Bonifacio Global City
Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig
A modern new district built on a former military base, with wide walkways, street murals, the High Street shopping strip and Manila's densest concentration of Michelin-listed and boutique restaurants. It is the cleanest and safest face of Manila.
BGC lies in Taguig, east of Makati. It was once the Fort Bonifacio military base of US and Philippine forces, and since the 1990s it has been comprehensively planned and developed by a private consortium. Today it is Manila's most modern business and lifestyle district. Wide, level sidewalks, tree-lined streets and public art are everywhere, in stark contrast to the chaos of the old city. It is also the safest area in Manila and suited to evening strolls. Highlights: Bonifacio High Street is a 1-km open-air pedestrian shopping street lined with brand stores, restaurants and lawns, often hosting weekend markets and outdoor music. Dozens of large murals adorn building walls throughout the district under the BGC Art Mural project, and you can follow a map for a mural walk. The Mind Museum, a science museum, suits families with children. Venice Grand Canal Mall has a canal and gondolas modelled on Venice. Uptown Mall and SM Aura are large shopping centres. Dining is BGC's strength. After the Michelin Guide arrived in the Philippines in 2026, many listed restaurants and Bib Gourmand venues concentrated here, alongside dense clusters of Filipino creative cuisine (such as Toyo Eatery), Japanese, Korean and Western restaurants. Apart from Poblacion in Makati, this is another centre of nightlife, with bars and craft beer houses open late. Getting there: take a BGC Bus (₱13 to ₱15) from Ayala station in Makati, about 15 to 20 minutes; a taxi from the airport takes 30 to 45 minutes; within the district, walk or use shared bicycles. Tip: plan an evening into the night, visiting High Street and the murals first, then dinner and a drink. Notes: restaurant prices are close to those in first-tier Chinese cities, popular restaurants need advance reservations, and the main roads into and out of BGC are congested during weekday rush hours.
Opening hours
Open all day; mall approx. 10:00–22:00
Nearby sights
- Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
- Ayala Museum
- Cultural Center of the Philippines
- Paco Park
- Manila Baywalk
- SM Mall of Asia
- Malacañang Palace
- National Museum of Natural History