A New Wave of Culture and Cuisine in Manila, Philippines

Explore Manila’s Pasig River Esplanade and Arroceros Forest Park, along with Makati in Metro Manila, and discover recommended cultural spaces and hotels.

Words Hur Taewoo
Photos Park Shinwoo

A Dialogue Between Skyscrapers and Nature
The Pasig River, flowing just north of Intramuros, cuts across Manila from east to west. Once a vital trade route, the river inevitably deteriorated amid rapid urbanization. To reverse this, the Philippine government has carried out decades of environmental cleanup efforts since the 1990s, and is now pursuing an even more ambitious initiative: The Pasig River Project. This undertaking aims to develop riverside walkways, bike paths, and public spaces, transforming the Pasig River into a hub of daily life and tourism in Manila. The Pasig River Esplanade, unveiled in late 2025, is one result of this effort. Stretching from Intramuros through the Manila Central Post Office to Arroceros Forest Park, the riverside path features walkways and bike lanes, with streetlamps, railings, and bridges designed in a neoclassical style. Thanks to this, the riverside scenery harmonizes with the architecture of the old town, completing the overall aesthetic.

Arroceros Forest Park, located at the end of the esplanade, is nicknamed “Manila's Last Lung.” Spanning just over two hectares, it isn't large, but it serves as a haven where visitors can rest beneath tree shade and listen to birdsong in the midst of a dense downtown. Entering through the guarded entrance feels like stepping into a protruding pocket of tropical forest. More than 3,000 trees—including mahogany, acacia, and banyan—crowd the park so densely they block out even the sunlight trying to filter through. The walkways, carefully maintained to avoid damaging the forest, even include a short skywalk, offering visitors the pleasure of observing the forest's ecology. Office workers quietly reading books on benches during lunch breaks, and students learning about the forest's ecosystem, are common sights.
This modern urban vision of weaving nature into everyday spaces can be experienced once again in the Makati CBD of Metro Manila. Here, Ayala Triangle Garden functions like a green buffer zone surrounded by high-rise buildings. In this park—where lawns, trees, walking paths, public art, and restaurants all come together—locals and travelers naturally share in daily life. Mornings draw those who come to exercise, afternoons bring office workers passing through, and evenings bring the restaurant district to life. A ten-minute walk from here stands Greenbelt, a garden-style mixed-use shopping mall that combines greenery and consumer culture in an even more sophisticated way. Spanning several hectares with 2.8 hectares of gardens, Greenbelt seamlessly connects shopping malls, parks, dining establishments, and cultural spaces. The mall, where the dazzling storefronts of global luxury brands meet lush greenery, feels like a commercial advertisement come to life. The central garden, Greenbelt Park, is even home to the concrete-domed Greenbelt Chapel, creating a unique structure where a religious sanctuary sits at the heart of a commercial space. In the midst of Manila's rapid transformation, these spaces prove why a city needs room to breathe.

Arroceros Forest Park : arrocerosforestparkofficial
Ayala Triangle Garden : www.ayalatriangle.com/gardens

To See

Ayala Museum
Ayala Museum
Ayala Museum is a private museum connected to Makati's Greenbelt. Operated by the Ayala Foundation, its founding was proposed in the 1950s by Filipino abstract painter Fernando Zóbel de Ayala. After first opening on Ayala Avenue in 1967, the museum relocated in 2004 to its current six-story modern building. The quality of the museum's collection, covering Philippine history, archaeology, and craftsmanship, exceeds expectations. The exhibition design, which incorporates augmented reality technology, is another compelling element. The most striking feature is a series of 60 dioramas depicting major events in Philippine history. Created through the collaborative effort of the museum's historians, curators, artists, and woodcarving artisans from Paete in Laguna province, this work has become the museum's signature exhibit since it was first unveiled 50 years ago. Also notable is the “Gold of Ancestors” exhibit, showcasing pre-Spanish Philippine goldwork artifacts that reveal the pinnacle of delicate craftsmanship.

Admission 650 pesos, www.ayalamuseum.org

HUB Make Lab
HUB Make Lab, located on Escolta Street in Manila, is a local cultural complex. Escolta was once a thriving commercial district before Makati's development, home to department stores, shops, banks, and the stock exchange. HUB Make Lab occupies the First United Building, a department store completed on Escolta in 1928, reviving the shuttered store as a space for creators. It is run together by Roberto, son of the building's original owner Sy Lian Teng, along with Roberto's wife Lorraine Young and their son Robby. Lorraine explains the reason behind starting HUB Make Lab: “My daughter, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, told me, ‘Mom, if you create a space for artists to gather, you can bring the street back to life.’” On the mezzanine level of the building (between the first and second floors), they've also created a small community museum. It's a space dedicated to honoring the Sy Lian Teng family, who acquired the building after World War II. Based on Teng's photographs and archives, the museum displays office equipment, household items, and furniture, connecting the commercial heritage of the past with the experimental cultural space of the present.

thehubmakelab

To Stay

The Manila Hotel
Situated between Manila Bay and Rizal Park, this is the Philippines' quintessential heritage hotel. It officially opened on July 4, 1912, and has represented Manila's modern era and high society culture ever since. Politicians, diplomats, and artists from both the Philippines and abroad have stayed here, and thanks to its location right next to Intramuros, it's also a frequent stop for travelers. The moment you step into the grand lobby, with its high ceilings, chandeliers, and antique furnishings, you can feel the hotel's history and character. It features over 500 rooms, a large ballroom, a spa and pool, and even its own museum.

From 7,000 pesos per night, www.manila-hotel.com.ph

Solaire Resort Entertainment City
A leading force behind Manila's upscale hospitality culture, this resort sits within a large-scale entertainment district in Metro Manila led by the Philippine government. Spanning 8.3 hectares, the site houses not only hotels but also restaurants, a luxury shopping mall, and a large performance venue, along with an impressive art collection displayed throughout the resort. Among its accommodations, Sky Tower is the signature hotel, offering suite-centric rooms with views of Manila Bay. It has its own dedicated reception and elevators, and has earned five stars from Forbes Travel Guide for ten consecutive years.

From 22,000 pesos per night, sec.solaireresort.com