acting as your private chef for the evening, Chef Nats whips up comfort food from all over the world, from crisp, colorful salads and seafood boils to a massive Tomahawk steak with homemade sauces that he'll carve for you, too. Rather than fine dining, though, 61 Orange calls themselves "find dining"—because you'll need to look for them in the quiet streets of Marikina. One thing's for sure though: they are well worth the search.

For reservations, contact 09178478232 on Viber.

Location: 2320 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City

Chef Jovy Acuzar, food consultant Iyay Ignacio, and pastry chef Tara Alvarez of Sunday Street Co. craft events that are peak girlhood, from gorgeous tablescapes to café-inspired bites. Though their specialties are mostly Italian and Mediterranean-inspired, this three-woman power team can create a menu that suits whatever theme your heart desires—in fact, they've worked with several brands since they first started in 2013 like Le Labo and Cheak Activewear. Sunday Street Co. specializes in catering, but you can also have an intimate private dinner at their new HQ.

For inquiries and reservations, visit their website.

Location: Makati Tuscany, 6751 Ayala Ave, Makati City

If you want rich, stick-to-your-bones comfort food paired with elegant tablescapes, you won't go wrong with nawwTy's Kitchen by Trish Panlilio. nawwTy's Kitchen became well-known for their luxurious paella options like the Crab Fat Paella Negra with Aligue Aioli Sauce that comes topped with jumbo-sized crab claws, rich crab dishes, and other elevated party staples like roasts and pasta. They usually have special menus customized for the holidays (their latest one is for Thanksgiving with a whole juicy roast turkey) but they can also craft a menu and dining-space styling depending on your theme. nawwTy's Kitchen offers both catering and private dining at their space at Makati Tuscany.

For inquiries and reservations, contact 09189987474 on Whatsapp or 09984076864 on Viber.

Location: 3rd Floor, BLK 113 (former Fox Square Center), Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan City

With deep mahogany hues, decorative plates on the wall, and mismatched throw pillows and chairs, FIVE Private Dining's space feels like having dinner at your grandma's home. Seating a minimum of eight and a maximum of 20 people, the space is cozy and intimate. The food by owner and chef Paolo Bustamante is also reminiscent of family holiday feasts with elevated classics like the Surf and Turf Paella, Roast Beef Belly, and Truffle Chicken. You can avail of their set menus which come with an appetizer, soup, three mains, dessert, and drink or customize your own. FIVE Private Dining is fully booked for December so be sure to get your reservations in for January!

For reservations, contact 09451191555.

Location: 96 Scout Reyes corner Scout Fuentebella, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City

Once the ancestral home of the Makabali Family, Pio's Kitchen (named after the family's patron saint, Padre Pio) is now the private-dining space of Chef Chin Gallegos-Bagos. Bright and sunny with a white motif and lush greenery, the romantic space has catered many wedding receptions and other romantic occasions, but we think they're the perfect venue for a coquette-ish holiday girls’ brunch, too.

The private-dining menu is definitely not dainty, though, going from warm bread and soups to appetizers, roasts, and dessert. Pio's Kitchen specializes in Filipino comfort food—think, your lola's holiday dinner spread with classics like Callos ala Mang Badi, Beef Tenderloin Salpicao, and their signature Paella. Dessert is Filipino-themed as well, with a selection that includes homemade palitaw, ginataang bilo bilo and maja blanca. You can even up the ante by adding on a Chef's Table of assorted tapas, cheeses, and dips. One thing's for sure: be sure to come hungry!

For reservations, contact 09569350848.

Location: Chino Roces Avenue,, Makati City (address available upon reservation)

Many of us have wondered what it's like to have a private chef for your dinner party, and the closest you can get without actually hiring one is Mireia Dining. Chef Mark hosts dinners for groups of up to 10 at his Makati apartment, whipping up fine-dining courses in his own kitchen like crab pasta with ikura and a tomato-uni cream, scallop tartelettes with caviar and truffle, and cochinillo belly. You can even watch him in action! The food is elevated but the atmosphere is never stuffy, only homey and cozy—you'll almost forget you’re not celebrating at home with your friends.

For reservations, fill out their online form.

Location: Lot 5664 Barangay Malabag, Silang, Cavite

Though Mrs. Saldo's is tucked away in Silang, Cavite, anyone who has dined at the lush private-dining space of Chef Rhea Rizzo will tell you that it's worth the drive. Their private dining rooms are surrounded by flourishing greenery that it almost feels like you're dining in your own secret garden. Each of the private dining rooms burst with color and personality, from vibrantly painted walls covered in contemporary art pieces to cozy throw pillows that make the rattan-backed chairs extra comfy.

Chef Rhea's food is just as colorful, celebrating her travels around the world. You can choose from five different set menus like the Asian Set Menu featuring dishes from all over Southeast Asia, and are inspired partly by her stint working under culinary superstar Gaggan Anand (of award-winning, Bangkok-based restaurant Gaggan); the South American Menu which channels Mexican flavors inspired by her stay in California; and the New Orleans-inspired menu that features hearty US Southern comfort food.

For an additional fee, you can add on a wine pairing—rest assured that you're in good hands as Chef Rhea's partner Dave is WSAT-certified. Mrs. Saldo's private dining rooms can host groups of six, seven to eight, or 14.

For reservations, contact 09171002983.