Guidebook for Makati City
Shopping
Lazy or too hung over to cook? This parking lot 5mins walk away is converted to a food/market/etc plaza Saturdays. (Legaspi Village, 10mins walk, takes Sundays.) Love the burritos, caterpillars.
114 locals raden deze aan
Salcedo zaterdagmarkt
Tordesillas St. Cor Toledo St.Lazy or too hung over to cook? This parking lot 5mins walk away is converted to a food/market/etc plaza Saturdays. (Legaspi Village, 10mins walk, takes Sundays.) Love the burritos, caterpillars.
Too lazy to cook or hungover to think on a Sunday Funday? Eat here from 6am-2pm. Buy orchids, and tell your one-night stand love is like a delicate flower...
88 locals raden deze aan
Legazpi Zondagmarkt
Too lazy to cook or hungover to think on a Sunday Funday? Eat here from 6am-2pm. Buy orchids, and tell your one-night stand love is like a delicate flower...
Pirated DVDs! Shooting range! Archery Hall! Billiards and Bowling and Pizza and Beer! Second hand books! Hell yeah!
Casaje Optical Corporation. - Makati Cinema Square
Pirated DVDs! Shooting range! Archery Hall! Billiards and Bowling and Pizza and Beer! Second hand books! Hell yeah!
Arts & Culture
Has a Subway, Krispy Kreme, etc in the 2/F food court. Also home to Yuchengco Museum, Romulo Theater, and many European consulates. Impt landmark when coming home.
6 locals raden deze aan
RCBC Plaza
Has a Subway, Krispy Kreme, etc in the 2/F food court. Also home to Yuchengco Museum, Romulo Theater, and many European consulates. Impt landmark when coming home.
Red-light district peppered with blues bars, taquerias and tequila bars, billiard joints, cafes, hostels, and good conversation.
The map is off a bit...it should be south of Kalayaan Avenue.
52 locals raden deze aan
P Burgos
P BurgosRed-light district peppered with blues bars, taquerias and tequila bars, billiard joints, cafes, hostels, and good conversation.
The map is off a bit...it should be south of Kalayaan Avenue.
Goethe-Institut Philippinen
121 L.P. Leviste StreetGreat place to catch a free foreign film on a Wednesday at 6:30pm.
Great place to catch a free foreign film on a Wednesday evening at 8:30pm.
Alliance Française de Manille
209 Nicanor GarciaGreat place to catch a free foreign film on a Wednesday evening at 8:30pm.
Sightseeing
Main thoroughfare essential to coming home. Main intersection Ayala corner Gil Puyat (aka Buendia) Avenues to catch any bus going anywhere.
26 locals raden deze aan
Ayala Ave
Ayala AvenueMain thoroughfare essential to coming home. Main intersection Ayala corner Gil Puyat (aka Buendia) Avenues to catch any bus going anywhere.
Makati is bounded by Osmena Hiway on the West—take this to go to Malate/Intramuros or the south to Laguna—and EDSA to the East—take this to go to Quezon City or Northern Luzon or La Union for surfing.
97 locals raden deze aan
Makati
Makati is bounded by Osmena Hiway on the West—take this to go to Malate/Intramuros or the south to Laguna—and EDSA to the East—take this to go to Quezon City or Northern Luzon or La Union for surfing.
The country's most sosyal (fancy) mall. So beautiful, I put it under "sightseeing." Even mall-averse Europeans will agree. Good restos, bars, shops, and ladyboy watching.
Ask me, I dare you...
38 locals raden deze aan
Greenbelt Drive
Greenbelt DriveThe country's most sosyal (fancy) mall. So beautiful, I put it under "sightseeing." Even mall-averse Europeans will agree. Good restos, bars, shops, and ladyboy watching.
Ask me, I dare you...
Everything Else
Dying of diarrhea from eating balut or fishballs? It's probably nothing, but just to be sure...
Say "Doc, masakit ang (body part here) ko." Trans: Painful the (body part) my.
