When I told my friends I was going to Manila for a holiday, they all assumed I was going to be relaxing on a beach, enjoying a slower pace of life on an island, leisurely sipping on a mango cocktail somewhere while listening to waves crashing with my toes in the sand. That mental image couldn’t be further from the truth. Manila, with its towering skylines and cityscapes in every suburb, is more hustle and bustle than tropical holiday. Being back in Manila reminded me of living in New York City; the streets were busy all hours of the day, people walking rapidly rushing from destination to destination, and there’s this energy of constant buzz. It doesn’t stop. But that’s to be expected in a city such as Metro Manila with more than 14 million residents.
Manila recommendations
Fashion
From Vogue Philippines consistently producing covers that honour the culture while pushing the boundaries of what a fashion magazine can be, to designers such as Monique Lhuillier, there is no doubt Filipino fashion can hold its own on a global stage. [It] cannot be boxed into a singular style or look.
I tried to find the common denominator to how people dressed. I thought it would be heavily influenced by the humid weather but I saw people in cardigans in the mall. What I did find out, though, is how big the mall culture is. Designer brands such as Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Prada, Hermès, Fendi, Dior and Loewe have huge stores in several malls — [all] in walking distance from one another. I noticed mid-range brands such as Massimo Dutti, and heritage brands such as GAP were so accessible — I was overwhelmed by the four-level Uniqlo stores. I loved browsing local brands such as Rajo [Laurel], Vania Romoff, and handcrafted bag brand Aranaz.
Beauty
K-beauty has taken over our skincare shelves, we now know just how incredible a Japanese Head Spa is, and I think it’s about time Filipino beauty entered the race. Business of Fashion recently did a piece on Filipino beauty brands being the next big thing and now that I’ve experienced it for myself, I can confidently say that the beauty brands emerging from the Philippines deserve the spotlight.
One of the pioneers for putting Filipino beauty on the map is Sunnies Face. A brand that started with beauty that has now expanded into eyewear, drink bottles, and even coffee. I visited two of the Sunnies Face stores in Manila and was impressed by the design! Each store has its own unique look and feel, which is unsurprising given their co-founder and creative director Martine Ho’s background.
It’s the products that truly stand out though. Affordable cosmetics with quality comparable to higher-end brands with a cult following.
Food
I couldn’t talk about Manila without mentioning the food. Mangoes are aplenty and so are the Michelin-awarded restaurants. Coffee and matcha are huge priorities, with coffee shops everywhere I looked — a lot of them are open 24 hours too and seeing people order coffee at 10pm was a common occurrence.
Manila also places a huge importance on aesthetics and most places are built to be shared on social media. My favourite meal from this trip was at a place called Palm Grill. A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, Palm Grill serves authentic southern Mindanao cuisine. I had this incredible seafood dish, which was similar to a seafood boil but the flavours were unlike anything I’ve tried before!
Manila really does surprise you with the plethora of cuisine available. Oh, and order the calamansi juice from literally anywhere in Manila. It’s like a lemonade but so much better.
Culture
It’s no surprise Filipino culture is centered around entertainment when a typical household in Manila comes equipped with a karaoke machine — even my own family were gathered at a table singing songs on a Monday afternoon. Local theatre is thriving, live gigs are packed, and TV shows and movies created in Manila have found their way to Netflix and streaming services.
Manila has done a great job preserving its history with Intramuros, the historic walled city and oldest district in Manila. There’s even a living museum called Casa Manila, which captures the opulence of that time, to tour and explore — I loved the architecture.
I spent a week in Manila rediscovering the streets I grew up on, looking up at that unmistakable skyline, sipping mango shakes, with my skin dewy from the heat and humidity. At times, the city can seem overwhelming due to its fast pace, but once you experience the world-famous Filipino hospitality and warmth of the people, you’ll find it will quickly start feeling like home.
This article originally appeared in the Spring ’26 issue of Fashion Quarterly.
Imagery: supplied.
