The Peninsula Manila: Rooms, Rates & How to Book
The Philippines' living room since 1976 — and the entry point to the brand at half the price of its city cousins.
By Biirdee Travel — Luxury Travel Concierge · Updated August 11, 2026
The Peninsula Manila has been the country's social headquarters since it opened in 1976 at the corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues. Its lobby — a vast, sunlit atrium under a sculpted sunburst ceiling, ringed by a mezzanine and never empty — functions as the city's de facto meeting room. Deals, weddings, political manoeuvring and Sunday brunch all happen in the same space, which is a thing very few hotels anywhere still manage.
It is also the largest hotel in the portfolio at roughly 470 rooms, and the least expensive. For travellers curious about what the brand does, Manila is the cheapest honest answer.
Rooms and the Makati Position
Rooms are generous and steadily refreshed, with the brand's technology and service standards intact — the same valet boxes, the same page boys, the same laundry turned around overnight. Categories run from Superior through to the specialty suites, and because the building is large the upgrade ladder here is unusually easy to climb with advisor benefits attached.
Makati is the central business district, which makes this a working hotel as much as a leisure one: Ayala Avenue's offices are at the door, Greenbelt and Glorietta shopping are a covered walk away, and the airport is roughly 30 to 45 minutes depending on Manila traffic, which is its own kind of adventure.
The Peninsula Manila at a Glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1976 |
| Location | Corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues, Makati CBD |
| Rooms | Roughly 470 — the largest Peninsula |
| Typical rates | From ~US$200–300 per night |
| Dining | Old Manila (Western fine dining), Spices (pan-Asian), The Lobby |
| Signature | The sunburst-ceilinged lobby, halo-halo in The Lobby, the Sunday brunch institution |
The Lobby, Brunch and What to Order
The Lobby serves the brand's afternoon tea and, more importantly here, the halo-halo that Manila regards as the benchmark version — shaved ice, ube, leche flan, the lot. Sunday brunch is a genuine institution and books out; ask the concierge to hold a table when you confirm the room, not after you arrive.
Old Manila handles the special-occasion dinner and Spices covers the pan-Asian register. Beyond the hotel, Intramuros and the old walled city make the obvious half-day, and Makati's restaurant scene has become one of the more interesting in Southeast Asia over the past few years.
The Peninsula Manila FAQs
Is The Peninsula Manila the cheapest Peninsula?
Yes — entry rooms generally run about US$200–300 a night, roughly half of Hong Kong and a fraction of London or Paris, for the same service culture and brand standards.
Where should I stay in Manila?
Makati for business and for the best restaurant and shopping density; Bonifacio Global City for newer, more planned surroundings. The Peninsula sits at the centre of Makati, which is where most visitors want to be.
What is the hotel known for locally?
Its lobby, unequivocally — it is where Manila meets. The Sunday brunch and the halo-halo are institutions in their own right, and both are worth reserving ahead.
How long is the airport transfer?
Roughly 30 to 45 minutes to Ninoy Aquino International, though Manila traffic can stretch that considerably at peak hours. Build in a generous buffer for departures, and let the hotel schedule the car.
What Biirdee Does
A concierge travel agency — paid by the hotel, never by you
Biirdee Travel books luxury hotels through preferred-partner programs: you pay the same rate as booking direct, the partner benefits attach to your reservation, and a human concierge handles the details end to end.
Tell us the trip
Destination or property, rough dates, who’s traveling. The form takes two minutes and commits you to nothing.
A concierge replies within hours
A real person checks availability, compares properties honestly, and confirms the perks your stay qualifies for — upgrades, breakfast, and credits where available.
Book at the same rate as direct
The hotel pays our commission out of the rate you’d pay anyway, so the perks cost you nothing. Before and during the trip, one concierge on WhatsApp handles requests and changes.
Flying too? The same team books business and first class — flights and hotels aligned as one itinerary, one point of contact.
Biirdee · Preferred Partner
Book The Peninsula Manila
Upgraded rooms, a Sunday brunch table and the airport run timed properly — same rate as direct, with PenClub-grade benefits attached.
Questions?[email protected]
Prefer to book it yourself at net fares?
Biirdee Pro members book flights & hotels at net rates — $100/mo, cancel anytime.