Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
LIFE BEYOND THE MALL: INDIE RETAILERS
Megamalls haven't completely taken over Manila.
Cubao-X
(Cubao Expo) is a hub of
independent retailers on General Romulo Avenue in Quezon City (a short walk from Cubao
MRT station; map pp.60-61), with numerous indie clothing stores, creative furniture stores, art
galleries and thrift shops. Similarly in Makati, some of Manila's coolest designers have
established
The Collective
(7274 Malugay St, San Antonio; map p.77), the hub of several
independent shops, including:
Longboards Manila
Unit L
T
0917 850 2025,
W
longboardsmanila.com.
Skitzo
Unit M
T
0917 529 7548,
W
skitzomanila
.com.
Costume shop crammed with garish outfits,
glasses and accessories.
Tues-Sat noon-9pm.
Vinyl on Vinyl
Unit H
T
0922 848 7427,
W
vinylon
vinyl.blogspot.com.
Sells old records and collectable
vinyl toys (cartoon and anime characters).
Tues-Sat
3-11pm.
Skateboarder
heaven.
Tues-Sat 1-9pm.
Ritual
Unit A
T
02 400 4326,
W
www.ritual.ph.
Organic grocery selling pink rice, local salts, sugar,
lemongrass and coffee (bring your own containers).
Tues-Sat noon-9pm.
gifts and handicrafts is this justly popular store selling a
mind-boggling array of souvenirs, knick-knacks, home
decorations, reproduction native-style carvings and
jewellery, plus some larger items such as tribal chairs,
drums and musical instruments; staff can arrange to ship
your purchases if requested. The biggest of their outlets is
the cavernous Pasay branch.
Pasay Mon-Sat 9am-9pm,
Sun 10am-9pm; Makati Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun
10am-8pm.
Tesoro's
1325 A. Mabini St, Ermita
T
02 522 1580, map
p.69; 1016 Arnaiz Ave (Pasay Rd), Makati
T
02 887
6285, map p.77;
W
tesoros.ph
. Another handicraft chain
selling woven tablecloths, fabrics,
barongs
and reproduc-
tion tribal crafts such as
bulol
. Not as big as Balikbayan,
but more convenient from budget hotels in Ermita.
Both
daily 10am-8pm.
Greenbelt
Ayala Center, Paseo de Roxas at Legaspi St,
Makati
T
02 757 4853,
W
www.ayalamalls.com.ph;
map p.77.
This whole area has undergone extensive
redevelopment, with five sections: Greenbelt 3 and 4 on
Makati Ave are the most comfortable for a stroll and a spot
of people watching. Most of the stores are well-known
chains - Greenbelt 3 has the affordable stuff (including
Nike and Adidas) and Greenbelt 4 is full of expensive big
names such as Armani and Jimmy Choo. There are some
excellent restaurants in Greenbelt 3 for all budgets and
more designers in Greenbelt 5 (DKNY, Hilfiger).
Daily
11am-9pm.
Power Plant Mall
Rockwell Dr at Estrella St,
Makati, about 1km west of Guadalupe MRT (from
P. Burgos you can walk it in 15min),
T
02 898 1702,
W
powerplantmall.com; map p.77.
Upscale mall
home to Rustan's supermarket, as well as some furniture
shops selling imported teak items from Indonesia.
Most of the mid-range brand names are also here, along
with small shops selling fashion items for teenagers,
a couple of good baby clothes shops, and electronics
shops selling mobile phones and cameras.
Mon-Thurs
11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun
10am-9pm.
SM Mall of Asia
J.W. Diokno Blvd (facing Manila Bay)
T
02 556 0680,
W
smmallofasia.com; map p.80.
It's
hard to believe that this vast complex is just the third
largest in the Philippines (SM Megamall is the biggest) -
it contains the first ever IMAX in the city, a seafront
promenade, bowling alley, ice rink and hypermarket, as
well as numerous restaurants and stores that appeal to a
younger crowd. You can get handy minibuses to here
from Baclaran market (see p.100). SM also has the
Megamall in Ortigas (daily 10am-midnight), and the
smaller department store (Mon-Thurs & Sun 10am-9pm,
Fri & Sat 10am-10pm) in Makati, among many locations
in Metro Manila.
Daily 10am-10pm
.
MALLS
Bonifacio High Street
Bonifacio Global City
T
02 818
3601,
W
www.ayalamalls.com.ph; map pp.60-61.
One
of Manila's newest and most lavish malls, which links to
the Market! Market! development of themed retail zones,
fruit and flower markets and a regional food and hawker's
area. The Fort Bus (Mon-Sat 6am-10pm; every 30min)
connects Ayala MRT station with the shopping centre.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Glorietta
Ayala Center, Ayala Ave, Makati
T
02 752
7272,
W
www.ayalamalls.com.ph; map p.77.
A maze
of passageways spanning out from a central atrium,
Glorietta has five sections, a large branch of Rustan's
department store and heaps of clothes and household
goods. At the Makati Ave end of the complex is Landmark,
a big, functional department store that sells inexpensive
clothes and has a whole floor dedicated to children's
goods. Most of the restaurants are near the atrium and
there's a food court on the third floor.
Mon-Thurs & Sun
10am-9pm
,
Fri & Sat 10am-10pm.
