Manila Shopping Guide

Manila’s a good place to shop, mainly because you’ll get stuff from all over the country here. Whether it’s South Sea pearls or pineapple fibre clothing, you’re sure to find it in Manila’s shops, and at fairly decent rates too. Some of the handicrafts you should look out for are textiles (woven and embroidered, including cloth made from unusual fibres like banana leaves and pineapple leaves), porcelain and terra cotta, jewellery, antiques, basketry, furniture and home accessories. A lot of designer items can also be found in Manila, but these are usually more expensive than they’d be in the West. Some of the best-known areas for shopping in the capital include Ermita, Chinatown, Makati (be warned: this is an expensive area), and Quiapo, which is a good flea market- great for souvenirs.