SM Mall of Asia (MOA) is not your typical shopping mall. Aside from the usual shopping and dining, it has a lot more amenities that mall goers and tourists can enjoy. It is located at Bay City in Pasay, which is a reclaimed area within Manila Bay. Spanning around 16 hectares of land area and with an even more massive floor area, SM Mall of Asia is currently the largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the 6th in the world. With its size, it can honestly be considered its own destination in the Philippines.
If you are a tourist visiting Manila, the Mall of Asia area is also one of the best areas to stay for multiple reasons. First, you’ll find plenty of hotels in the area. Second, it is only about 20 minutes from the airport, meaning you can get to and from the airport easily without going through much of the Manila traffic. Third, there’s also a transport terminal within Mall of Asia, making it very accessible. There are UV Express vans and jeepneys that can take you to different areas of Metro Manila and Cavite. And finally, if you’re only staying in Manila for a day or two, you don’t even have to go anywhere else because the area abounds with fun activities and interesting spots.
Just as you arrive in MOA, you’ll be greeted by the MOA Globe. It may look like a mere gigantic hunk of metal during the daytime, but when night falls, it turns into a 360-degree LED billboard, illuminating the roundabout area and the main entrance of the mall complex.
Whether you decided to make the MOA area your base or you’re just looking for things to do around Manila, here are some of the best places to visit and things to do in and near SM Mall of Asia. The scope also includes other areas in Bay City like Aseana City and Entertainment City. We provided links to some activities for convenient ticket purchase.
NOTE: Opening schedules may change, so it’s best to check the official websites or Facebook pages of the places and activities listed here for updates before you go.
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
Things to Do & Attractions
SM by the Bay
Stretching along the Seaside Boulevard of the Mall of Asia complex is SM by the Bay. Here, you’ll find an amusement park where you can enjoy some rides and games. The most notable ride here is probably the MOA Eye ferris wheel which also became a popular landmark within the MOA complex.
Among other rides are the Dream Twister, Pirate Ship, Drop Tower, Lolly Swing, Bumper Car, and Carousel. You can buy a ticket for individual rides or a ride-all-you-can pass on site, but you can also purchase the latter in advance online.
✅ GET UNLIMITED RIDE PASS HERE!
If you miss the fairs or the carnival, you can also try your hand at different carnival games available and win toys! Both kids and adults can enjoy a game of ring toss, balloon pop, and hook a duck among others. As for the carnival games, you can pay for it on site. There are also bikes and scooters for rent if you want to go for a ride along the bay.
If you get hungry in between going on the different rides, there are various stalls where you can grab snacks and drinks. Looking for a full meal? A few restaurants, including some buffet dining spots, line the north and south parts. And the fun doesn’t stop there! One thing you shouldn’t miss here — the sunset! Although we have to be honest, the current view of the bay is spoiled by an on going reclamation project here; nevertheless, the sunset here is still one of the most beautiful you’ll see in the metro.
Location: SM MOA Complex, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Entrance Fee: FREE
Space & Time Cube
Transport yourself to different worlds and dimensions when you visit Space & Time Cube Museum. Located at S’Maison at Conrad Hotel, just across SM by the Bay, this immersive art museum offers 20 themed rooms, some of which are interactive with games that anyone can enjoy. Some people may liken this museum to TeamLab museums in Japan. However, neither Asta nor I had been to a TeamLab museum so we can’t make any comparison. What we do know is we really enjoyed our visit here!
Among the first rooms we explored upon entering is the Wandering Planet. Here, the room is fully covered in mirrors projecting various images of planets. A huge LED ball projects different designs in the middle of the room. Asta and I also had fun being lost and confused in the mirror maze.
We also enjoyed posing in the optical illusion rooms including the one where it looks like you’re underwater in a swimming pool and an upside down staircase. And if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in Jurassic Park or in space, the 4D tunnel will give you that experience! Before ending your tour of the museum, don’t miss the spot where you can color or design a fish and project it on the digital aquarium.
We didn’t avail the Rail Cinema, so we have no idea what the experience there is like. If you’ve been to Space & Time Cube and you were able to experience the Rail Cinema, let us know in the comments how the experience was!
Walk-ins are welcome here, but for convenience, we highly recommend booking a ticket in advance especially if you’re planning to go on a weekend or a holiday. You can book tickets to Space & Time Cube Museum by clicking the link below.
