A guide for a perfect Makati weekend

If you want to have a lavish staycation for the weekend, Makati is a great place to go. There's always something new to do, even for those who have lived there for years.

If you're planning to visit Makati this weekend and you’re looking for things to do or places to go in the Makati Central Business District, then you've come to the perfect place. Enjoy your visit to Makati City to the fullest with this guide!

Makati Travel Guide: Weekend Vacations

When is your next free weekend? Where do you plan to go? Maybe it’s time to finally check out the beautiful city of Makati!

Makati, located in Metro Manila, is one of the brightest and most prosperous cities in the Philippines. Some people even say that Makati is the best place to live. Why? It has an excellent array of experiences—from daytime leisure and fun activities to nightlife enjoyment—that make it well worth a visit. Makati City is home to some of the greatest dining establishments, the busiest nightlife and entertainment hubs, and the most opulent hotels the nation has to offer. Despite being a business zone, Makati is noted for its wide community of countries, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

What to do in Makati: Where to go in Makati City, Metro Manila

Museums, open parks, restaurants, cafes, malls, and bars—Makati City is surrounded by a wide variety of leisure areas, so it’s hard to run out of places to go and things to do. Whether you're into art, exercise, or even just great food or shopping, the central business district has plenty of unique places to keep you amused during your weekend trip.

Here are 5 things that you can do during your weekend staycation in Makati, as well as places you can go to for a more comprehensive guide to help you out.

Explore Museums

Do you love art? If you do, then you’ll definitely enjoy going to the magnificent museums that Makati has to offer! Makati is home to a number of museums and galleries featuring contemporary art if you like to take in a city's arts and culture scene, so make sure to add museum visits to your to-do list!

Here are a few museums and galleries you can go to:

• Yuchengco Museum: With the primary objective of promoting a broader public understanding of art through the best local and worldwide exhibits and activities related to culture, history, design, and the arts, the Yuchengco Museum first opened its doors to the public in September 2005. Experience the wonders of great artists' work by going to the Yuchengco Museum.
• Ayala Museum: These primary topics are the focus of the Ayala Museum collection: archeological, ethnographic, historical, fine arts, numismatics, and ecclesiastical. The artwork of this renowned museum highlights the history, habits, and heritage of the Filipino people. With fresh displays and encounters that ensure a wealth of narratives about what is distinctively Filipino, that will pique people's interest and move them.
• Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium: If you are one to watch plays, this is one of the best places for you to enjoy! The Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium is named after Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, the first and only Filipino to serve as President of the United Nations General Assembly. This multipurpose venue can host business events for various conferences, talks, and presentations, in addition to Broadway-style musicals, ballet, opera, theater, dance, and a lot more.

Stroll along the green spaces.

Just because it's nicknamed the "urban jungle" doesn't mean there aren't any patches of greenery to appreciate—in fact, there are still a lot of open green spaces to enjoy!

Here are a few of the well-liked green spaces:

• Ayala Triangle Gardens: The lush greenery at Ayala Triangle Gardens is now regarded as a haven from the hectic Makati lifestyle. The expansive greenery is pleasant for jogging, running, or just resting from the bustling life, and since restaurants opened, they are now home to beloved establishments. There are also Wi-fi hotspots available for staff and residents. It's a terrific area to take the family to appreciate nature on the weekends. It's also a fantastic place to take your family during the Christmas season, in addition to being a nice place for a date in Metro Manila.
• Washington SyCip Park: The sculptures by Impy Pilapil, the Koi Pond, the tall trees, and the piped-in music are the highlights of this secret park. Apart from an abundance of naturally occurring tropical trees and flora in Washington SyCip Park, it also features picnic areas and gazebos. Additionally, it is ideally situated close to the Asian Institute of Management, Union Church of Manila, Legazpi Active Park, and the Greenbelt shopping center.
• Salcedo Park: A travel recommendation for the weekend: Experience the sensory overload of the Salcedo Weekend Market in Makati at Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village! Jaime C. Velasquez Park, also known as Salcedo Park, gives you access to the visual arts, and if you’re more on the active side, you can visit the first concrete urban skate park that’s good for novice and pro skaters.

Go to shopping malls.

Among the best activities to do in Makati is shopping. It has gained recognition for its remarkable assortment of upscale shopping centers and boutiques that feature high-end local and global brands and local produce.

Take pleasure in some retail therapy as you explore some of Makati City's business districts.

• Greenbelt: The Greenbelt shopping center has a variety of upscale retail stores, eateries, facilities, entertainment, and leisure activities. This is a terrific area to explore Makati at night because it turns into an eating and entertainment hub at dusk, filled with live music from its restaurants, cafes, and bars.
• Glorietta: Just walking distance from Greenbelt Malls, Glorietta Mall is another Ayala Center mall that has restaurants and retail establishments from throughout the world. The first Glorietta Mall opened its doors in 1991 as an open park that was converted into a commercial complex. Since then, it has grown to become a well-known family-friendly destination for entertainment and shopping.
• Century City Mall: Century City Mall, also known as “The Mall of Modern Makati," is an amazing, top-notch retail and entertainment center, including the most state-of-the-art theaters in Metro Manila, in addition to a lively selection of stores, services, and restaurants. In short, it’s everything you need in one convenient location!

Food Trips

If you're looking to satisfy your appetite for delicious meals, this city has a lot to offer. There are a lot of must-try restaurants in Makati. Makati's diversified population makes it possible to enjoy a wide variety of cuisines, including Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Indian, and Italian.

Here, we’ll list a few high-rated places to go for a good meal.

• Little Tokyo: If you have a strong desire for Japanese cuisine, remember to visit Little Tokyo. It serves traditional Japanese food, including sushi, okonomiyaki, and takoyaki, which both Makati locals and visitors can't get enough of.
• Hole in the Wall: The upscale food court inside Century City Mall called the Hole in the Wall is one of the most popular locations when it comes to the food scene. Visitors come here to enjoy their meals in the 500-seat food hall and to observe the array of restaurants from which they can pick. Since each dining establishment at Hole in the Wall aims to showcase the greatest cuisine available only there, they may truly satisfy even the most sophisticated palate.

Enjoy the Makati nightlife.

Makati City's nightlife culture comes alive at dusk, enticing you to lose yourself in the loud music and partake in incredible party experiences. It has an eclectic vibe and plenty of late-night attractions for all types of nightowls, from elegant music lounges to vibrant clubs.

Check out some of the bars and Makati nightlife establishments to go to.

• Kampai: In the center of Poblacion, Kampai is an izakaya with a Japanese flair that serves a small but delectable menu of real Japanese food and house-made beverages. A laid-back vibe surrounds the place, providing opportunities for dancing on DJ nights or simply catching up over drinks with close friends.
• Penthouse 8747: The Penthouse 8747 is a sophisticated and traditional lounge that draws heavily from the art deco era, often known as the Great Gatsby era. The pub serves gourmet food, innovative cocktails, and an excellent selection of booze.
• Long Bar: Inspired by the original Long Bar at Raffles Singapore, Long Bar at Raffles Makati is a cozy and vibrant spot to sip on the Makati Luxury Sling, one of their signature drinks that features 24-karat gold flakes as the primary ingredient.
• Apotheka Manila: For the free, young, and wild, Apotheka is a sanctuary! This is a must-visit location if you're searching for places to go out in the city that have a big dance floor and an ambiance that makes you want to shake things up. Enjoy a drink with wild DJ sets and live music performances from neighborhood bands and musicians while dancing the night away.