Manila/Ermita

Ermita is a district in downtown Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.

Understand

Rizal Park and the Ermita skyline

Ermita takes its name from a hermitage (ermita in Spanish) containing a 16th-century image of Nuestra Señora de Guia that once stood on the site of today's Ermita Church.

Under American rule, this district became Manila's equivalent of Capitol Hill, with many important government structures rising around the large greensward of Luneta (now Rizal Park). Some of these government units have since moved out and the buildings turned into exhibition space for the National Museum and its sister institution, the Museum of the Filipino People (which occupy the old legislative building and the old Finance Department building, respectively).

Get in

By train

Ermita is served by three railway stations, all on the LRT Line 1. From the southernmost station, moving north towards the river:

• Pedro Gil (on Taft Avenue). Near the Philippine General Hospital.
• United Nations (on Taft Avenue). Near Rizal Park, the Supreme Court, and the National Bureau of Investigation compound.
• Central Terminal (on Arroceros Street). Near Mehan Garden, the Manila Metropolitan Theatre, the Manila City Hall, and the eastern walls of Intramuros.

By water bus

The Pasig River Ferry stops at Quezon Bridge (Lawton) station, near - you guessed it - Quezon Bridge, which is not far from Liwasang Bonifacio and the old Metropolitan Theatre. The ferry service has reported to be suspended for an indefinite period.

By taxi

Taxis from Ninoy Aquino International Airport will cost you a poverty-inducing ₱550 unless you insist on taking a car with driver from any of the rental car companies. Fares on the official yellow metered airport taxis starts at ₱70, but beware: some airport taxi drivers place meter tampering devices (batingting) to double the fare and extort money from unwary travellers. Regular metered taxis are also legitimate and can be had just by walking away from the airport a bit. As with the ride from the domestic airport, barring severe traffic, a trip to Ermita should not cost more than ₱200.

See

Museums and other points of interest

• 1 Manila Ocean Park, near Roxas Blvd (behind the Quirino Grandstand on the western end of Rizal Park), ☏ +63 2-5677777, fax: +63 2-5672309. 10AM to 8PM on weekdays (last entry 7:15PM), 9AM to 8PM on weekends and public holidays (last entry 8:15PM). Opened in 2008, this is Manila's first major oceanarium. Although not quite as large and well-equipped as some of Asia's more famous oceanaria (including those in Hong Kong and Singapore), it's still a popular attraction among locals and could be a very interesting diversion for families with children. The centrepiece is the Living Ocean exhibit with large aquariums and an underwater acrylic walkway. From ₱595 per person.  
• 2 Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard cor. South Dr (right next to the U.S. Embassy compound), ☏ +63 2-5231797, +63 2-5360595, fax: +63 2-5221246, info@museopambata.org. Tu-Sa 8AM to 5PM (Aug-Mar), 9AM to 5PM (Apr-Jul); Su 1-5PM; closed M and holidays. This museum is geared towards keeping children entertained (and informed) through educational hands-on exhibits and special activities. Themed galleries cover a variety of subjects ranging from history to science to art. Don't put a short leash on the kids here: they're expected to touch and play with most of the stuff on show. Admission ₱100 adults/children. Streetchildren, infants (under 2 years), museum workers and teachers (with valid IDs) get in free.  
• 3 National Museum of Anthropology, P. Burgos Drive. 9AM–6PM. Stately, neoclassical museum housing a broad collection of Filipino cultural materials & artifacts. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 National Museum of Fine Arts, Padre Burgos Avenue. 9AM–6PM. Massive museum with collections of Filipino fine art, archaeology, botany, natural history & more. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 National Museum of Natural History (Natural history museum), Teodoro F. Valencia Circle (located in Luneta Park). 8AM–7PM. Zoological, botanical & geological specimens displayed in an elegant venue with a soaring atrium. (updated Sep 2023)
• 6 National Planetarium Manila, Padre Burgos Street (located in Rizal Park), ☏ +63285277889. 9AM–6:30PM. Museum of space history, Small venue with educational displays on planets & space plus shows in a dome-shaped theater. (updated Sep 2023)

Parks, gardens, and monuments

The Rizal Monument in Rizal Park (Luneta)

• 7 Rizal Park (Luneta), Roxas Blvd. Nearest railway station: United Nations (LRT-1). Manila's green lung, this large urban park stretches from the Quirino Grandstand in the west to Taft Avenue in the east, with the historic walled district of Intramuros bordering it to the north. The park's most famous landmark is the Rizal Monument, a stone obelisk with bronze statuary erected near the site of Philippine national hero José Rizal's execution in 1896. All distances in the Philippines are measured from the large flagpole near the monument, which serves as the country's Kilometre Zero. Other prominent features include a statue of Lapu-Lapu (the native chieftain who repulsed Magellan's expedition in 1521) and a giant relief map of the Philippines (set within a reflecting pool near the Taft Avenue end). Well-known landmarks within the park's boundaries include the Museum of the Filipino People (inside the old Finance Department building), the Department of Tourism building, the Manila Planetarium, and the National Library. Many locals (including taxi drivers) still refer to the park by its old name: Luneta.  
• 8 Mehan Garden. See Asia's first botanical garden, opened on the late 1850s, renamed after John C. Mehan, the park superintendent. 

