2 Mar 2011

How To Get To Timog's Nightspots And Tomas Morato's Nightlife Destinations

  • 2 Mar 2011
  • Lagalag


  • Sights, Sounds, Entertainment and Culinary Destination in Quezon City. That's what Tomas Morato and Timog avenues are all about. What makes these two important avenues special is the fact that two major pillars in Philippine Showbiz, ABS-CBN and GMA-7, are located right at their tips, respectively. ABS-CBN, the Kapamilya Network, stands in the north end of Tomas Morato Avenue. GMA-7, the Kapuso Network, on the other hand, is located in the eastern point of Timog Avenue. ABS-CBN is bordered by Eugenio Lopez, Mother Ignacia Avenue and Sgt. Esguerra Avenue. GMA-7 is bordered by EDSA, Timog Avenue, Samar Avenue and GMA Network Drive.



    See, the two competing giant networks have their own turf after all, 800 meters away from each other, right here in QC. No wonder Quezon City is called "City of Stars".

    Now, to live up to this synonymousness, both Timog Avenue and Tomas Morato continue to host nightlife attractions and destinations. Aside from existence of old nightclubs, restaurants, spas, comedy bars and KTVs, new players keep coming in. As I walk you through these roads, from your location, I will mention spots, both new and old, that lined up these attractive thoroughfares.

    Directions To Tomas Morato and Timog

    BY CAR
    BY COMMUTING
    LOCATION MAP





    Route #1

    From south of Metro Manila e.g. Alabang, Pacita, Muntinlupa, Sucat, Metropolis Starmall, Festival Mall, Filinvest City, SM South Mall, BF Homes Paranaque and Southern Tagalog provinces e.g. Laguna, Batangas and Quezon. This driving direction can also be taken by drivers from areas where this route passes through like Pasay, Makati, Taguig, parts of Pasig near EDSA, parts of Mandaluyong near EDSA, Guadalupe, J.P. Rizal, Rockwell, Buendia, Ayala, Pioneer-Boni, EDSA-Shaw, Ortigas Center, Ortigas Avenue, Araneta Center Cubao, etc.

    Take the Skyway and exit via Magallanes Exit. Or take President Osmena Highway also known as SLEX, the ground level highway beneath Metro Manila Skyway. Turn right onto EDSA via Magallanes interchange. Stay to the middle of EDSA and drive all the way to Quezon City, passing through Ayala Tunnel, Cubao tunnel or underpass and flyovers of Ortigas and Santolan. After passing through tunnel of Cubao or Cubao underpass, you must avoid getting onto the Kamuning Flyover. Kamuning-EDSA flyover is the flyover next to Cubao Underpass. Avoid passing through this flyover because underneath it is your destination which is Kamuning Road, the street going to Tomas Morato. Change your lane to the right of EDSA before the Kamuning-EDSA flyover. Better yet, change your lane to the leftmost of EDSA before the Kamuning-EDSA flyover and pass through the gap between the north bound and south bound bridges of Kamuning-EDSA flyover. Immediately, you'll see the traffic lights of EDSA and Kamuning/Kamias intersection. If you're confuse, Kamias is the opposite road of Kamuning. Kamias is to the righ of EDSA if you're coming from Makati. Kamuning is it's opposite road to your left if you're coming from Makati. Cross the EDSA-Kamuning Intersection and make a U-turn on the first U-turn slot next to Kamuning intersection to go back to Kamuning Road. Turn right onto Kamuning Road. Stay to the middle of Kamuning Road and drive all the way up to the end of the road. Kamuning Road ends up in Tomas Morato. Kamuning is perpendicular to Tomas Morato Avenue.

    As you near Tomas Morato, you decide whether to turn left or turn right on Tomas Morato. Now, this is where I will start the tour of Tomas Morato Avenue, and later on, the Timog Avenue.

    Turning left on Tomas Morato, you get to see the following:





    Dekada Resto and Disco Bar, Polari Comedy Club, Daungan Sa Morato, Bamboo Grande Garden Restaurant, Kowloon House, Starway Family KTV, Creekside Square and some spas. From the corner of Tomas Morato and Kamuning Road to it's southern tip which is perpendicular to E. Rodriguez Sr Avenue, the distance is approximately 330 meters.

