After Hours Tapas Lounge: Beauty and the Beat

Whenever I mention that After Hours Tapas Lounge at Crossroads Mall, Banilad is a beauty salon by day and a night spot in the moonlight, people are amazed. In the daylight, it's the ultra chic Expose Hair & Beauty Salon and when the sun sets, it transforms inside and out to After Hours Tapas Lounge, a stylish place for drinks, food and conversation in a cosmopolitan ambiance.

From a hip beauty salon to a classy chill out lounge? How does that transformation happen? First, the revolving bar of the place features two sides: one side for a wide range of hair and beauty products and the other side, an array of specialty drinks. Then the salon mirrors are covered up, the sound system is set up and voila! Beauty turns into the Beat. How's that for something different?

With the cool blue lights, plush round table sofas and unique furnishings, the interior is innovative, funky and comfortable - taking the night life to a different level of savvy. It's a refreshing break from the usual smoke-filled, noisy bars around town. Here, you can enjoy funky genres of music (even Latin & African, like Mali, Kenyan, Nigerian and South African music) and still enjoy great conversation and comfort in a sleek modern setting. I'd have to say After Hours is a breath of fresh air among Cebu City night spots. And that's not even the most interesting part yet.

This part is the must-see. As the After Hours Tapas Lounge in-house live band, Soul Mafia serenades the guests with lively soul music. I'm talking real soul music here - the blues, the funk, the 50s, 60s and 70s all brought back to life. Think Ray Charles. Think of dancing with James Brown and belting it out with Aretha Franklin. Imagine jazzing it up to a different kind of soul-hitting high. This niche of music is not only smooth and enlivening but also great fun on the dance floor! Soul Mafia sings a soulful experience for just about anyone who wants to try out something crazy, sexy, cool.

Apart from being the only 'real' Soul band around, what makes Soul Mafia even more different is the fact that they are also the only mixed Filipino / Foreigner band in town, too! "We wanted to give the music fans of Cebu something different", says European lead singer Chris Ducker, "Soul has a certain sound that demands you to get up out of your seat and dance!" he continued. They play at After Hours every 2nd and 4th Saturday night of every month. Be sure to hear them at least once in your lifetime!

Never missing a beat to offer something different, After Hours Tapas Lounge's pica-pica choices and drinks are delightfully unique. The presentation is eye-candy. Try out their Lemonade, which tastes of rich lemon flavor and is served with herbal leaves and garnishing in the concoction. How's that for your usual drink? Rest assured that everything on the menu is delicious and worth every peso of the affordable prices. Quality of food and drinks is a top priority. It's also the house policy to serve food and drink orders under 10 minutes. That's fast and efficient service, with a courteous and friendly staff.

The venue is ideal for launches, parties, corporate celebrations from 24 to 90 pax. It is well-equipped with multimedia projectors and state-of-the-art sound system, capable of supporting live music. It's a place to enjoy and chill with guests, clients, buyers or simply hang out with the barkada and locals.

From cozy, unique interiors to funky music genres to great food at great service - from beauty to the beat - when the moonlight shines, After Hours Tapas Lounge welcomes you. Now that's a place to spend the weekend!

(AFTER HOURS TAPAS LOUNGE, UNIT Q, CROSSROADS MALL, BANILAD, CEBU CITY TEL. NO. 231- 6550 or 233-4089. Regular opening days are Wednesday to Saturday from 8:30pm till late. Sundays to Tuesdays are available for private functions at discounted rates.)