On September 25, Midnight Mercato finally relocated to its new home at the corner of 25th Street and 7th Avenue, in front of The Forum, South Global, Bonifacio Global City.
Mercato Centrale is the biggest night food market in the Philippines where Manila foodies can enjoy home-based food goodness with the backdrop of the mural of art duo Cyrcle from LA, “Between the Lines” (or popularly known locally as the Spaceman).
MERCATO CENTRALE
25th St. corner 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Mobile: +63 917 840-1152
Telephone: +632 624-4557
Email: admin@mercatocentrale.ph
Website: Mercato Centrale PH
Facebook: mercatocentrale
Here’s a photo essay of the new Mercato’s first day, which was also the venue for the Baconfest Celebration…
We saw how quickly a patchy open space transformed into a small food-loving community, complete with the hustle and bustle of BGC.
While trucks were being unloaded, workers scattered around the venue to hang up the Mercato Centrale Baconfest décor.
Baconfest is a celebration of one of the most popular cured meats in the world, where concessionaires created special baconized dishes.
By 5pm, the food vendors arrived to set up their booths, curious to see how everything would play out at the new location.
At around 6:30 PM, the tents slowly started fattening with hungry customers. From multiple sides of the area, an influx of people from different walks of life entered Mercato Centrale for one reason: to eat.
The dusky overcast of the day signaled night was approaching, but the scene became even livelier as soon as the tent lights switched on.
Excited (and very hungry) foodies shimmied their way through the crowds, eager to stuff themselves with the promise of good food.
It was hard to find a stall without customers that night—it was even harder to find seats!
It was a bit chaotic, but everyone knew that they were part of a historic moment that will change the lifestyle landscape in Manila.
Mercato Centrale was an experience for the rest of the senses other than taste. The crowd inside the tent looked like a sizeable lake of colors, feverishly shifting to and fro, as people tried to meander their way through to their next food conquest.
Miscellaneous aromas filled the air as quickly as a variety of sounds attacked the ears like a wave, from the spatulas wildly scraping at the cast-iron skillets to the familiar sizzle and pop of fried foods.
To celebrate Baconfest, concessionaires “baconized” dishes all fired up for Mercato Foodies, such as the bacon burger from Hunger Buster.
Other stalls, such as Mamay’s Grill, gave us Bacon Dynamite Sticks. We overheard some of the crowd applauding its sheer simplicity.
Or even these sweet treats by Piper’s Pan with bacon (L-R): Nutella-Bacon Cheesecake, Oatmeal-Walnut Cinnamon Cookie, and Dark Bacon Cheesecake.
Overall, the opening of Mercato Centrale at its new location was a success. In spite of the long lines for some of the food stalls, people waited patiently if it meant the food they wanted would hit the spot.
It was great to see how the collective love for food could set aside all human differences. No doubt, food can bring people together.
Bring your family and friends to this weekly celebration of food! Mercato Centrale is open every Friday and Saturday from 6PM-3AM.
MERCATO CENTRALE
25th St. corner 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Mobile: +63 917 840-1152
Telephone: +632 624-4557
Email: admin@mercatocentrale.ph
Website: Mercato Centrale PH
Facebook: mercatocentrale
Live an Awesome Life!
ANTON with Sheila & Nico
Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our Awesome Planet is a co-founder of Mercato Centrale. We wrote this article with our biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.
P.S. If you’d like to become a Mercato vendor, send an email to admin@mercatocentrale.ph or contact 0917-8401152.