Where to Shop In Manila

Written by Bianca Versoza

Southeast countries are always some of the best countries to shop in, especially if you’re looking for both bargains and variety. Whether you’re in Manila for a visit or a local looking for the next best place to spend your money, below are some of the best places to shop around in Manila.

If you’re staying in a hotel in Manila, most of these places are at most a two-hour drive with traffic calculated into it. If you venture out on a weekday, on a non-rush hour, that time gets cut to 30 to 45 minutes.

I’ll be referring you to places around Metro Manila, and not just Manila City.

Best shopping malls in Manila

The Philippines loves its malls, and Manila is full of them. In fact, the majority of the 4,000 or so malls in the country are concentrated in Metro Manila.

If you’re not feeling like an adventurous shopper, you can find most things in a mall. Below are some of my top picks.

SM Mall of Asia

Location: Pasay City, near Manila Bay

As implied by its name, SM Mall of Asia is the biggest mall in Asia—and the third largest in the world. Called MOA for short, this retail megahub occupies over 5 million square feet of land. 

It’s landmarked by a gigantic globe centerpiece. Every taxi, private car booking app, and public transportation stops by it. If you absolutely do not know what you want, just peruse the shops around MOA. 

It’ll probably take you at least three days to really see everything it has to offer.

And what does MOA offer? Everything.

Mall of Asia has a franchise for most shops, restaurants, and other establishments present in the Philippines. Its directory can probably let you know more about what to expect, but I’m not joking when I tell you to expect everything.

SM Megamall

Location: Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

If Mall of Asia is too big for you, your stop should be SM Megamall. Located in one of Metro Manila’s business districts, SM Megamall is a bite-sized version of MOA. Instead of having everything, its contents are more catered to shoppers.

For instance, there’s a three-floor mega department store on one side of the building. It even has a separate building called the Fashion Hall, which needs no introduction as to what you can purchase from it. The Fashion Hall has a three-floor Uniqlo, by the way, a brand that makes up half of my wardrobe. It’s Japanese-themed clothing.

For tourists, there are more cultural-themed shops like Kultura you can purchase souvenirs from (though they’re expensive here).

SM Megamall goes on random mall-wide sales at least once a month, usually during a Friday to Sunday interval.

And, of course, what’s an SM Megamall visit without a quick trip to the Cyberzone floor? Hardware (like gaming consoles and laptops) are a little cheaper abroad but games and accessories (such as headsets and keyboards) are much cheaper in the Philippines. If you’re in the market to upgrade, replace, or buy a new electronic accessory, I’d grab them here.

SM Megamall is also one block away from Podium, which sells high-end brands (such as Dior).

SM Aura

Location: McKinley, Taguig City

If you’re just looking for branded items like Dior, Giordano (for ladies), and Charles Keith, then SM Aura is your stop. Due to the high end-ness of the shops, there are fewer people, which gives you a ton of time to go shopping.

SM Aura is also home to one of the few Sanrio official stores in the Philippines. There is never a day we set foot in it without stopping by. If you’re not familiar with Sanrio, it’s the famous Japanese mascot brand of Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars, and Cinnamoroll, among others.

Of course, if you don’t want to go out of your way to venture into the three SM malls I’ve introduced above, you can just visit the nearest SM and shop in its department store.

SM is the Philippines’ largest mall chain. It usually has everything, from boutiques and cafes to cinemas and salons. Every city has an SM, and they all offer something a little different.

Glorietta

Location: Ayala, Makati City

I may be cheating a bit by including Glorietta in my mall list because, rather than a mall, it’s a series of malls located in Makati City. Specifically, the complex is divided into five malls, called Glorietta 1, Glorietta 2, Glorietta 3, Glorietta 4, and Glorietta 5.

Shoppers will likely find themselves in the first four, as while Glorietta 5 does have shops, half of them are office floors.

Much like MOA, it’s hard to say what Glorietta doesn’t have—at least in terms of shops. There’s a row of luxury labels in Glorietta 3, a gigantic department store in Glorietta 4, and the biggest Uniqlo branch in Southeast Asia. If you missed what Uniqlo was before, it’s a very popular Japanese fashion brand known for lifewear and minimalistic designs.

Best places to thrift and buy souvenirs in Manila

As a place where haggling is a behavior encouraged (and praised) by locals, it’s no wonder Metro Manila is full of places where you can shop thrift.

Below are some of my favorite places:

Bring cash if you’re going to these places; many of them do not have credit card systems in place.

Divisoria

Location: Tondo, Manila City

Divisoria is the thrifting hotspot in the Metro. Locals usually go to Divisoria for clothing, food, and supplies, but when I say you can truly get what you want here, I mean it. Whether you’re looking for jewelry, clothes, or even small souvenirs and accessories, you can purchase them at an affordable price here—no bargaining necessary.

The only “downside” would be that it’s always congested. There are also some areas that are not air-conditioned. You really need to be the type to brave crowds if you’re going for a visit. 

If you’re not a local, I highly recommend taking one with you to negotiate with vendors as well (not that most of us can’t speak English).

