The urban center of Makati is one of sixteen cities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is the economic heart of the country as well as one of the main commercial and economic hubs of the Asian region. The Makati Business Club and the Philippine Stock Exchange are located here. At the same time it is also the go to place for local culture and entertainment. Makati is one of the most densely populated metropolitan cities in the world but it manages to accommodate large visitor numbers in holiday rentals on the outskirts of the city; from luxurious homes to small holiday villas and service apartments. Manila Philippines, the capital as a whole, is a populous city.
Many expatriates are based in Makati clustered around the financial district and a noteworthy multicultural lifestyle has developed as a result. It is also home to the Philippines’ affluent. The heart of the city is scattered with upscale boutiques housing high fashion brands and department stores like Greenbelt, Glorietta Mall and Rockwell Center. Top notch restaurants like Shang Palace serving excellent Dim Sum; Sala with fine European cuisine and UMU boasting authentic Japanese dishes such as Sushi and Sashimi, Teppanyaki and Bento Boxes are the where you can expect to spend big bucks. Star class hotels like Ascott Makati are located on Ayala Center, which is the Philippines’ equivalent of Orchard Road.
The name ‘Makati’ is derived from the Tagalog word ‘kati’, which means tide, in reference to the tide of the Pasig River located to the north of Makati City. The city was dismissed as a ‘worthless swamp’ by the Spanish conqueror Juan Miguel de Legazpi in 1571 but has successfully proved itself as a major competitor on the world stage four hundred years later.