The GAME contributor Bob Guerrero has sampled several pool halls across the metropolis. These are his top picks.
Billiards is booming in the Philippines. This golden age sees one fine poolroom after another sprout like mushrooms all over the metropolis. The standard of the Pinoy pool room has also been elevated. No more dark, dodgy places with poor table lighting and slow cloth. Everybody has leveled up. I have been able to sample many of these establishments, and these are the ones I like the most.
No one has paid me, nor The GAME Magazine, anything to promote these billiard halls. These are my honest picks for the best of the bunch.
QUEZON CITY
Pool Zone Billiards and Bar. This new room is along Timog Avenue in QC, and is one of the most visually impressive poolrooms in Metro Manila. The ceiling is incredibly high, with futuristic designs and lighting on the wall. The 16 Rasson Acurra tables play fair, and are extremely well-spaced. The food is ordered via tablets on the table, only adding to the high-tech vibe. There are VIP rooms as well, with videoke. P280 per hour on the regular tables, totally worth it. (Photo shown above)
Sharks Arena. Hadley Mariano’s pool palace on Tomas Morato has become iconic. The Rasson tables are tough, and it’s because this venue plays host to the Sharks Billiards league that begins its second season in November. The main table in Sharks is recessed, so you can spectate from above, creating a wild and raucous atmosphere during league matches. The food here is pretty awesome as well. Drop by and look for Cassie, she can sort you out.
Tri-Angle Bar and Billiards. This is my top pick of all QC pool rooms. Located on West Avenue, Tri-Angle has 16 Rasson tables that are set up better than in any other poolroom I have sampled. The pockets are big and the rails bank better than the Rassons in any other pool hall I have played. There is good room, great carpeting, superb lighting and the P250 an hour rate is super reasonable. QC pool players know a good room when they see one. It was very crowded when I was there.
PARAÑAQUE
Marboy’s Billiards Cafe. Situated along President’s Drive in BF Homes, Marboy’s exudes a cozy and homey atmosphere. The Rasson tables feature fast cloth and are very well-lit. There is ample parking behind the building. Marboy’s also serves as the management arm for some of the Philippines’ finest pro pool players, so don’t be surprised if you see a Pinoy champion shooting on a table beside you.
Apex Arena Billiards and Bar. This new poolroom is on Quirino in the Tambo area of Parañaque, very near the airport. This is not your dimly lit pool hall of yesteryear. Apex is bright and cheery, with great interior decor. The stars of the show are the excellent and forgiving Apex tables. Very good for players of all abilities. The elevated seats make watching your opponent run out balls against you more comfortable. The rate is P300 per hour. Apex also has a loyalty card, and if you fill up enough stamps you earn a free hoodie.
MAKATI
B Billiard Hall and Bar. The young professionals of Makati have an excellent poolhall to call their own. B Billiard is in Ayala Circuit Mall, and it features Rasson tables in a warm and inviting setting, with brick accents on the walls. The rectangular table lighting is good, and the food is pretty decent. Bring your A-game, though, as the pockets are tight. If you are in Makati and are looking for a classy place to shoot pool, B Billiard is the ticket. P300 per hour.
Superbowl. Yes, the old pool hall of your youth, in Makati Central Square, (nee Makati Cinema Square,) soldiers on. It may be decades old but the tables are lovingly maintained. There is one Diamond table and plenty of AMF-Puyat tables but my favorite is the old school Philippine-made Puyat tables. They are forgiving, bank true, and take you back to a bygone era with the classic styling. Pro tip: if you get hungry, order from Magoo’s pizza nearby. It tastes as great as ever.
PASIG
Game Day Sports Bar. This cue sports paradise is located in Ayala Malls 30th along Meralco Avenue in Ortigas Center. It is definitely one of the more underserved areas of the city when it comes to billiards. The atmosphere is airy and comfortable, with beige carpeting and ample lighting. The black Rasson tables will force you to concentrate since they are set up on the tight side. The rate is the usual P300 for this standard of room. Pasigueño pool fanatics have it good in Game Day.
MANDALUYONG
Magician Billiards Elite – Shaw. This facility is located on the corner of Acacia Lane and Shaw Boulevard, on the third floor of a building with a Jollibee on the first floor. There are 23 Magician tables, all well-lit, with huge, beginner-friendly pockets and carpeting underneath. The lighting is great and the interior decor, while a bit quirky, results in a very friendly vibe. Membership is free, and you get your card in minutes. That lowers the rate to P240 an hour, down from P280 for non-members. A great value for such a good experience! There are videoke booths and a smoking room too.
MANILA
SkyJ Billiard Hall. This poolroom can be found on the corner of P. Campa and España, in Sampaloc, very near UST. It is a whopper of a pool hall, with no less than 47 tables in two separate sections. The Xingjue tables are the friendliest in town, with humongous pockets and shallow shelves that will boost your confidence with every shot. The rails are also excellent, making banking quite easy. P260 an hour is a sensational value for this billiards spot in the heart of Manila.
PASAY
VIP Billiard Hall. VIP can be found on the Roxas Boulevard service road near the corner of Buendia in Pasay. It’s in its second year and is growing into a great billiards community, with tournaments happening almost nightly. The 16 Maxima tables in two separate rooms are generally forgiving, and lighting is great. P300 per hour is fine. Best of all, VIP is open 24 hours a day, so you can scratch that billiards itch at any time.
There are plenty of other pool halls that have opened in and around Metro Manila. I haven’t been able to try all of them but I would certainly love to. If you know of a billiards venue that you think I should check out, let me know on my Facebook or my X, which is @PassionateFanPH. With so many new places popping up seemingly every week, there could be a Part 2 of this article very soon.
Images from Bob Guerrero.