Greenhills

Greenhills is an elevated version of Divisoria. The prices aren’t as cheap (still affordable compared to malls), but the shops/stalls are in air-conditioned buildings.

Greenhills has a mix of “the mall shops” and the “market/Divisoria shops.” It depends on what building you’re in. You don’t need to walk more than a street away to reach the neighboring mall. The place is just one big shopping center.

I personally frequent two buildings in particular: the actual “Shopping Center” (there’s a building that’s really called that) and the new GH Mall. GH Malls are for your mall/high-end needs, and the shopping center is for affordable goods and souvenirs (including food and snacks).

Greenhills is also the best place to go to if you’re looking for authentic yet affordable pearls. My mother takes foreign colleagues there all the time!

As a place near one of the business districts in Manila (Ortigas), Greenhills is also very accessible via most commute lines. Tourists could stay in a nearby Airbnb.

Cubao

Location: Quezon City (near EDSA road)

My sister is a Cubao homebody. If you’re looking to thrift for clothes specifically, Cubao has shops (locally called the ukay-ukays) where you can. It’s an area rather than a building or a district.

Here are a couple of ukay-ukay suggestions for a first-time visitor:

  • Desabel: Located on the first floor of the Opulent building, Desabel often surprises me with branded wear I actually like, such as Uniqlo. Their selection is diverse as well.
  • Sagada: Near Cubao McDonalds, Sagada is the destination for shoes. They even have sizes for those with gigantic feet like myself!
  • WCHA: Not every thriftier wants last season’s items, and WCHA stocks the latest goods. It’s a little more expensive than the other ukay-ukays in the area, but the stuff they sell is of mall quality without the added price tag. Totally worth it.

It’s also a local joke that if you find a ride to Cubao, you’ll arrive at your destination. It’s a central transportation hub for many lines, including trains, buses, and jeepneys. If you find a stop, there will almost always be a ride that goes straight to Cubao.

Airport Duty Free

Location: NAIA, Paranaque

Finally, there’s Duty Free—the mandatory last stop for every tourist in the country. Ours is looking to compete with malls in terms of size (4,500sqm). If you truly don’t want to spend hours walking through our malls and markets, then Duty Free is your friend.

There’s even an entire section (about 25% of the space) dedicated just to chocolate.

Great shopping districts in Manila

Aside from malls and dedicated shopping centers, we also have a couple of districts that every eager shopper should visit. People don’t really come into these places just to shop (as they’re more of hangouts or variety spots) but shopping is almost always an activity.

Bonifacio Global City

Location: Taguig City

Bonifacio Global City, locally called BGC, is technically a business district in Taguig. However, locals will 100% tell you to go there to shop. You’ll find the full mall/building list on BGC’s website, but I highly recommend a stop to the following:

  • Mitsukoshi
  • Bonifacio High Street
  • Market Market

First, who would I be if I didn’t direct every Japanese/hobby enthusiast to Mitsukoshi? From one of few bookstores in the country to stock all the manga and light novels, you want to go to the gigantic gachapon store on the top floor, what’s there not for someone like me to visit?

It also has an authentic macha shop on the ground floor. If you like the taste of REAL macha without the sugar (that most cafes trick you into thinking it is “real macha”), make that stop at The Matcha Tokyo on the ground floor.

Bonifacio High Street is like a condensed SM Megamall. It has most of the shops you might want to purchase from, such as a sports shop, a gadget zone, and known boutiques. Most of the time, people go to High Street to eat and stroll with their pets.

Finally, there’s Market Market. With such an on-the-nose name, it’s not hard to introduce what kind of shopping place it is. Think stalls of discounted goods (especially clothing) and really affordable jewelry. It’s a smaller version of Greenhills if that makes more sense.

Market Market is also a couple of blocks away from SM Aura, so you can absolutely make the stop to both.

Chinatown

Location: Binondo, Manila City

The Philippines is home to the oldest Chinatown in the world, which is located in the heart of Manila. Rather than a shopping district, it’s better to treat it like a small town. You can tour the area for destinations (like old churches), food trips, and, of course, shops.

If you’re here to shop, your first stop has to be Lucky Chinatown Mall. Developed by the same corporation that built Bonifacio Global City, it’s a dedicated shopping mall for pretty much everything. It feels like an SM (so a mix of boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment stops) but with added Chinese shops like the Dragon Phoenix (for feng shui).

The next stop is Ongpin Street. If you’re looking specifically for Chinese goods (such as medicine and charms), you’ll find them here. Ongpin is also known for its jewelry. Their designs are handcrafted, and most of them are worth it if the jewels are of your preference and if you’re willing to part with a larger sum than you would have expected. They’re authentic, after all!

A metropolis for shoppers everywhere

Metro Manila is a region obsessed with shopping, so you will always find a mall, market, or district that will satisfy your mood. 

Just remember to have cash with you whenever you venture out to do this activity. Not all shops support cards (debit or credit), and you’ll miss out on some truly amazing finds.

Plus, bargaining is the norm here. Foreigners should really shop with a local if they can, and locals should never be afraid to negotiate—especially if they buy in bulk.

Finally, don’t forget to wear something comfortable!