Manila is a vibrant cosmopolitan city that attracts visitors from all over the globe. One of Manila’s biggest draw cards is the mega malls that dot the cities of Metro Manila. When choosing where to stay in Manila, it’s hard to go past Makati. Filipino’s love to shop and the shopping in Makati is next level. In order to do the Makati shopping malls justice you’ll need a comfy bed to fall into each night. Savvy shoppers will choose a hotel near Greenbelt Makati and the Fairmont Makati is absolutely perfect. This luxury hotel is literally across the road from the Landmark Makati and within a few minutes walk of everything that matters. Read on for all the details …
Shopping In Makati
Shopping in Makati is not for the faint hearted. If you can’t buy it in Makati, you probably can’t buy it anywhere. The Landmark Makati, Glorietta Makati, Greenbelt Makati and SM Makati are the juggernauts of Makati shopping malls. They dominate prime Makati real estate and cover a few city blocks. These retail behemoths are so large the biggest are divided into sections to make navigation easier. Note I said easier, not easy! Those that lean towards the finer things in life will find all the best global luxury brands at Greenbelt Makati. The prices are similar to Sydney so don’t expect any huge bargains here but H&M on the top level provides some relief from all the zeros on the price tags. Glorietta Makati aims to garner the mid level shoppers with a host of international and local brands. It’s a bit of a rabbit warren and more than once I had to turn on Google maps to find my way. Yes inside the mall itself! Step across the road to find Landmark Makati which is a huge department store that houses just about everything possible under one roof. Beware of the sock section. The ratio of sales people here is high and they are all eager to help which is somewhat overwhelming. When you find yourself in need of sustenance skip the fast food stalls and get a real burger and a half way decent cocktail from Fatburger Makati. Linger just long enough to muster strength for the next round of shopping. Those looking for a super bargains will need to hit the sales or step outside Makati and head to one of Metro Manila’s many markets. May the force be with you!
Fairmont Makati Overview
When you have had your fill of the Makati Shopping Malls stroll across the road to the sumptuous lobby of the Fairmont Makati and check yourself in for the night. The Fairmont is one Manila’s premier 5 star hotels. In a city this size you would think you would be tripping over luxury hotels but the Philippines capital has surprisingly few. I couldn’t be more thrilled that we chose the Fairmont Makati and we felt like very special guests every step of the way. The Fairmont Makati was our first stop in the Philippines and we were greeted on arrival at NAIA by the hotel’s driver. Using Uber in Manila is also an option. We were very glad he was still waiting after our flight on Cebu Pacific from Sydney was delayed. Patricia met us curbside on arrival at the Fairmont Makati and guided us through the amazing lobby straight to our room. I’ve stayed in a luxury hotel or two in my time and I can honestly say this is the very first time I have been able to check in from the comfort of my room. How cool!
Fairmont Makati (like all of the Philippines) is a smoke free zone except for designated smoking areas (DSA’s). The Fairmont takes care of the outcasts with a rather pleasant area where you can indulge in your habit just off the sweeping drive. The service at Fairmont Makati is flawless. They clearly put customers first and don’t skimp on the staffing. Everywhere you walk there is a smiling face, a cherry greeting, doors being seamlessly opened and an ever-present offer to assist. Nothing is too much trouble and your every want is satisfied of with ease.
The Fairmont Makati has a rather impressive swimming pool and taking a dip on a hot humid afternoon is a must. For those that lose track of time shopping in Makati, never fear, you can swim until 10pm. The pool bar is the perfect place to quench your thirst on a humid day.
The 4th floor houses a large fully equipped gym but the Willow Stream Spa was more my speed. The free WiFi signal is strong throughout the hotel and it only requires one log in. Guest safety is a priority at Fairmont Makati and sniffer dogs have your back. I know these guys do a serious job but I couldn’t resist a pat and they lapped it up!
Read More: 15 Luxury Hotels In The Philippines (That Will Blow Your Mind!)
