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1. SM Mall of Asia
A sprawling supermall
SM Mall of Asia (simply known as âMOAâ by the locals) is the 4th-largest shopping mall in the Philippines, and the 11th-largest shopping mall in the entire world!
Located in Bay City, Pasay, MOA opened in 2006. At that point it was the 1st-largest shopping mall in the world. A large LED globe display on the roundabout welcomes shoppers to MOA when they arrive. MOA is a collection of four buildings joined together by walkways: the main mall (shopping and dining establishments), the entertainment mall (a 2-storey complex facing Manila Bay), and the North and South Parking Buildings (together they have 5,000 parking spaces).
The store selection is similar to that found in most SM Supermalls, but MOAâs main attraction is its cinemas! MOA is the first mall in the Philippines to feature an IMAX Theaterâand itâs one of the largest IMAX Theaters in the world. The array of cinemas also includes the Directorâs Club (an exclusive theater with 30 La-Z Boy chairs) the Premiere Cinema, and the CenterStage Cinema (used for live performances and concerts). Apart from these special theaters, MOA also houses 6 regular cinemas.
MOA is so much more than a mall. Besides stores and cinemas, it features:
- An Olympic-sized ice-skating rinkâthe biggest in all of Southeast Asia. It accommodates both competitive and recreational ice skating, plus ice hockey. In 2007 it was even the venue for Skate Asia.
- Concert grounds
- A ferris wheel called âThe Mall of Asia Eyeâ
- One Esplanade (a party and event venue)
- An indoor arena called âThe Mall of Asia Arenaâ with a whopping capacity of 20,000âitâs sometimes used as the venue for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
- EXPLOREUM Science Center, the first center of its kind in the world. EXPLOREUM features a digital planetarium and a diverse range of exhibits in the field of science and technology.
- SMX Convention Centerâthe countryâs largest privately run exhibition and convention center with a 6,000 seating capacity.
SM Mall of Asia on TripAdvisor
2. SM Megamall
The fourth-largest mall in the world
SM Megamall is located in the Ortigas business district of Metro Manila, in Mandaluyong City. SM Megamall consists of 5 shopping buildings: Building A, Building B, Building C, Mega Atrium, and Mega Fashion Mall (Mega D). If that sounds massive compared to the malls youâre used to, thatâs because it is! The supermall is the second-largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the fourth largest in the entire world, occupying a land area of approximately 10 hectares (5,451,220 sq ft).
SM Megamall opened its doors in 1991 and went down in history for having the first ice skating rink in a mall. In 2009, the skating rink was removed (oh no!) but then 5 years later it was rebuilt (hooray!).
SM Megamallâs Building A features cinemas, a food court, Toy Kingdom, and other anchor stores. Building B is home to the SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, and Cyberzone. The Mega Fashion Mall (Mega D) is a high-end area that features an IMAX theater, The Directorâs Club Theater, and the ice skating rink.
The Mega Atrium bridges the gap between Building A and B, featuring more restaurants and shops and event venues. Building C, on the other hand, contains office spaces, transport terminal, and offices for the Department of Foreign Affairs. SM Megamall truly has a bit of everything.
3. Greenbelt
High-end shopping
Owned by Ayala Malls, Greenbelt is a shopping mall found at Ayala Center, Makati City. Greenbelt consists of 5 shopping areas (Greenbelt 1 to 5) filled with a mix of high-end retail shops, leisure and entertainment centers, and restaurants.
If youâre looking for supply and appliance stores, then Greenbelt 1 is the place to go. If you wish to go the cinemas, then head to Greenbelt 3âwhich also features international stores, like Topman, Hermes, Kate Spade, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, and Topshop. At Greenbelt 4, you will find high-end boutiques, like Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, and Todâs. Greenbelt 5, on the other hand, features high-end Filipino designers, Adora, and more international brands.
Greenbelt offers a wide range of restaurants in 1, 2, 3, and 5. While Greenbelt 1 is more concentrated on fast food restaurants, the rest offer sit-down restaurants.
Greenbelt is like a mall within a garden, and as you wander through youâll notice the outdoor and indoor scenery seamlessly blending. The mall has earned numerous awards, including the International Design and Development Award (ICSC Center Build, 2004) and Best Shopping Center of the Year (Philippines Retailerâs Association and Department of Trade & Industry, 2004).
4. Glorietta
A popular mall with a colourful history
This huge shopping mall, operated by the Ayala Corporation, is located in the Ayala Center, Makati. Split into 5 sections (Glorietta 1-5), Glorietta has a wide selection of shops, restaurants, cinemas, arcades, a gym, and much more.
