Photos by James Ong
Close to Mandaluyong, Quezon City and Pasig, San Juan is a tiny city in the center of everything. It is primarily a residential area with a number of high-end gated communities and home to a number of schools, which means traffic can be horrible when classes are over. But it is orderly and peaceful. It is quiet and less busy and has started to attract spas, wellness centers, and artist spots; boasts of a relatively small but complete mall, family-centered establishments, and intriguing dining options.
FRIDAY
2pm. There are a few bed-and-breakfast joints scattered around San Juan but the best option is the 37-story Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern (49 Annapolis Street, +63 2 7447878. From PHP3,400), a sprint away from Greenhills Shopping Centre, where you will be spending most of this weekend. Hit the treadmill or swim a few laps before you head out of town, the view from these two facilities is amazing.
3pm. Ride a jeepney (PHP8) down Ortigas Avenue to Pinaglabanan and visit recently opened Katipunan Museum (29 Corazon de Jesus St; +63 2 3855896), which houses the largest collection of relics and archival documents of the revolutionary movement, named KKK, that spearheaded the Philippine revolution against the Spanish occupation.
4pm. Take a cab (or if you are adventurous enough, take two jeepney rides) and head to Little Store on the Hill (2 Jose Abad Santos, +63 2 7219174), a cozy grocery and mini-restaurant that can seat around 20 people where you can purchase candies, fruits, vegetables, and imported Asian spices. Decked in green, it gives off a Hong Kong/Buddhist hole-in-the-wall vibe. Sit down for a snack: try their famous lumpia (PHP75), a fresh vegetable spring roll made in the Hokkien tradition. For the not-so queasy, the misua balut (PHP65), a hot noodle soup garnished with the country’s most polarizing delicacy.
6pm. Before dinner, take a casual stroll down to Jo-Liza Antique Shop (664 Jose Abad Santos, +63 2 7258303) for a great selection of local and imported antique home furnishings and décors, then take a taxi to Lugang Café (116 Connecticut Street, +63 2 5420196), a popular Chinese and Taiwanese restaurant famous for its xiao long bao (PHP188 for 8 pieces), a pork dumpling with hot soup inside. Another dish you should try is their chicken topped with scallions and ginger oil (PHP470).
9pm. Head down to Greenhills Shopping Centre for live entertainment, from bands to stage productions, at Music Museum or Teatrino (Greenhills Shopping Theater Mall,+63 2 7224501). Or walk down Annapolis Street and treat yourself to a massage at Happy Family Spa (G/F Meridien Bldg, 29 Annapolis St, +63 2 7253517), a modest spa with clean rooms and excellent therapists.
SATURDAY
8am. For breakfast, walk to Deli Master (33 Annapolis St, +63 2 9190285) for a wide selection of imported food items such as steaks and lamb chops. You can order an American Breakfast or Filipino Breakfast (both PHP155) or choose any item from their selections and have the chef cook it for you the way you want it. The coffee is bottomless.
10am. Take a jeep (or a really long walk) down Ortigas Avenue to Bliss Yoga (Unit 304 Sekai Center, Ortigas Avenue corner Madison St, +63 2 7549915) and take a yoga class (PHP500 drop-in rate).
12nn. From Sekai Center, walk a few more steps towards the beautifully designed Ronac Art Center (424 Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills North). Have lunch at Charlie’s Grind and Grill on the ground floor (+63 2 4775021) and have some of their famous buffalo wings (PHP265 for six pieces) with three flavors: sweet, hot, and nuclear. Or if you’re a protein muncher, try the Black Angus Burger with Shrooms (PHP415).Explore the stores at Ronac Art Center afterwards. Secret Fresh (+63 2 5709815), a concept store for toy collectors and vinyl record enthusiasts. It also has a rotating exhibit of artwork by local and international artists. At the top floor of Ronac Art Centre is The Deck, where clothing and lifestyle items are bought from local and international brands.
7pm. For dinner, continue down Ortigas Avenue to Gilmore St. and arrive at a small restaurant called Thai Dara (Gilmore Avenue, Granada St., +63 2 568 0651). Owned and run by Thai owners, the food is full of flavours and very spicy. Pad Thai (P199) and Tom Yum Seafood soup (P229) are staple Thai dishes that they do exceptionally well.
9pm. To cap the night, take a cab and take a little drive to Moksha (713 Jose Abad Santos cor Wilson Sts, +63 2 7238314) for some drinks and good music. San Juan doesn’t have many options for late night revelries, but Moksha is more than enough to handle the demand. The cocktails are affordable (mojitos at P125) and on a good night, the regulars like to get up and dance, otherwise, it’s a great place to just lounge and have a couple of drinks. Or try out Caldéron (403 Felipe Calderon St; +63 2 2382264) a block away for some mid-priced tapas and sangria.
SUNDAY
9am. Start your day by walking to Greenhills Shopping Centre across your hotel. Check out the flea market-style spread that sells a variety of clothes, shoes, bags, furniture, jewelry, food, and cultured pearls. Then scoot on over to Angel’s Kitchen (57 Connecticut Street, +63 2 7218822) for brunch or early lunch. The homey interiors match perfectly with the Filipino-fusion comfort food. Everyone raves about the pinakbet rice and lechon kawali. It’s pricey at approximately P700 pesos per person, but the food is amazing and a perfect end to your trip.
MORE STAYCATION GUIDES TO METRO MANILA:
– Friday, Saturday and Sunday in BF Homes Parañaque
– Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown
– Friday and Saturday in Divisoria and Tondo
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