The Philippines - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 604

welcoming hotel is decorated with beautiful Chinese
artefacts and the odd piece of intricately decorated
furniture; all rooms have a/c, kitchenett e, living area,
private bathroom and cable TV. Great value. P1085
MNL Boutique Hostel 4688 Valdez St T 02 511 7514,
W MNLBoutiqueHostel.com; map p.604. Handy for the
nightlife scene, this small new host el ha s tiny, brightly
painted (but windowless) rooms. Dorm P545 , double P1750
★

ERMITA AND MALATE
Friendly's Guesthouse 1750 Adriatico cnr. Nakpil
streets, Malate T 02 474 0742, W friendlysguesthouse.
com; map p.602. The small, darkish rooms at this friendly
place give off a maze of little narrow corridors. Most have
shared bathrooms and there's a chilled-out balcon y area
to sip y our fre e tea or coffee. Free wi-fi, too. Dorm P450 ,
double P695
Hostellery Hotel 416 Plaza Nuestra Senyora de Guiua,
Ermita T 02 521 6545, E [e-mail]; map
p.602. New budget option just off the bay, with 4- and
8-bed a/c dor ms, p lus well -priced, clean doubles with
cable TV. Dorm P500 , double P2000
Mabini Pension 1337 A Mabini St, Ermita T 02 523
3930; map p.602. Convenient, friendly and well
established, with fan and a/c rooms, though in rather close
proximity to a number of karaoke joints; get a room at
the back. Also offers internet access, t ourist information,
visa extensions and flight reservations. P680
★

Our Melting Pot 4th Floor, Mavenue Building, Makati
Ave 7844 cnr; map p.604. Guerrero St T 02 659 5443
or T 0932 950 0255, W ourmeltingpotbackpackers
@gmail.com. Friendly hostel a stone's throw away from
Makati's malls and nightlife with mixed as well as
female-only dorms and a/c throughout. Dorm beds have
curtains, perfect for those who value their privac y. Free
breakfa st, wi-fi , lockers and use of kitchen. Dorm P550 ,
double P1500

EATING
QUEZON CITY
★

Malate Pensionne 1771 M Adriatico St, Malate T 02
523 8304, W mpensionne.com.ph; map p.602. Cosy rooms
delightfully furnished in Spanish-colonial style; there are
beautiful parquet floors throughout and the cute little
breakf ast ar ea is a g ood s pot to start the day. Paid wi-fi.
Dorm P475 , double P950
★

Van Gogh is Bipolar 154H Maginhawa St, Sikatuna
Village Quezon City T 0922 824 3051, W facebook.com
/vgibipolar; map pp.598-599. Cook and travel photo-
grapher Jetro lovingly prepares the dishes at this unique
place by carefully selecting ingredients, such as honey and
black mountain rice, that activate neurotransmitters in the
brain to calm and uplift one's mood. Help out with service
and get your meal for free. Only 12 diners per night, so
bookings are essential. Wed-Sun 6-11pm.

8

Pension Natividad 1690 MH del Pilar St, Malate
T 02 521 0524, W pensionnatividad.multiply.com; map
p.602. A well-liked guesthouse in a quiet old family home
with a popular 24hr outdoor terrace café where back-
packers mingle. Rooms are clean and spacious and there's
free wi-fi. It's on e of t he best budget places in the area.
Single-sex dorm P400 , double P1000
Tune Hotel 1740 Mabini St, Malate T 02 519 0888,
W tunehotels.com; map p.602. Air Asia hotel chain's
Malate branch enjoys a good location close to the dining
and nightlife scene, and its add-on price structure means
you only pay for the facilities you need. Deals are available
from as little as P788 if you book early. Rooms are bright,
white and clean; add-ons include a/c, cable TV, wi-fi, early
check-in and luggage storage. Th e full pa ckage costs P420
in advance. Double (walk-in rate) P2000

INTRAMUROS
Barbara's Plaza San Luis Complex, Gen. Luna St T 02 527
4086, W barbarasheritagerestaurant.com; map p.600.
Elegant dining in a colonial setting, with wooden interiors
and rich Filipino and Spanish food. Best known for its
touristy buffets (around P245 for lunch; P710 for dinner)
and the Kultura Filipina traditional music and dance show
from 7.15pm on Tues and Thurs. À la carte dishes average
P250-400. Daily 11am-2pm & 6.30-9pm.
Muralia Stalls Lining the Intramuros walls; map p.600.
The eastern walls of the old Spanish capital are lined with
in-built stalls attracting crowds of students for cheap eats.
A meal will set you back about P70.

MAKATI
More and more options are popping up to cater for
budget travellers keen to be close to Makati's dining
and nightlife scene.
Hilik 2nd Floor, Mavenue Building, Makati Ave 7844 cnr.
Guerrero St T 02 519 5821 or T 0932 950 0255, W hilik
bouiquehostel.ph; map p.604. Less popular but equally as
good as Our Melting Pot in the same building, Hilik has clean,
comfortable dorms in a great lo cation . Free br eakfast , wi-fi,
lockers and use of kitchen. Dorm P550 , double P1500
Makati Apartelle 4411 Montojo St, Brgy. Tejeros
T 02 897 4219, W makatiapartelle.com; map p.604. This

ERMITA AND MALATE
Bistro Remedios 1911 M. Adriatico Street, Malate; map
p.602. One of the city's best restaurants for authentic
Filipino food (mains P300); the welcoming interior is
simple but attractive, and there are occasionally live
bands wandering from table to table. Daily 11am-3pm
& 6-11pm.
Kamayan 532 Padre Faura cnr. M. Adriatico streets,
Ermita; map p.602. The word kamayan means “with your
hands”, which is how you eat the lovingly prepared Filipino