Fairmont Makati Rooms
The first thing I noticed on entering our deluxe king bed room (641) was the stunning chocolate art. This little boat is made entirely out of the finest chocolate, including the base. The ‘passengers’ of rich truffles, fruity macaroons and choc dipped mango didn’t last long. The decor was refined and the 10ft ceilings added to the feeling of space. There is no overhead lighting in the bedroom and this would normally irk me no end but the Fairmont Makati has you sorted with multiple lamps throughout, including super bright reading lamps on both sides of the bed. These lights, and everything else in the room, are controlled by state of the art docks which let you adjust everything at the touch of a button. I’m still on the fence as to whether the free cable was a blessing after we struck a Star Wars marathon. The Hubs is a fan (but I really don’t get it) which made it that much harder to drag him away from our opulent surrounds. One of the coolest things in our deluxe room was the top draw of the bedside tables which fold down to reveal a hidden power point. A power point near the bed is a necessity in my book because my phone is always flat at the end of the day and I like to keep it close while on overnight charge with the alarm set. Walking to the other side of the room when the alarm goes off to hit snooze is not fun. I am constantly surprised how so many hotels get something so simple so wrong. Did I mention all the power points take multiple countries plugs? Brilliant idea! Hotels the world over should embrace this stat! Every Fairmont Makati room comes furnished with a super comfy Stearns & Foster bed. These beds are a dream and when I laid down to watch a little TV on our first night after a long day of travelling I couldn’t fight sleep and was dead to the world by 11pm. As a night owl that rarely turns in before 1am, this was a whole new experience for me. The flip side of that was that I was wide awake at 6am on a Sunday morning, well before the rest of the city had shaken off its slumber. The stylish arc of the desk was so impossibly cool you’ll hardly think it’s work while seated in the plush leather chair and the decadent velvet lounge chair is perfect for reading that trashy novel you never get the time to do at home.
The modern bathroom will satisfy even the most discerning of guests. Grab a bath bomb from Lush (Glorietta Makati) to make the most of the deep soaker tub. Guest rooms at the Fairmont Makati are serviced twice daily and each time the towels are replenished. I often think the shower in a hotel room sets the scene for your whole stay. I have spent way too many days dealing with errant nozzles, hot blasts and erratic pressure so I really appreciate when a hotel nails it. The shower at Fairmont Makati was gold. Big enough for two, the generous cubicle made shaving my legs a breeze and the firm pressure was bliss.
Fairmont Gold
One of my absolute favourite things about the Fairmont Makati is the gold lounge on the 7th floor. The day starts with an exclusive breakfast fit for a king. Grab a quick bite from the buffet or order à la carte from the tight menu. My pick is the pancakes. Seriously yum! When the sun dips below the horizon head back to the gold lounge at 6pm for hors douvers and an open bar until 8pm. The buffet is packed with goodies and I highly recommend the wedges, goats cheese tarts and carrot cake. And of course the prosecco! The Fairmont Makati gold Lounge is open from 6am to 12am daily and is only available to guests who choose the upgrade on booking.
Breakfast @ Spectrum Fairmont Makati
If the breakfast in the gold lounge is not to your liking you head to Spectrum instead. This is one of the most extensive breakfast buffets I have ever seen so bring your appetite. Make sure you try the special locally produced hot chocolate. It’s sublime 🙂
Nearby Makati Shopping Malls
Want to know just how close you are to the best Makati shopping malls? Just look out the window. That’s Greenbelt Makati right there and Glorietta Makati and Landmark Makati are equally close. Most shops are open to at least 10pm so your shopping in Makati is not restricted to daylight hours but the air conditioning is a welcome relief in the heat of the day. How cute are these emoji pillows from Landmark Makati? I couldn’t resist grabbing a couple as gifts.
The Final Word
If you are looking for a luxury hotel in the heart of Makati, Fairmont Makati should be at the very top of your list. Exceptional service, plush rooms and outstanding facilities meant we had an incredible stay and we were sad to wave goodbye but we didn’t go far. For our last night in Makati we moved next door to the Raffles Makati which was equally amazing.
Do you fancy a few days exploring the Makati shopping malls? I’d love to hear your thoughts on Fairmont Makati in the comments below.
Until Next Time …
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Love Makati Shopping Malls? Stay At The Fairmont Makati
Disclaimer: I stayed as a guest at Fairmont Makati. As always, all opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links which will earn me a few cents to contribute to the running of this site if you make a qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you.
Heidi says
Wow, the Fairmont looks like the place to stay. I wonder if they delivered room service right to that tub because that’s where you would have found me. And what a wonderful way to spend an evening after a busy day of shopping. It is a shame you couldn’t find too many good deals with the shopping!
neha says
The food as well as stay at fairmount looks awesome. I don’t generally shop on my trips but seems a market like this one will definitely be able to tempt me. Although it sounds pricy given the prices are comparable to Australia. Thanks for all the details, will really help one find what they are looking for out of makati market
Nancy Baten says
Looks amazing! Thank you. Happy New Years Eve!
Allison Smith says
And to you Nancy! It sure was amazing!
Cathy says
Makati is a central business district of the Philippines where luxury hotels and big and nice shopping malls are located. Fairmont hotel is one of them and although I have not stayed there before, I could see from the outside that’s so gorgeous! I lived in Makati for 4 years and it is such a nice city! Next year we’re flying back to the Philippines and great you had this review because we’re looking into hotels like these! Foods look very delicious! Breakfast buffet always shouldn’t be missed!
