While Davao City is one of the country’s major urban centers, its night scene is very much chill compared to Cebu and Manila. Yep, chill is how we would best describe the local nightlife. One of the best spots for chillaxing is Zanzibar Davao.

First, if you haven’t been to the place, you might not find it at all. The bar is situated inside Batu House Cafe. It used to have no outdoor signage of the bar at all. (Luckily, now they have a signage already.) So it’s sort of a secret bar. It used to be such a quiet place, known only to a few. But now, more Davaoeños have discovered our favorite spot. And we suspect, its popularity will just grow in the coming months.

Zanzibar Davao is a nice, cozy place where you can just sit back and enjoy a bottle of beer for less than a hundred while spending quality time with old and new friends. They pipe in music at just the right volume that you can actually converse with your friends.

Davao Bloggers love the place for its easy, relaxed vibe and their wide range of delicious cocktail drinks. They have so many drinks that it can become confusing and overwhelming for those visiting for the first time. Great thing is nothing is over PhP300. And their 30+ cocktails are categorized into five: Bold and Boozy, Sour, Fruity, Fizzy, and Sweet Confectionery.

Fruity Cocktails at Zanzibar Davao

Since we love the place so much, we each have our own favorites. Here’s our guide to our Davao Bloggers’ Favorite Cocktails at Zanzibar.

Let’s start with our most ordered drink, the Strawberry Basil Fresca.

Menu Description: Like summer in Baguio! Refreshing and Cool! Vodka, Strawberries, Basil, and Lemon.

Clea Banal and Julie Alontaga both love this drink since they both like strawberries. It’s strong but remains sweet and refreshing. It might seem like a light drink, like a fizzy strawberry drink. Do not get deceived. The alcohol will hit you even before you finish one glass.

On our first cocktails night at Zanzibar, the girls tried Gin Pom.

Menu Description: Made using Davao’s Sweet Pomelo!

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Gin Pomelo was the most popular cocktail of college students and yuppies. It was sweet and fruity and gin was hella cheap. You could say Zanzibar’s Gin Pom brings us this classic favorite, but this time made with fresh pomelo juice. And the rim of glass has pink sugar, making it an Instagrammable drink.

For those who want something more refreshing, our editor-in-chief Ria Jose recommends Kalamansi Krush.

Menu Description: A cocktail that highlights our own local lime! Gin, Calamansi, Cointreau, and Honey.
Like the other fruity cocktails of Zanzibar, this is deceivingly sweet and light. But becareful. It packs a punch. So do not take this and other items in the Fruity Cocktails menu lightly. They will give you a buzz.

Sweet Confectionery

If you want something sweet but not fruity, order the White Russian.

Menu Description: Creamy Coffee Cocktail! A boozy dessert!
For coffee lovers who also love alcohol, this is what Claudine Chua and Jeffrey Mondia would like you to try. It is a combination of milk, Kahlua and well, vodka. It is the best of both worlds, or three rather, as what Claudine says.

Note that Kahlua is basically rum and coffee. So you get two doses of liquor in one drink. And they serve it in such a quaint way, too. The vodka-infused milk is served in a jar labeled with the instruction “Pour Me” and the Kahlua is served in an Old Fashioned glass with ice. And you get to pour the milk over the Kahlua so you get to see the layers of booze, milk, and coffee swirling and mixing together creating a decadent (and very alcoholic) drink. After drinking, it has the aftertaste of coffee instead of the rum or vodka.

This cocktail is not just for the girls because guys love it too. “I am not a big fan of cocktails but I like the White Russian for its coffee flavor and it is like I am making an affogato.” Jeffrey shares.

Sours at Zanzibar Davao

If sweet is not your thing, give your palate something tangy, citrus, tart… everything sour.

Julie suggests the Amaretto Sour.

Menu Description: Disarrono liqueur, hand-squeezed lemon juice, egg whites, all shaken violently.
It is just the right amount of tangy and bitter with just a hint of sweet. Unlike the fruity and sweet cocktails, you can easily taste the alchohol content in this one.

And for something more potent, Josef Cagas recommends the Whiskey Sour.

Menu Description: A palate-cleansing classic whisky drink. Scotch Whisky, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, egg whites, all shaken violently.

It is basically same as the Amaretto Sour but stronger. Whisky lovers will definitely love this one. The egg whites gives it a froth and a bit of lightness. Give this a try if you want a strong buzz. One glass is enough for a short night out. Ria suggests having one after one fruity or sweet drink. It balances out the Strawberry Basil Fresca well.

Fizzy Cocktails

Want a buzz without being overwhelmed by the alchohol taste? Try a Fizzy Cocktail. The Ursula is a mean one.

Menu Description: Vodka, soda, red wine, and sassiness!

Named after the popular Disney villain, this cocktail is as nice as the on screen villain. With a combination of wine and vodka as a base, this ombre-colored drink packs a mean and sassy punch. Roxanne Lacap finds it amusing though. And while she enjoys the taste and the alcohol content, this cocktail also made it to her ‘gram! It is gorgeous, don’t you think so?

Bold and Boozy Recommendation

If you are really out to have a good strong buzz with just one glass, go for a Bold Boozy Cocktail at Zanzibar Davao. And you can never with an Old Fashioned.

Menu Description: A timeless favorite. Bourbon, muddled sugar, Palawan honey, Angostura bitters, orange zest.

Do we even need to discuss this? Bourbon whiskey. Sugar and honey. Angostura bitters. Orange zest. It may sound like the ultimate “Tito drink” but it is the perfect blend of flavors. With a number of ingredients and flavors, the highlight of the drink remains to be the alcohol. There is a reason why it is called Old Fashioned and yet it has never and we dare say, will never, get old. So if you love whiskey as much as Ria does, order yourself a glass of Old Fashioned at Zanzibar Davao.

Need more convincing? Check out Ria’s vlog for a peek at Zanzibar Davao and their cocktail drinks:

So take the cue from us. Gather the gang. Head to Zanzibar. And take your pick from their extensive cocktails menu. Yep, they also serve local and imported beers, wine, whisky, and other liquors.

Zanzibar is located in the same building as Batu House along Circumferential Road in Marfori Heights, Davao City. They are open all days of the week, Monday to Sunday.

For updates and other information, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/zanzibardavao and on Instagram @Zanzibar_Dvo.

Zanzibar Davao is one of the stops of the Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2018 (DFAT). For updates and information about DFAT, follow our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/DavaoFood and on Instagram @DavaoFood.

Map to Zanzibar Davao:

With contributions from Ria Jose, Claudine Chua, Roxanne Lacap, Julie Alontaga, and Jeffrey Mondia.