%02 / POP 11.9 MILLION

Best Places to Eat

¨ El Chupacabra (p77)

¨ Purple Yam (p76)

¨ Blackbird (p77)

¨ Van Gogh is Bipolar (p79)

¨ Casa Armas (p75)

Best Places to Stay

¨ Manila Hotel (p68)

¨ Luneta Hotel (p68)

¨ Red Carabao (p71)

¨ Y2 Residence Hotel (p73)

¨ Pink Manila (p70)

When to Go

Dec– Feb The coolest, most pleasant months.

Mar–Apr Holy Week is no time to be in packed beach resorts, so spend it in sleepy Manila.

Jul–Aug Some say it rains too much; we say it’s the best time to escape the searing sun.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Manila°C/°F Temp/Humidity Rainfall inches/mm

0/32

10/50

20/68

30/86

40/104

0

8/200

16/400

20/500

12/300

4/100

ManilaWhy Go?Manila’s moniker, the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, couldn’t be more apt – its cantankerous shell reveals its jewel only to those resolute enough to pry. No stranger to hardship, the city has endured every disaster both humans and nature could throw at it, and yet today the chaotic metropolis thrives as a true Asian megacity. Skyscrapers pierce the hazy sky, mush-rooming from the grinding poverty of expansive shanty-towns, while gleaming malls foreshadow Manila’s brave new air-conditioned world. The congested roads snarl with traffic, but, like the overworked arteries of a sweating giant, they are what keep this modern metropolis alive.

As well as outstanding sightseeing, visitors who put in the effort will discover its creative soul – from edgy galleries to a lively indie music scene. Combine this with a penchant for speakeasy bars, artisan markets and single-origin cof-fees, and it’s clear to see Manila’s not only one of Asia’s most underrated cities, but one of its coolest.

Includes ¨Sights ........................... 49Activities ...................... 65Tours ............................ 65Festivals & Events ........ 66Sleeping ....................... 67Eating ............................74Drinking & Nightlife ..... 79Entertainment ............. 83Shopping ...................... 84

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

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Boni Ave

Ayala Ave

Pasay Rd

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32nd St

Andrews Ave

A Arnaiz Ave

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Makati

1 Hear echoes of a lost past in Intramuros (p49).

2 indulge in the upscale cocktail bars, swanky rooftops and speakeasy bars of Makati (p80).

3 Explore the eerie ghost-town–like streets of the Chinese Cemetery (p59).

4 learn about a Manila you didn’t know existed on an excellent walking tour (p65).

5 get behind Manila’s art scene at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (p58) and Cultural Center of the Philippines (p58).

6 gawk at imelda’s shoes – some 800 pairs – on display at the Marikina Shoe Museum (p63).

7 Plunge into the city’s culture at its museum precinct (p55) for history and art.

Manila Highlights