10 Underrated Hidden Gems in Manila, Philippines
Approximate reading time: 15-20 minutes
Manila, Philippines
Table of contents
Introduction
Manila: Our Current Homebase and Endless Adventure
Disclaimer
10 Hidden Gems in Manila
History and Culture
Casa Manila Museum
Escolta: First United Building
Vinyl on Vinyl Art Gallery
Finale Art File
Natural Sights in the City
Arroceros Forest Park
Paco Park
Wine and Dine
Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant
Incanta Cave Bar and Restaurants
A’Toda Madre Mezcalería and Tequilaria
Blind Pig
Ending Notes
Discover Every Nook and Cranny of Manila
Share Your Stories With Us
Introduction
Manila: Our Current Homebase and Endless Adventure
Manila is one of the biggest places in our hearts. For Ave it is her homebase, filled with the people that she loves. Even just a few days here after travelling is enough to revitalize her. For Martin, it is his new home that he continues to fall more and more in love with everyday. He loves to bring his favorite people here like his mom and his best friends. For the both of us, it is the special place where we decided to start raising our family with the birth of little baby Tokyo.
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The beauty of Manila is that it is always fun to explore, there is always something new to discover and learn. For both of us, Ave who grew up here and Martin who continues to grow his roots here, Manila is a place that still continues to surprise us.
Watch our journeys through these vlogs
Because of this, we decided to make a list of hidden gems around Manila for those looking to experience Manila in a deeper sense. Some of these spots have been around for quite some time, but they still deserve more hype! The hidden gems we chose are a mix of different spots: learn more about the culture and history of the Philippines as a whole, take a nature break amidst the bustling city, or eat and/or drink your heart out in one of these top tier restaurants and bars.
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Disclaimer
The information presented in this article may be subject to change at the venue or service provider’s discretion. You may check their respective websites or social media accounts for any updates on the price, location, and other details. Additionally, this article may contain affiliate links from which we get a portion of profit, at no added cost to you. These links are safe to click.
With that, we hope you enjoy reading!
10 Hidden Gems in Manila
Our top 10 hidden gems around Manila are some very intriguing places that we believe may be a bit underrated and definitely deserve more hype. They aren’t usually the first places you think of adding to your Manila itinerary but they are also a great way to get to know Manila. Some of them may seem like quite obscure places but they will surely feel worth the trip!
History and Culture
Manila, Philippines
The Philippines has a rich history and ever developing culture, so let’s start with some places where you can dive into it! Despite these places being more lowkey spots, you are still sure to learn a lot about the Philippines.
Casa Manila Museum
The Philippines was under Spanish colonization for more than 300 years. “Casa Manila” which translates in English to “Manila House” is a museum in the form of a reconstructed home which would have been common for an upper-class member of society during the Spanish colonization.
Image courtesy of "Casa Manila." All rights reserved to the original owners.
Casa Manila is located in the living history city of Intramuros, also known as the “Walled City”, the perfect location to step into Manila’s deep history. Travel back in time as you walk through the halls of this beautiful home and learn more about the lifestyle of some early Filipinos.
If you enjoy walking through old Manila and want to learn more about the history and culture of the Philippines, you might also want to check out the historic walking tour that Martin was able to go on. It was a very fun and informative experience that we would recommend for history lovers or anyone interested in getting to know the Philippines on a deeper level. You can watch Martin’s experience with the historic walking tour in his Youtube video here.
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Escolta: First United Building
Escolta itself is a great place to just wander around if you’re in the mood to explore without a strict itinerary. It was once the bustling business center of the Philippines but it has now become one of the beloved spots of the artist communities in the Philippines. Walk around and admire the preserved art deco style buildings and you are sure to come across shops, restaurants, and cafes to tickle your fancy. Escolta is a place where the past and present mingle with one another.
Image courtesy of "Wikipedia." All rights reserved to the original owners.
If you’re looking to visit a specific spot in Escolta, you should definitely take a trip to the First United Building. This building is filled from top to bottom with quirky vintage stores, art studios and shops, and refreshing cafes. This is a great place to purchase some unique pasalubong to bring home for yourself or your loved ones.
The Philippine art scene is one that continues to evolve and grow every day. The Vinyl on Vinyl Art Gallery features a balanced collection of upcoming and established local artists who are making waves in the Philippine art scene.
Image courtesy of “vinylonvinyl on Instagram." All rights reserved to the original owners.
One of their past exhibitions is the “Places Within” show which explored the idea of how places deeply impact us and become a part of who we are, connecting us to other spaces that we have filled throughout our lives.
Finale Art File is another art gallery that is highly respected in the local art scene. It provides another wide snapshot of the Filipino contemporary art scene. The Finale Art File Gallery is divided into three spaces: the Tall Gallery, Upstairs Gallery, and the Video Room. Ensuring that there is a large array of different stimulating pieces on display.
Image courtesy of “Finale Art File on Facebook" All rights reserved to the original owners.
In the Video Room, multidisciplinary artist Tekla Tamoria presented her “For the Love of Art, and Art is Labour” exhibition. For this show she chose to use embroidery to embody her reflections on the ever repeating love story that occurs whenever someone labors to create a piece of art.
Natural Sights in the City
Rizal park, Manila Philippines
After all the culture and history that the spots above have offered, why not take a walk around these unique spots buried in the heart of the city to absorb and reflect everything you saw and learned.
Tucked away amidst the towering buildings of Manila is the Arroceros Forest Park. This park is also known as the “last lung of Manila”. It was given this nickname because the immense lush greenery that it offers serves as one of the biggest defenses to the pollution and heat of city living.
