Manila is a long way from being the most beautiful place in the Philippines. It’s often called the Pearl of the Orient but many people say that the resemblance to a pearl is in the rather work-a-day exterior and fantastic interior. The traffic, haze, chaos and shanty towns are all part of the experience of Manila, but so are the fantastic museums, incredible art galleries, the kind of markets where you can buy anything, the wonderful bars and exceptional coffee, and a live music scene that bursts at the seams with vim and vigour. Manila is super cool. And so are many of the best places to stay in Manila.
Of course some of the best hotels in Manila aren’t the obvious kind of cool, take the wonderfully traditional Raffles Makati for instance, it’s not hip, but it’s achingly elegant with a rooftop pool and spa and a bar that makes you feel as if you’re in a classic film: one that everyone will want to watch. But some are the obvious sort of cool, the Discovery Primea, for example, a chic, 141 room design hotel by award-winning architect Kenzo Tang, who’s put in one of the most spectacular infinity pools you can imagine. And a cool bar.
Between your hotel and rest of the city you will probably encounter crowds and traffic and a haze of ozone and noise. But don’t let that put you off, just let it focus your attention on making sure you’re booked into one of the best places to stay in Manila!
Where to Stay
- Makati is the financial centre of the Philippines, where you can find all the international banks and department stores and the majority of the embassies. It’s also a hub of entertainment and culture, and if you choose to stay here you’ll be within walking distance of many of Manila’s main sights.
- Ermita is one of two main tourist districts of Manila, the other is Malate. This is a lively place to be, with bars, cafes, pubs, bistros and nightclubs. It also has the Rizal Park, which is a sort of Central Park and national mall, and where you’ll find the Manila Ocean Park aquarium, the Planetarium and the Museum of the Filipino people, and a number of similar national attractions and gardens.
- Malate was where you used to find Manila’s grandest residences, and now many of them have been turned into some of the best places to stay in Manila. This is still one of the most attractive districts to stay in, with a more sedate nightlife than Ermita.
- Intramuros is the historic heart of Manila, the bit that was fortified, and housed much of the really ancient architecture. Some of the fortifications remain but most of it was destroyed during WW2. However it’s still home to some beautiful churches, the old cathedral, the National Art Gallery, the Art-Deco style Metropolitan Theatre and the City Hall.
- Binondo is one of the world’s oldest Chinatowns, a thriving place even before the arrival of the Spanish in 1571. It’s still a lively commercial centre, great for jewellery, Chinese food and some fantastic fusion architecture.
- Santa Cruz is next door and has a similar feel, but with many more markets for household items and clothing.
- The Port Area is beautiful for its sunsets, and busy with shipping traffic.
Use our guide to the best places to stay in Manila and start to plan your trip to this melting pot of a city!