Mandarin Oriental returns to Manila
An icon is coming home.
After 12 years, Mandarin Oriental returns to Makati, reconnecting with the city it helped define while preparing to welcome a new generation of travelers and patrons. Now called Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila, this luxury hotel is set to open later this year at Ayala Triangle Gardens, with reservations already available for stays beginning Dec. 14, 2026.
A homecoming
For many, however, the brand’s return felt more like a “homecoming” of sorts.
To recall, the original Mandarin Oriental Manila opened in 1976, when Makati was still emerging as the country’s leading financial and lifestyle district. Designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin, it soon became a regular meeting place for business leaders, diplomats, international visitors and generations of Filipino families. As Makati grew, the hotel grew into its role within the city.
“Few brands are as closely woven into the Makati story as Mandarin Oriental. For decades, it stood at the heart of the city, not only physically but culturally,” said Ayala Land creative director Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala.
“It became the backdrop for countless memories and milestones. It was where Makati gathered, where visitors experienced Manila at its finest, and where many of us have stories of our own. Its return is therefore more than (just) the opening of a hotel. It’s the return of a beloved part of Makati’s story, almost like a friend and family member,” Zobel de Ayala said in a briefing Tuesday.
Filipino expression of luxury
The 98.7-meter tall Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila will offer 275 rooms and suites, five dining and bar concepts, an 800-sqm Spa and Wellness floor and a collection of event spaces.
Its interiors are designed around the Philippine landscape, using natural materials, warm timber tones, woven details, and artisanal finishes by Filipino craftspeople.
This is evident in the details of the hotel and its rooms, which include the 50-sqm Deluxe Rooms featuring panoramic views of the city and park. The hotel also offers connecting rooms, Family Deluxe Rooms and suites, along with Club accommodations that include access to the Mandarin Oriental Club Lounge and 24-hour butler service.
Its dining concepts will meanwhile cover Cantonese, Filipino and international cuisine, while the spa will draw from local healing traditions, including hilot and Sukob ng Manggagamot.
These details give the hotel a distinct sense of place, grounding its renowned brand of luxury in Filipino design and craftsmanship.
A familiar name, a different city
This is especially important today as Mandarin Oriental is returning to a different Makati.
The city has since expanded beyond its traditional identity as a corporate center. New residences, restaurants, parks, galleries, museums and cultural spaces have made it a more varied and more dynamic urban destination, serving people who come not only to work, but also to live, dine, gather and spend time.
So while it returns with a well-loved name, Mandarin Oriental must now create the same sense of belonging for a different audience.
“It’s not about recreating the past,” said Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila general manager Franck Droin. “It’s about honoring a legacy while building the future.”
What will remain unchanged though, according to Droin, is Mandarin Oriental’s commitment “to create exceptional experiences that capture the essence of the destination and deliver with generous care and precision.”
He also cited Mandarin’s “legendary service” which is “intuitive, thoughtful, anticipatory—a service that understands what the guests need before they meet and before they ask.”
Raising the bar
The return of Mandarin Oriental may have been years in the making. But for many, it was well worth the wait.
Particularly for Ayala Land, its comeback is an important addition to the Makati CBD, forming part of the property giant’s efforts to keep Makati evolving and introduce new experiences for those who live, work and visit the city.
“We believe it has been worth the wait. As we continue investing in the future of our estates, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Mandarin Oriental back to the Triangle,” Zobel de Ayala said.
“It raises the bar for luxury hospitality in the country and reinforces our belief that great cities must continue to evolve while remaining connected to the stories that made them special in the first place,” she further explained.
“The hotel represents much more than a new opening for us. It represents the return of a brand that has long been part of Manila’s story,” Droin said.
“This story is your story. It’s your home. (It’s) a new landmark overlooking Ayala Triangle Garden, a new gathering place for the city, and a new chapter for us, Mandarin Oriental in the Philippines. We see that the city has changed, and the ground has evolved, and we are thrilled to be back where we belong,” he added.
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