The Fort in Taguig has changed so much since we used to party there with good friends a decade ago.

Today, we envy those with access to townships like Uptown Bonifacio, where they can work, stay, and party all night all in one convenient location. The development is a paragon of Megaworld’s maxim: Live, Work, Play.

For some serious partying in Uptown, there’s The Palace Manila, a huge lifestyle complex filled with posh nightlife establishments like the popular XYLO Nightclub, Revel and The Island.

For the chill spots, where most of the real bonding with friends takes place, we found numerous options for people who want to relax after work, or for those looking for a reprieve from the loud music of the surrounding clubs.

Madrone

Near The Palace Manila is Madrone Kebabs Etc., an example of the whole “chill” experience. Madrone is situated along a busy walkway fronting Uptown Parade offering good kebabs in a no-frills, simple atmosphere.

Tables and chairs are laid out beside the truck. Customers can buy kebabs and beers and enjoy an open-air drinking session with friends and officemates. The restaurant has a “make your own menu” where customers choose a carb (pita, rice or fries), protein (falafel, beef or chicken), salad and dip.

The salad choices are particularly good. There’s Fatoosh, which is a mix of tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, lemon juice and olive oil, which pairs well with kebabs. Malfuf is cabbage, lemon, olive oil, with hints of tahini, a paste made from sesame seeds. Fans of Mediterranean food will be familiar with the Tabouli salad made from parsley, mint leaves, tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil.

Madrone is open 2 p.m.-4 a.m. from Sunday to Wednesday, and 2 p.m.-6 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday.

iPong

The main features at iPong in Uptown Parade are the electronic beer pong tables.

Each table has an attending referee for every game, and the balls contain an RFID device to track scores. The Malaysian franchise brings the old beer pong game to a whole new level.

The interiors are thoroughly modern as well, with dark walls, neon lights and huge TV screens, perfect for chilling out while waiting for your turn at the beer pong table.

Apart from the high-tech gaming tables, one can try out their various drink selections. Particularly good was their Lychee Bomb, with its strong fruity flavor and deceptively light alcohol taste.

They serve an assortment of Chinese-style barbecues, a welcome change from the slew of Korean and Japanese options available. There’s lamb, spicy beef, gristle, beef tendon, and a unique offering, pig hearts.

UCC Coffee Academy

For those seeking a truly chill-out experience, there’s the UCC Coffee Academy, also in Uptown Parade. It’s the third branch in the world; the two others are in Kobe and Tokyo, both in Japan.

Beginners, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, or even professionals can avail of the programs offered by the school. The courses are designed to enhance the coffee tasting, making and selling skills of the individual.

This coffee academy is a welcome option and a good opportunity to hang out and bond with friends.

“The Fundamentals of Coffee: Crop to Cup” is an interactive course that tackles how coffee is made from planting and harvesting to brewing a good cup of coffee. The “Cafe Biz” course discusses the business side of the coffee industry to aspiring baristas and coffee shop owners.

For more advanced coffee aficionados, the “Alternative Methods of Brewing” class focuses on alternate coffee brewing methods like the siphon coffee maker, the aero press, the hand drip method and the percolator. There are various barista training courses and latte art seminars as well.

These are just some of the options for “chillaxing” in Uptown Parade. We can’t wait for what’s next. —CONTRIBUTED