Other landmarks

The Department of Tourism building (Rizal Park, Manila)

• 9 Department of Tourism, T. M. Kalaw (on the opposite side of Rizal Park from the old Finance building). Almost a twin of the former Finance Department headquarters nearby, this Neoclassical building is a prominent feature of the eastern end of Rizal Park. The colossal statue of Lapu-Lapu - a fairly recent addition to the park - stands between the two buildings, and the giant relief map of the Philippines is just a short walk away. 

Manila Central Post Office Building

• 10 Manila Central Post Office Building, Liwasang Bonifacio (near the Manila Metropolitan Theatre building). Never mind the ill-conceived pink and yellow paint job - this grand Neoclassical structure from the 1920s is a fine exemplar of the massive government buildings that were erected in this part of Manila during the American colonial period. It is the headquarters of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost). The structure experienced a massive fire last July 2003.  
• 11 Manila City Hall, P. Gomez Street corner Natividad Street (near the Central Terminal LRT Station). (updated Jun 2017)
• 12 Supreme Court, Padre Faura Street corner Taft Avenue (besides NBI Head Office, near U.N. Avenue LRT Station). 
• 13 Metropolitan Theater (Next to Arroceros Forest Park and Mehan Garden), Padre Burgos. An Art Deco building designed by Filipino architect; Juan M. de Guzman Arellano, first opened in the 1930s and then was severely damaged after the liberation of Manila by America and the Filipino forces in 1945, it was again reconstructed by the Americans however by the 1960s it fell into disuse but again reopened in the 1970s, and then again it fell into decay. As of January 2023, the theater is now fully operationals, some stage play and concerts was been held from the last 6 months of 2023. 
• 14 Kilometre Zero, Roxas Boulevard. Open 24 hours. Historical landmark, Small marble marker, reference point for all Filipino distance measurements & popular for photo ops. Free. (updated Sep 2023)

Do

Take a walk up and down Adriatico street. Bars, restaurants and some pretty nice sidewalk cafes.

Buy

• 1 Robinsons Place Manila, Pedro Gil cor. Adriatico (behind the Philippine General Hospital compound), ☏ +63 2-3020109, +63 2-3020119, +63 2-5264914, +63 2-5258452. Daily 10AM to 9PM. An urban shopping complex with the usual amenities: food court, cinemas, department store, supermarket, etc. 7 levels, 330 stores. Located near Pedro Gil Station (LRT-1).  
• 2 SM City Manila, Natividad Almeda-Lopez (Concepcion) cor. Arroceros (across the street from the Manila City Hall building). Part of the nationwide SM "Supermall" chain, this shopping centre has all of the standard features of an urban mall (including a food court, cinemas, a department store and a supermarket) as well as scores of shops spread out over 6 floors. Located near Central Terminal (LRT-1).  

Eat

• Dads Saisaki Kamayan, 523 Merchant Bldg., Padre Faura St., +63 2 8528 1723. Kamayan literally means to eat with your hands in Filipino. Their native buffet has a wide range of Filipino food to offer for just under 10 US$/person. Specialties include the lechon (suckling pig) and grilled seafood. Kamayan also has branches in Makati and Quezon City and is usually located alongside its sister restaurants Dad's (Western food buffet) and Saisaki (Japanese food buffet).
• 1 Wendy's (Wendy's Hamburgers), Ground floor, SM City Manila. 9AM-9PM. American fastfood worldwide chains. also have branch in U.N Avenue and Robinson's Place Manila. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 McDonald's, Ground floor, SM City Manila. with branches in U.N. Avenue, Robinson's Place Manila, Pedro Gil Street, and all over Metro Manila. (updated Aug 2023)
• 3 Popeyes, branches in SM City Manila and Robinson's Place Manila. (updated Aug 2023)
• 4 Kenny Roger's Roasters, with branches in SM City Manila and Robinson's Place Manil. (updated Aug 2023)
• 5 Burger King, located in SM City Manila and Robinson's Place Manila. (updated Aug 2023)
• 6 Pepper Lunch, located in Robinson's Place Manila. (updated Aug 2023)
• 7 Racks, Ground Floor, Padre Faura Wing, Robinson's Place Manila. The Best Ribs in Town. (updated Aug 2023)
• 8 New Bombay, Robinson's Place Manila. 10AM-8:30PM. Indian restaurant. (updated Aug 2023)
• 9 KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), branches in SM City Manila, U.N. Avenue and SM City Manila. (updated Aug 2023)

Drink

There are bars and nightclubs literally left and right. Go bar hopping. If you're into strip clubs, they got those too.

L.A. Cafe - The district's biggest 'meat market'. It's open 24 hours per day. Two floors, live bands/music, TV screens. Good food, drinks and music.

