A Weekend in Makati City, Philippines - The City That Has Everything

 

This city-based itinerary will show you the many sides of Makati.

There's nothing quite like cosmopolitan Makati City in the Philippines, a motley mix of Brutalist commerce buildings and grassroots boutique shops, wide-open avenues and packed nightlife districts, bourgeois neighborhoods, and alley-way discos. It's not a stretch to call this urban center the Manhattan of Metro Manila. Follow this two-day itinerary to experience the best of Salcedo, Legazpi, Poblacion, and more.

Saturday

9:30 AM – Have breakfast at Salcedo Saturday Market

Every Saturday, the Salcedo Village community hosts a vibrant, bustling food market at Jaime C. Velasquez Park. Most stalls focus on local and organic delicacies, but you won't be hard-pressed to find takoyaki, shawarma, tabbouleh, and Polish dumplings, either. Be on your best lookout for a table though – the market is so popular that most people just eat standing up.

11:30 AM – Go ukay-ukay shopping at Makati Cinema Square

Burn your breakfast by shuffling your way through row upon row of secondhand clothing racks at Makati Cinema Square, the iconic stuck-in-the-80s hub with more than five ukay-ukay (thrift) outlets. PHP 1,000 can get you three sets of clothes – all you need is patience, really. If you're feeling adventurous, venture even further inside this odd, wonderful Makati institution to find bowling and billiards, archery ranges, underground art galleries, and record shops.

12:30 PM – Eat lunch at Little Tokyo

Right next to Makati Cinema Square, you'll find a collection of the best Japanese restaurants in the capital. Most famous is the beloved Izakaya Kikufuji, but Seryna is another option when the line's too long. Step under the red arch to find a Japanese-themed square of smaller, cheaper restaurants, each with its own specialty. Japanese ex-pats dine at Little Tokyo to feel at home, so you know they're doing something right.

3:00 PM – Learn about Philippine art & culture at Ayala Museum, then check out Greenbelt

Ayala Museum, one of the top museums in the country, covers a wellspring of topics on local art and culture and is an excellent introduction to the Filipino identity. Highlights include the pre-colonial gold exhibit and diorama experience, which details Philippine history from past to present. The building is connected to Greenbelt, a set of malls where you can shop or get a quick bite afterward.

7:00 PM – Have dinner at Va Bene Pasta Deli

Located at the Petron gas station near Dasmarinas, this hidden gem is known for serving flavorful, fresh pasta made daily. Eating their ravioli, cannelloni, and gnocchi will make you realize that Manila has just about hacked every cuisine in the world – everything tastes authentic here.

9:30 PM – Go on a Poblacion crawl

Makati's red-light area has become more and more known as the party district of the city, where both locals and foreigners go for a good night out. Pob has just about everything for everyone – Dr. Wine for date nights, Crying Tiger for unassuming great food, Oto for sophisticated drinks, Apartment for the perpetual house party…the list goes on and on. It's best to go where the night takes you – start at 'Z street' (where Z Hostel is located) and crawl your way through.

1:00 AM – Dance the night away at XX/XX, Black Market, Finder's

Hail a Grab to Chino Roces Extension, where you'll find Makati's main clubs. Fresh to the scene XX/XX hosts techno nights, LGBTQ+ events, and foreign DJ sets, while discreet warehouse Black Market does Riot House on weekends. When your feet are worn out, catch your breath at the upstairs bar Mao's Den or speakeasy Finder's. No shorts, please!

Golf Club in Makati

Sunday

11:00 AM – Go for boozy brunch at Your Local

After hitting snooze a few times, it is finally time to seize your Sunday. Recover with a little help from the old hair of the dog at Your Local, a very-Instagram worthy South East Asian fusion restaurant tucked in Esteban street in Legazpi Village. Their lamb rendang and steak fried rice are absolute favorites.

1:00 PM – Have some coffee and dessert at Toby's Estate

Have one of the finest cups of Makati coffee at Toby's Estate in Salcedo Village. The coffee shop serves Australian and Filipino blends (their single-origin is called 'Salcedo'), both perfectly paired with good afternoon conversation and the essential Bruce Bogtrotter, their to-die-for salted caramel chocolate cake (one slice is humongous, eat alone if you dare.)

4:00 PM – Get a massage at Aramesh Spa

Take a break from Makati Avenue traffic by ducking into this secret Persian spa, hidden in one of the fancy mansion apartment buildings along Salcedo's Valero Street. The highly-rated Aramesh offers different services, including hot stone therapy, Japanese bamboo massages, and the classic Pinoy hilot (massage). They also do couples packages if you'd like to get pampered alongside your loved one.

6:30PM – Stroll through Ayala Triangle Gardens

Walk around the Ayala Triangle Gardens, a park with a row of restaurants situated right in between Salcedo and Legazpi Village. During the holiday seasons, many flocks to see the garden's annual light show. The place is also home to plenty of cats, so you'll find yourself in Insta-worthy pet lover heaven when they all come out to be fed at night.

7:00 PM – Eat a special dinner at Blackbird

Blackbird is the go-to restaurant in Makati for any special occasion – and if you haven't eaten here yet, have you really been to Makati? Besides the great food, the restaurant is known for its interesting location: the Nielsen Tower, a former airport control tower that was also home to the Filipinas Heritage Library just a decade ago. Don't forget to reserve in advance, tables are usually booked for weeks at a time.

10:00 PM – Take a nightcap at The Curator

At the end of Carlos Palanca Street is Cyrano Wine Shop, which is probably more known for being the entrance to The Curator, a coffee shop in the day and craft cocktail lounge at night. It's no wonder it was recently listed as one of Asia's Top 50 Best Bars in 2019, as its cool atmosphere, skilled bartenders, and laidback music make for a perfect end-of-the-night secret.

Makati at Night

Weekends are that point of the week where, for a brief moment, you have the absolute freedom to do whatever you want – whether it's relaxing, partying, immersing yourself in something cultural, or going on the food trip of your life. And a city as thriving and diverse as Makati offers all of these, and then some. Traveling to Makati is easier with the newly rebuilt Estrella-Pantaleon bridge by the DPWH and its secretary Mark Villar. Enjoy what Makati has to offer with this itinerary.