Joanna James
Makati is best known as a concrete jungle, the nation's business hub and home to just about every major business venture in the Philippines. But, amidst this serious business world is a host of fun activities to enjoy, from restaurant hopping to rooftop parties and fab outings with friends.
Foodies head over to Century Mall, where Hole in the Wall, waits. This loved food hall boasts a total of eleven outlets and a modern ambience. The variety of food on offer is quite impressive; for example, you may choose from fluffy Japanese cheesecakes served at Green Cheese to crispy tacos at Tacqueria Filipa. The choices are varied and food delicious, and while prices might be higher than average, the experience well makes up for this. Hole in the Wall is open from 11 am to 10 pm, and is just 5 minutes by foot from Berjaya Makati Hotel.
The Legazpi Farmers Market is held in the parking lot of Legazpi Park. Easy to reach from a well-located hotel Makati has on offer, the place is perfect for grabbing a late Sunday breakfast. All tastes are catered to, while the locally sourced ingredients are turned into delicious meals. Most times the market is enhanced to the strains of bongo music, making the place a good precinct to enjoy with family and friends. The market is open from 8 am to 2 pm.
Finders Keepers is a hip joint to enjoy an evening out. Located within an abandoned warehouse, the open bar is enhanced by a relaxed ambience. The cocktail menu is quite impressive and also affordable, some of the favourites include sangria and F*k Squirt. A popular hangout the bar is a no-smoking zone.
One of the most popular churches in Makati is the Nuestra Senora De Gracia Parish; a baroque structure competed in 1630. The place exhibits neo-Romanesque Gothic styles and is a treat for the culture buff to explore. The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha-Madhava Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is an impressive shrine to explore. There you can witness age-old customs and rituals, do make sure to dress appropriately and pay respect to the place.
Ayala Museum boasts some impressive permanent exhibits known to enchant all who visit. These include, Gold of Our Ancestors which is a large collection of vintage gold artefacts dating back centuries, Art and the Order of Nature in Indigenous Philippine Textiles which is a large ethnographic exhibition and last but not least A Millennium of Contact which comprises of a ceramic collection elaborating the socio-economic ties China has with its neighbours.
Definitely the most peculiar of all attractions, boxing involving "little people" has become something people go to watch. If you feel you want to give it a try, head over to the Ringside Bar, where the matches are held together with rounds of local beer and cocktails. The show is a put on though, and the boxers faking the punches for entertainment purposes. And guess what, for a small fee, you can join in as referee.
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