Helm (restaurant)

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Helm
Helm plaque.jpg
Helm (restaurant)
Interactive map of Helm
Restaurant information
EstablishedAugust 21, 2018;7 years ago (2018-08-21)
Head chefJosh Boutwood
Food typeContemporary, creative cuisine with Filipino, British, and Spanish influences
Rating Etoile Michelin-2.svg (Michelin Guide)
Location Makati Avenue, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates 14°33′28″N121°1′32″E / 14.55778°N 121.02556°E / 14.55778; 121.02556
Seating capacity24
ReservationsRequired
Website joshboutwood.net/restaurants/helm

Helm is a fine-dining restaurant at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, Metro Manila, founded and led by British-Filipino chef Josh Boutwood. It opened on August 21, 2018, originally as a 10-seat chef's table at the Arya Residences in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. [1] The restaurant later relocated to a larger 24-seat space at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, which opened in 2023. [2] Helm is known for its multi-course tasting menus served in an intimate setting, and it has garnered international recognition for its innovative cuisine. [1] In 2025, it became the first and only restaurant in the Philippines to be awarded two Michelin stars. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Helm debuted on August 21, 2018, in Taguig by Josh Boutwood, who was born in England to a Filipino father and an English mother. He was raised in the United Kingdom and in Boracay, Philippines, until the age of 11, before his family moved to Spain. This upbringing serves as a significant influence for Helm. [5] [6] The restaurant's name suggests being "at the helm", reflecting Boutwood's hands-on leadership in the kitchen. [1]

The initial setup was extremely exclusive—only about ten guests per seating—which created a chef-centric dining experience comparable to an omakase or chef's table concept. In its early years, Helm gained attention for its bold-themed tasting menus, which changed quarterly. These themes could be abstract or whimsical; for example, an "all-monochrome" menu featured courses distinguished only by shades of color, [1] and another menu was inspired by Filipino street fare reinterpreted in fine-dining style. [7]

The restaurant's operations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, during which time Helm temporarily closed. After a hiatus, Boutwood decided to move the restaurant to a new location in Makati. In April 2023, Helm reopened at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati. The new venue expanded the capacity to 24 seats and introduced a redesigned space while retaining the open-kitchen concept. [2]

Accolades and awards

The restaurant was listed in the Dining 20 list of Tatler in 2023.

In 2024, it was listed by Tatler on their Tatler Dining 20, Best Interior Design, and Tatler Best Asia 100 Restaurants. In 2025, it was listed on the Tatler Best 20 Philippines and Tatler Best 100 Restaurants Asia-Pacific. [8]

Helm became the first restaurant in the Philippines to be awarded two Michelin stars in 2025, when the Michelin Guide published its inaugural Philippines guide. [9] [10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tuazon, Marielle Fatima (September 13, 2021). "Helm Just Made It to the Prestigious 50 Best Discovery List". Esquire Philippines . Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Helm by Josh Boutwood is now open at Ayala Triangle Gardens". GMA News . April 1, 2023. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Helm awarded 2 Michelin stars in debut Michelin Guide to the Philippines". South China Morning Post . October 31, 2025. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  4. ↑ Dumlao-Abadilla, Doris (October 30, 2025). "9 Philippine restaurants earn much-coveted Michelin Star rating". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  5. ↑ Sy, Alicia Colby (August 14, 2018). "A First Look at Helm, Josh Boutwood's Newest 10-Seater Restaurant". Esquire Philippines . Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Helm's Chef Josh Boutwood plans on opening a Spanish restaurant as his next venture". GMA News . October 31, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Helm - Makati - Metro Manila Restaurants". Michelin Guide . Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  8. ↑ Vivas, Jules (March 26, 2024). "Where to go when you want a winning meal". Manila Bulletin .
  9. ↑ "The MICHELIN Guide Makes Its Philippine Debut with One 2-Star and Eight 1-Star Restaurants". Michelin Guide . Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ Llemit, Kathleen A. "'Over the moon': Josh Boutwood on earning 2 stars, aiming for 3 Michelin stars". The Philippine Star . Retrieved November 1, 2025.
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