The Palace’s newest concept is all about vibe dining, Deco drama, and conversation you can actually hear. Meet Medusa, arguably the most dangerous of her sisters.
Twenty years ago, Manila’s nightlife elite dreamed of proper dance floors. Now they dream of a place where you can actually hear the conversation. The official press line of Medusa Supper Club, the latest concept at the Palace, is that it is “from the creators of Xylo, Revel, Yes Please, and Clubhouse.” But its origins can arguably be traced back further, to a different sort of hunger.
While researching the history of the Fort Strip, I interviewed eventologist and entrepreneur Tim Yap about the Embassy Superclub days. “What bonded us [founders],” Tim shared, “was that we wanted Manila to have a proper dance floor.” Fast forward a few months from the interview, and two decades from Embassy’s opening to Medusa’s media preview, and the same crew, plus some friends they picked up along the way, has identified a different gap in the market: Manila needed a proper dining spot where you could dress up, go out at a reasonable hour, and have a great time with friends while actually hearing each other speak.
Oh god—or perhaps I should say gods, given the establishment’s name—have we become our parents?
At the media preview, Erwan Heusaff, who has since joined the group, recalled those Embassy days with a laugh. He still enjoys high-energy dining experiences, but at a different pace now that he’s in his 30s. Looking around the room, he notes that it still makes him the youngest in the group. “Me too,” Tim chimes in, cheekily adding the clarification: “30 years in the industry.”
There’s nothing wrong with growing up. But it definitely doesn’t mean you can’t do it in style.
READ ALSO: Beyond The Plate: What Makes Fine Dining So Special?
Where The Palace Once Partied, Medusa Now Dines
What was once the Palace Pool Club is nearly unrecognizable, though the pool remains, now a serene backdrop rather than the main event. Medusa accommodates 220 guests: 170 in the main room and 50 in the al fresco area, where that pool still reflects the Manila sky. The main room centers around an oval bar beneath an ethereal painting of golden clouds, while a 12-seater private room and two semi-private spaces offer more intimate options.
I was greeted by founder Erik Cua, whom I was finally meeting in person after an email interview about that same Fort Strip article. I was waiting by the welcome bar for my drink. I got a raspberry martini, which is not exactly on the menu, but they accommodated without hesitation. The actual cocktail menu features classic and signature drinks, including the Gorgonette, a gin-based concoction with cherry wine and apricot that I’ll save for another night.
While waiting for my drink, I posed the obvious question to Erik: “So what exactly is a supper club?” He paused, considering, his mind drifting to the dining scenes of the 1930s. I imagine the Golden Age of New York’s Stork Club and Rainbow Room, or Ciro’s along the Sunset Strip. After a moment, he offered his summary: “vibe dining.”
There’s something distinctly vibe-y about Medusa, with its old-world glamour. Its Deco Tropico interiors and lush details evoke other high-energy destinations along what you might call the golden latitude. Think Hollywood, South Beach, Havana in their golden ages. There’s an intoxicating sense of being somewhere timeless and very much of this moment.
Late-Night Indulgences
The menu features elevated European comfort classics, from small plates to mains to sweet indulgences. There’s a supper menu available from 6 PM to 10 PM, with late-night social snacks available from 10 PM onwards. The menu teases that “it’s never too late for a bite.”
The culinary program is created by an impressive team: Chef Lisa Revilla, trained under Daniel Boulud and Wolfgang Puck, and former executive chef of The Dempsey Kitchen Cookhouse by Jean-Georges in Singapore; Chef David Thien, trained at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, and the former executive chef of Corner House in Singapore; and Chef Ruther Sandico, former executive chef of Bistromania Group and part of the opening team of Nobu Hotel Manila.
Medusa, In The Name Of Beauty And Danger
The name demands explanation. Medusa, the most famous of the three Gorgon sisters, who turned mortals to stone with a glance before meeting her end at Perseus’s hand (or Percy Jackson’s, depending on your mythological education).
The founders knew they wanted their supper club named after a woman, creating the sense that you were meeting someone—someone special—for the evening. But why choose Medusa? Perhaps because her cultural image has evolved from her initial origins to become “the archetypal femme fatale.” As the Metropolitan Museum notes, “beauty, like monstrosity, enthralls.” Female beauty in particular, the essay continues, “was perceived–and, to a certain extent, is still perceived–to be both enchanting and dangerous.”
It’s a fitting name for any place designed to seduce. Like Medusa herself, the supper club draws you in despite, or perhaps because of, the potential for losing yourself entirely. Yes, you can have a complete night there, but, after all, the rest of the Palace’s clubs remain just a stone’s throw away.
Medusa Supper Club is located at The Palace Manila, Uptown Parade, 9th Ave., Taguig City. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, serving supper from 6 PM to 10 PM and late-night socials from 10 PM to 2 AM. The dress code is elegant casual. For more information, check out www.thepalacemanila.com or @dinewithmedusa.
Photos courtesy of Medusa Supper Club
