In the past, when I sought advice from my Filipino friends on where to stay in Manila, their responses were often discouraging. They would suggest that it might be better to avoid the city altogether, citing it as not being a pleasant place to visit. According to them, the only viable option for a more enjoyable experience would be to stay in Makati, an upscale neighbourhood within Manila. Their advice seemed to suggest that this area was the only place where I might find comfort and enjoyment during my stay.
Two years ago, I arranged a travel itinerary for my dad to Boracay with an overnight stay in Manila. Relying on the advice of my friends, I decided to book accommodation for him in Makati. However, I was unaware of the fact that Makati is a large neighbourhood, which caused a bit of confusion.
Wanting to find a budget-friendly hotel for him and his fiancé, I thought I was doing the right thing by selecting the Best Western on P. Burgos Street. Unfortunately, I later discovered that this area was actually the red light district of Manila. Although I had read online that it was an exciting place to be in Makati, I have no idea who wrote that misleading information.
Subsequently, my father and his fiancé conveyed their distressing experience to me .The street was chaotic, teeming with prostitutes, and crossing it became an uncomfortable experience as they were constantly harassed and waved at whenever they glanced out the window. Ultimately, they had a fantastic time because, alongside the strip clubs and prostitutes, they discovered a few lively live music venues and a vibrant street food market in the area that added to their enjoyment.
Initially, I held the impression that Manila might resemble other bustling Asian cities like Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh. However, my perception took a complete turn after my dad’s stay there. Hence, when it came to booking a hotel for our trip, I decided to delve deeper into my research. Online sources suggested that the area surrounding the Ayala triangle should offer a pleasant experience. Despite my excitement about this possibility, my dad remained skeptical, unable to believe that such a place could exist within Manila. Coupled with negative feedback from many of my friends, including those from the Philippines, who advised that Manila wasn’t worth visiting, I was genuinely bracing myself for the worst.
As I mentioned earlier, the journey from the airport to Makati turned out to be surprisingly smooth, contrary to my expectations of heavy traffic and a chaotic cityscape. To my pleasant surprise, the reality was quite different from what I had envisioned. Comparing it to driving in Bangkok, Manila’s traffic seemed much more manageable. What caught my attention was the absence of tricycles, which are common in many other places I’ve visited. Instead, the roads were filled with shiny cars and charming buses known as jeepneys, which I found absolutely adorable.
Being aware of Makati’s reputation for its upscale ambiance, I couldn’t help but have doubts about finding such beauty and tranquility in Manila, considering the things I had heard about the city. However, I was pleasantly surprised and genuinely impressed by the serene and picturesque atmosphere I encountered in this particular part of Manila.
Hotel: Valero Grand Suites
During our stay in Manila, we selected the Valero Grand Suites hotel. To our pleasant surprise, they upgraded us to a more spacious room, almost like an apartment, on a higher floor, which offered fantastic city views. One of the main reasons I chose this hotel was its reasonable price and prime location, and it truly exceeded our expectations.
The hotel’s excellent value for the price we paid left us impressed, and we were genuinely satisfied with our decision. Its ideal location, right next to the Ayala Triangle, made it extremely convenient, allowing us to easily walk to all the upscale shopping malls, which significantly enhanced our overall experience. Moreover, the hotel also had a pool on the top floor, adding to the enjoyment of our stay.
Shopping
After enduring an almost 24-hour long flight, we decided to explore Makati and have a late lunch instead of dinner to help us adjust to the new time zone and get some rest early. We left our hotel on foot and walked through the Ayala Triangle, making our way to the Greenbelt mall. To our surprise, this neighborhood was nothing like I had imagined! It was clean, with impressive buildings, and the shopping options were truly remarkable.
I have never seen so many shopping malls side by side in my life! There were all kinds of stores, from more affordable ones to exclusive boutiques. Manila turned out to be a shopping paradise, something I had not known before. Even though we were extremely tired, the sheer variety of shopping opportunities almost tempted us to go on a shopping spree (and I’m not a fan of shopping!).
Later that day, a friend of mine texted me about another neighborhood in Manila with even better shopping options, including the largest shopping mall in all of Asia! However, we decided to save that experience for our next visit, as we were eager to rest and recharge after our long journey.
Dining
The Greenbelt mall exceeded all my expectations. It wasn’t just an ordinary mall; it was an exquisite place with beautiful surroundings and even a park. As we explored the ground floor, we were pleasantly surprised to find a variety of charming restaurants and bars located outside, within the inner part of the mall.
The atmosphere was truly captivating, and I couldn’t help but imagine how enjoyable it must be in the evenings with live music performances in many of these places. In fact, as we were leaving, we noticed some artists setting up their instruments, suggesting the vibrant nightlife the mall had to offer. The Greenbelt mall turned out to be much more than just a shopping destination; it was an enjoyable experience in itself.
We chose a restaurant called Mesa, offering a modern twist on Filipino cuisine. I had been eager to visit this place ever since seeing Mikey Bustos’ parody of “Shape of You,” where he sings about the Filipino food served at this exact restaurant. To my satisfaction, the food lived up to my expectations.
We ordered an assortment of dishes, including squid in Adobo, sisig dumplings, duck, and scallops, and each one was incredibly tasty. Despite being tired, we genuinely enjoyed our time at Mesa. The flavors were remarkable, and it was a wonderful way to end our first day in Manila.
After returning to the hotel around 8 pm, we headed straight to bed. However, jetlag woke us up at 1 am, and we were feeling quite hungry. Unfortunately, the hotel didn’t offer room service, so I decided to venture outside to find some food. Just next to the hotel, I discovered a fast-food chain called Army Navy, which sold Filipino-style Mexican food. It turned out to be a perfect choice, and I noticed how vibrant the city was even at night, with many others also out buying food at that late hour. The food was really good, and it became evident that Filipinos truly appreciate good food. After satisfying our hunger, we were able to sleep until morning, preparing for our next destination: Palawan.
My perception of Manila, particularly Makati, had completely changed by now, and I must say I genuinely liked it. For someone who enjoys strolling through pleasant streets, savoring delicious food, relishing great cocktails, and shopping, this city is indeed a fantastic place to be. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Makati, like any other city, has better and less desirable areas, so checking the hotel’s location before booking is crucial. I noticed that the hotels near P. Burgos Street were more affordable, but I’m glad I opted for a different area to stay.
On my next visit to the Philippines, I will definitely allocate more time to explore Manila thoroughly. It left a positive impression, and I’m eager to discover more of what the city has to offer.
Anyah Mroz 