Photo by Star Sabroso
Run by a family who loves food, travel, and hosting, Three Dots is a warm, personal space thoughtfully made, but relaxed.
Located in San Juan City inside the shopping complex, Greenhills Mall, Three Dots is a restobar focused on cocktails and comfort food. The interiors blend wood and concrete, leaning to a modern-industrial vibe. The lighting shifts the mood of the bar too. By day, sunlight floods in which gives it a dramatic feel especially at golden hour and by night, ambient lighting takes over which gives the space a more intimate tone. Great for date nights, or if you just simply want to cap off a long day with specialty cocktails and a good bite.
Watch the video below for a sneak preview of their offerings:
“It’s a family business,” says co-owner Sean Lim. “My siblings and parents are all involved. As we brainstormed names, we wanted something that truly represented our family dynamic,” he adds. With three siblings in the mix: Frances, Tyrone, and Sean, ‘Three Dots’ felt like the perfect fit. At just 23, Sean is likely one of the youngest restobar owners in the city, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that runs in the family.
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Sean noted that they had always wanted to open in this area, as it holds significant history for them. Having grown up in San Juan, they chose the location because it felt like home. The venue is still in its soft opening, but the space is already operating and accepting bookings and private events. The venue is clearly dedicated to its craft, having already secured bar guest shifts for the season. They kicked things off with an international guest shift last April 23, featuring Peter Lin behind the bar—former Diageo World Class Taiwan champion and current Flor de Caña Asia Pacific ambassador. Looking ahead to May, they are preparing to host another exciting bar takeover with Daniel Macaraig of Sipps Manila (A Philippine-based mobile cocktail bar) and Oriental Elixir in Singapore (known for their experimental cocktails that feature local ingredients from different regions in Asia).
Sean hinted there will be more bar shifts in the pipeline so we should keep our eyes peeled for who will be the next to man the bar at Three Dots.
Taste Drinks in Three Acts
The cocktail menu at Three Dots is called Trilogy. It’s divided into three acts: Beginning, Progress, and Evermore. Each act includes three drinks, a short haiku, and a matching Spotify playlist, “It’s our way of adding more depth to the drinking experience,” Lim says.
The playlists, which you can directly scan from the menu, help set the mood. Act I leans on R&B and hip-hop with tracks that span from Drake to Lauryn Hill and Mariah Carey. Act II, leans to a more groovy vibe with Peggy Gou and KAYTRANADA in the mix. Act III features strong, pop-driven tracks from artists like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. “I made the playlists myself,” Sean says. “It helps round out the experience.”
Each act on the menu has a standout cocktail that captures the mood of that chapter. The cocktail called Forage, from Act I, is herbal and layered Martini-riff. Fresh enough to feel like a beginning, but with enough depth to hint at what’s ahead. It’s made with capsicum-infused gin and Wheatley vodka with pickle juice, finished off with candied olive for a bit of bite.
Act II features Prosperity, a creamy rum-based tropical drink with pandan syrup and yema orgeat, topped with yema (A Filipino candy made of milk, sugar, and egg yolks.)
Finally, Act III closes with the Manhattan-twist Cinder, a warm, spirit-forward cocktail made of bourbon and Mancino Rosso, Ratafia Rossi, cinnamon syrup, smoked with cherrywood. It’s punchy and ends the lineup on a steady note. Each cocktail starts at PHP500.
A Food Menu Built on Memory
The food doesn’t follow a theme and there’s no fixed cuisine. Instead, each dish is tied to something personal, a place they’ve been, or a recipe passed down in the family.
“We’ve traveled a lot. Our parents exposed us to different cultures, and we all grew up loving food,” Sean says. “Everything on the menu is there for a reason.”
A standout is the Tuna Tataki (PHP550): light and fresh, tossed in homemade ponzu and spicy mayo, topped with miso sesame tuille.
Other must-tries include: truffle fries (PHP350), crispy, fragrant, and great for sharing. The ricotta dip (PHP390) which is creamy, savory with a hint of chili, served with crisp bread. The brown butter chicken (PHP580) which is based on their grandmother’s recipe. The pompano (PHP780) pan-seared, served with laksa sauce and fried vermicelli is inspired by their travels in Southeast Asia and the hearty and filling pork and basil rice bowl (PHP580).
The Usual Crowd? There Isn’t One
The guests who come in are different every day. “The usual crowd, you’d be surprised, it’s a diverse mix of people,” Sean says. “We get the nearby senior citizen crowd in the area, we get students from ICA and Xavier (popular schools in the area), and mostly those who found us on TikTok.”
There’s no single type of customer they’re targeting. “We don’t have a particular crowd we’re targeting, it’s pretty holistic,” he adds. “You can go on a date night, you can go here with family or gather with friends and we will be able to give you that experience.”
The team is still taking it slow. The space is open, but the full launch is still ahead. For now, they’re staying focused on the experience. “The core of Three Dots is simple: great food, great drinks, and a well-acquainted space,” Sean says.
And while the bar isn’t trying to make a statement, its approach is clear. “We just want you to have a good time,” Sean says. “That’s what matters to us.”
Three Dots is located at 6/F, Greenhills Mall, San Juan City. Follow @threedotsmnl on Instagram.
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