Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila Opens December 2026: Inside the Luxury Hotel’s Return
Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila will officially open on December 14, 2026, marking the return of one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel brands to the Philippine capital more than a decade after the closure of the original Mandarin Oriental Manila. Located beside Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati’s central business district, the new hotel brings 275 rooms and suites, five restaurants and bars, an 800-square-meter spa, and one of the city’s largest luxury event spaces.
When Mandarin Oriental Manila closed in September 2014, after 38 years as one of Makati’s defining addresses, it left a gap that no other property in the city quite filled. Designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin and opened in 1976 as one of several luxury hotels built to host the IMF-World Bank annual meetings that year, it had been the kind of place where the city’s business, diplomatic, and social lives converged. Heritage advocates and architects considered it among Locsin’s finest work, and the site became, for a long while, a question without an answer. That is, until now.
Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila rises above Ayala Triangle Gardens at the intersection of Makati Avenue, Ayala Avenue, and Paseo de Roxas. The 98.7-metre tower, built in consultation with Leandro V. Locsin Partners, was developed in partnership between Mandarin Oriental and Ayala Land. It is built on a new site—a deliberate fresh start rather than a recreation of what came before.
While the new lobby pays tribute to the brutalist architecture that typefied the previous hotel, Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, Creative Director of Ayala Land, explains, “The city and Makati has to evolve…there’s always that nostalgia in seeing beautiful things change. But we hope this isn’t something that is compared with the old Mandarin; this is a new Mandarin, which has its own personality and its own identity. It’s going to have its own stories, but still with the same heart of the brand.”
The rooms, which start at Php29,500, have been designed around the materials and light of the Philippine landscape: natural timber tones, woven detailing, and artisanal finishes by Filipino craftsmen (including robes made with binakol fabric from Abra) that have become an Ayala Land signature. The new structure boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, and entry-level Deluxe Rooms begin at a generous 50 square meters with panoramic views over the park and city. Club-floor guests receive 24-hour butler service and dedicated lounge access—a tier of privacy that suits both the property’s positioning and the expectations of the guests it is courting.
The dining program spans five concepts across contemporary Cantonese, Filipino, and international cooking, as well as a whisky and cigar lounge behind the lobby. Manila’s restaurant scene has matured considerably in the decade since the original hotel closed—the Michelin Guide made its Philippine debut only in 2026, its first expansion to the country in 125 years—and the new property arrives into a city with a far more confident and discerning palate than the one it left behind.
The 800 square meter spa draws on indigenous Filipino healing practices like hilot, the traditional discipline of therapeutic massage and energy realignment, and Sukob ng Manggagamot, which weaves spiritual ritual with herbal medicine and native botanicals. The spa is anchored by a 25-meter outdoor pool overlooking Ayala Triangle Gardens. Grounding a global brand in genuinely local practice, rather than generic luxury-wellness signifiers, is a choice worth noting.
Few hospitality returns have been more anticipated in this part of the world. When the doors open later this year, Makati will have back something it has genuinely missed—and, if the ambition of the project is any indication, something worth the wait.
Click here to see more photos of the new Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila open?
Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila is scheduled to open on December 14, 2026.
Where is Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila located?
The hotel stands beside Ayala Triangle Gardens at the intersection of Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, and Paseo de Roxas in Makati City.
How many rooms does Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila have?
The hotel features 275 rooms and suites.
What restaurants will Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila have?
The property will offer five dining concepts spanning Cantonese, Filipino, international cuisine, and a whisky and cigar lounge.
How much do rooms cost at Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila?
Rates start at approximately ₱29,500 per night.
Visit Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila’s website here.