Glorietta 1 through 4 are also linked to nearby malls, such as Greenbelt, The Landmark, and Rustanâs Makati. Glorietta 5 is separated, located beside Rustanâs Department Store.
This mall has an unfortunate history of scary incidentsâan explosion in 2000, a bombing in 2005, and another explosion as well as a fire in 2007. However, the mall is still popular and thriving because of its accessibility, convenience, and plentiful features. Itâs also been awarded Shopping Center of the Year by the Philippine Retailerâs Association in 2002 and the Department of Trade & Industry in 2004. Definitely worth a visit if you want to do some shopping in Manila!
5. SM City Santa Mesa
A small, cozy, one-stop mall
If youâre tired of overwhelming megamalls and looking for something smaller and cozy (that still meets all your shopping needs!) then SM City Santa Mesa is your best bet. With a land area of just 3 hectares and nothing but one main mall and a four-storey carpark building, this mall is tiny relative to the others on this list. Itâs easy to navigate when youâre shopping in Manila and need to find something in a hurry.
Even though itâs a small mall, SM City Sta Mesa is not lacking in selection. It has a department store, an IT center, beauty and health stores, boutiques, restaurants, a food court, arcades, appliance and hardware stores, a supermarket, and cinemas. The mallâs layout is basic, you could know it by heart in a few visits.
The mall opened its doors in 1990 and was formerly called SM Centerpoint because itâs so close to the tripoint of Manila City, Quezon City, and San Juan City. This is a very prime location for your one-stop shopping in Manila. The name was changed to SM City Santa Mesa on its 15th anniversary.
SM City Santa Mesa on TripAdvisor
6. SM City North EDSA
The largest mall in the Philippines
SM City North EDSAÂ is the largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the third largest in the world, with a total retail area of 5,360,000 sq ft. The mall is located at the intersection of North Avenue and EDSA. Itâs an eco-friendly shoping destination: SM City North EDSA has been named the largest solar-powered shopping mall in Southeast Asia for its installation of 5,760 solar panels.
SM City North EDSA is basically a huge complex of shopping in Manila, with 9 parts. The most notable ones, however, are:
- The City Center â the main building containing the main anchors, like the SM Store and SM Supermarket, SM Foodcourt, and a Cineplex (with the Philippinesâ second-ever IMAX Theate!)
- Interior Zone (Annex I) â the Car Park Plaza, and home to the solar power plant
- The Annex (Annex 2) â high-end retail stores, a bowling center, a Cyberzone, a game arcade, and specialty restaurants
- The Block (Annex 3) â 5 storeys of high-digital cinemas, retail shops and restaurants, SM Hypermarket, and a courtyard for events and product launches
- Sky Garden -an elevated park with a simulated river and waterfalls, restaurants, and the Sky Dome, 1,500-seater events venue.
SM City North EDSA on TripAdvisor
7. TriNoma
Alfresco style, gardens, and water features
TriNoma is a direct competitor of SM City North EDSA, as the two malls are standing right next to each other and connected by an overpass. The mall is located beside EDSA and connected to the North Avenue MRT Station.
TriNoma is on a 20-hectare parcel of land and has a gross leasable area of 195,000 square metersâwhich includes the mallâs major anchor, The Landmark Supermarket and Department Store. It opened in October of 2007, costing 3.5 billion pesos.
Consisting of four levels, TriNoma is known for its alfresco zones incorporated with water features and lovely landscaped gardens at the mallâs rooftop park. The TriNoma Park is also lined with specialty restaurants and linked to the mallâs 3rd floor.
8. Shangri-La Plaza
Upscale luxury shopping
Shangri-La Plaza is owned and operated by the Kuok Group of Companies, the same owner of the worldwide chain of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. This mall is found along Shaw Boulevard in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, near SM Megamall.
Shangri-La Plaza has five sections. The Main Mall has 6 levels and a basement filled with a great variety of shops and restaurantsâboth local and international. The basement consists of the Garden Food Court that is lined with fast-food chains, the Rustanâs Fresh Supermarket and the Technohub. The sixth floor of the mall has a bookstore and 5 state-of-the-art cinemas, where the annual CinEurope Film Festivel is held. The Main Mall also features the Rustanâs Department Storeâa four-level luxury department store crammed with high-end brands.
Shangri-laâs East Wing was recently opened in 2013. Connecting to the main mall, the East Wing is an expansion of more upscale boutiques, retail chains, and restaurants that has added a lot to the scene for shopping in Manila.
