Manila city’s southernmost district, Malate, is the center of gay nightlife in Manila. It stages its Gay Pride Parade every year. The east side of Taft Avenue is composed of slums and lower middle class houses, while the west, from Taft Avenue to Pedro Gil and Quirino Avenue, is the territory of wealthy expats and their small hotels, pension houses, residential apartments, gated mansions, and houses for rent.
(Photo by audiotruck)
Five-star comfort zones
Malate is also home to the three stops of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (Quirino Station, Pedro Gil, Vito Cruz) as well as to the Pan Pacific Hotel, Hyatt Hotel and Casino, Sheraton Hotel, Grand Boulevard Hotel and Diamond Hotel.
Night haunts
Since Malate is just beside Ermita, is also home to a lively nightlife and red light district, particularly in Remedios and M. Adriatico Streets, where the upscale restaurants of Larry’s Bar, the Korean Village, Cafe Adriatico, and Penguin Bar (currently closed) are the watering holes of poets, artists, actors, writers, and filmmakers. For al fresco dining, drinking, street dancing, and ground-level concerts, the famous ones are the streets of Julio Nakpil and Maria Orosa.
Cafe Adriatico (Photo by Charles Haynes)
Overlooking the sea
Contrary to popular belief, Malate is not only a place for hedonism. The district is also home to the Manila Zoo, Manila Yacht Club, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Malate Church, and to cafés and restaurants fronting Manila Baywalk. The district’s Rizal Memorial Sports Complex is where the Beatles performed their historic 1966 concert, attended by 80,000 fans from all over the world.
How to get there
Malate is accessible through the Vito Cruz, Quirino, and Pedro Gil stations of LRT-Line 1. You may also get there by riding a taxi from anywhere in Manila.
Tags: Accommodation, Bars, Day trip, Entertainment, Manila City, Nightlife, Restaurants
