Bistro Aurora expands to Ortigas, eyes scalable growth beyond Makati

Insider Spotlight:

• Bistro Aurora opens its second branch at The Podium Mall in Ortigas
• Expansion comes despite original intent to keep Aurora a single-location tribute
• Founder Atty. Nilo Divina hints at larger ambitions for the brand
• New branch features exclusive dishes alongside award-winning originals
• Strategic Ortigas location positions Bistro Aurora for broader market access

Bistro Aurora officially opened its doors at The Podium Mall in Ortigas Center on May 28, 2025, marking the first expansion of the Aurora brand outside Makati and signaling what could become a scalable growth strategy for the previously one-branch concept.

The move comes two years after the original Aurora restaurant, known for its Asian comfort food, began operating in Salcedo Village.

While the original location was meant to remain a singular, sentimental tribute to founder Atty. Nilo Divina’s mother, the strong customer reception and brand recognition appear to have pushed the lawyer-turned-restaurateur to reconsider.

“This passion of mine cannot be quenched,” Divina said at the opening. “That’s why we have a second branch–and hopefully a third, and four more branches–so that our customers, our friends, would feel the same way I felt when my mom prepared my first and subsequent dishes–that this was made out of love.”

Nilo Divina

The founder of fast-growing DivinaLaw also has big growth plans for Bistro Aurora.

The move has long-term implications. While the brand’s marketing narrative remains rooted in personal values, the entry into Ortigas—a prime business district bridging Pasig, Mandaluyong and Quezon City—suggests a pivot toward a more commercially viable footprint.

This location opens access to a larger catchment of office workers and mall-goers, positioning the brand to test broader market resonance beyond its initial upscale core.

Bistro Aurora's Podium branch retains the signature comfort dishes that earned it the Tatler Dining’s Best New Restaurant recognition in 2024. It also introduces new items exclusive to the Ortigas outlet, broadening its culinary appeal. The interior departs from the original's subdued elegance, opting instead for a brighter, more casual setting to encourage high-volume dining.

The launch was marked by a two-part event: a morning blessing with UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. and local government officials, and an evening cocktail attended by Divina’s network of friends and legal colleagues.

Aurora’s entry into Ortigas could signal a shift from passion project to serious player in Metro Manila’s mid-to-high-end restaurant sector. With Divina openly contemplating further expansion, Bistro Aurora may well be laying the groundwork for a chain model in the making.

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