When visiting Manila you will be indulged in the
beautiful places and historical landmarks.
Where to stay...
HOTELS IN MANILA
Manila offers a wide range of accommodations ranging
from top-rated DeLuxe hotels to more affordable universal lodges. Most
of these accommodations are located within Roxas Boulevard overlooking
Manila Bay, or in the districts of Ermita and Malate. Manila's hotel
accommodations are 20 to 30 minutes away from the international and
domestic airport.
Victims of Martial
Law Memorial Wall - Bonifacio Shrine (near City Hall)
Where to
Dine...
If you are in Ermita and
Malate, start your search at the junction of Padre Faura Street and M.
Adriatico Street, where Kashmir and Kamayan
are located next to each other. The former serves Indian curries and the
latter traditional Filipino fare eaten with the hands. From here to Nakpil
Street and Remedios
Circle, the entire length of M. Adriatico is lined with eateries. On
the corner of Pedro Gil Street stands Robinson's
Place, which is packed with dining and drinking possibilities,
including the mall's own Food Court where you can feast inexpensively in
cool and comfortable surroundings.
Nakpil Street, formerly a wealthy residential
neighborhood, abounds with houses and apartment buildings that have been
converted into bars and restaurants. More than just purveyors of food,
these act as trendsetters of style. Bravo!
mixes fashion with a full menu of Italian dishes. Matina, a restaurant
cum art gallery, introduces you to imaginative fusion cuisine. Sala
offers contemporary European food in a very stylish setting. People's
Palace features tasty Thai food and tasteful minimalist decor. Casa
Armas draws in discriminating diners with its black paella and other
Spanish specialties. Episode Cafe, Three Amigos, Jazz
Rhythms, Insomnia, Kemistry, Politixx, Gotham and a dozen other
places lure the young sophisticates with a thematic decor and the added
attraction of live music, shows or dancing.
Another string of chic eateries can be found at
the crossing of Nakpil and Maria Orosa Street: Cafe
Caribana (Caribbean food), The
Golden Triangle (northern Thai), Pepe
& Pilar (Filipino with a modern twist), Garlic
Rose (everything is seasoned with the medicinal bulb),Cafe
Breton (coffee and crepes) and Batavia (novel varieties of coffee,
tea and cakes).
Around Remedios Circle, which is just a
couple of blocks south of Nakpil, the creations of Larry Cruz, arguably
Manilas most successful restaurateur, predominate, each with a theme of
its own. Cafe
Adriatico is known for Spanish-based Filipino food, Cafe
Adriatico 1900 for refined ambience, Cafe Havana for Cuban cooking
and a Hemingway-inspired cigar room, In the Mood for ballroom dancing,
Bistro Remedios for regional Filipino delicacies, and Larry's Bar as a
hangout of rich kids.
Guernicas
(traditional Spanish food), The
Red Crab (crabs and steaks), 604
Cafe Gallery (cafe-art gallery frequented by the bohemian set) and
the delightfully naughty Kink Cakes (the concoctions will make some
peoples eyes pop out) are also in the vicinity, as are The
Library (karaoke and stand-up comedy), The
Glasshouse (Asian-Italian fusion cuisine), Portico (continental
decor, same food as The Glasshouse) and Sidebar
(where upwardly mobile youth congregate to upbeat music).
Around the corner, on A. Mabini Street,
you will find a different set of places altogether, most notably the Hobbit
House (a throwback to the '60s, featuring live music) and the
Republic of Malate. The latter encompasses the Good Earth Tea Room
(contemporary Chinese cuisine), Survival Cafe (drinks with cigars,
billiards, or poetry reading) and the Republic Dance Club (a disco and
venue for concerts and plays).
Roxas bridge - formerly called Del Pan (San Nicolas to Port
Area)
Jones bridge (Binondo to Ermita)
McArthur bridge (Santa Cruz to Ermita)
LRT 1 (Carriedo station to Central station)
Quezon bridge (Quiapo to Ermita)
Ayala bridge (San Miguel to Ermita)
Mabini bridge - formerly called Nagtahan bridge (Santa Mesa
to Pandacan)
Philippine National Railways (Santa Mesa station to Pandacan
station)
Padre Zamora bridge (Santa Mesa to
Pandacan)
Lambingan bridge (Sta. Ana)
How to Get
There... Modes
of Transportation
The most common types of
public transportation are buses and the jeepney.
Tricycles
and Pedicabs
are used for short distances. In some areas, especially in Divisoria,
two stroke motors are fitted in the pedicabs and are used for goods
transport. There are also "Kalesa", a cart pulled by a horse
to move you around the different tour spots.
Manila is the hub of a
railway system on Luzon. The main terminal of the Philippine
National Railways is in the Tondo district. Railways extend from
this terminal north to the city of San
Fernando in Pampanga
and south to Legazpi
City in Albay,
though only the southern railway is currently in operation.
The City of Manila is
the chief seaport of the Philippines. North Harbor and South Harbor
experience busy periods during long holidays such as Holy
Week, All
Saints Day and the Christmas
holidays. The Port
of Manila serves the city's commercial needs, it also one of South
East Asia's more major ports.
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