A DINER’S DIGEST
My Street High Street
BRINGING BACK THE PLEASURES OF THE OUTDOORS By Marie Therese Cimafranca
l fresco dining season in the country A runs all year round, because the Philippines is fortunately blessed with a
Although the pandemic has reshaped our outdoor activities, High Street remains a go-to destination for people who crave for warm climate. And without doubt, the wide open spaces—especially after months of areas of the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is being urged to stay at home. among the best places to dine in the open air. BGC’s My Street High Street—a weekend In the lands of Metro Manila, ridden activity dedicated to al fresco dining, with steel and concrete structures, BGC is strolling, and biking along the car-free 5th like an oasis—a patch of lush vegetation Avenue on weekends—has recently revived blended with modern architecture—with their outdoor initiative, which started in streets designed for people rather than 2015. This is part of their big efforts to bring cars, and with parks nurturing the restless back the vibrant BGC street life. business district. Its DNA easily became the blueprint for emerging townships in the Al fresco on weekends Philippines. The BGC greatly benefits from its wellThe outdoor spaces of the Bonifacio planned surroundings that allow open High Street, a boulevard line, is one of spaces to conveniently be converted into BGC’s most popular hubs. High Street, as an al fresco dining set-up. Following the its name suggests, is a fully pedestrianized government’s recent orders to prohibit green strip that cuts right in the middle of dining inside restaurants, High Street, BGC, surrounded with fine dining, casual without question, has redeemed the dining, family style restaurants, pubs, hip businesses in distress. cafés, shops, pop-up stands, and interactive “We have about 10 to 12 of some of art installations. To the younger crowd, the most beloved Bonifacio High Street the High Street is a big playground where merchants who set up pop-up booths,” says one can bask in the sun on weekends. To Sean Luarca, Fort Bonifacio Development the grownups, it is the perfect spot to take a Corporation (FBDC) marketing and community relations head. “Some of the breather after a long day of work. 28 Collective / Issue 12