    Turning right onto Tomas Morato from Kamuning Road is where you get to see the real Tomas Morato - full of cars, bright neon lights and night clubs of all kinds. In the following order, here are the establishments you're going to see along Tomas Morato from corner of Kamuning up to Timog Avenue where the Boyscout Circle is also located:

    UCC Coffee Vienna Cafe
    Dishes & Mugs Bar and Restaurant
    Figaro Tomas Morato
    Zirkoh Tomas Morato
    White Avenue
    Annabel's
    Starbucks Coffee Tomas Morato
    Bubble Tea
    California Berry
    Under one roof are the following:
    Octoboy Japanese Pizza, The White Hat, Golden Lily Therapeutic & Wellness Center,
    KR Express, Cheesecake Etc, Chicken Street, Grilled Tomato and
    Tantric Bar & Resto
    Bellagio Square Tomas Morato
    AREA05 and other clubs under one roof
    Asya Tomas Morato
    Kimono Ken
    Don Henrico's Tomas Morato
    Congo Grille Tomas Morato
    Johnny Rockets Tomas Morato
    Shakey's Tomas Morato
    Under one roof:
    Italiannis Tomas Morato
    Rollingstone Bar
    Kalye Juan
    and more
    Barrakz

    Located around the Boy Scout Circle are the following: Centerstage, Padi's Point, Imperial Palace Suites, Chowking, and Petron.

    Now if you turn righ onto Timog Avenue from Tomas Morato up to EDSA, you're in for more surprises. To see what are the spots that dotted that stretch of Timog, just read Route #2.

    Going to the other side of Tomas Morato, from Boy Scout Circle up to Eugenio Lopez Avenue where ABS-CBN is located, here are some of important places worth visiting:

    Belo Medical Group
    Dolce
    Il Terrazzo
    Burgoo
    Clad Shoppe
    C Beers
    Pier One Bar & Grill
    Half Moon Asian Cafe
    Hotel Rembrandt
    Alex III

    Now, if you go to the left of Timog, by passing through Boy Scout Circle and bypassing the other side of Tomas Morato, a lot more surprises are waiting for you. See them in Route #3.

    Route #2

    From north of Metro Manila, e.g. Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela. This driving direction can also be taken by those drivers coming from Pampanga, Bulacan, Novaliches-Quirino Avenue via NLEX and Balintawak cloverleaf interchange and from areas where this route passes through e.g. Bagong Barrio, Balintawak, Project 7, Project 8, Munoz, Roosevelt, Congressional, etc. Take EDSA all the way to Scout Borromeo. Here's the details: Stay to the middle of EDSA, crossing the Congressional/Roosevelt intersection in Munoz and West Avenue where SM City North Edsa is located to your left. After West Avenue, you must pass through the Quezon Avenue Flyover. While you're on the flyover, stay to the right of the flyover.

    After passing through Quezon Avenue flyover, stay to your lane. The first street after you descennded from the flyover is Eugenio Lopez. As soon as you passed by Eugenio Lopez Street, watch out for the broken white lines that gives direction for private vehicles from EDSA into the Scout Borromeo Street. Avoid MMDA apprehension, drive smart, follow traffic rules and regulations. Once you see the white broken lines running diagonally to the next street after Eugenio Lopez which is the Scout Borromeo, turn on signal lights, change your lane, follow the broken lines and turn right onto Scout Borromeo Street. There's a Jollibee one block before Scout Borromeo. Drive on Scout Borromeo, cross Samar Avenue and then turn left on the next street which is Sgt. Esguerra Avenue.

    Drive on until you get to Timog Avenue. This is where we're going to start the tour. At the junction of Sgt. Esguerra is Caltex located to the right corner and to the left corner is GMA Network Drive. Sergent Esguerra Avenue ends up in Timog and its opposite road across Timog is 11th Jamboree Street.

    Located at the corner of Timog Avenue and 11th Jamboree to the left is Goodyear Servitek and to the right corner is Torio's Grill Timog and the Forest Grill & Cafe.

    Torio's Grill Timog
    Forest Grill & Cafe

    If you turn left on Timog Avenue from Sergent Esguerra, here are what you're going to get to, in this order:

    Adonis - located to your right
    East Garden - located to your right
    Gerardo's - to your right
    Kabooom Grill's Garden
    Channel KTV - to your right
    Ludos Resto & Bar - to your right
    Pansit Malabon - to your right
    GMA-7 Network Inc
    located to your left and very visible from the distance

    Not in photos are: South Homes Apartelle - before GMA 7, Golden Eagle Travel & Tours - near South Homes, and Lydia's Lechon near Pancit Malabon.