The North Wing of the mall is connected to the Main Mall and the East Wing, and is also called the multi-deck parking area. The North Wing has bars, salons, and restaurants and a retail strip composed of banks, service shops, convenience stores and drugstores.
The Shangri-la Plaza is the best place to go if you desire a more laid-back and relaxed shopping and dining experience. The place is pretty calming and quiet, a total opposite to the relatively loud, crowded, and noisy SM Supermalls.
Shangri-La Plaza on TripAdvisor
9. Gateway
âLike no other mall in the worldâ
Gateway Mall is a shopping complex found in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. Gateway was recognized by the Philippine Retailers Association as the âShopping Center of the Yearâ in booth 2006 and 2007. It was also a Merit Awardee on the International Council of Shopping Centersâ 30th Innovative Design and Development Awards, and a finalist in the Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence 2008. Clearly this destination for shopping in Manila has something good going on!
Gateway is connected with the LRT Cubao (Araneta Center) Station by a direct passageway. Gatewayâs features include the Rustanâs Department Store, Rustanâs Supermarket, Food Express food court, and Gateway Cineplex 10 (the first mall cinema to ever have a La-Z Boy Theater), and the largest branch of National Bookstore (5 levels of books, office, and school supplies!).
Gateway is also linked to the Araneta Coliseum (âThe Big Domeâ)âan indoor multi-purpose sports arena and one of the largest indoor arenas in Asia. Another feature of the shopping complex is The Gateway Tower, a 6-storey office building that features a two-level H&M Store.
10. Robinsons Magnolia
A spacious, elegant mall
Robinsons Magnolia is a relatively new shopping mall that opened in 2012 along Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City. The space was formerly the Magnolia Ice Cream production plant. Now the mall is frequented by celebrities because of its privacy and prestigeâitâs not too crowded and most of the shoppers belong to the upper class.
The multi-storey shopping mall has a rich variety of shops and dining experiences. Fashionistas will be love the selection of international brands, like Topshop/Topman, Lacoste, Perry Ellis, Nine West, and Steve Madden. Popular local retailers are also found in the mall, so you get the full experience of shopping in Manila.
Robinsons Magnolia also features a unique food court experience: the stalls are island-style with open kitchens. For restaurant dining, you will be delighted by the four-level alfresco area overlooking a lush garden with water features, Starbucks, and the Magnolia Ice Cream Shop. As well as a lush foodcourt, Robinsons Magnolia offers babycare facilities, valet service, a monitored taxi service, and a concierge facility.
The mall also has a Cineplex, but be warned â there are no bathrooms inside, so if you have to go during your film youâll have to walk all the way out into the mall. Skip the large soda!
Robinsons Magnolia on TripAdvisor
11. Greenhills Shopping Center
Shoppersâ paradise
Greenhills arguably offers the best shopping in Manila. If you live to shop, then youâll never need another mall.
Located in the tiny city of San Juan, Greenhills first emerged in the country in 1970s as a collection of multiple shopping malls. The complex was redeveloped throughout the years and now has an exciting and richly diverse mix of shopping and dining experiences. From bargain stalls to upscale designer brands, from cheap snacks to high-end restaurants: everything you need can be found in Greenhills. The center is a sprawling, elegant, and modern complex. Arcades, world-class cinemas, a music museum, an indie theater mall, IT and cellphone centers, salons, cafes combine for a heady mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The mall itself is a tourist destination, world-renowned for its bargain shopsâaround 2,000 entrepreneurs with stalls and shops ranging from furniture to clothing. Greenhills also has a Pearl Center, where about 90 percent of all the South Sea pearls are traded.
Greenhills Shopping Center on TripAdvisor
Helpful articles and blog posts on shopping in Manila:
We only recommend writers and blogs that we read regularly and believe will deliver substantial value to our readers. The following are our top picks of articles we think are worth reading for reviews on some of the spots for shopping in Manila on our list.
- Trinoma Merry Musical Lights Show â by Out of Town Blog
- My First PyroMusical Experience; Fireworks Photography Tips â by Ambot-ah!
- You havenât been to Manila until youâve been to Greenhills! â by Todayâs Thoughts, Tomorrows Hopes
- JustâŠWow: The Robinsons Magnolia Mall in Quezon City â by Glimpses and Glances
- Restaurants in Mega Fashion Hall â by Pinas Muna
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About the author
Stephanie Mayo is from Manila, Philippines. When she isnât writing awesome articles for Mad Monkey Hostels, she enjoys traveling, photography, and movies.