Top travel guide of Makati, Manila
A complete guide to Makati: Welcome to the concrete jungle of the Philippines
Where: Makati, Manila | Number of days: 30 | Local currency: Philipinne Pesos
In May 2022 I had the opportunity to explore Makati for five weeks as I needed to be there for work, which means that I got to know this part of Manila quite well. I realize that Makati is a highly developed and prosperous part of the city and country and it can sometimes feel like a bit of a bubble. Therefore, I would highly recommend to explore all the other islands and areas that the Philippines has to offer. I spend some time in Boracay and Moalboal, and absolutely loved it, so definitely check out my other posts for the best tips and to explore the Philippines outside of Makati as well.
But, back to this post! The city of Makati can be found on the south side of Manila, right next to the other business district, BGC. It is about a 30 minute drive to the historical highlights, while only 15 minutes away from the international airport. These timings are based on the times of day when it’s low traffic as the city can get quite congested during peak hours. This district of the capital is interconnected by the ‘Greenbelt’ mall, which houses luxury brands as Hermes and Louis Vuitton and is a close neighbour to reknown five star hotels. More about this and Greenbelt later on.
How to get to Makati?
The archipelagic country that is the Philippines can easily be reached via its airport in Manila, the grande terminals allow for easy incoming and outgoing travel, both national, international and intercontinental. For years the Ninoy Aquino International Airport topped the lists of worst airports in the world. Today, many investments later, the airport still doesn’t meet European standards in terms of entertainment or efficiency but it certainly no longer deserves a place on these ‘worst airports in the world’ lists.
Where to stay in Makati?
As I stayed in Manila as part of a business trip, there was no need for me to do extensive research on accommodation. My stay was arranged for me and as a business traveller, I would highly recommend the Fairmont Hotel. The very welcoming staff, large rooms with great views, a nice pool and gym area and a delicious breakfast, made it a very comfortable place to stay. In terms of location, it is also very convenient. Right across the street from Landmark, a big department store with a large supermarket in the basement, the hotel is a 5 minute walk from many different malls and great restaurants that the Greenbelt mall has to offer. Additionally, entertainment is close by with cinemas and a short car ride to the Mall of Asia and the Poblacion neighbourhood.
Which brings me to a recommendation when it comes to travelling to Manila as a tourist. Poblacion is a more trendy and hip area in Makati, perfect for backpackers looking for a nice place to stay. Here you can find cool rooftopbars, clubs that are open until dawn and still be relatively close to the landmarks of Manila and the comforts of the center of Makati.
What to do in Makati?
As Makati is a business district the traffic in the streets isn’t as hectic as in the rest of the capital. This also means that it gets quite quiet during the weekends as most people do not reside in this area and only travel to Makati during the week. You can easily stroll through Makati using the skyway bridges between malls, which take you from one AC to the next. The temperatures and humidity can be quite draining so make sure you bring lots of water on your walk or take the occasional break by grabbing an ice coffee or stopping at a 7/11 for a cold drink.
Legazpi Sunday Market
On Sundays you can find the flea market on a parking lot, next to the Legazpi active park. Here you can have a bite to eat, buy some plants, get your fresh fish or other groceries and discover homemade international and local products. Even though the size of the market itself isn’t too big, you have many different stalls, each selling their own specific products.
At a 15 minute walk you will find the Salcedo Saturday Market. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to visit this market, but by the looks of it is slightly bigger than the Legazpi market, and can be visited on Saturdays.
Basketball game
Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, and in many villages you will see people shooting hoops. The professional teams are heavily sponsored by companies, so don’t be surprised if a team carries the name of a sponsor. The famous Filipino beer and gin brewer, San Miguel for example owns the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team.
Tickets to see a match with greats seats will cost around 15 euros. We were able to watch a game of the San Miguel team at the Mall of Asia arena. I would definitely recommend it as basketball is a dynamic and energetic sport to watch and the experience itself is different and exciting.
