Podium Social brings culinary cool to Ortigas

A social experiment: Design a space that is glass-framed, offering a view of the Ortigas sprawl, and set up a roster of restaurants (carefully, skillfully chosen). An Italian restaurant or a coffee shop here, a German beer hall or a contemporary Asian bistro there. Make those taste buds flit from country to country, flavor to flavor: going from Aperol and pizza, to beer and pretzels, to specialty coffee and British bites, to tamarind and umami. Think of all the stories in each dish. Imagine how this compendium of culinary spots promises both detachment (from the daily grind) and connection (to family, friends, fellow social beings).

Less about fast dining, more about a slow, social unfurling.

Here, on the sixth floor, we gather not just to eat, but to perform the rituals of the city: “to be seen, to be fed, and maybe, if we’re lucky, to feel something close to new.”

According to SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, “Podium Social was thoughtfully created with the Ortigas community in mind—a welcoming space to gather, unwind, and connect.”

But beneath the post-industrial surfaces and polished menus, there’s a sincere attempt to rewrite the script for Manila’s public eating spaces.

A “soft revolution in five plates” if you will.

Aurora

Bistro Aurora puts a fresh spin on regional Asian cuisine, blending traditional flavors with modern techniques and presentation. Think tamarind-glazed pork with just enough zest to keep things exciting, or salmon avocado toast with pickled red onions. It’s quietly confident, a restaurant that understands detail as its very creed. Recognized by Tatler Dining 20 as one of the country’s top restaurants, it proves that thoughtful, story-driven dining is making its mark—even in the mall.

Brotzeit

Since 2007, Brotzeit has brought the spirit of German beer halls to the Philippines. Known for its hearty fare (think sausages, schnitzels, and pretzels), Brotzeit pairs each dish with a wide range of imported German beers, offering an authentic taste of Bavaria. For those exhausted by tasting menus and fennel foam, Brotzeit is a stein of thunderous brew in a world of polite wine sipping.

H Proper

Founded in Cagayan de Oro, H Proper is a specialty café focused on quality and freshness. It sources premium green beans from top coffee regions—Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia, and here at home—and roasts them in-house for a consistently excellent cup. The founder, Harley Keith Yu, treats beans like scripture. The food is just as personal—British Sunday roast, sticky toffee pudding, and a full English with no irony. Yu says, “What began as a hobby is now a mission—to elevate coffee, make it personal, and serve it with heart.”

Lazy Suzy

Led by chef Patrick Go, Lazy Suzy explores the bold flavors of East Asia, going from Japanese to Korean to Cantonese influences without missing a beat. The restaurant blends these rich traditions into a modern, playful dining experience. A modern restaurant for modern appetites.

Osteria Antica

Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo shares, “We hope our love for Italian cuisine is felt with Osteria Antica.”

The restaurant, from the Wildflour Hospitality Group, pays homage to time-honored Italian cooking. With a seasonal menu built on premium ingredients like Italian flour and cheeses, it delivers a true taste of Italy rooted in tradition. There’s a brick oven imported from Italy. There’s truffle. There’s the sort of pasta that seems to have arrived directly from Florence. Osteria Antica leans into the romance of traditional Italian cooking.

Ian Mathay, SM Supermalls senior assistant VP for operations, explains: “The goal of this place is to bring together excellent restaurants, so we can attract a great crowd here at The Podium. People can stay until 1 or 2 a.m. and enjoy quality dining in a relaxed setting. Yes, the restaurant selection was very intentional; we were heavily involved in choosing specialty restaurants that truly serve the needs of customers. Since it’s on the 6th floor, it has to be a destination in itself, so we carefully curated every dining option.”

In a city that often rushes, this sixth-floor refuge invites us to gather, unwind, connect. It’s a quiet manifesto on how we congregate nowadays: with intention, with appetite, with a view.

With saucersful of delights in front of us and above us, as the song goes, only sky.

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Podium Social is at Level 6, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.