City of Manila Shopping

Manila isn't really a shopping destination but offers fairly decent shopping nonetheless. Visitors will notice armed security guards keeping homeless out of aircon malls, banks and even burger bars.

Up-market malls like Glorietta 4, Greenbelt, Town Centre, Powerplant, and Podium carry a multitude of designer boutiques. Other notable shopping malls are the SM and Robinson's Malls dotted around the capital.

There are literally tons of shops in Greenhills Shopping Centre, a popular mall-cum-flea market complex just a short drive from the Ortigas Centre business district. Shops here offer a plethora of computers, jewellery, and clothes. Araneta Centre in Cubao though not as fashionable gives a glimpse of how shopping destinations looked like in Manila before gigantic malls took over the scene. The shops there, though, might be of more interest to locals.

The wholesale/retail market of Divisoria is without doubt THE place for bargains. Divisoria is crowded with shops selling clothes, fabrics, toys, kitchen ware, home décor and almost everything else. Tutuban Centre Mall in the heart of Divisoria is definitely not run-of-the-mill as it was converted from a turn-of-the-century train station. Wrought-iron columns and lattice work, and red brick masonry give it a unique air, at least on the outside. Inside, the mall carries just the usual shops. The neighbouring multi-storey 'cluster' malls are a dizzying maze of small shops where one can haggle.

Nearby Ilaya and Tabora streets are what locals call the 'real' Divisoria. The markets and stalls here are for the more adventurous shoppers. Most stalls have illegally encroached on the sidewalks and streets and duty inspections by patrols are an amusing highlight of the day, with vendors packing up in less than a minute, leaving the formerly jam-packed street almost deserted. The place is littered, crowded and frequently foul-smelling, but if you're a shopper who enjoys dirt-cheap bargains, this is for you. However, it's best to shop in Divisoria with a local who knows the place, otherwise you'd end up lost and almost surely gypped.

Quiapo is another local bargain centre with relatively cleaner and more organised street markets, particularly along Carriedo, Villalobos and Hidalgo streets. Wares are similar to those in Divisoria, but you can take in a little whiff of the old Manila atmosphere while you're there as it's in one of the city's oldest shopping districts. The place is also known for its bargain electronic parts and systems, and for local handicrafts which are sold in shops under the nearby bridge. Again, best shop here with a local.

Note: security is an issue. On the streets travellers will need to keep their wits about them, Metro Manila is notorious for crime - particularly pick pocketing.

City of Manila Shopping

Visiting City of Manila?

Visiting City of Manila?