Chic Shops of Manila by Cynthia Rosenfeld
Featured Hotel in Manila
Mandarin Oriental Manila
See all hotels in Manila >
Though separatist movements rock the outer islands and government scandals regularly capture the news headlines, the Philippines’ capital has been quietly reinventing itself as a shopper’s paradise.
Serious amassers will want to check in across the street from Greenbelt, Manila’s most celebrated mall, at the Renaissance Makati City Hotel (Makati Avenue, Makati City) for the ultimate convenience of stashing purchases before heading back to buy more. Take a peek along the hotel’s shopping arcade where local designer Jeannie Goulbourn lays out her colourful and diaphanous sarongs and skirts at Silk Cocoon.
Admittedly, most Manila shopping malls tend towards big and uninspired, so skip the endless Mall of Asia to head instead to Greenbelt, truly one of Asia’s most appealing shopping experiences with plenty of outdoor leaf-filled space and al fresco café tables. Sandals dappled with indigenous wood beads and rattan clutches by Felicity made elegant with intricate embroidery cram shelves at Firma (G/F Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati). Burmese jewellery designer Wynn Wynn Ong practically brings silver spiders to life with such intricate carving on a delicate mahogany ring.
Around the corner, charm abounds inside Jo (G/F Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati). The local designer plays with Filipinas’ love of tiny gold and silver charms, ranging in design from irreverent kitchen utensils to adorable animals. Even more intriguing are her chunky buffalo horn cuffs that sit high and sexy along the arm. Rocker chick handbags dimpled with plenty of metal studs round out the shop’s intimate boudoir interior.
There’s more style than it first appears packed into the closet-sized Regatta (G/F Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati). Twirling girly dresses with retro-fabulous prints, statement making blouses that go from the office to a night on the town and sea-inspired bikinis with indigenous Mother of Pearl clasps get snapped up by stylish local ladies who add a few pairs of men’s boxer shorts sprinkled with flowers or 1960s psychedelic designs.
Haul those bags just a bit further. Warm monotones on organic cotton linens woven in the Philippines have been known to lure occasional shoppers to climb into the display bed at Soumak Bed’n Beddings (G/F Greenbelt 3). Those in need of sustenance should look no further than the Thai menu at People’s Palace (G/F, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City) where Manila’s most attractive types show off their own latest designer acquisitions.
Or, save yourself for local delights and head to the new Surendra Piazza, an outdoor stretch of boutiques and restaurants along the manmade Bonifacio High Street in nearby Taguig City, a Manila neighbourhood adjacent to Makati. At Abe (G/F Serendra, Bonafacio Global City, Taguig City) the Kapampangan cuisine like biringhe, a local paella of chorizo and seafood incorporates Spanish and Malay influences. Those with a truly global palate can crunch on the sautéed crickets.
Revived, head to All Flip Flops (Serendra Piazza, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig) a novel concept shop outfitted entirely in the latest Havaianas imported from Brazil. Load up on literature for a beach vacation on one of the Philippines 7,107 islands at Fully Booked (Bonafacio High Street, Bonafacio Global City, Taguig). Three stories tall and boasting its own Starbucks, this well-lit book emporium holds all the latest titles in English with plenty of comfy chairs for literate lingering. International bestsellers are discounted and Moleskine notebooks make the ideal travelling companion.