CALLING ALL GENTS
A location for the perfect bachelor’s party is hidden in the heart of BGC
You may—or may not—have heard of it, but the secret’s been hiding in plain sight for more than two years. Thanks to the unadulterated power of word of mouth, men have been discovering a little haven at the second floor of The Fort Strip in the heart of Manila’s Bonifacio Global City. Once a home for super clubs (and for a time the head office of MTV Philippines), the Fort Strip was the first commercial zone within the reinvigorated Bonifacio Global City, or BGC for short. Fast forward a decade and a half later, BGC is a melting pot of the tech elite (both Google and Facebook Philippines hold office in the vicinity), global advertising agencies as well as the biggest names in food dapple the walkable concrete jungle. And yes, there are coffee shops. There’s almost a specialty coffee shop in every corner. The conditions are perfect. It’s also the location of your future bachelor’s party. The Refined has been operating for more than two years. Founder Noel Naguiat built it to realize his dream of establishing an exclusive club for men. It’s a barber shop, a spa, a haberdashery, a cocktail bar, a lounge and co-working space, and a private events space. These are the sum of its parts, and to confine the definition of The Refined to specific services doesn’t do the place justice. The journey hasn’t been all roses however. There’s a stigma to the term ‘gentleman’s club,’ which has become associated with such places with escorts and happy endings. But historically, this has not always been the case. So yes, it’s not that kind of bachelor party you’re going to be hosting.
The British Empire established the gentleman’s club as a place where men could create friendships with other men. It was one huge networking event— over cigars, gin, books, pool, and poker. Where men could be men and discuss family, politics, sports, and yes, even fashion, as many of these clubs had tailors that could create bespoke outfits. Having had experience setting up Mankind Grooming Studio for Men in Canada, he set his sights on the Philippines and went even further with the concept of an exclusive hideaway for men within the city. “It’s funny because we’ve had wives come in demanding to see what’s behind the curtain of the spa when in reality it’s really just half-naked guys having a massage or playing couch co-op on the Playstation.” Although it is technically a men’s club, women are allowed inside if they’re accompanied by a member. Apart from organizing regular community events, The Refined is also an events place that can be rented out exclusively for your entourage. Imagine couch co-op on the console with your friends then relaxing by the private bar with killer specialty cocktails in between rounds. Or poker night. Or a massage. It’s the perfect getaway that’s accessible within the city—because we all have to admit that men don’t like planning too many elaborate things. This is an all-in-one package for one memorable night at the Fort Strip.