65 locals raden deze aan
Makati Medical Center
Dying of diarrhea from eating balut or fishballs? It's probably nothing, but just to be sure...
Say "Doc, masakit ang (body part here) ko." Trans: Painful the (body part) my.
Good street for restos and cheap beers off Greenbelt Mall.
The streets parallel are begging to be investigated and explored.
Accessible by dela Rosa elevated walkway.
Ask me if you dare...
Don Carlos Palanca
Don Carlos PalancaGood street for restos and cheap beers off Greenbelt Mall.
The streets parallel are begging to be investigated and explored.
Accessible by dela Rosa elevated walkway.
Ask me if you dare...
Drinks & Nightlife
If you like live music, this is the ultimate in indie music discovery! Cover charge P150/head; comes with a beer.
17 locals raden deze aan
SaGuijo
7612 GuijoIf you like live music, this is the ultimate in indie music discovery! Cover charge P150/head; comes with a beer.
Uber cool for natty dread-heads; warehouse style with graffiti on the walls, barbecue all around, and Mr Eat My Balls fishball vendor at the entrance. Skate shops, dry goods, chicken wings, surround.
24 locals raden deze aan
The Collective
MalugayUber cool for natty dread-heads; warehouse style with graffiti on the walls, barbecue all around, and Mr Eat My Balls fishball vendor at the entrance. Skate shops, dry goods, chicken wings, surround.
Great for meeting ppl w/ a house/funk/disco soundtrack (Thursday nights).
Upstairs is the Ayala Museum. Don't know why this is the default title. Accessible by dela Rosa Street elevated walkway.
96 locals raden deze aan
M Cafe
Dela Rosa StreetGreat for meeting ppl w/ a house/funk/disco soundtrack (Thursday nights).
Upstairs is the Ayala Museum. Don't know why this is the default title. Accessible by dela Rosa Street elevated walkway.
Midget boxers are small but drink prices aren't. BUT you can get a nice massage for about P200 while u watch them fight. Map location wrong by about 3 streets to south. It should be on Kalayaan Ave.
7 locals raden deze aan
Ringside Bar
4853 P. Burgos Corner Kalayaan AvenueMidget boxers are small but drink prices aren't. BUT you can get a nice massage for about P200 while u watch them fight. Map location wrong by about 3 streets to south. It should be on Kalayaan Ave.
Ever had a drink on the 71st floor? This place is a bit chichi, but nice for people who like to dress nice and see well-dressed people. Music is basic house/club/nostalgic and drinks are astronomical.
21 locals raden deze aan
The Gramercy Residences
71 SalamancaEver had a drink on the 71st floor? This place is a bit chichi, but nice for people who like to dress nice and see well-dressed people. Music is basic house/club/nostalgic and drinks are astronomical.
Blues, barbecue, billiards, bilkers, babes, and beer. Because of these, this place is a frequent spot for expats and people who like to relax away from the glare of the red light district.
14 locals raden deze aan
Handlebar Bar and Grill
31 PolarisBlues, barbecue, billiards, bilkers, babes, and beer. Because of these, this place is a frequent spot for expats and people who like to relax away from the glare of the red light district.
SaGuijo
7612 GuijoThe ultimate in independent and underground music discovery.
Food Scene
Can be your "office" if you need a bright, comfy place with good internet to focus.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Coffee
6780 Ayala AvenueCan be your "office" if you need a bright, comfy place with good internet to focus.
Jolly Jeeps are eat-while-u-stand food trucks on the street. They are everywhere! There's many right outside our door. Get pan de sal, bistek Tagalog, and fried bananas as merienda in the p.m.
Jolly Jeep
RadaJolly Jeeps are eat-while-u-stand food trucks on the street. They are everywhere! There's many right outside our door. Get pan de sal, bistek Tagalog, and fried bananas as merienda in the p.m.
Popular French bistro/cafe in the red light district, but sans putes; wonderful bar, featuring homemade infused rums; I recommend a Picon-Beer in the cool, covered terrace with un cigarette.
