Ultimate Guide to Manila
Google Maps Link - IMOL recommended hotels, bars, restaurants and points of interest.
Philippines E Travel registration
MANILA IMOL RANKINGS
Difficulty Level 5/10
GFE Level 8/10*
Concerns: Airport chaos, traffic jams, hustlers
Why we go there: Hook into the right situation and Manila can change your life.
Introduction
Manila can feel overwhelming at first — with over 15 million residents, chaotic surface street traffic, and an international airport often ranked among Asia’s worst (though still arguably better than JFK or LAX).
But it can also deliver one of the most unforgettable weekends of your life. Our group as a collective has taken hundreds of trips into Manila, and we've built a deep well of do’s and don’ts to help you navigate the city smoothly and stress-free.
Given Manila’s size and complexity, trying to cover every district, hotel, attraction, and entertainment spot would be overwhelming. So instead, we’ve streamlined this guide into a simple, point-and-click format to help you navigate the essentials quickly and easily.
As mentioned in the video, the Grab app is essential for transportation in and around Manila.
Makati City
Makati is a great base for first-time visitors—it’s modern, convenient, and filled with a mix of local charm and cosmopolitan energy. It is one of the most prominent and developed areas within Metro Manila, often considered the financial and business heart of the Philippines. Here’s a quick overview:
Key Highlights of Makati City:
The Makati Central Business District (CBD) is a bustling area filled with office towers, upscale condos, and luxury malls.
Major malls like Greenbelt, Glorietta, and Power Plant Mall offer everything from high-end fashion to local crafts and global cuisine.
Makati has a thriving food scene, ranging from street eats in Poblacion to fine dining in the CBD.
Poblacion, an old neighborhood in Makati, has transformed into a hip nightlife spot with rooftop bars, speakeasies, art spaces, and indie restaurants.
Art galleries, museums (like the Ayala Museum), and theaters are also part of Makati’s cultural mix.
Makati is one of the more walkable and secure areas in Metro Manila, especially in the CBD.
P. Burgos street offers 🚨 opportunities
Like the rest of Manila, Makati suffers from heavy traffic, especially during rush hour. Grab (ride-hailing app) is a must have here.
Lodging in Manila
This is a short list but these hotels are tried and true. Guest friendly, great service, nice rooms and no bullshit.
City Garden Grand Hotel - Makati
I’m Hotel - Makati
New Coast Hotel Ermita - LA Cafe
Hotel 1898 - Disclaimer, we’ve never stayed here but the reviews are good.
Restaurants
Tíabuela Cocina Española - located inside Hotel 1898.
The Filing Station - 1950’s American diner on steroids
Jose Cuervo Cantina - Mexican food and drinks
Firefly - Rooftop restaurant and bar located at City Garden Grand
The Penthouse - ridiculous views from this rooftop restaurant / bar.
Entertainment options:
It’s a Friday night, what’s a young man to do?
XYLO Palace Club - dress to impress and bring your wallet.
Grab a chair at one of the outside tables at Cafe Cubano in Makati and survey the freelancers as they walk past.
Head to Midnight Haven (LA Cafe) and enjoy a cold beer, watch some sports and intermingle with the freelance girls
Turn on the dating app and start browsing through 1000’s of profiles. Make sure to vet any potential “dates” via video call.
Get jacked up on margaritas and tequila shots with the waitstaff at Cuervo Cantina in Makati
Sponsor a round of midget boxing at Ringside - make sure you know the cost of everything before ordering.. pricing varies.
Explore the clubs and restaurants in the BGC District
Jump into a Bolt and head off to Pegasus for Karaoke - read more below
Finding a girlfriend in Manila
The Philippines is probably the number one destination on the planet for finding a solid girlfriend. A lot of guys look to Manila sheerly due to the numbers. 15.6 million people here and 60% of them are women. It’s no secret that many of them gravitate towards us foreign guys.
Finding a freelance girl to have a few hours of fun with is one thing, but finding a girl who wants to provide a GFE and more… that can be a bit more complicated.
