Top 10 Best Shopping Malls in the Philippines
The Philippines is one of the countries where shopping malls are highly prolific. The country has many mall chains, including SM, Robinsons, Ayala, and Gaisano, as well as local mall operators.With the variety of malls to choose from, which ones do you consider the best? Please state the reasons to justify their ranking. You can include future malls and expansions or redevelopments, as long as the majority of their design and features are already visible.
SM Seaside City Cebu is the runner-up for the best mall (once completed). The iconic circular mall building, set in a scenic seaside location, will be one of the biggest malls in the Philippines, covering 400,000 sq. meters.
Aside from size, it also has many features that make it the best mall outside Manila:
- It will have the largest roof deck garden in the Philippines (approximately 2.3 hectares)
- Includes a lower-level garden with a viewing tower in the middle
- Offers recreational areas such as an Olympic-sized ice skating rink and bowling alleys
- Features an IMAX theater
This is the first circular-type SM Supermall, featuring an iconic viewing tower. It also has the most strategic location, with views of the sea on one side and the mountains and Cebu skyline on the other.
Festival Supermall is probably the most sprawling mall in the Philippines, with a mall ground area of around 30 hectares. It is also one of the biggest, with a Gross Floor Area of around 310,000 sq. meters after expansion. But size is not the only factor that makes it special. It also has many features that could make it an international shopping destination.
Here are the features that make Festival Supermall the best mall in the Philippines:
- First theme mall in the Philippines
- First mall in the Philippines with a train and rail track running through its hallway
- The only mall in the country that has two indoor theme parks
- Probably the only mall in the world with a garden and natural creek passing through its buildings
- Likely to have the largest mall garden in the world (approximately 4 hectares) after its expansion
One of the largest malls in the Philippines (407,000 sq.m.), located in the coastal areas of Manila. It also has many outstanding features.
Special features:
- An indoor science park with a planetarium.
Greenbelt is one of the best malls in the Philippines. The shopping complex has five buildings, with the newest one catering to the high-end luxury market, while the older ones cater to the middle class.
Here are the features that make Greenbelt the third-best mall:
- A well-landscaped, sprawling garden (approximately 2 hectares) with a chapel, water features, and sculptures
- One of the few Philippine malls with many luxury brands
Yes, this is the best. Fresh air and full of trees. I like this place. It's safe and comfortable. Most malls in Makati are safe. I love this place.
One of the larger malls, Glorietta is located in the midst of the Philippines' business capital. It also has a circular hallway lined with a great selection of shops.
Special features:
- The only mall in the Philippines connected to three major department stores (SM, Rustan's, and Landmark)
- Probably the most accessible mall in the Philippines, as it has easy access to an elevated train (MRT), the business district's main thoroughfare (Ayala Ave.), and the busiest road in the country (EDSA)
- Will have a vast roof deck garden surrounded by shops and tall buildings after redevelopment
- Will likely have the longest mall atrium in the Philippines, stretching from one end of the mall to the other, after full redevelopment
- Has a ground-level garden next to a major avenue, surrounded by buildings
- Features a grand entry lobby with a three-story high ceiling and an indoor waterfall
Alabang Town Center is a sprawling shopping complex with a laid-back Spanish town ambiance. It offers a great selection of shops and has varied designs of store fronts.
Special features:
- Central courtyard with plants and water features
- Tall and spacious entry courtyards lined with shops, plants, and water features
- Features an indoor laser shooting amusement center
For me, Alabang Town Center should be at the top of the list.
SM City North EDSA is one of the largest malls in the Philippines, with an approximate area of 482,000 sq. meters. The sprawling mall complex has several buildings with varied designs and color themes.
Special features:
- A vast second-level garden (approximately 1.5 hectares) at the mall facade
- Includes a bowling center
- Features an IMAX Theater
- Has the largest and only two-level digital store section among Philippine malls (Cyberzone)
- Likely has the largest furniture/hardware shop section among Philippine malls (Interior Zone)
This mall is the best because it is located at the heart of the Philippines. It has wide parking lots, huge stores, and the tenants in this mall are so welcoming.
The most convenient mall outside Metro Manila. Enough parking space and strategically located in the center of the city.
This mall is the best. It's so beautiful and well-organized.
The only SM mall in the Philippines that does not use air conditioning. Watch out for the new expansion, which will showcase green architecture.
A compact mall with many amenities and nice design concepts.
Special features:
- A vast roof deck garden overlooking the city. The garden has a chapel, indoor performance hall, plants, water features, and shops.
- A convention center (SMX).
- An IMAX theater.
High-end and premier stores. Wow.
It has classy interiors and a wide selection of tenants.
Special features:
- A large central atrium with the longest mall escalator in the Philippines.
- One of the few Philippine malls with many luxury brands.
This mall should be included in the list because it was the first and largest SM mall outside of Metro Manila before SM Seaside City. There's also a plan to expand the mall, including BPO office towers, a modernized parking building, and mall upgrades.
Ayala Center Cebu is a mall with varied facade designs. It also has many landscaped features and a good mix of tenants.
Special features:
- A 1-hectare ground-level mall garden surrounded by shops, restaurants, plants, and water features
- A small roof deck park with plants, water features, and shops
- Includes two major department stores (Metro Gaisano and Rustan's)
This mall will be surrounded by iconic towers in the future. The best feature that makes it iconic is "The Terraces," a beautifully landscaped garden surrounded by shops and restaurants.
This is a very huge and fantastic mall.
It features:
- A dancing fountain court.
- A view deck with many mini fountains.
- A large parking area.
- A wide open space inside.
It is the largest mall in Mindanao.
I love the design of this mall. I think it has the best-designed parking area in the Philippines. The basement of the mall is very cozy.
A very nice mall in Cebu. I like this mall after Ayala Center Cebu. My nephews and nieces prefer to hang out here, though.
The design of this mall is perfect - very clean and well organized.
This mall is perfect because of the many different shops, and aside from that, it's a wonderful place to hang out in Las Piñas.
This mall is perfect for everyone because it contains different shops like H&M, Uniqlo, and Aeropostale. It's also convenient because Robinsons Land Magnolia Residence is just a short walk away.
The Peak is very beautiful. It looks like you are in Nevada.
It is the largest mall in General Santos City. It has a department store, supermarket, two trade hall centers, a parking building, cinema, Toy Kingdom, Ace Hardware, and also a fountain court.