    From Sergent Esquerra, if you turn right onto Timog Avenue, up to Boy Scout Circle in Tomas Morato are the best places for me. In order of their locations from Sergent Esguerra to Tomas Morato, here they are:

    The Cuisinier Brasserie - located at Rich Well Building
    to your left
    Video Music Lounge - to your right
    TVX Channel V Philippines - to your right
    Chic-Boy - to your left
    Live Band at Chic-Boy
    Merci Restaurant & Bar - to your right
    Grand Amihan - to your right
    Faustino's Sizzler - to your left
    Buddy's
    Dito Parang Laging Fiesta
    to your left
    Quattro Grill Bar Restaurant
    to your left
    Plaza Ibarra - to your right
    Slice n' Dice Steakhouse - to your right
    Puti Bar & Grill - to your right
    Cake2Go - to your right
    Hong Kong KTV - to your right
    Grandeur Health Club - to your left
    Off The Grill - to your right
    Kalye Timog - to your right
    Jade Valley - to your left
    Kusina ni Ka Anang - to your left
    Club Zen
    Fujian Family Spa - to your right
    Tramway Garden Buffet - to your right

    Also located along this stretch of Timog are: Arnerl Pineda's Rockville Bar, Excess Club, Maginoo and many more. Please see seperate posts for Rockville Bar and Excess Club. Search for them using our Search Direction Box located in our side bar.

    If you turn right onto Tomas Morato, here are the places you're going to see:

    Belo Medical Group
    Dolce
    Il Terrazzo
    Burgoo
    Clad Shoppe
    C Beers
    Pier One Bar & Grill
    Half Moon Asian Cafe
    Hotel Rembrandt
    Alex III

    The left side of Tomas Morato is where Alan K's Zirkho and the Bellagio Square Tomas Morato are located. To see all of the places in that part of Tomas Morato, please read Route #1.

    And to discover what's in store for you at the other side of Timog from Boy Scout Circle up to Quezon Aveneu, just read Route #3.

    Route #3

    From Malate and Ermita area. This driving direction can also be taken from T.M. Kalaw Street, Maria Orosa Street corner U.N. Avenue where Manila Pavilion Hotel is located, Robinson's Place Manila, Adriatico Street, Remedios Street, Padre Burgos Street, Pedro Gil Street, Padre Faura Street as well as areas where this route passes through e.g. Intramuros, SM City Manila, Manila City Hall, Sta. Cruz, Quiapo, C.M. Recto, Morayta, Lerma, Padre Noval, UST, etc.

    Take any of these major roads: Taft Avenue, Roxas Boulevard or Mabini. Get to Quiapo. How? Take the north bound lane of your chosen road - the lane going to Quiapo and Quezon City. There's only one main road going to Quiapo, Padre Burgos Street, the road where passenger jeepneys pass through. It's easy to see. From Roxas Boulevard, drive to Rizal Park, staying on Roxas Boulevard and turn right onto Padre Burgos. From Mabini, turn right onto T.M. Kalaw, turn left on Maria Orosa Street, the street that runs across Luneta with Jolibee in the corner. From Maria Orosa corner U.N. Avenue, cross T.M. Kalaw, pass Jollibee located at the corner of T.M. Kalaw, then turn right onto Padre Burgos. From Taft Avenue, pass by Rizal Park, cross Ayala Boulevard where Philippine Normal College is located, then merge with Padre Burgos.

    Now, once Padre Burgos reaches Lawton area it multiplies into three major roads. Take the rightmost main road where Metropolitan Theater stands. That road will take you to Quiapo. Cross Pasig River via Quezon Bridge. After Quezon Bridge is Quiapo and you're now traversing Quezon Boulevard.

    Drive on until you pass through Quezon Boulevard Underpass. While driving down the underpass, stay to the right and turn right onto Espana in the middle of the underpass. How? There's slip lane or road that forms Y-intersection (fork) in the middle of Quezon Boulevard underpass to the right, it's going to Espana. So it's important that you're staying to the right of Quezon Boulevard underpass as soon as you descend, then turn right onto the fork inside the underpass, that's going to Espana.

