At Three Dots, the Food Is Personal and the Cocktails Are Precise

Three Dots
L/6 Greenhills Mall, San Juan City
Contact: 0917-307-6866 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/threedotsmnl
Open from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. (Sunday to Thursday); 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Friday to Saturday)

(SPOT.ph) You don’t usually expect to find good cocktails and well-plated dishes on the sixth floor of a mall, but Three Dots in Greenhills doesn’t follow the usual script. From the moment you walk in, it feels more like a speakeasy than a typical restaurant.

The family behind the restaurant has always been big on hosting—casual dinners, house parties, any excuse to gather around food and drinks. Over the years, those get-togethers became more elaborate. So when it came time to turn that love into something more permanent, it made sense to build around the three siblings at the center of it all: a sister who bakes, a brother who cooks, and another brother who’s into cocktails—hence the name Three Dots. What began as a family passion eventually evolved into something bigger.

There’s no single cuisine here but a mash-up of everything the family has loved. The restaurant is simply a scaled-up version of those gatherings, now open to anyone who wants a seat at the table. Three Dots stays open well past mall hours, too, making it a surprisingly solid pick for dinner, drinks, or both.

Also read: How This Cozy Bar in San Juan Blends Cocktails, Culture, and Community

What to try at Three Dots in San Juan

Inside is a modern industrial look that feels contemporary. The walls might be painted in grey neutrals but nothing about the atmosphere is gloomy. During the day, it's the perfect place for group lunches. By night, the lighting softens and the vibe shifts into something more intimate, where diners can chat over drinks.

For the Lim family, food, drinks, and ambiance are non-negotiables—take one out of the equation and the experience feels incomplete. That belief carries through everything at Three Dots, from the layout of the space to the details on the menu. Co-owner Sean Lim tells SPOT.ph that whatever sophistication the place offers is grounded in one thing: “simple, thoughtful food done really well.”

The very menu is built on family favorites—a simple salad, a chorizo pasta, a pompano dish—reimagined with the kind of finesse only a well-traveled food-loving family could bring. The concept of these dishes and drinks is then refined with the help of a chef in New York and a mixologist in Singapore.

“We’ve experienced the best so we knew what to do,” Lim says.

We’re starting off strong with what we believe are the strongest contenders on the menu: the starters.

About a decade ago, the family fell in love with a salad they tried in Prague, so much so that they decided to recreate it back home. The Three Dots Salad (P650) quickly became a staple at every Lim family gathering—and now, at the restaurant too. It features goat cheese wrapped in caramelized onion skin, served alongside a deep-fried ball of goat cheese for a crunchy, creamy contrast. It turns out the simplest dishes come with the richest backstories.

“We named it to our restaurant because it’s really something that brings back good memories,” Lim says.

Light, creamy, and just the right amount of indulgent, the Ricotta Dip (P390) is an easy favorite for those who want to start off with something simple. This homemade recipe comes with a crisp baguette and a touch of chili. A great way to ease into your meal without going too heavy.

The crowd favorite is easily the Tuna Tataki (P550), especially if you’re into clean, bold flavors. Sesame-crusted tuna is lightly seared and topped with a miso sesame tuille for texture; it's then served with spicy mayo and house-made ponzu. On the side is a dab of wasabi to cut through all the richness. This one’s a must-order—even for those just stopping by for drinks.

A heartier take on aglio olio, the Spicy Chorizo Pasta (P500) combines garlicky shrimp and savory chorizo for a satisfying plate. At this price, it’s one of the best-value dishes on the menu—flavor-packed, generously portioned, and perfect for sharing or enjoying solo when you want comfort food with a kick.

For something more unexpected, go for the Pompano (P780). This Southeast Asian-inspired dish reimagines the humble fish fillet. Two generous pieces of pompano are pan-seared and served over crispy fried vermicelli, then drenched in a rich, coconut-based laksa sauce for a fragrant finish.

Dessert comes full circle with a slice of Classic Burnt Cheesecake (P250) from Basque MNL, the sister’s baking business that kickstarted the family into the food business. It’s not one to be missed.

If you’re impressed with the food, wait until you hear about the drinks. At Three Dots, the cocktail menu tells a story. It’s split into three acts—Beginning, Progress, and Evermore—with each drink designed to reflect a mood, a moment, or a memory. In fact, the menu is so thoughtfully curated that each act has its own haiku and Spotify playlist (something to browse and/or listen to while waiting on your orders!).

There's Bloom (P500)—a tropical, citrusy drink that feels bright and fruity at first sip, but introduces an earthy twist thanks to the rosemary. It’s fresh, vibrant, and a little unexpected.

This one’s just fun. Light (P500) might look unassuming with foam in a black teacup, but inside lies a surprise: an LED light that glows brighter as you drink. Flavor-wise, it’s smooth and velvety like a whiskey sour, but with a refreshing, spicy finish.

Things become more complex in the final act. Inspired by a classic Manhattan, Cinder (P500) is smoked with cherrywood right before serving, imparting a soft aroma that lingers in the air before you take a sip. We love how theatrical this one is.

If there’s a drink that best captures the emotional core of Three Dots, it’s Prosperity (P500). Inspired by the joy of receiving a gift, this whimsical rum-based cocktail is sweet, creamy, and a little nostalgic. It features pandan syrup and yema orgeat with a piece of yema candy—something many Filipinos grew up receiving during special occasions. In the same way, Prosperity is meant to be enjoyed like a gift.

Beyond the narrative-driven drinks, Three Dots also offers a basic cocktail menu featuring classic drinks such as the Milano-Torino, Whiskey Sour, and Daiquiri. You can always order the original, but each comes with three offshoots, which are basically creative takes that build on the base recipe with new flavor. It’s a great way to ease into something familiar while still trying something new.

Next time you’re on the lookout for good food and even better drinks, you know where to go. It may be inside a mall, but once you're in, none of that matters.

Also read: The Most Beautiful Bars in Manila, According to Design Professionals