Alba Restaurante Español

I like the sardine ‘pizza’, and the potato pie. Clams have some smell and don’t seem to be fresh. Live band have good vocals, came to each table and sang 3 songs. Enjoyed my dinner there.

Took my family here for a quick lunch. We enjoyed everything that we have ordered. Especially the lengua. It was really tender and flavorful. The paellas were really great also. Thank you for the great experience.

One of the oldest and real authentic Spanish restaurants in Manila. Great original Spanish food and excellent service. Very centrally located. The place is very famous and often fully booked. Prior reservations recommended

Great food and service. Place needs some updating though.

We were surprised that our cocktail margaritas were quite small, about 60% of the glass. TANGUINGUI AHUMADO is absurdly salty. JAMON CON MANGA Y ARUGULA is good, but still a little salty. TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA is just an omelette with potatoes and no special flavor. It is eaten with ketchup. The waiter came frequently and silently took our plates, etc. We will not be coming back to this restaurant again.

Favorite. Cannot count how many times family has been here. Special occasions, regular cravings. We always go back.

Beautifully decorated in Spanish style. The selection on the menu was sufficient and it was very hard to make a decision. The price was very reasonable and the portion was quite large. We ordered the seafood paella which was much more than we can eat. The food was tasty, service was quick and the ambiance was perfect. We were there at a time of day when it wasn’t busy. The location was conveniently located in a very commercial area but unfortunately, parking is not easy to find in the area. I would come back and try more dishes on the menu.

The Paella Valentiana is a ticket that transports you immediately to Spain. The Croquettes are equally amazing with a wonderful combination of crisp and creamy potatoes. The Calamansi shake is refreshing and a must try At first, there is this a tinge of moldy scent once you enter. Perhaps the building itself being old gives that off-smell. Though you won’t notice it as you dine.

Great dinner!!!! We were tired of traditional Philippine food and craving something different yet still traditional (Spain colonized the Philippines many centuries ago)- Alba was perfect! A quaint little place that feels like a neighborhood restaurant in Spain. The service is very attentive and the musicians who perform add to the ambiance. Finally had a great martini in the trip- small but perfect. We started with tapas- garlicky shrimp in garlic oil you sop up with bread.... Jamon croquettes- crispy outside and creamy inside....abondigas- meatballs in a savory sauce... traditional tortilla de Espanola- the simple egg potato omelette done perfectly. We had the suckling pig- crackling outside and meaty inside. The paellas are the star of the show! Huge portions made perfectly (with the crispy bottom). The Valencia is the traditional one with shell fish, chicken, and meat. The negro was my fav- I LOVE squid ink and it was full of it! The shrimp were also perfectly cooked. A must stop when in Manila.

Who does not like Spanish tapas? It is one of my favorite foods and when in Manila, Philippines, I was luckily invited for a dinner party at Alba Restaurante in Makati. On entering the restaurant, one cannot but notice the well-appointed red tablecloth tables with cloth napkins. The dishes at our disposal were many. They were Gambas (shrimp) in garlic and oil, potato croquettes, Spanish sausage, baked oysters, mushrooms, crostini with dip, chicken, spinach pizza and of course, seafood paella. To add to the cozy ambiance of this restaurant were three singers with Spanish guitars, serenading the audience in the restaurant. Our group got several renditions of Spanish ballads including, "Guantanamera". We sang along for this one. All the dishes were prepared well and highlighted their own distinct taste and flavors. My favorites were the croquettes, the baked oysters and the seafood paella. The croquettes were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The oysters though small, came 12 to a plate and were moist and well charred to bring out the baked parmesan fragrance. The seafood paella was the crown jewel of the evening. It contained several seafood varieties and was made fresh. It came out slightly charred at the bottom, as does any good paella. When scraped, mixed with the other contents, and eaten, one is rewarded with several bursts of aroma and taste. Table service was excellent. Muchas Gracias, Senores y Senoras.

The service and food are superb - we went on a Friday lunch w no guests in sight. We had the best service

Food is superb. Service is ok but can be improved. Ambiance is nice inside. Parking is very difficult. A good date night restaurant.

Came here with co-workers while working in Manila, Philippines . Food was sooooooo delicious!!! So happy they brought me here to enjoy an amazing dinner. Food was so authentic. Good food and wonderful company.

Alba's is still my favorite Spanish joint. Yes, I know the younger upstarts such as Barcino's and Calderon are giving the old guard a run for their money, but there's something about Alba's that's just so comforting and familiar. Alba's is like going home to your grandfather's place. You might not go there all the time, but coming there is coming home. Okay, it's best to bring a small group there (around 4-5). Order a paella (any, really), then order chorizo, boquerones, and slices of cold cuts for appetizers. Do get their brazo for dessert, then wash it all down with their Sangria. Perfect.

Spanish cuisine holds a special place in my stomach and blood: my lola's family moved from Spain to the Philippines, and she's always cooking up something from her culture when I visit her. For Mother's Day, the family decided she should take a break and we went to Alba's for dinner. It's pretty dim inside, adding to the cozy, romantic atmosphere but somewhat detracting from people's ability to read the menu without squinting or taking out their phones to light up the pages. We were offered the option to try the buffet, but the whole family decided to control our food intake instead by ordering a lot of appetizers to share and one main dish each. After much agonizing over all the tasty sounding items, I was able to pick something to eat. From the hot croquetas oozing cheese and chicken when bitten in half, to the perfectly cooked, juicy peppered steak I ordered for myself and shared only because everybody NEEDED to taste it, and of course their acclaimed paella negra, everything I tasted was richly flavored in true Spanish style. Special mention also to the Catalan seafood stew: so yummy it was totally worth having to scoop the crab meat out of its shell. What a great way to spend Mother's Day.

Definitely a must try! And it's on the rooftop! Beautiful! The food is so yummy and ask for desserts that's not on the AYCE

Foods are good, specially paella negra is very good for closing the dinner. Jamon Serrano which must be authentic, seems not of real Spanish although the Wines in the menu are also good selection of Spanish, Chilean, Argentina, and USA. Trio music band plays romantic songs by customer's request as live music but it is not Spanish songs from Spain but famous Mexicans as trio Los Panchos.

Excellent food. Great atmosphere. It's a change from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Makati. The clientele mostly of foreign nationality is ok since everyone seems to be in high spirits. As far as the food is concerned, it's still as great as it was when I first tasted it 20+ years ago!