Occupying the entire 45th floor of Marco Polo Ortigas hotel is Vu’s (“views”) Sky Bar and Lounge, which features live band music that encourages dancing.
On the Wednesday night of my visit, the retro band Highway 54 is playing virtually any pop or disco hit that formed the soundtrack of baby boomers.
Many in the crowd are female, but with their respective male dance partners. “Mga D.I. (dance instructor),” says my companion, Grace Kelly Inductivo, herself a ballroom dancing enthusiast whose friends include Blackpool (England) Dance Festival champion Edna Ledesma and Argentine tango master Cecil Go.
Edna and Cecil are not here, but Kelly soon finds a dance mate when another friend of ours, Rose Chia, arrives.
It doesn’t take long before Kelly and Rose stride to the dancefloor and shimmy like it was the ’70s all over again. When I join them, Rose does some hilarious planting-rice moves.
The place is spacious enough for about 100 people, but there’s more, an open-air deck, the Sky Bar, with a comely DJ, Jade, presiding over the sounds. That night, it’s classic rock hits.
The menu at Vu’s is a filling mix of Filipino, Asian, Italian and other eats as full meals or bar chow. We sample three, all big servings and delectable: Beef Sliders with Mushrooms, Gruyere Cheese, Sauerkraut and House Dressing; Vegetable and Glass Noodle Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili, Green Mango and Coriander Sauce; and Smoked Salmon, Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella and Arugula Leaves Pizza.
And with two bottles of red wine, this night at Vu’s ticks into the wee hours the next day.
Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge, 45th floor, Marco Polo Ortigas, Meralco Ave. and Sapphire St. Ortigas Center, Pasig; tel. no. 720-7777; open Mondays-Saturdays, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sundays, 5 p.m.-midnight