• 1 Starbucks, located in SM City Manila, U.N. Avenue, Robinson's Place Manila, Philippine General Hospital. (updated Aug 2023)

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Sunny Bay Suites, 1438 Roxas Blvd (across from South Harbor seafront), ☏ +63 2 8521 8888. This hotel offers rooms equipped with air conditioning, desk, television, shower, kitchenette, satellite/cable TV and dining area. Has a Japanese restaurant that serves breakfast and a massage service. Rates start at ₱1720. 
• 2 Cherry Blossoms Hotel, 550 Jorge Bocobo Extension, ☏ +63 2 8708 9901. All rooms are good for two persons with free breakfast. Best rates on official website start at ₱1600. 
• 3 Casa Bocobo Hotel, Jorge Bocobo St. cor. T.M. Kalaw Ave., ☏ +63 2 8526 3783. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Casa Bocobo Hotel is a no-frills budget hotel located in the neighborhood of the world-renowned Rizal Park. The two-storey, 47-room hotel provides air-conditioned rooms, orthopedic beds, hot & cold shower, cable service via an LCD TV and direct distance dial phones. Their coffee shop, Cafe Bocobo, specializes in Filipino and Asian cuisine. Simple dishes yet superbly crafted and reasonably priced. Rates start at ₱2263 net single/double with breakfast. 
• 4 Santos Pension House, 1540 A Mabini Street, ☏ +63-2-8523 4896. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. Fan room with outside bathroom. Fan and A/C double rooms with own bathroom. ₱560/₱690/₱990. (updated Mar 2016)

Mid-range

• 5 Manila Lotus Hotel, 1227 A. Mabini corner Padre Faura Streets, ☏ +63 2 8522 1515. A/C rooms equipped with cable TV, mini bar, daily newspaper and hair dryer. Some of its facilities and services are restaurant, bar, function room and massage service. ₱1926. 
• 6 City Garden Suites Manila, 1158 A. Mabini St, ☏ +63 2 8835 4500, fax: +63 2-524-4844. A/C rooms equipped with cable TV, and refrigerator with mini-bar items. Some of its facilities and services are Internet access, business center, lounge and cafe shop. ₱1781. 
• 7 Midland Plaza Manila Hotel, M. Adriatico St, ☏ +63 2 8521 8517, fax: +63 2-521-8522. Occupying two floors of the Midland Plaza Building, you can look down on Manila life from your room and enjoy your time here with a kitchenette, wifi, cable TV, and balcony. Best rates on official website start at US$40. 
• 8 Pearl Manila, General Luna St. cor. Taft Ave. & United Nations Ave, ☏ +63 2-400-0088, fax: +63 2-400-0077. Here you can take in the sights and sounds of Manila from the outdoor pool, and there's also a restaurant for trying out some Filipino ulam. ₱2118. 
• 9 Luneta Hotel, 414 Kalaw Ave, ☏ +63 2 8875 8921. Historic luxury hotel, built in a French Renaissance Belle Epoque style and first opened in 1919. It was one of the few buildings that survived the Battle of Manila in 1945 when Allied trooped ended the Japanese occupation. It closed in 1987 but reopened in 2014, now as a slightly more modest option. (updated Jan 2023)
• 10 Red Planet Manila Bay, Arquiza corner Alhambra Streets, ☏ +63 2 8244 0888. PHP 2,022 / NIGHT. (updated Aug 2023)

Spa and massage

• Mont Albo Massage Hut United Nations Avenue, GF Mayfair Tower United Nations Avenue st. Corner Mabini St, ☏ +63 2 966 2269. Unlike most other spas in Manila, the theme of Mont Albo Massage Hut is old Filipino paying tribute to the humble local nipa hut. Facilities would include waiting lounge, massage/body scrub cubicles, massage chairs, shower and suob (steam) chamber. Massage for ₱350. 

Splurge

• 11 Hotel H2O, part of Manila Ocean Park (between Rizal Park and South Harbor seafront), ☏ +63 2 238 6100. Offers rooms and suites that boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, aquarium walls, or city/bay views. All rooms are fully equipped with private toilet and shower, LCD TV with cable and pay-per-view movies, Internet access, and mini-bar. Some of its amenities include Makansutra Asian Food Village, Club H2O Lounge, fitness centre and spa, and a swimming pool. Best rates on official website start at ₱4758. 
• 12 Rizal Park Hotel, South Road Drive, Kalaw Ave, Ext, ☏ +63 2 8804 8700. (updated Aug 2023)
• 13 The Manila Hotel, 1 Rizal Park, ☏ +63 2 8527 0011, info@themanilahotel.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. One of Manila's oldest and historical landmark. (updated Aug 2023)
• 14 Bayview Park Hotel Manila, 118 Roxas Boulevard, corner United Nations Avenue, ☏ +63 2 8526 1555. (updated Aug 2023)

Connect

The international telephone country code for the Philippines is 63. The area code for Metro Manila (including Ermita) is 2.

Go next

Within sight of Rizal Park is Ermita's famous next-door neighbour, the historic walled city of Intramuros.