Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Philippines / Makati / The Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila
Makati, Philippines · Peninsula · Grand Luxury
The Peninsula Manila opened on 14 September 1976, timed to host the IMF and World Bank annual conference, as the first Peninsula Hotels property outside Chinese territory, and remains the Philippines' only Forbes Five-Star hotel as of 2026. In November 2007, rebel soldiers seized its second floor and a military armoured personnel carrier smashed through the lobby's glass doors to end the six-hour standoff, causing USD 1.2 million in damage.
- 351 rooms
- Opened 1976
- Neighborhood: Ayala Center / Makati Central Business District
About The Peninsula Manila
- The 2007 Manila Peninsula siege ended when a Philippine Army armoured personnel carrier rammed through the hotel's front glass doors under volleys of warning shots and tear gas, arresting Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier General Danilo Lim; damage to the lobby was estimated at USD 1.2 million.
- The hotel opened on 14 September 1976 specifically to serve the IMF and World Bank annual conference, making it the first Peninsula outside Greater China, a deliberate positioning of Manila as an international financial capital.
- The Peninsula Manila holds Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star status (2026) and a Condé Nast Traveler Gold List position (2026), along with a Michelin Key, making it the most decorated hotel in the Philippines by independent rating bodies.
- Salon de Ning, the hotel's basement nightclub, is designed as a 1930s Shanghai salon, an architectural anachronism that has become one of Manila's most recognised nightlife addresses for nearly two decades.
History
The Peninsula Manila opened in 1976 as the flagship property of The Peninsula Hotels in the Philippines, establishing itself as a timeless icon of luxury in Makati's business district. It features an imposing classic lobby as an architectural gem that exemplifies the city's glamorous side and has hosted a long list of VIPs with legendary hospitality. The hotel underwent renovations, with rooms refreshed and a reopening noted around 2020-2021.
The setting
The Peninsula Manila stands at the corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues in Barangay Urdaneta, having opened September 14, 1976 in time for that year's IMF conference as the first Peninsula property outside Chinese territory — a hotel that has hosted heads of state and diplomats for nearly five decades. Ayala Triangle Gardens unfolds three minutes on foot, offering a verdant urban respite beneath the city's glass towers, while the Ayala Museum is five minutes away and Greenbelt's luxury alfresco retail a ten-minute walk. Makati Shangri-La rises 200 metres south and several other landmark hotels cluster within walking distance, confirming this corner as the Philippines' most historically significant luxury address. 12-minute walk to Ayala Centre malls.
Restaurants and bars
- Old Manila — Restaurant · Refined French-inflected
- The Lobby — Café · International cuisine, popular Filipino fare
- Spices — Restaurant · Authentic Southeast Asian and Indian
- Escolta — Restaurant · Buffet
- The Pool Snack Bar — Poolside · Juices, cocktails, tapas, sandwiches, small bites
Experiences
- Peninsula Jeepney — Customised Art Deco-inspired jeepney based on a 1955 Willys Jeep, seating four, for exploring Metro Manila; advance booking advised.
- Afternoon Tea in the Lobby — Afternoon Tea served daily from 2:30 to 5:00 pm in the Lobby beneath the iconic 'Sunburst' sculpture.
- Escolta restaurant — Buffet restaurant evoking the old-world grandeur of the Escolta district, with an open kitchen and live action stations.
- The Gallery Club — Third-floor private lounge with express check-in and check-out, complimentary breakfast, Afternoon Tea and evening cocktails.
- Helicopter service — Helicopter flights arranged via the Concierge from the Makati Tower roof deck helipad; landing permitted 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Amenities
- outdoor pool
- Peninsula Spa (Hilot massage, sauna, steam)
- fitness center
- kids club
- free parking
- concierge
- Hot tub
Awards
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Key 'Selected' (2025)
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More Peninsula hotels
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- The Peninsula London — London, United Kingdom · Apex Luxury
- The Peninsula Paris — Paris, France · Apex Luxury
- The Peninsula Tokyo — Tokyo, Japan · Apex Luxury
- The Peninsula Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand · Grand Luxury
- The Peninsula Beijing — Beijing, China · Grand Luxury
More hotels in Makati
- Raffles Makati — Raffles · Grand Luxury
- Fairmont Makati — Fairmont · High Luxury
- Makati Shangri-La, Manila — Shangri-La · High Luxury
- Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila — Mandarin Oriental · Core Luxury
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