The Good Life: Editors’ Picks of the Week
In every The Good Life: Editors’ Picks column, we round up our editors’ favorites—restaurants, cocktails, experiences, exhibits, and everything in between. Here is our latest list.
Christmas at The Peninsula Manila
Everyone has their own memorable Peninsula Manila moments. There’s simply no other place like the city’s grande dame.
In my case, it was the setting of our high school graduation ball, so till this day, 40 years later, my forever friends celebrate our birthdays with breakfast in the lobby.
At this time of year, the hotel goes all out with holiday cheer. The giant tree is trimmed with red and gold and ablaze with lights, with the halls and balconies in matching finery.
Of course, in the Philippines, the holidays are always celebrated with song. Every Friday evening, at 7 p.m., The Lobby reverberates with Christmas carols by some of the city’s most beloved choirs. Have a drink, or two, or more.
November 14: Centro Escolar University Singers Manila
November 21: Servus Dei Vocal Ensemble
November 28: MAPUA Cardinal Singers
Afterward, head over to dinner at Old Manila or Spices. The Michelin guide recently named them “Selected” restaurants in its very first Philippine edition. – Yvette Fernandez
More about The Peninsula Manila’s Christmas events here.
The National Gallery of Singapore’s 10th Anniversary
If only I could go this weekend, I’d be on the first flight to Singapore. The National Gallery Singapore is one of my favorite museums in the world, and this weekend, it is marking the milestone with a bang, transforming its elegant halls into a festival of art, music, food, and performance.
Ten exhibitions, including Into the Modern: Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the largest showcase of French Impressionism ever staged in Southeast Asia, are free to the public. On Saturday, local band HEjiRA takes over the Padang Atrium for Sunset Sessions, followed by KCAE After Dark: Grown-Ups Only!, where the Keppel Centre for Art Education transforms into an adults-only playground of installations.
The celebrations continue the next day with Gallery Rave: Day Edition, featuring Exposure Therapy, where the first 100 guests will get a free cup of matcha and choux pastry. Families can join art activities and an animal-themed hunt through the Gallery’s collection with Paws & Paint. Meanwhile, Sketch Chapter: 10th Anniversary Edition invites visitors to draw freely across the museum’s spaces.
The Birthday Bash Market features collaborations with brands like Leica, and of course, food trucks offering treats like ice cream sandwiches, bites from Old Chang Kee, Milo, and more. Sounds like a smashing 10th birthday party! – Kimberly Rocha-Delgado, Digital Editor
More about the National Gallery’s celebrations here.
Saicho Sparkling Tea
I recently discovered Saicho Sparkling Tea, and I have to say, I’m completely hooked. Made in the United Kingdom, Saicho captures the best of both worlds: British craftsmanship meets the timeless art of Asian tea traditions. Each bottle of tea is elegant, nuanced, refreshingly complex, and offers the sophistication of champagne without the alcohol.
What makes Saicho so special is the way it’s crafted. Each tea is first cold-brewed to draw out delicate aromas and layered flavors, then finished with a touch of grape juice to achieve that crisp, bubbly finish. The result? A drink that feels as festive as wine, but refreshingly different.
Each tea is single-origin. There’s Darjeeling, a black tea from the foothills of the Himalayas, with tasting notes of ginger, mandarin orange, and warm wood spices , and is wonderful alongside roasted meats or vegetables. Hojicha, a roasted green tea from Shizuoka, Japan, carries deep, toasty notes of nori seaweed, hazelnut, and chestnut, pairing beautifully with sushi or even a heart mushroom risotto. And then there’s Jasmine, a light green tea from Fujian, China, delicately floral with hints of apple, lychee, and vanilla, making it perfect with creamy desserts.
Elegantly bottled, it makes a stunning gift in its colorful packaging. Saicho is served in fine dining restaurants around the world and is the perfect choice for anyone seeking an alcohol-free indulgence that feels truly special. – Alicia Colby-Sy, Lifestyle Editor
Available at Dominion Cellar, 38 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air , Makati