Seltsam — Restaurant in Makati

The ambience of this place is so promising if not only for the neglectful and dismissive attitude of some of their staff. I was having a nice time with my friend talking about plans of coming back together with our other friends until the bill came. Our total bill as seen here is 566 pesos (rounded off) but we weren’t really able to check the bill upon paying as the server immediately told us the only available methods of payment. I didn’t mind checking as i know our bill wouldn’t exceed 1000 pesos so i took out a 1k bill and he took it together with the billing receipt. After a few minutes he returned asking for 65 pesos as he told us they didn’t have enough change. He gave the receipt to my friend and i immediately scoured for a 50-peso bill and a 20-peso bill thinking i could just give 70 pesos as I really wanted to leave na. He then told us, “Thank you ma’m, just wait for your change of 5.” To which i replied no, it’s okay na. And went with my friend. After 10 mins of walking home, i asked my friend if she got the 500 peso change. She told me she only gotten the receipt. So we went back and asked for the 500 pesos. We waited quite awhile only to be gaslighted and told that he (the server) put the 500 on top of the receipt on our table when my friend clearly remembered she taking it from him directly as she wanted to take a picture of it. They went on telling us that maybe it fell or we left it on the table when we left. At that point i was so frustrated and didn’t wanna go down the road of blaming just for 500 pesos in exchange of my time when i already wanted to rest. I went back there trusting they would have the 500 pesos bill ready for us to claim as they clearly forgot to give it but instead we got gaslighted. I belatedly realized we could’ve gone and asked them to check the cctv but it was so dark and i doubt if they even have one. Anyway, I really hope no customer would ever experience this again. I definitely won’t as I wouldn’t be coming...

I recently checked out Seltsam, and I have to say, I was really impressed. The place has a super cool, laid-back vibe with modern, minimalist decor that makes it feel both cozy and stylish. The food was top-notch! I started with their pizza called pulang red pizza haha it was good and crispy perfectly paired with their coffee before digging in into their various of cocktails.

The service was great, too. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience really enjoyable. They were more than happy to offer recommendations and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the evening.

The only catch is that they only accepts cash or online banking payments, no cards. I didn’t know this ahead of time, so I had to make a quick stop to an ATM nearby since I don’t have access with internet at that time. It’s definitely something to be aware of before you go, just so you're prepared. I hope they work this out cuz this may affect their service.

All in all, Seltsam is definitely worth checking out for the amazing food and great atmosphere. Just make sure you bring cash or are ready to pay through...

First things first, getting here is an experience in itself. There’s a flight of stairs and this questionable elevator that feels straight out of a horror movie. But don’t worry, you will make it to the top. Also, props to them for the very obvious posters saying they don’t accept card payments: only GCash, bank transfers, and cash.

Now, onto the place itself. Once you step in, it’s actually really nice! Maaliwalas, with that laid-back, artsy vibe that makes you want to take a bunch of photos. We went a bit too early (literally the first ones there 🤣), so we didn’t get the full buzzy experience, but it was still a good spot to chill.

We didn’t go all out on food since we already ate at Salcedo Market, so we just got some bar chows. They were fine, nothing mind-blowing, but they did the job. Honestly, this place is more about the aesthetic than anything else. If you’re looking for a solid IG-worthy spot with a cool rooftop ambiance, Seltsam delivers. Would I come back? Maybe at a later time to actually experience the vibe when...