Sandy N Vyjay says
You have presented a fresh perspective of the Philippines. Usually gorgeous beaches and exotic islands spring to mind when we think of the Philippines. Manila as a shopping paradise is a new facet for me. Indeed Makati sounds like a haven for shopaholics and staying in the vicinity is definitely prudent.
Allison Smith says
I love the beaches in the Philippines as well Sandy. Look out for my posts coming up on El Nido and Coron. Simply stunning! I would suggest staying in Makati at the end of the trip so you don’t have to lug your purchases all the way around the country like I did lol
Megan Jerrard says
Makati definitely takes shopping to the next level! The Fairmont Makati does sound perfect – need to be able to shop until you drop, and drop somewhere close by!! The swimming pool would be a welcome respite after a long day on your feet. It looks absolutely incredible, as do the rooms. Love how modern the bathrooms are, and the Gold Lounge sounds like a fabulous perk. Will stay here on my next shopping trip!
Allison Smith says
It’s insane Meg! One mall had over 800 stores! Being close by at the Fairmont was perfect!
Nisha says
Makati is such a vibrant place.. And to stay in one of the luxury hotels there is like icing on the cake! I have stayed in Fairmont else where and did not even know there was one in Manila. The Gold Louge seems like an excellent idea, This surely looks like they have taken hospitality to another level.
Allison Smith says
I do love a luxury hotel Nisha and Fairmont was exceptional! The Gold Lounge was certainly the icing on the cake!
Kirstie says
I think choosing a hotel in Makati is a great idea. I love Makati and Fairmont seems like a place I missed. Would love to try soon. Have you tried staying in Rockwell, Makati? The area is really fancy, I think they have condominium units for transients. Mandaluyong is also an ok option if you want to try another city, you might want to try staying at the Bonifacio Global City. I think it’s cheaper compared to places in Makati.
Allison Smith says
No I haven’t tried he Rockwell Kirstie but now that I have found the Fairmont I would find it hard to stay anywhere else in Makati lol
Jo Jo says
Looks like a great time! So eloquent, and the food looks awesome. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Allison Smith says
The food at Fairmont was great Jo Jo. Everything about our stay was exceptional.
Lucy says
This hotel looks fabulous! Modern and comfy. The food selection looks good and caters for the western taste to, this is important for breakfast! I love how close it is to the shops, this sounds like my type of hotel.
Allison Smith says
I’m not a big breakfast eater Lucy but it was hard to resist at the Fairmont!
Christina says
I don’t know if I can say beautiful enough. The shopping malls are beautiful and the fiarmont is beautiful. I had no idea that Manila had such well known malls that were also so big that google maps was needed inside. The Fairmont is the statement of luxury. They are a great company that does service very well. The power center with universal plugs is extremely smart. The gold lounge sounds like an easy decision to me when booking.
Allison Smith says
The malls are huge Christina! It was so nice to be able to relax at the Fairmont after a long day in our feet!
Marcus and Mel says
You can usually guarantee a good stay when staying at a Fairmont hotel. The swimming pool looks nice, a great way to relax after shopping. The gold lounge sounds pretty nice too, they are usually calmer than the bigger public areas of hotels, especially at breakfast. An open bar until 8 is a bonus.
Allison Smith says
This was my first time staying at Fairmont Marcus but I can guarantee it won’t be my last. Loved it!
Shaily says
Wow! Fairmont Makati is beautiful and super luxurious, and the food looks so tempting. This is definitely a great place to stay. Chocolate boat on arrival is quite a creative idea. Love the pool bar! The shopping malls remind me of Dubai Mall where we had to use maps to find our way within the mall.
Allison Smith says
Fairmont was very luxurious Shaily. We were spoilt during our stay in Makati. Everything was wonderful!
Ami says
I would be so confused that I might just window shop and come back. There are so many things that I want that I see here. Maybe the only thing I would do is taste those goodies and have a meal of that. Cheers and Merry Xmas
Allison Smith says
I did a lot of that Ami. It was a bit overwhelming at first but we did buy a few things ?
Fiona Maclean says
The Fairmont looks gorgeous – I have desk envy now, I just love that black curved desk in your room. And that breakfast at Spectrum!
As for the shopping…well, I think I’d just have leave my credit cards at home, it looks too dangerous!
Allison Smith says
The Fairmont was gorgeous Fiona and the breakfast was superb! We loved our stay ?
Anu says
Fairmont is known for their hospitality but it seems at Makati they take it to another level. I like the view from the Gold lounge. Not a shopping person, but those who travel to shop – this must be the perfect place to pamper oneself in every way possible.
Allison Smith says
The staff at the Fairmont were very attentive and we had a great stay! I would definitely go back!