Image courtesy of “ Arroceros Forest Park - Manila Facebook" All rights reserved to the original owners.
Arroceros Forest Park is over 2 hectares large, full of more than 60 different types of trees which serve as homes for the many species of birds that live here as well. This park proves that Manila can serve the best of both worlds with its city and forest mix.
Another nature lover haven in Manila may be Paco Park, but this park also has more of a story to it to pique the interests of history buffs too. Paco Park once served as a cemetery during the time of Spanish colonization in the Philippines.
Image courtesy of “ Paco Park" All rights reserved to the original owners.
Paco Park is much smaller than Arroceros Forest Park but its rustic beauty makes it worth coming to. If you’re lucky, you can even catch a live classical performance in the park which just adds even more to the ambiance of the soothing nature around you.
Wine and Dine
One of the most exciting and delicious parts of booking a trip is thinking where you’re going to eat! Food can either make or break your experience of a place, so why not take a chance on one of these underrated spots for a meal and/or drink that will give you a delectable taste of Manila.
Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant does not only offer some delicious dishes but a chance to take in some more of the colorful Philippine culture. While you dig into one of their Filipino and Spanish meals, watch in amazement as dancers perform traditional Filipino dances like the Tinikling, Binasuan, and more!
Image courtesy of “ Barbara‘s Heritage Restaurant on Instagram" All rights reserved to the original owners.
Some of their mouth watering options include Filipino classics done right like kare-kare, chicken or pork adobo, and sinigang. Spain heavily influenced Filipino cuisine and Barabara’s offers many Spanish dishes like arroz ala cubana and paella de mariscos which is a flavorful dish containing a medley of vegetables, seafood, and meat all served with rice.
Incanta Cave Bar and Restaurant
If you’re in the mood for a less traditional dining experience, you should make sure to add the Incanta Cave Bar and Restaurant into your itinerary. As soon as you enter Incanta you’ll feel like you were transported into a science fiction movie or another realm in space. The harshness of the rocky cave interior is complemented by comfortable luxurious furniture.
Image courtesy of “ Incanta Ph on Instagram" All rights reserved to the original owners.
Incanta offers a Filipino-Japanese menu which was expertly curated by Michelin Guide chef Frances Tariga. They also have an invigorating cocktail menu. More than the food and drinks, they add to the dining experience with dinner shows. The performances depend on the theme of the night but their usual themes are jazz night, cosmic night, and they also have live dj performances as well.
A’Toda Madre Mezcalería and Tequileria
A’Toda Madre offers a diverse menu with vegetarian options as well, but what it is most commonly known for is right there in the name. A’Toda Madre is one of the best places to go if you’re craving some high quality mezcal, tequila, and other agave based alcohol.
Image courtesy of “ A'Toda Madre on Facebook “ All rights reserved to the original owners.
On their menu you can find their own takes on Mexican staples like their premium tacos and quesadillas. They also offer soups, salads, and appetizers that are delicious on their own or paired with one of the drinks on their cocktail menus. They also host special events like Mole y Mezcal Monday, Thirsty Thursday, and Rewind Friday - Reverse Happy Hour.
Last, but definitely not the least, is Blind Pig. The Bling Pig is believed to be the granddaddy of all speakeasies and craft cocktail culture in the Philippines. Now, it can’t really be considered as “underrated” because Blind Pig actually made it to Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia’s top bars list in the Philippines for 2024, but it is a gem that is well hidden as a speakeasy.
Image courtesy from “ Google reviews “ All rights reserved to the original owners.
The Blind Pig has a dimly lit interior, whose ambiance they try to keep as peaceful as possible, even implementing etiquette rules which every patron is oriented about once they enter. Their ever changing menu is always crafted to perfection, although if nothing from the menu speaks to you, you can always request a drink from the bartender or even ask for the bartender’s choice.
If you are interested in even more cool drinking spots in Manila, we have the perfect article just for you! Check out our Top 10 Best Bars in Manila post right here to explore the exciting and growing bar scene in the Philippines.
Looking for the perfect stay in Manila
Here are our top three hotel recommendations.
Simply click the hotel name and make your reservation today!
Shangri-La The Fort, Manila [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, 1634 Manila, Philippines
Diamond Hotel Philippines [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Dr. J. Quintos cor. Roxas Blvd Malate, 1000 Manila, Philippines
I’ M Hotel [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]
Address : Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, 1210 Manila, Philippines
Ending Notes
And those are 10 of some of the best lowkey spots in Manila. If you are looking for a more structured schedule, we have a great 5 days in Manila itinerary that you should definitely check out! It is an exciting and flexible mix of history and culture, must-visit spots, and delectable eats.
Discover Every Nook and Cranny of Manila
Get a chance to catch not just the classic sights of Manila but live like a local for a few days and even visit some great spots that some locals don’t know about with the help of Dream Philippines Tours. We have an all inclusive service that connects you to top of the line services, spots, and activities. So, what are you waiting for? Book your dream vacation right now with Dream Philippines Tours!
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Manila is an ever changing and developing city, but even with all its new developments, it doesn’t lose sight of its history and culture which is why there are so many exciting things to check out whether or not they are hidden, new, or old! Pop by one of these underrated hidden gems the next time you find yourself in Manila and get an authentic taste of true Manila living.
Share Your Stories with Us
If you do end up visiting one of the places listed here, we would love to see your photos and hear about your experience! If you have any hidden gem suggestions around Manila or wherever you are from, please let us know so we can add it to our own lists! Don’t forget to tag us on your posts and stories using the hashtags #MarveTravelGuides, #MarveToldMeToDoIt, and #TravelWithMarve. Safe travels!