    Stay to the middle of Espana and drive all the way until you're traversing Quezon Avenue, passing by Welcome Rotonda. You'll cross the intersection of Quezon Avenue and Araneta Avenue, then up ahead is the Pegasus, to the right. After that you'll pass by a huge Sogo Hotel located at the corner of Roces Avenue and Quezon Avenue to the right. You'll also pass by Capitol Medical Center which is located at Scout Magbanua Street. At this point you must stay to the right of Quezon Avenue. Next street is Scout Reyes. After Scout Reyes is another Y intersection (fork.) And the road to the right that completes fork junction (Y-intersection) is your destination - Timog Avenue.

    This is where we start the tour of the entertainment district of Quezon City from this gateway. Turn right onto Timog Avenue, and in the order of how I mention them in this blog, here are the spots of Timog Avenue from Quezon Avenue up to Boy Scout Circle where Tomas Morato intersects:

    First off, to the left of Timog is the Music Box, one of the popular comedy bars in this district.

    Music Box

    Different types of institutions that follow will definitely give you 101 ways to unwind. Here they are:

    Wensha Spa - to your right now
    Experience full amenities spa
    Le Ching Tea House - to your left
    Marina - to your left
    With live bands performing nightly
    R Bistro Bar - to your right
    Savory Chicken Timog - to your left
    Metro Blend - to your left
    Wan Wan Restaurant - to your right
    MTO Reflexology - to your right
    Jay-j's Inasal - to your left
    Burger King Timog - to your left
    Fiorgelato - to your right
    Torre Lorenzo - to your right
    Laffline Comedy Bar - to your left
    Karaoke Republic - to your left
    MTRCB - to your right
    Kabab Grille
    Cedar Executive Bldg 2
    Causeway - to your right
    Fat Johnny's Grill - to your right
    MGM - to your left
    Music 21 Timog - to your left
    Spring Deer Seafood Restaurant - to your left
    Prince Jun Condominium - to your right
    Sir William's Hotel - to your left
    Facial World Timog - to your left
    Yam Cha Seafood Restaurant - to your right
    Danny's Grill Acoustic Band - to your right
    Food Plaza Kiosks - to your right
    Dampa Timog - to your right
    Hollywood - to your right
    Jesus is Lord Church - to the right
    The Skin Specialist- to the right of Timog
    Pier 39 - to the left near Boy Scout Circle

    Located around the Boy Scout Circle are the following: Centerstage, Padi's Point, Imperial Palace Suites, Chowking, and Petron.

    If you turn right onto Tomas Morato, you'll see Alan K's Zirkho and the Bellagio Square and a whole lot more. Read Route #1 to see more destinations located there.

    Meanwhile, Arnel Pineda's Rockville Bar is located at the other side of Timog. So you need to pass through the Boy Scout Circle, pass Tomas Morato, then turn right onto Timog again. To discover more of hot places located from Boy Scout Circle up to EDSA, read route #2.

    And to the left of Tomas Morato, you will find this equally important spots:

    Belo Medical Group
    Dolce
    Il Terrazzo
    Burgoo
    Clad Shoppe
    C Beers
    Pier One Bar & Grill
    Half Moon Asian Cafe
    Hotel Rembrandt
    Alex III

    Hope you enjoy your night out. Have a good time. Below are directions on how to get to Timog and Tomas Morato and to the places dotting these popular streets that never sleep.

    Routes to Timog and Tomas Morato

    By Commuting - Bus, Jeepneys and LRT/MRT






    How to go to Timog and Tomas Morato by jeepney

    There are two routes of passenger jeepney that pass through Tomas Morato Avenue and Timog Avenue.

    Route #1

    The first route is from EDSA corner Kamuning Road. So you won't get lost wherever in Metro Manila you're coming from. Just ride a bus, but make sure the sign of the bus contains any of these words: "Fairview", "East Avenue", "SSS" and "Philcoa". You can always ask the conductor, anyway. Make sure you get off at Kamias or Kamuning. If you're confuse, Kamias is the opposite road of Kamuning. Kamias is to the righ of EDSA if you're coming from Makati. Kamuning is it's opposite road to your left if you're coming from Makati. Now, at the corner of EDSA and Kamuning or Kamias, a lot of passenger jeepneys going to Quiapo stop to pick up passengers. Do not ride these jeepneys. Wait for jeepneys with any of the following signs: "Welcome Rotonda", "Pantranco" and "Roces". Note: If you're commuting to Capitol Medical Center or Sogo Hotel from EDSA-Kamuning, then this is the jeepney route to take. Ride one of these jeepneys and ask driver to drop you off at your destination either in Tomas Morato or Timog.

