For starters, Metro Manila’s towering structures (and traffic!) are the first things that flash to mind at the mention of the concrete metropolitan. The city is home to high-rise condominiums, road networks, and numerous shopping hubs scattered left and right. Laden with a storied history, it spans cultures and traditions that cater to an assortment of generations and age groups.
Apart from having an urban allure, though, the Philippines’ capital is a true harbinger of heritage. It transcends the test of time despite new developments and industrial innovations, allowing creative, artistic, and novel neighborhoods to still flourish in an era of economic facelifts.
Whether you’re a chronic vintage collector in search of a shopping mecca or a hipster hangout magnet who’s looking for unique landmarks, there is a treasure trove somewhere in between Manila’s multistorey buildings. From arts and fashion hotspots to gastronomic havens, it features an array of establishments where culture and entertainment converge, and where chance tourists and regulars in town commune.
Hipster Hangouts That Are Worth the Try
1. Binondo
Teeming with delicious discoveries, the classic Chinatown of Binondo, Manila enriches your culinary experience like no other. The food oasis is no less than a swarm of food stalls and eateries, each with a specialty to share. The place is quite a queue of popular street eats such as the famed Shanghai fried siopao, hopia, hand-pulled noodles, pork and chive dumplings, chicken pie, pork chop rice, congee, tanghulu, lumpia, and tikoy.
Why hipsters flock here: People love probing Binondo as it never runs out of new and riveting gastronomic gems. Foodies are drawn to its distinct food crawl culture, too, especially that it exemplifies authentic yet affordable Chinese cuisine.
2. Cubao Expo
If you are in for anything artsy, Cubao Expo in Quezon City is the perfect spot to be. Popular for its shops and vintage retro vibes, the hipster hub features a nostalgic feel that takes guests back to a bygone generation. It appeals to artists per se, as it preserves antique furniture and handicrafts, hard-to-find accessories, preloved clothes, period records, and rare items that are impossible to score in commercial stores.
Why hipsters flock here: Creatives and fashion enthusiasts frequent Cubao Expo for its contagious energy, laid-back lifestyle, backstreet entertainment, mood music, and strong art scene.
3. Escolta
Besides Ongpin Street, Binondo’s Escolta Street is another bastion of arts and culture in the heart of the city. Once the center of fashion and commerce in Manila, it offers centuries-old creations and architecture, all complete with creative spaces, pop-up shops, seasonal performances and screenings, weekend markets, and a whole movement of like-minded crowds who champion love for local culture and craftsmanship.
Why hipsters flock here: As Escolta is rooted in identity, history, and independence, it resonates with freethinkers and non-conformists. Now a fount of diverse subcultures and disciplines, the area represents a revival of abandoned practices and cultural platforms.
4. Maginhawa
The food scene in Quezon City’s Maginhawa Street is a huge draw for hipsters and foodies as it stuns with sustainable and artisanal eats. Alternative and original options also abound, with homegrown culinary chains hatching titillating flavors that celebrate indigenous and international cuisine. Surrounded by indie studios, bookstores, and chic cafés, this generous stretch of gourmet treats curates a cluster of delectable dishes.
Why hipsters flock here: Apart from Maginhawa being set against a backdrop of an active culinary community, it allows visitors to express themselves with enthusiasm via street art and aesthetic spaces.
5. Poblacion
Poblacion’s rise from being a red-light district to a leading nightlife neighborhood is a game changer for its bar culture. It grew sporadically throughout the years, taking the spotlight as Makati’s most renowned hotbed of restaurants. A melting pot of pubs, speakeasies, secondhand shops, and hole-in-the-wall diners, it delivers a wealth of homemade goods and gastronome-approved cooking antics.
Why hipsters flock here: Besides craft brewers and restobars, Poblacion has a growing roster of thrift shops, fashion studios, creative workshops and classes, and a thriving coffee culture.
Be it Poblacion’s bustling nightlife or Cubao Expo’s play of nostalgia, these hipster hotspots are a testament to Metro Manila’s ever-evolving communities and alt culture. A string of neighborhoods still exist on the fringes of mainstream formats, empowering artists and tourists alike.