Most guys head straight to the dating apps and they’re not wrong. The Filipino dating apps are filled to the brim with very active girls looking for the perfect foreign boyfriend. Unfortunately they are also populated with scam artists and money whores. The message boards are filled with guys complaining about girls who never show up, broken Western Union promises, bait and switch etc, etc, etc. These issues are less common in the Philippines than Latin America but it does happen.
Thankfully the scams are usually very easy to spot and easily avoidable. Follow these simple guidelines and you’ll quickly filter out the bullshit and find lots of normal girls.
Never send money to anyone you have not physically met. No Honey No Money
Move all conversations off of the dating platform and over to WhatsApp / Line / Viber - stalk those status updates and profile pics for anything out of the normal - Russian boyfriend in the background.
Video chat to confirm what she actually looks like without the photo filter.
Try to find girls who have a job or education listed in their profile. The job may become problematic down the road due to her limited time off but you can broach that subject at a later date.
Don’t lie. Be completely honest about your situation and your status.
As with any Asian country, go with the flow. The girls here have a completely different vibe than the girls back home. At times they can come off as being timid and then two seconds later they are forward and blunt. This is a cultural thing amongst the Filipinos and it can take a minute to get used to.
Be warned, they love to talk and will absolutely blow your phone up at all hours.
Inevitably you will read about the “art” of picking up girls at the mall (by the way Greenbelt 3 and Mall of Asia are incredible). Forum trolls love to post these fables about pulling hot girls from the Starbucks. It’s a lie and a complete waste of time. You’ll look like a creepy pedophile sipping on that latte while scanning for women. It should also be noted that Filipino women tend to be shy and they are usually walking around the mall with their friends and or family in tow. This is not the time to try and get digits.
Overly friendly waitresses, bartenders or hotel staff - that’s a different story.
Freelancers, bargirls and ladyboys.
The red light districts in Manila have a much different vibe than those of Angeles City, Sabang or Pattaya. They tend to draw a grittier more feral selection of freelancers. In other words, you're not going to find your next girlfriend roaming around P Burgos street. Most of the freelancers on that street are of the high milage variety with a lot of ladyboy imposters mixed in.
As always an ounce of prevention will go a long ways. Chica proof the hotel room and make sure all financial agreements are confirmed before pulling trigger.
*Most Filipino girls are extremely trustworthy but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
LA Cafe
LA Cafe ( Midnight Haven) is probably the best option in Manila for anyone looking for companionship. It’s basically a sports bar which has gained a giant following with local girls looking to make some extra money. Go in during the evening hours, it’s pretty rare for anyone to leave empty handed.
Prices are all negotiable and handled directly with the girls.
Pegasus
Pegasus is a karaoke bar / brothel located about 30 minutes (depending on traffic) from Makati. Upscale atmosphere and lots of beautiful girls. The drawback, this place isn’t cheap and they don’t encourage the “just looking, not buying” crowd. You’ll be expected to buy food and drinks upon entry. The girls cost between 7-10k pesos including room fee.
XYLO
The Palace is one of the largest entertainment complexes in Manila. Clubs, bars and restaurants. XYLO is the main club and attracts a boat load of freelancers on the weekends. Quick facts, this is a late night venue, there is a dress code, drinks are not cheap. Tip the security guys and tell them what you are looking for in terms of new girlfriend. You’ll have a great night.
The Intramuros
Intramuros is significant as the historical center of Manila and a living testament to the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. It served as the seat of government, a center for religious institutions, and a vital educational hub. The walled city's well-preserved architecture, including Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church, attracts tourists and provides a glimpse into the country's colonial past.
This is a great area to stroll around, take in the Spanish architecture and visit the WW2 fortifications. Cafes, restaurants and small pubs can also be found in this district.
Conclusions
Most of us use Manila as an entry / exit point for exploring the rest of the Philippines and Asia. Using the 3 day rule works best = three days in Manila and then move on to greener pastures.
If you are looking for a weekend of partying - go to Angeles City. If you want a beach holiday - Sabang, Boracay, Alona Beach or Coron. If you are looking to wife up - head to Cebu and use that dating app.
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offer lots of direct flights to all of these locations. Book directly from the airline website for best prices and flexibility.
The surprisingly easy technique of getting a bar girls phone number….