Greenbelt

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A shopping complex in Makati, Greenbelt in Ayala Center is said to be the first premier lifestyle center in the country. It offers a mix of restaurants, retail shops and entertainment amenities that range from low-end to high-end. As such, the complex has become the beehive of expats, a place to see and to be seen.

Greenbelt 5 offers deluxe shopping (Photo by ipissakusina)

Features

The mall has two indoor buildings and a couple more open-air shopping centers divided between five sections: mostly appliance stores at Greenbelt 1, designer clothing shops at Greenbelt 3, and high-end shops of local and international brands at Greenbelt 4 and Greenbelt 5. An explosion in Glorietta on October 2007 ripped through Greenbelt 2, which is why it is still under construction.

Al-fresco restaurants in Greenbelt 5 (Photo by Malcolm Tredinnick)

Restaurants in Greenbelt 1 are mostly fast food, while Greenbelts 2 to 5 feature sit-down cafés and restaurants. Among the most popular ones are Café Havana, Temple Bar, Seattle’s Best, Hard Rock Café, and Chili’s. Fely J’s in Greenbelt 5 and Sentro in Greenbelt 3 offer Filipino fusion cuisine. There is also the Indian-inspired Bollywood, Red Box KTV bar, Ice Bar, and Greenbelt 3 3D theaters for late-night entertainment.

Opening hours

The malls (Greenbelts 1 to 5) are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and until 10 p.m. on weekends. The restaurants, discos and cafes are open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and until 1 to 2 a.m. on weekends.

A domed chapel designed by Fernando Zobel (Photo by Malcolm Tredinnick)

How to get there

A taxi from anywhere in Manila can get you to Greenbelt. You may also choose to ride the MRT, get off at Ayala Station, and walk from there going to Greenbelt, passing through SM Makati, InterContinental Hotel Manila, Glorietta and Rustan’s.