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!

The Best Places to Stay in Manila

For sheer luxury

• The Raffles brand is old and esteemed, and Raffles Makati is a good example of what they stand for: luxury with style, the importance of a great cocktail bar and elegant, spacious rooms. Here there are just 32. Plus a French restaurant and a rooftop pool and spa.
• The Peninsula Manila is much larger, with almost five hundred rooms, and it buzzes 24hours a day with the activity of so many guests. Come here for luxurious creature comforts, top notch service and superb food.

For a hip hotel

• If you want hip and happening Discovery Primea is much more modern: a chic, 141 room design hotel by award-winning architect Kenzo Tang. There are three restaurants, a stunning infinity pool, a large spa and fitness centre and lots of the added extra facilities that come with a larger hotel.

For Families

• If you’re travelling in a family group, or planning a longer visit, you might prefer the Makati Diamond Residences. It has around four hundred rooms, but there’s a huge range, from simple singles to luxurious serviced family-sized apartments. There’s also a pool, spa and gym.

For romantics

• The Hotel Celeste has plush furnishings in its 25 elegantly designed boutique-style rooms, the best of which have their own hot tubs.

For a room with a view

• For some of the best views of Manila from a hotel room try the Fairmont Makati, which is tall and has 280 rooms with floor to ceiling windows. These elegant rooms also have marble bathrooms. Furthermore, The Fairmont also boasts one of the most luxurious spas in Manila, and an impressive gym and restaurant.

For great value

• The Luneta is one of Manila’s longest-serving hotels: it opened in 1918. There are just 27 rooms, and they’re quite spacious and decorated in an Art Deco style. The best have fantastic views of the city. There’s an international restaurant, a bar and a garden.
• The Henry Hotel is an elegantly converted mansion in Pasay, surrounded by lush gardens. Its 32 rooms have all been carefully, independently designed and decorated, and the best have their own private balcony or terrace. The restaurant serves local cuisine with some international favourites, and there’s a pool hidden in the garden too.

Prefer an Apartment or Private Villa?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• it’s possible to fly direct to Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport from Amsterdam, and from the west coast of North America, and local Asian hubs. But from the majority of starting airports you’ll need to route via Hong Kong, Singapore or Dubai. What you do need to know is that the terminals of the international airport are only connected by a bus transfer, which doesn’t appear to be a foolproof system.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• The high season for travel to the Philippines is November through to April, but the Philippines has a tropical, monsoonal climate, which means sometimes it just pours and pours for days and days, and the temperature range is very small, rarely going below 20°C, or higher than 38°C. Manila’s dry season runs between December and April, then it’s wet and humid from May through to November. June and September are when you need to keep an eye out for typhoons.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay in the Philippines?
• Or you could consider just the best places to stay on Cebu? or the best places to stay on Boracay?
• or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.