10 locals raden deze aan
le Cafe Curieux
CaceresPopular French bistro/cafe in the red light district, but sans putes; wonderful bar, featuring homemade infused rums; I recommend a Picon-Beer in the cool, covered terrace with un cigarette.
Modern Filipino cuisine that is my favorite place to have lechon-de-leche pancakes (a la peking duck with hoisin sauce etc), the deconstructed Adobo Flakes, the local ceviche called Kinilaw, and a whole lot more.
29 locals raden deze aan
Sarsá Kitchen + Bar
109 RadaModern Filipino cuisine that is my favorite place to have lechon-de-leche pancakes (a la peking duck with hoisin sauce etc), the deconstructed Adobo Flakes, the local ceviche called Kinilaw, and a whole lot more.
This is one of my favorite places to eat, by far. It's totally VFM (value for money) sushi, sashimi, ramen, bento boxes, and tempura, and a whole lotta things I don't order. Sit in the smoking room in the back for a tatami-style dining experience or at the bar and watch the chefs work!
17 locals raden deze aan
Nihonbashitei
1030A Antonio Arnaiz AveThis is one of my favorite places to eat, by far. It's totally VFM (value for money) sushi, sashimi, ramen, bento boxes, and tempura, and a whole lotta things I don't order. Sit in the smoking room in the back for a tatami-style dining experience or at the bar and watch the chefs work!
This 3000 sqm hidden square is home to about 10 Japanese restaurants in a mixed open air and indoor dining setting. There's a yakitori place (grilled meats and fish) and your usual Japanese fare. A bit pricier than my fave just down the street, Nihon Bashitei, but it has character...and stray cats...and mosquitoes. Bring repellent.
105 locals raden deze aan
Little Tokyo
This 3000 sqm hidden square is home to about 10 Japanese restaurants in a mixed open air and indoor dining setting. There's a yakitori place (grilled meats and fish) and your usual Japanese fare. A bit pricier than my fave just down the street, Nihon Bashitei, but it has character...and stray cats...and mosquitoes. Bring repellent.
So hard to choose between "restaurant," "café and coffee," and "bakery." This is an all-in-one. I love practically anything on the menu, which is dominated by American-style diner dishes with upscale ingredients (by PH standards) and the baked goods is set in a smorgasbord-style as you walk in the door.
107 locals raden deze aan
Wildflour Café + Bakery Rada
RadaSo hard to choose between "restaurant," "café and coffee," and "bakery." This is an all-in-one. I love practically anything on the menu, which is dominated by American-style diner dishes with upscale ingredients (by PH standards) and the baked goods is set in a smorgasbord-style as you walk in the door.
This is my favorite pizza chain, because I love thin-crust pizza. It's super oily, but hey, you only live once. Order the fried chicken and the mojos (thick cut potato chips) to bite into my childhood a little.
Shakey's (Valero)
This is my favorite pizza chain, because I love thin-crust pizza. It's super oily, but hey, you only live once. Order the fried chicken and the mojos (thick cut potato chips) to bite into my childhood a little.
Entertainment & Activities
If you want to know how the chichi shopped back in the day, take a trip to Escolta Street. It straddles the Pasig River and Binondo, our own Chinatown, and has large buildings that used to be the premier department stores, movie houses, and banks back in the day. Sadly, the buildings are under threat of development, but there are some crusaders that will walk you through the glamour of Old Manila. Check out the Binondo Food Tour or Carlos Celdran's Walking Tour of Neighboring Intramuros and Manila.
Escolta Street
Escolta StreetIf you want to know how the chichi shopped back in the day, take a trip to Escolta Street. It straddles the Pasig River and Binondo, our own Chinatown, and has large buildings that used to be the premier department stores, movie houses, and banks back in the day. Sadly, the buildings are under threat of development, but there are some crusaders that will walk you through the glamour of Old Manila. Check out the Binondo Food Tour or Carlos Celdran's Walking Tour of Neighboring Intramuros and Manila.