The new game of thrones? Manila’s restaurant powder rooms are flushed with Japanese toilets, luxe Art Deco amenities, and touches of Filipino whimsy

Bloomberg Businessweek was on to something when they wrote that the bathroom is the most important room in a restaurant today.

Not that beautiful powder rooms are a new phenomena in foodservice. It’s just that many of these private spaces are hot properties for today’s TikTok and Instagram generation—not to mention a general indicator of a restaurant’s overall cleanliness standards.

That said, beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all but there is much to be gleaned from the details and design inside these pretty personal spaces.

So perhaps it was almost fortuitous that when that story came out, we were smack in the middle of our own exploration about an oft-overlooked but continuously improving aspect of Filipino hospitality. The brief was simple: Search for restaurant restrooms (except those nestled in hotels) that have attained a cult favorite status for delivering a safe space for selfies, personal comfort, and memorable experiences.

After several days of scouring the capital, the thrill of the toilet hunt led us to some of our favorites in Metro Manila. And it was a total riot, to say the least, though a little tamer than HiPoPo Papa’s “aquarium toilet” in Hyogo, Japan.

From Quezon City to Makati, we came face to face with and frolicked in an assortment of themes and inspirations, colors (or lack thereof), and high-tech sanitary ware inside the compact spaces.

From Quezon City to Makati, we came face to face with and frolicked in an assortment of themes and inspirations, colors (or lack thereof), and high-tech sanitary ware inside the compact spaces. A range of sumptuous fixtures, origin stories, and design choices bounced off the walls and bridged each restaurant’s branding.

There is demarcation but there is also a kind of streamlining—from the front of house to the back, to the private lavatory. It wouldn’t be a surprise then if, prior to sitting down at your table at any of these restaurants, you head to the back of the restaurant, walk into the door on your left or right, and soak in the expressive environment.

Sometimes, we just really, really have to go.

Bolero: Step into the portal

If there’s a bathroom that materializes TLC’s 1994 album “CrazySexyCool”  and bottles Charli XCX’s “Brat” then it’s probably Bolero’s in BGC.

It’s clear that the Spanish restaurant designed their bathroom to stand out. It’s also apparent that the full potential of light is utilized, seen in the intense luminosity of reds and yellows in the main vanity area as well as inside the private stalls that color-drench both spaces and make the slim burgundy tiles, wooden shelves, and black and brass hardware stand out.

The exterior sink setup (furnished with a Bolero-branded hand soap and a L’Abondance diffuser) is a smart decision to minimize handwashing wait times and reduce congestion.

The exterior sink setup (furnished with a Bolero-branded hand soap and a L’Abondance diffuser) is a smart decision to minimize handwashing wait times and reduce congestion—though that might also depend on the number of people taking their next-level mirror selfies.

While the separate men’s and women’s powder rooms are fairly tight, the massive mirror floating on the wall creates an illusion of space and more opportunities for selfie-taking. Another unique design element is the bold presence of circles that feel like portals to different dimensions—on the cabinet panels, as a backlit mirror above the exterior sink, and a circular “towel tower” made up of 39 tubes that make dispensing hand towels visually striking.

Bolero has absolutely crafted an exciting environment that’s also effortless and functional, mirroring the overall experience its restaurateurs and designers intended. Who else can hear Charli XCX singing “Talk to me in French, talk to me in Spanish, talk to me in your own made-up language?”

Lusso by Margarita Forés: Art Deco resplendence

We’ve lauded this opulent Lusso by Margarita Forés outpost in Balmori Suites for good reason: The Asia’s Best Female Chef 2016 embraces Art Deco glory with luscious details but brings it into a more modern domain in the same fashion she masterfully wields Filipino and Italian cuisine.

From the black marble tiles contrasting with the brass finishes and the signature geometry of the design style to the decadent features and lavish products, no detail has been spared at Lusso.

Everything about the powder room screams glamour. From the black marble tiles contrasting with the brass finishes and the signature geometry of the design style (check out the Chrysler-like cabinet door at the bottom) to the decadent features (light bulbs and mother-of-pearl shells on the mirrors bounce off a warm iridescence) and lavish products (Skultuna trays, a Cire Trudon candle, and Officine Universelle Buly mouthwash, liquid soap, and moisturizing lotion)—no detail has been spared.

And then you look up and see what appears to be an air and acoustics tunnel that (to an imaginative mind) could transport you back to the 1920s. And really who wouldn’t consider time traveling to the Roaring Twenties as you ponder life inside this pretty powder room?

Ito Kish Design Food: For the introspective art collector

Past the burnt orange entryway outside lit by a lamp and adorned with decorative art, the restroom at Ito Kish Design Food feels like stepping inside a dark gallery with, well, gallery-worthy art. The sudden rush of emotion you get is that it’s dramatic but bathed in pieces you can tell was curated by someone with a trained eye.