Mags Nixon says
The Fairmont looks an amazing place to stay! My girls would love the chocolate boat on arrival! I would love the pool – it looks fabulous. And to have multiple country plugs …….. brilliant! We’re not really into shopping so the malls might overwhelm us to be honest, although if I could get my other half to swim with the girls for a few hours I could be tempted! I think the Greenbelt Makati would be out of my price range though! 🙂
Allison Smith says
It sure was Mags! The chocolate boat was incredible! We ate it all ?
Taiss (Together To Wherever) says
That’s so cool that you could check-in from the comfort of your room! I have never experienced that myself! The food looks amazing and I can tell from the picture the pancakes are probably super yummy as you recommend! That chocolate boat is quite impressive and I would just devour it!
Allison Smith says
It was the perfect start to our stay Taiss and it just kept getting better from there!
dennisallacross says
The Fairmont Makati looks like a nice option to stay when in Manila. On my previous trips to Manila, I’ve also only stayed in Makati so far, and I liked it a lot. However, I didn’t go shopping. It’s good to see that they also have shopping malls for the “ordinary”. In Hong Kong, I feel like it’s always only high-end luxury that nobody needs (at least not in these frequencies…). Sounds like a good mixture of those shops in Makati.
Allison Smith says
Makati is certainly the place to be Dennis! I preferred it over Manila City ?
Yukti says
Visit to shopping malls at specific location does not mean only for shopaholics, but this visit gives the true feeling of local crowd and how much is the economic condition of that place is. I also visit shopping mall whenever I travel not for shopping but to understand the markets and business of that place. I loved the way, how you explored shopping malls at Makati and it convinces me to visit there and learn the business scene of Makati. Staying at Fairmount which is no near to mall must be great and also this hotel looks very luxurious and I will also opt this for its amenities and location.
Allison Smith says
True Yukti. I love checking out supermarkets overseas to see how much everyone pays for groceries lol ???
Indrani says
Fairmont Hotel chain is impressive! I was reminded of my stay in Zurich some years back.
The amenities and facilities are too grand. The breakfast buffet was fantastic and I see the same here. Loved the location of this where all important places are close by. Great pictures.
Allison Smith says
I agree Indrani location is so important! I love being able to walk to everything and the Fairmont was perfect!
amit says
Being a budget traveler I think this might be a little out of my range, and I’ve lived in Sydney so I can imagine what the prices are. However in saying that considering how large the place is, confirmed by the fact you need to use google maps inside is could be a good day activity haha if you have the money to spend of course. I laughed when you mentioned that you were dead to the world by 11pm on your first night, If I was in that bed I would be the same 😀
Allison Smith says
It’s lovely to splurge every now and then Amit. I’m strict on my budget on some things so I can splurge on others. I never skimp on accomodation though because it is too important!
Teresa says
This place looks incredible! I’m planning to visit the Philippines next year so I’m bookmarking this. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Allison Smith says
I hope you have an amazing time o the Philippines Teresa!
Samah says
Oh dear, as someone who opts for online shopping for the sole reason of avoiding crowds and sales people I may just avoid this place! Although I did chuckle at Google Maps being used to navigate around Makati, gives a good picture of how large it is and its something I would do. The Fairmont Makati looks very luxurious and enjoyable, if I stayed there, a trip to the gold lounge for breakfast would be in order, I mean look at all the delicious food!
Allison Smith says
I love an online shopping session myself Samah but when I travel I love to hit the local mall! It’s a hard pick between Spectrum and the Gold Lounge for breakfast! Just do both ?
Cassie says
Wow. I think malls have changed since i was in Manila in 1999! Even then they were a destination in themselves but nothing like you describe. We used them for cheap cheap cinema and fast food whilst escaping torrential rain.
The chocolate boat looks incredible.
Allison Smith says
The malls were insane Cassie and the boat tasted just as good as it looked.
Abhinav Singh says
I am a total non shopper. But I do like to see malls in different nations just to get an idea of how same of different they are from each other. Didn’t know shopping in Makati is so popular. The food pictures you have shred had me drooling!
Allison Smith says
I love going to supermarkets in other countries and seeing how the food products differ from home. Surely I can’t be the only one lol
Constance says
Wow that hotel looks gorgeous. I totally understand what you mean about the malls, the ones we went to in Cebu were so large it was insane! You could easily get lost in them, but maybe that’s the point haha get lost and spend money!
Allison Smith says
We visited the malls in Cebu also but Makati is next level Constance! You need to head to Manila to check them out!
Gilian Isles-Cebu says
I love the Fairmont. Looks so elegant. =) The breakfast at Spectrum is my type of breakfast spread. =) Love it.
Allison Smith says
The breakfast buffet was huge Gillian!
Stephanie says
How extravagant! That all looks so luxurious
Allison Smith says
It sure was Stephanie! The Fairmont was amazing!
Aleksandra says
wow. looks really impressive.
Allison Smith says
We loved our stay at the Fairmont Alejandra.