    Note: The jeepney will turn left on Timog via Boy Scout Circle. So if your destination is to the right of Timog, get off at Boy Scout Circle and walk towards your destination. Same way if your destination is to the other side of Tomas Morato.

    This direction is the best route for commuters from Fairview, Commonwealth, Philcoa, Project 2-3 and those from other area who prefer bus instead of train in going to Timog Avenue, Tomas Morato Avenue, Imperial Palace, GMA Network, Inc. or GMA Channel-7 and Rockville.

    Route #2

    The second route is from Welcome Rotonda. The sign of jeepneys that plies this route contains either "Proj. 2-3" or "Timog". Now, confusion might arise that will lead to wrong direction. That's because there are also jeepneys from Quiapo with the same sign, "Proj. 2-3", that pass by Welcome Rotonda. Do not ride any of these jeepneys. They take different route, via E. Rodrigues Avenue. You will get lost the moment you ride a Project 2-3 bound jeepney from Quiapo. What you do is go across E. Rodriguez where the Project 2-3 bound via Timog jeepney stop to pick up passengers. These jeepneys are the ones who pick up passengers in EDSA-Kamuning. They take Quezon Avenue from Welcome Rotonda and turn right onto Timog Avenue. So the key here is Quezon Avenue route and not E. Rodriguez. Ride one of these jeepneys and ask driver to drop you off at your destination.

    Note: This jeepney turns right onto Tomas Morato and will not pass through the other half part of Timog. So if your destination is located to that part of Timog, get off at Boy Scout Circle and walk towards EDSA to get to your destination. Same way if your destination is located to the left part of Tomas Morato that will never be passed through by this jeepney route.

    This direction is the best route to take from Espana, Quiapo, UST, Dimasalang and other nearby areas.


    How to get to Timog and Tomas Morato by LRT or MRT

    You can get to Timog by MRT-3 and the station here is called GMA-Kamuning Station. After you get off the train in GMA-Kamuning Station, walk towards the corner of Timog Avenue and EDSA where the headquarters of GMA Network, Inc. or GMA Channel-7 is located. Wait for a jeepney along Timog Avenue. These jeepneys are bound for Cubao via Timog, but they turn left on Ybardaloza Street, way too far from Tomas Morato. The sign of jeepney is "Cubao Arayat".

    If your destination is located along the route of this jeepney, then get off exactly at the location. But if your destination is in Tomas Morato, then walk towards Boy Scout Circle and ride another jeepney with "Project 2-3" sign that passes through Tomas Morato. But you need to walk to the left of Tomas Morato if your destination is located there because there's no jeepney going that way. Anyway, it's just a short walk from Boy Scout Circle up to the end of Tomas Morato in Eugenio Lopez where ABS-CBN is located.

    If your destination is located along the other half of Timog from Boy Scout Circle up to Quezon Avenue, then ride a jeepney near Chowking in Boy Scout Circle, and ask the driver to drop you off at your destination.

    If the nearest station to you is LRT-2, then ride a train there and get off at Araneta Center-Cubao Station and walk your way to MRT-3 Farmers Cubaao Station. MRT-3 and LRT-2 are linked together by a crossway that passes through Gateway Mall, Araneta Coliseum and Farmers Plaza. Ride a northbound train or North Station train and get off at GMA-Kamuning Station. Follow direction given above.

    These directions via MRT and LRT is the best route to take for commuters from San Juan, Santa Mesa, Pasig, Sampaloc, Legarda, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, Baclaran, Paranaque, Marikina, Santolan, Project 4, Cubao and other nearby areas coming to Timog Avenue, Tomas Morato, GMA Network, Imperial Palace and of course Rockville.


    Location Map of Timog and Tomas Morato
    Locate your place of destination by using this map. If you're using smartphone, pinch in or pinch out.




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