Must-see shopping in Manila

  • Silahis Arts & Artifacts

    Manila

    This is almost more of a cultural centre than a shop. Intricately woven baskets, wooden Ifugao bulol statues for guarding rice, plus textiles and other…

  • Solidaridad Bookshop

    Manila

    Owned by the Filipino author F Sionil José, Solidaridad has a masterfully curated collection of both Western and Eastern non-fiction, international…

  • Cubao Expo

    Manila

    Über-hip assortment of bars, kitschy shops and galleries selling everything from old LPs to retro toys and housewares.

  • cultural diversity

    Greenhills Shopping Center

    Manila

    Somewhat like an indoor/outdoor flea market, Greenhills has stall after stall selling DVDs and brand-named clothing of questionable legitimacy. But snoop…

  • Balikbayan Handicrafts

    Manila

    Set over three levels, this is the kind of place that pulls in tourists by the busload. The merchandise is of surprisingly good quality, considering how…

  • Greenbelt

    Manila

    This is the high end of the Ayala Centre, with scores of swish cafes and restaurants around a central park area. There are five sections (Greenbelt 1 to…

  • Tesoro’s

    Manila

    The speciality here is pinya (fabric woven from pineapple fibres) products – especially embroidered barongs (from P9500), but there are also lacquered…

  • HUB Make Lab

    Manila

    The HUB is basically a happy place for creators and entrepreneurs. You'll find all sorts of things being sold out of fun cubicles: wacky fashion…

  • Lemongrass House

    Manila

    This well-regarded Thai import peddles all-natural oils, sunscreen, after-sun gel and an effective lavender-and-citronella mozzie repellent, among many…

  • Bonifacio High Street

    Manila

    This upscale open-air strip mall spans three long blocks in The Fort (BGC), with loads of good restaurants and upmarket fashion labels, plus art…

  • Manila Collectible Co

    Manila

    This funky shop specialises in hand-spun textiles and accessories produced by indigenous groups across the Philippines. It also sells fair-trade organic…

  • Tesoro's

    Manila

    Tessoro's is a souvenir shop with an emphasis on textiles and fashion. The speciality is pinya (fabric woven from pineapple fibres) products – especially…

  • Mall of Asia

    Manila

    One of the top 10 largest malls in the world, with the usual retail shops and a zillion restaurants, plus an Olympic-sized ice rink and an IMAX theatre…

  • Fully Booked

    Manila

    Manila’s most comprehensive bookshop, with a great travel section and an outstanding selection of fiction and non-fiction (all in English). There are…

  • Tradewinds Books

    Manila

    Inside Silahis Arts & Artifacts, Tradewinds stocks a varied assortment of books on the Philippines and Asia, including out-of-print or hard-to-find…

  • Human Nature

    Manila

    The flagship shop of this social enterprise selling all–Filipino, chemical-free beauty and health products. Also sells local coffee beans, with free cups…

  • Echo Store

    Manila

    Specialises in fair-trade, locally sourced products (including coffee and handicrafts) and chemical-free beauty/health items. Its cafe serves tasty…

  • Maria Closa

    Manila

    This high-end gallery shop is one for serious collectors with quality hand-crafted furniture, sculpture and artefacts from around the country.

  • Glorietta

    Manila

    Plenty of fast food here along with less-ritzy boutiques than in neighbouring Greenbelt. Glorietta 1 through 4 are all under one roof; Glorietta 5 is in a…

  • Hiraya Gallery

    Manila

    This long-established commercial gallery has a museum-quality selection of Filipino contemporary art. Names to look out for are Norberto Carating, Eric…

  • Q Mart

    Manila

    If you want to have a truly local experience – or buy a goat – stumble over to this sprawling covered bazaar not far from the Cubao bus terminals along…

  • LRI Design Plaza

    Manila

    A conglomeration of art galleries and contemporary furniture showrooms under one roof showcases all that’s chic in the capital’s art and design world.

  • Puesto

    Manila

    This is the fun sort-of souvenir shop of the late walking-tour legend Carlos Celdran.

  • San Andres Public Market

    Manila

    Malate’s main market is modern, air-conditioned – and sterile – thanks to a massive reconstruction in 2016. It's known for fruits, including exotic…

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