Capitol Commons: Ortigas & Co.’s re-imagination of what lifestyle destinations should be
Ortigas & Co. delivers on the fresh and unique with Gastro and Estancia at Capitol Commons.
When Capitol Commons first opened in 2013, everybody was so excited and immediately flocked to the new lifestyle hub of premier property developer Ortigas & Co. The 10-hectare mixed-use complex was a welcome addition to the Pasig district, where it stood in the former site of the Old Rizal Provincial Capitol. Novel gastronomic fares were the initial offers of Capitol Commons, and everyone was just eager to sample these.
Who wouldn’t want to take a trip here anyway? Gastro, which housed these dining greats, featured restaurants that have fresh concepts and menus of surefire palate winners. Tipsy Pig, Black Olive, Sentro 1771, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Starbucks kept the metro abuzz with their culinary offers ranging from European continental dishes and Filipino favorites.
Friends and families gathered in Black Olive for their extensive beer selection, which are best paired with their signature truffled items such as truffled mushroom crostini, truffled fries, and their can’t-be-missed involtini of grilled eggplant, roast tomato, feta cheese, and black olives. Tipsy Pig is another destination for drinks as well, with their salted caramel beer as certified crowd-drawer, and a mouthwatering selection of American comfort food in huge servings to pair them with.
Now, Gastro remains as every foodie’s default go-to in the Ortigas Center and Kapitolyo area – for good reason. Not only do patrons get to savor delectable dishes, they also get to enjoy them in an ambience that’s laidback and refreshing, while still giving that air of sophistication that is a true mark of Ortigas & Co.
An Urban Style Sanctuary Comes In
A little over a year after Gastro was introduced, Ortigas & Co. continued its development streak in Capitol Commons with the launch of retail hub Estancia. Coming off strong from Gastro, the premier property developer made sure its newest retail offer isn’t your typical mall destination.
Estancia is positioned to be a spot for consumers who are looking for options beyond the usual. Here, global brands spanning apparel, home décor and furniture, jewelry, and cosmetics, as well as both the popular crowd-drawers and niche stores, can be found. As Ortigas & Co.’s upscale retail offer, it is a model of modernity, sophistication, and style.
A walk through Estancia’s four floors inspires a retail fantasy. Fans of home décor and furniture can spruce up their homes with chic, contemporary pieces from West Elm or from the expertly-crafted choices in Pottery Barn. The latter has even opened Pottery Barn shops specific for teens and kids, for even more decorative options across ages.
Estancia also prides in housing the lone Philippine shops of select global fashion brands. These brands include one of Europe’s leading fashion retailers Cortefiel and the boutique of famed American designer Isaac Mizrahi. The flagship store of iconic British handbag and accessory brand Kurt Geiger is also here.
Apart from the specialized fashion stops, Estancia also has the big-name brands that have become a staple in every style maven’s closet. There’s Japanese apparel giant Uniqlo, Gap, Old Navy, Aeropostale, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Payless, Calvin Klein Jeans, and Lacoste, among many others.
Beauty junkies are also in for some retail therapy with Beauty Bar and its slew of cosmetic brands as well as Lush, Burt’s Bees, L’Occitane, and VMV Hypoallergenics.
Alternative Shopping Experience
While Estancia’s stronghold remains in its unique retail selection, it continues to explore its concept and expound the experience of consumers. Estancia is also open to independent local retailers who are looking for a means to showcase their goods.
Every now and then, Estancia plays host to weekend markets in its Bridgeway to give way to local retailers. From handcrafted goods, independently designed and manufactured apparel, to homemade culinary goodies, these weekend markets offer an unconventional yet treasured shopping encounter for the mall’s visitors.
Estancia partners with groups who organize themselves as a collective of independent retailers who are looking for avenues to carry their products. This is a great way to add value to the experience of going to Estancia because it gives shoppers a fresh perspective on how shopping should be enjoyed.
A Culinary Destination Emerges
Estancia, which means “to stay a while”, gives visitors a lot of reasons to linger with its excellent line-up of shops. But even more is to be discovered in this gem inside Capitol Commons – delicious discoveries at that.
At the lower ground level of Estancia is a gastronomic hub that is every foodie’s dream. Expanding the appetizing offers at Gastro is a palate dream land featuring tastes from the world over. Estancia is also built as a place to embark on a delicious sojourn of local and international tastes.
Established favorites like Café Mediterranean and Pancake House are just two of the familiar names currently residing here. There’s also premium Japanese ramen cuisine from Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen and Vietnamese fare from Ba Noi. Customers wanting a burger fix with exciting twists can get a grub at Burgers & Brewskies while cravings for homegrown dishes can be satisfied at XO 46 Heritage Bistro.
Coffee fans can enjoy a sip at Craft or UCC Clockwork. Those into healthier meals can reserve a table at The Wholesome Table while those game for a new take on sausages can head to Spice and Cleaver. Breads and pastries are hot and fresh always at The Artisan Emporium and more dessert options can be enjoyed at Cara Mia Gelateria and PBCo.
With the best of retail and dining in this urban lifestyle mecca, no wonder Estancia has become a choice spot for the city’s discerning crowd. As one of the centerpieces in Capitol Commons, Estancia is gearing up for even more surprises in the future with its planned expansion and the addition of an entertainment complex to house its cinemas. Furthermore, the well-loved Unimart in Greenhills is building its second branch after so many decades right beside Estancia.
It’s hard to imagine that just a little more than two years ago, this block along the section where Meralco Avenue meets Shaw Boulevard was only a piece of land planned with promising ventures. Now, Capitol Commons is a place to see and be seen, where families and friends converge for post-work grubs or much-needed weekend mall excursions. Ortigas & Co. is set on further enhancing the space to truly become a synergized area for home, work, and play and Gastro and Estancia are proof that the company is well on its way.
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For 85 years, Ortigas & Co. has been bringing to life some of the nation’s most loved and most iconic places such as Capitol Commons, Frontera Verde, Greenhills Shopping Center and subdivisions of Greenmeadows, Greenhills, and Valle Verde – and with it, creating new experiences, traditions, and aspirations. Still, it continues to build for life. For more information, visit www.ortigas.com.ph.
