The Philippines' financial capital and cultural heart. Established old-money villages, soaring CBD towers, the country's best dining, and history layered on every block.
For decades Makati has been the Philippines' main business district, and even with BGC's rise, it remains the cultural and financial heavyweight. The Philippine Stock Exchange, the country's biggest banks, embassies, and the headquarters of nearly every major Philippine corporation are here.
What sets Makati apart from BGC is layering — old-money exclusive villages (Forbes Park, Dasmariñas) sit beside modern luxury condos beside grittier streets beside Manila's most iconic dining and nightlife. There's more character, more history, and a wider price range than BGC.
Makati is large and varied — your sub-district choice defines your lifestyle:
Quieter side of the CBD. Saturday Salcedo Market, mix of old and new condos, walking distance to Greenbelt and Glorietta. Established expat community.
Sister village to Salcedo. Sunday Legaspi Market, more residential feel, good restaurants. Often slightly cheaper than Salcedo.
The heart of Makati CBD. Direct access to Greenbelt, Glorietta, Ayala Triangle Gardens, MRT Ayala Station. Premium prices.
Master-planned premium community. Power Plant Mall, modern luxury towers, more residential than CBD core. Top-tier addresses.
Hipster nightlife district. Bars, speakeasies, fusion restaurants. Cheaper condos but noisier. Where young creatives live.
The original old-money exclusive villages. Multi-million-peso houses, no condos, gated security. The 1% address.
Quieter residential pockets. Mix of mid-rise condos and houses. Good middle ground for families.
Adjacent to Forbes/Dasma but more accessible. Mix of houses and a few condos. Premium but not Forbes-level.
Makati invented Manila's dining scene. From Greenbelt's standalone fine dining to Poblacion's late-night fusion bars to the casual Salcedo and Legaspi weekend markets, you can eat differently every meal for a year.
Nightlife is split: Greenbelt and Power Plant for upscale cocktails, Poblacion for indie bars and craft beer, Burgos area for the older expat scene.
Shopping centers around Ayala (Greenbelt 1-5, Glorietta 1-5), Rockwell (Power Plant Mall), and Century Mall. SM Makati is the legacy mall. For grocery, Rustan's Supermarket is the upscale standard; SM is the budget choice.
Makati doesn't have BGC's density of international schools, but several top private schools call it home:
For international curricula, Makati families typically commute to BGC schools (15-25 min by car).
Makati has the best public transit in Metro Manila — and it's still mediocre by global standards. But it's the best you'll get:
Buy: Studios start around ₱5M (older buildings), modern 1BR ₱8-15M, 2BR ₱14-30M, 3BR ₱25-60M+. Rockwell premium addresses (Proscenium, Edades) push higher. Houses in Forbes/Dasma start at ₱150M+.
Rent (furnished): Studio ₱25-45K/mo, 1BR ₱35-70K/mo, 2BR ₱60-130K/mo, 3BR ₱100-250K/mo. Poblacion is cheapest, Rockwell is most expensive.
Condo dues: ₱75-130 per sqm/month. Older buildings significantly cheaper than new luxury towers.
Makati is great for: finance/banking professionals, families wanting variety in housing options (condo to house), foodies, anyone wanting a more "real city" feel than master-planned BGC, buyers seeking a wider price range.
Makati is less ideal for: people who hate traffic (it's bad), buyers wanting brand-new construction (most CBD condos are 10-30 years old), families needing top international schools (BGC is closer to most).
Catherine grew up working in Makati and knows every building, every village, every quirk. Tell her what you want and she'll find it.