It’s hard to believe, but it’s T-minus 3 months until I leave Manila for good. As one of my parting gifts to you, my loyal blog readers, I’d like to bestow upon you a list of my Manila faves. You never know when you’ll be moving to or visiting the Philippines! I hope you find it helpful.
Food
Best Overall/Best Thai/Best Ambiance = People’s Palace
Best American Breakfast = Apartment 1B
Best Sunday Buffet = Spiral at Sofitel (12 to 2 PM on Sundays, around P2500 per person, includes champagne)
Best Unique Buffet = Sunday Crossover Brunch at the Dusit Thani
(11:30 to 3 PM on Sundays)
Best Place to enjoy a Glass of Wine Outside = M Café
Best Special Occasion Place = Nuvo
Best Gelato = Gelatissimo
Best Indian Cuisine = Queens at Bollywood
Best Mediterranean Cuisine = Cyma
Best Mexican = Ristras (They serve a Chipotle-like Burrito that’s quite good)
Best Casual American Cuisine = Chelsea
Best High Tea = Shangri-la Makati (High Tea everyday from 2-5 PM)
Best Pizza = Yellow Cab
Best Latte = Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Best Vegetarian = Corner Tree Cafe
Services
Best Hair Cut = Ron Galvez at Henri Calayag Salon Makati
Address: G/F The Residences at Greenbelt (TRAG), Esperanza Street, Ayala Center, Makati City. Contact: 799-1495/491-4596; (0920) 918-1880; henricalayag_salon@yahoo.com. Operating Hours: Daily from 10AM to 8PM (except holidays).
Best Eyebrow Threading = Grace at the Greenbelt 5 Browhaus
Best Massage Therapists = Neo Spa (Favorite Massages, in order: 1. Lymphatic Drainage, 2. Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, 3. Seashell Massage)
Best Spa Ambiance = The Spa in Greenbelt 1 (Favorite Massages, in order: 1. Twin Massage, 2. Hilot Massage, 3. Shiatsu Massage)
Best Facial = Coras Derm Centre
Address: 111 Paseo de Roxas, Legaspi Village, Makati City.
Contact: 02 893 6786 or Mobile: 0917 544 4561
Best Tailor for alterations and Everyday Clothing = Carmen Buniel
Contact: 0918 934 4540. Email: carmen_buniel@operamail.com.
Best Ball Gown Designer = Frankie
Contact: 0917 399 9828
Best Slipcover Maker = Mita
Contact: 0918 911 9090
Best Newcomer Services = InTouch Community Services
Address: #48 McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City. Contact: 02 893 1893 or 02 810 6233.
Best Airline = Cebu Pacific
Best Tour = Carlos Celdran’s Intramuros Tour
Best OBGYN = Dr. Henson
Dr. Henson sees patients at Makati Med and St. Luke’s Monday-Saturday. Contact: 02 818 1125
Where are you off to next?
DC for language training, then Lima Peru!
THANK YOU for this! Now, can you take me around to a couple of these places when we arrive? Can you believe we’ll be there in a little over 3 weeks. ACK.
(I’m not ready!!!)
This is great! What an amazing resource for me! How close will I be to all of this if we live in the villages (which is what we want to do).
Oh, this is such a good idea. Wouldn’t it be great if we all did it for each post? I know there are the post reports but those are a pain to access. This is so much more personal. I wonder if we can somehow add a best of…. to Colbi’s map of FS bloggers. What do you think?
fun list Sarah! I really prefer high tea at the Penn. Have you tried that one? Yum! And you know my feelings about Azu Thai. Love that place. Love People’s palace too though.
Crazy how close everyone’s departure dates are. It’s moving fast!
Oh, we most definitely will! Do you have a sponsor yet? Looks like we won’t be replacing our Bhutan vacation, so we could probably do it now!
You’d be very close! How many kids do you have again? There’s not much village housing, it mostly goes to families with 3+ kids or high-level officers. My guess is that you’ll be in a condo in Fort Bonifacio (which is excellent housing). And still close to everything… Seafront is a ways from this stuff though, as most I’ve recommended is in Makati or the Fort.
I totally love it! Will you suggest it to her? It would be very helpful to be able to access something like that…
Thanks Sara. Yeah, I’ve tried the Penn. Good food definitely, but I like the proximity to the orchestra at the Shangri-la! I didn’t tell you but we finally tried Azu Thai this weekend. Very, very good but People’s Palace still has my heart! When are you out of here again? Would love to see you soon…
We’ll have three kids! I’ve heard the condos are nice, but I think we’d prefer the villages – but we’re both on the housing board here, so we know how much it all depends on.
You might have a chance then! Keep your fingers crossed… :)
you rock it Sarah … plain and simple you rock it!
the high tea? looks AMAZING!
Daniela of Tukytam was saying that she thinks each of us should do this for our post and then we can all have a “best of” link on Colby’s blog. I totally love that idea! You in?
Okay- I think I need to print this, bookmark it and all around use this as a “go-to” list for when I arrive! After my visit to Manila, I have to admit that I came back to Bangalore and started to realize all that I would be missing here!!! Le sigh…
I’m sure you’ll come across more treasures to add to the list, but this is what I was able to discover during my short time! Enjoy the rest of Bangalore – Manila will be here waiting for you!
I suggested it to Colby last night and she likes the idea. I need to look at the Round-up calendar, get a date and just do it.
Sweet! Keep me posted…