The sudden rush of emotion you get is that it’s dramatic but bathed in pieces you can tell was curated by someone with a trained eye.

The rare and showstopping moose antlers from Sweden (apparently in the care of Ito Kish for more than 10 years now) above the wood-rimmed mirror anchors the space and guides your eyes to the ceiling awash in a “dark evening” wallpaper. A singular spotlight creates even more drama and intriguing shapes when taking that picture-perfect selfie… and feeling that guests are, at least in this time and space, a moose.

On the far wall, you can spot an Arturo Luz collage—though the pieces change every two months. But we’re also glad to see the restroom outfitted with a separate urinal for men and a grab bar for the safety of seniors and persons with limited mobility.

In the words of Kish himself, “To design a small powder room is not easy. It should have a wow factor and it should evoke emotion and conversation.”

Toyo Eatery: Filipino artistry meets Japanese minimalism

Across all three of Toyo Eatery’s powder rooms, the thought that comes to mind is Japanese balance with hints of Filipino flair. Streamlined and sleek, organic and natural, restroom rituals at any of the Toyo Eatery powder rooms (which intentionally disappear into the walls) seem to epitomize serenity and comfort.

Across all three of Toyo Eatery’s powder rooms, the thought that comes to mind is Japanese balance with hints of Filipino flair.

The biggest of the three is exclusive to the second-level private dining room. A smooth cement finish serves as the backdrop for the understated elements in the space—a Japanese washlet from Toto with all the buttons, bells, and whistles (including toilet rolls with stamps or floral shapes courtesy of the Toyo Eatery front of house) elevate the experience, while the plants, which go on rotation, reinforce the Japanese garden theme and soften the hard feel of the space.

A large tatami mat separating the negative space and the sanitary ware on the other side doesn’t only serve an aesthetic purpose but also signals the Japanese principle of “ma” in which a time to pause or an interval for a breath is a must “to feel and connect.”

But in typical Toyo Eatery fashion, the Filipino elements ground the bathrooms: Good Morning towels and Ritual liquid soaps, decorative handicrafts from local artists (spot the Joey De Castro vase) as well as practical personal products like ladies’ amenities and toothpicks. Downstairs, the team nails the Japanese-meets-Filipino flair by curating a unique soundtrack that plays UV Express and jeepney radio ads for a pop of personality. If disappearing into the walls means privately popping off to these tunes, we’ll happily set up camp in any of these bathrooms.

Auro Chocolate Cafe: Full tropical regalia

Leading the way to the private Auro Chocolate Cafe bathroom are Rita Nazareno lamps and an external sink lovingly decorated in an eclectic mix of pastels and rattan. But it’s the actual restroom fronted by a solid door and a sign welcoming guests to “come as you are” where everything truly shines.

Have you ever felt a sudden rush of emotions when entering a room? That’s what it feels like when stepping inside Auro Chocolate Cafe’s striking and immersive lavatory. “We wanted it to be fun, welcoming, and quirky for people to enjoy,” says Auro Chocolate co-founder Mark Ocampo.

“A great bathroom should surprise you while taking you on a journey to a serene sanitary place for a brief moment to do what you need to do.”

Coming off as an homage to Filipino ingenuity and artistry, the bathroom’s pièce de résistance is the floor-to-ceiling Raxenne Maniquiz-designed wallpaper comprised of illustrated endemic flora and fauna like palm trees and rafflesia as well as local cacao and chocolate bars covering the entirety of the space. With a tropical pendant lamp and a couple of spotlights illuminating the space, the effect is akin to being one with the tropics.

Nevertheless, the bathroom basics are all covered such as the white Kohler toilet equipped with a handy bidet with good pressure. Atop the custom countertop are a handcrafted vase with tropical flowers, paper towels, a pair of hand soap and alcohol bottles, and a clear wash basin. There’s also an all-important fixture that not many Manila powder rooms possess: a wall-mounted changing table for babies.

And finally, a cute custom-made keyhole mirror with striped borders breaks up the tropical walls and encourages a riot of Instagram-worthy selfies.

“A great bathroom should surprise you while taking you on a journey to a serene sanitary place for a brief moment to do what you need to do,” adds Ocampo. And in a room where soundproofing and absorption are just as good, why wouldn’t you do what you need to do—and then take some jungle selfies along the way? 

Grace Park Gateway: The tale (and tail) of the tap

In true Margarita Forés fashion, the bathroom at Grace Park in Gateway Mall received a treatment only she can pull off. Decked out in interiors with sublime travel stories, feline bric-à-brac, and a melting pot of decor sourced from old houses, Grace Park’s playful, kitty farmhouse restroom has an old-fashioned charm.

