The Antonio’s Group introduces an all-day restaurant shaped by familiar favorites, classic bistro cooking, and relaxed hospitality that invites regular visits.
For several months, the space across the main entrance of Power Plant Mall has been boarded up with the Antonio’s name. Naturally, people wondered which of its restaurants would be opening in the area soon. So call me surprised when I received an invitation to a media dinner not at Antonio’s—well, not exactly—but to Sebastian’s, a new all-day restaurant from the group opening just this week.
“Sebastian’s is our take on an all-day diner by Antonio’s. We’re really trying to bring Antonio’s down to Manila and make it a more everyday place to go,” says Sebastian “Basti” Escalante, Business Development Director of Antonio’s Group.
Antonio’s remains the group’s fine-dining destination, while Breakfast at Antonio’s offers a more casual experience. Sebastian’s sits somewhere between the two.
You can see that middle ground in the interiors, which feel polished without requiring a special occasion. The warm lighting allows the room to move easily from breakfast to dinner. Outdoor seating offers another option, particularly for breakfast or a more casual meal during the day.
“It’s an Antonio’s place where they can dine regularly, bring their guests, feel comfortable hanging out, and enjoy their favorite comfort foods,” Basti adds.
The Story Behind Sebastian, And Sebastian’s Rockwell
The restaurant also opens at an interesting time for the family business. Last July, Antonio’s Group announced that founder and chef-patron Tony Boy Escalante would step back from daily operations after nearly 25 years at the helm. Among the new leadership team is Basti, who, as Director of Business Development, oversees the continued expansion of the group’s restaurant and retail concepts in Metro Manila.
READ ALSO: Antonio’s Group Enters A New Chapter With Leadership Transition
Sebastian’s Rockwell is the group’s first full-service restaurant in Makati, though not its first presence in the city. There is Pedro the Grocer, its specialty food shop for house-made products and pantry staples from Antonio’s. These names have significant meaning within the family business.
“The name Sebastian’s fits naturally into the Antonio’s ecosystem,” he says. “We have Antonio’s, which is of course named after my dad, and we have Pedro the Grocer, named after my brother. Now that we’re opening in Rockwell, which is really at the heart of our market, we decided to call the restaurant Sebastian’s.”
For Basti, the name also speaks to succession and how the next generation will continue building the Antonio’s brand.
The restaurant reflects the way Basti himself likes to eat. He describes himself as casual and drawn to places he can visit often. He might order a steak on one visit, then return alone for a plate of pasta on another. It’s a simple idea, but one that explains what Sebastian’s is trying to be: an Antonio’s restaurant that can become part of the everyday.
What To Expect From The Menu At Sebastian’s Rockwell
The menu at Sebastian’s Rockwell follows the restaurant through the day. From 7 AM to 12 noon, Sebastian’s serves familiar favorites from Breakfast at Antonio’s before moving into a more traditional bistro experience for lunch and dinner. Diners will find escargot, French oysters, pastas, salads, and dry-aged steaks, alongside signatures such as Antonio’s Steak Tartare. Executive Chef AC Agra points to the Steak Frites as the dish that best captures the restaurant’s casual yet elegant character.
The menu is broad enough for a steak shared over dinner, a plate of pasta while dining alone, or breakfast before the rest of the day begins.
Explore highlights of Sebastian’s menu below.
Sebastian’s is located at Unit 101, Ground Floor of Edades Towers and Garden Villas, Rockwell Center, Makati. It’s open daily, with opening times Sunday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday until 12 a.m. For more information, visit their official Instagram account.
Photography by Cy Lagniton and Sonny Thakur, courtesy of Antonio’s Group