Watch a movie
While I was in Makati, the newest Top Gun movie came out. Luckily there are a couple cinemas in Makati and we booked tickets at the Greenbelt 3; Cinema 1-5. At first I was a bit shocked by the limited number of seats available, but when arriving in the theater, I realized that this was caused by the fact that seats were all reclining chairs. So this was a very comfortable and enjoyable experience and prices vary between 5 - 8 euros.
Where to eat and drink in Makati?
As Makati is one of the larger business districts of Manila, which attracts a large group of international travellers, the diversity in restaurant options is enormous. All the famous American chains are present, besides somewhat more unique places. However, no day should start without coffee, so let’s start there.
Coffee
When it comes to coffee, you can satisfy your caffeine intake at every corner of the street. With numerous Starbucks spread across the neighbourhood, and a special Starbucks Reserve located at the Greenbelt mall, you will always have access to your familiar cuppa. But if you prefer going to a local small business I would advice to check out Toby’s Estate Coffee or the Curator. The latter is a bit hidden but transforms into a unique cocktailbar at night, so definitely combines the best of both worlds. Most places will have dairy or dairy alternatives to spice up your regular black coffee.
Drinks
While there are many places to get cocktails, I believe it is hard to beat the following two rooftops in Makati. The first can be found on the I’M hotel, and carries the name Antidote. Skip the food but go for the drinks and the view. Don’t forget to go to the bathroom to experience the best private view. The second rooftop, I would recommend for a special night out, Mistral is the rooftop that belongs to the Raffles hotel, and can be found on the tenth floor of the hotel. Here you can enjoy delicious nibbles, appetizers and mains while sipping on a fresh glass of wine or a personalized G&T. That’s right, they have their own G&T cart which allows you to pair your favourite gin with you preferred flavours like dried pineapple, smoked rosemary or cinamon. Don’t forget to make a reservation as the place is often fully booked or rented out for private parties. For both rooftops I would advice to dress up a bit.
Food`
When it comes to food, the choices are endless. All types of cuisines are present in Makati and any kind of craving can be satisfied. With the use of the Grab app I often ordered salads and wraps at Salad Stop, Sushi at Sushi Nori, Hummus, Falafel and Pitas at Hummus Elijah or the chicken salad at Army + Navy.
If you are looking for a sit down dinner, here are my best recommendations:
Wildflour has multiple locations and bakeries spread across Makati and reminds me of a London-esque restaurant with an overflowing counter with - impossible to ignore - sweet and hearty pastries, while also serving delicious sit down meals. The menu is filled with different dishes that are not tied to any specific country or region. Here you can find homemade pastas, cheeseboards, oven charred vegetables and rich filled salads. It has a trendy and chique but cosy interior and at the Greenbelt mall locations you can also find a spot on the outside terrace. Check out their website to find all locations.
Right next to the Wildflour restaurant in Greenbelt you can find Las Flores, a perfect place to satisfy those Spanish Tapas and Pinxos cravings. On the menu you can find fresh jamon, hot and sizzling garlic prawns, fresh black squid paella, pan con tomate and big jugs of sangria. The interior is nicely decorated with Spanish tiles and posters and it is always buzzing with people. The staff is very friendly and there is also an option to sit outside.
One of the more laidback lunch places in Makati can be found just across the street of the Legazpi Sunday Market. Don’t let the 100 options on the menu at Antipodean intimidate you, go for the shakshuka or avocado toast and you are guaranteed a delicious lunch, but I’m quite sure all options will lead to a fulfilling meal.
Nono’s also falls in the same category, as a place where you immediately feel like home. Comfort food is served here, nothing fancy, just nice plates of pasta, truffle parmesan fries or a big slice of cake. Great for a casual lunch or dinner.
Lastly, if you are looking for great dumplings, definitely pay a visit to Tim HoWan. This Michelin Star winning restaurant has expanded outside of Hong Kong and serves tasty and very affordable dishes. Besides trying the dumplings, definitely order some vegetable sides.
Views from the Antidote Rooftop