At Grace Park in Gateway, you just want to see, smell, hear, and absorb all of Margarita Forés’ memorabilia.

You don’t necessarily need to know every story here but there is one piece that naturally reveals itself—the solid gray Romblon marble sink inspired by a mortaio (mortar) with knobs sticking out that are actually used to turn the almirez when they make pesto. Other details equally add charm, too. The ornate mirror awaits selfie-takers, the brass sitting cat tap is a joy to use after washing with the Ritual soap, and a metal drain stopper engraved with floral twigs that looks more like an armorial escutcheon completes the dwell time at the vanity. Various gentle scents also linger in the spacious powder room.

Elsewhere, a framed Poste Italiane bag from Bangkok and a yellow hanging lamp and Baroque sconces lighting the white subway-tiled bathroom make the whole multifaceted restroom delightful. And so does sitting at the Geberit bidet-equipped toilet. You just want to see, smell, hear, and absorb all of Margarita’s memorabilia.

Inato: A Zen-like Filipino sensibility

Filipino design can be many things and at Inato, where their point of view on Filipino food doesn’t have a “singular route” to expression, according to head chef JP Cruz, the Studio Ong-designed powder room fortifies this idea.

It is neutral in its pearly translucence but it is neither boring nor sparse. It is modern yet traditional. It is simple but it is not simplistic.

Let us count the ways. For one, the room is compact but it doesn’t feel compressed. It is neutral in its pearly translucence but it is neither boring nor sparse. It is modern (thanks to another automatic Japanese toilet) yet traditional (see the full cast of Bahay Kubo and wooden fish decor, and bamboo and rattan holders). It is simple but it is not simplistic. Dimensional and intentional. I could go on and on about Inato’s calming oasis of a bathroom but it’s clear that it recognizes the power of modern Filipino design in the most elegant manner possible.

The defining elements of the space are gorgeous. Capiz tiles from Senseware give off a nice sheen, while the integrated sink fashioned from a single marble slab is quietly sensational. A metallic wall-mounted faucet meanwhile channels a cascade of water down the sloping ramp sink that is… frankly entertaining. Perhaps intentionally (or not), Inato’s restroom looks schematic on the surface but just like their brand of Filipino cuisine, the devil is truly in the esoteric details—if you can figure out how to get inside this bathroom.

Modan: Playful Japanese lessons

Jorge Mendez summons the same kind of modern Japanese grandeur he serves at his private dining table into his fully realized restroom. And by fully realized, we mean splashing into a space that knows a good time—Japanese-style. The choice of cladding the walls and ceilings with Japanese pattern wallpapers (and a mighty mirror) is seriously good. The colors and textures are fantastic and never collapse into a gimmick, especially when you look around the space.

The colors and textures are fantastic and never collapse into a gimmick, especially when you look around the space.

Perfectly complementing the unabashed coating of colors are the black hardware and furnishings, and an automatic Inax Satis-G toilet equipped with innovations like an air shield deodorizer and aqua ceramic technology that keeps it looking new. An automatic wastebasket on one corner, a Byredo Suede handwash by the sink, a humidity-loving snake plant beside the toilet, a large pendant bulb from Japan that bathes and vivifies the restroom—it’s Japanese through and through.

Functional and pretty, Modan’s flex isn’t just from its progressive cuisine but also what’s hiding past the gray noren curtains leading to its refreshing lavatory.

Manam at Ayala Triangle Gardens: Shabby chic, fine vintage

Going for “old” is the new going for gold. You need only look at Manam at Ayala Triangle Garden’s vintage-inspired all-gender powder rooms to understand how to nail the romantic and rustic environment perpetuated by nostalgia lovers.

Vintage mirrors and sinks as well as toilets in pretty pastels nod to the exuberance of wistfulness.

While many restrooms crackle and buzz, Manam favors a “my grandmother’s attic” attitude with a Wes Anderson-lite vibe. Vintage mirrors and sinks as well as toilets in pretty pastels nod to the exuberance of wistfulness. That said, the juxtaposition of the colorful artwork from Manam’s in-house design team led by Miguel Lucas Wylengco delivers fun Filipiniana and pop sensibilities. Instantly memorable, of course, is the encompassing wallpaper that honors Manila’s cool culture through a montage of lyrics from songs such as “Legs,” “Bongga Ka ‘Day,” and “Manila Girl” and depictions of Manileño life. The place is simply asking for smartphone snaps.

An eclectic selection of hardware in brass (paper towel and liquid soap holder), stainless steel (grab bar), and chrome makes these essentials easily recognizable in the busy statement wallpaper as you take care of your business.