The Palace BGC Complete Guide: Revel, Xylo, The Island & More
I've spent more nights at The Palace than I'd like to admit. Here's how each of the five venues actually differs — and which one to pick depending on your night.
What The Palace Is
I've spent more nights at The Palace than I'd like to admit, and the first thing I tell anyone going for the first time is: pick your venue before you arrive. The Palace on 9th Avenue is the single biggest nightlife address in BGC — a walled compound holding five distinct venues that share one entrance and one queue. On a Friday the courtyard fills with hundreds of people, and standing in the wrong line costs you an hour.
Here's how I'd choose between all five, from biggest club to chillest hang.
Xylo — The Flagship Club
Xylo at The Palace is the one most people mean when they say "The Palace." It's a 4.6-star, EDM-focused superclub with the best production in the complex — lights, sound, big-name DJ bookings. Walk-in cover is around ₱1,500 on weekends (₱1,000 midweek), each including two drinks, and there's no entry fee if you've booked a table. This is the rebrand of the old Valkyrie, if you remember that name.
I go here when I want a full-throttle club night and don't mind a queue.
Revel — House & Techno
Revel at The Palace is where I send people who actually came to dance. It's the more credible electronic room — house, techno, progressive — and it draws a crowd that's there for the music rather than the photos. On a good night it's my favourite room in the complex.
Go here for: proper electronic music and a dance floor with intent.
Yes Please — Mainstream & Private Rooms
Yes Please at The Palace leans mainstream — top 40, hip-hop, party-starter energy — and runs KTV-style private rooms, which makes it a strong pick for a birthday group. Reservations are effectively required, and walk-ins can wait a while on weekends.
Go here for: familiar music, big groups, bottle-service celebrations.
Clubhouse — The Social One
Clubhouse at The Palace is the room you can actually talk in. It's more lounge-leaning and social — a good landing spot before the louder rooms or when the group wants to regroup. It runs Tuesday to Saturday and gets going late.
Go here for: a club night where you can still hold a conversation.
The Island — Day to Night
The Island at The Palace is the outlier and, honestly, the most fun by daylight. It's billed as the country's first day-and-pool club: tropical theme, multiple pools and bars, DJs, and a Sunday-afternoon pool-club session. By night it's an easy open-air bar with no dress code.
Go here for: daytime pool sessions and breezy drinks under the sky.
Getting In: Dress Code & Tables
The Palace is the strictest door cluster in Manila — no slippers, no sleeveless shirts for men, no caps or gym wear. Read the full dress code guide before you go, and if you're rolling deep, the table booking guide explains how minimums work here and how a reservation skips the line.
For how The Palace fits the bigger picture — rooftops, casual bars and the rest — see the complete BGC nightlife guide, or the rooftop bars in BGC guide for the view-first version.
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