Location: G/F S Maison, Conrad Hotel, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Last entry, 9:00 PMRates
- Adults: P880/head
- Kids (10 y/o and below): P680/head
- Rail Cinema (9D Roller Coaster): P250/head
Dessert Museum
Another fun museum you can visit at S’Maison is Dessert Museum. If you have a sweet tooth and you like cute and colorful stuff, you’ll probably enjoy this museum. With eight dessert-themed rooms to explore, this will definitely make your sweet cravings to the roof! Luckily, the museum will give you a sweet fix as complimentary desserts are also provided during the tour.
Enrance fee costs P799 per person, but you can save and get it for only P699 per person if you book your tickets online. Get the discounted ticket through the link below!
Location: G/F S Maison, Conrad Hotel, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Last entry, 7:40 PM
Entrance Fee: P699 – P799/head
Ice Skating
The Philippines may not have snow and winter, but we have malls with ice skating rinks! I know those are very different things, but if you’re looking to experience playing on ice, this might do the trick. SM Mall of Asia’s skating rink is located on the third floor of the Main Mall.
You can either get a 2-Hour Pass or a Day Pass for a full day of sliding and gliding on the snow. If you’re a beginner or you’ve never tried skating before, you can also pay an additional fee for an assist coach.
Rates
If you are interested or you just want to beat the Manila heat, here are the rates:
- 2-Hour Pass: Monday to Friday, P350; Weekends & Holidays, P399
- Day Pass: Monday to Friday, P550; Weekends & Holidays, P699
Add-ons
- Asssist Coach (30 Minutes): P200
- Companion Pass: P100/person
- Polar Bear: P125
- Locker: P50/use
- Photobooth Souvenir: 6×8 size, P250; Wallet-size, P300 (4 pcs)
Schedules & Time Slots
A. 2-Hour Pass Time Slots
Monday to Friday
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- 12:15 PM – 02:15 PM
- 02:45 PM – 04:45 PM
- 05:15 PM – 07:15 PM
Saturday & Sunday:
- 11:15 AM – 01:15 PM
- 01:30 PM – 03:30 PM
- 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM
- 06:30 PM – 08:30 PM
B. Day Pass Schedule
- Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 11:15 AM – 8:30 PM
For those who want to avail of an Ice Skating Pass in advance, you may follow the link below!
Location: 3/F Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
IKEA
IKEA is a Swedish home furnishing brand that sells ready-to-assemble furniture, home accessories, kitchenware, and other home goods. It might not make sense for travelers or tourists why IKEA is on this list, but get this. This IKEA located in MOA Square is the biggest IKEA in the world. So, even though you might not have a need to buy anything home-related while you’re traveling, it might make you curious enough to see it.
Besides, shopping is not the only thing you can do here. IKEA Pasay City has a bistro, a Swedish food market, a café, and a restaurant.
At the Swedish bistro, you can get hotdogs, drinks, and ice cream. For more snacks, you can go to their café where you can grab some pastries, bread, and drinks. You can also have a meal at the Swedish restaurant where you can get a plate of IKEA’S famous meatballs along with other dishes. Meanwhile, if you want to grab some snacks and other food items to bring home, check out the Swedish food market. In this section, they have cookies, jams, chocolate, drinks and frozen food products.
Location: MOA Square, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Opening Hours
- Store: Daily, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Restaurant: Daily, 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM
- Swedish Bites: Daily, 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Swedish Bistro: Daily, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Swedish Food Market: Daily, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Café: Daily, 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
SM Game Park
For sporty individuals, SM Game Park maybe for you! Situated on the third level of SM Mall of Asia’s South Entertainment Mall, active people who like games and activities will find this attraction thrilling. Here, you can play bowling on their 16-lane regular bowling area. If you want to have an exclusive bowling activity with your friends or family, you can book its private four-lane bowling area.
This massive recreational space also has a mini indoor basketball court, archery, billiards, table tennis, and a game room where you can either enjoy a karaoke session or play console.
Rates
A. Bowling
- Regular Game: P225/person
- Shoe Rental: P50
- Socks: P100
- Special Lane Oiling: P125/lane
B. Private Bowling
- 2 Lanes: P4,000/hour
- 4 Lanes: P7,500/hour
C. Table Tennis
All-in
- 1 Hour: P300/table
- 30 Minutes: P200/table
Individual Rentals
- Table: P250/hour
- Racket Rental: P50
- Ball: P50/piece
D. Archery
- 1 Hour: P525
- 30 Minutes: P325
- Range Rental: P250
- Arrow Rental: P100
- 10 Arrows: P135
- Extra Target Paper: P35
E. Billiards
- 1 Hour: P350/table
- 30 Minutes: P200/table
- Extra Stick: P30/piece
F. Mini Basketball
- 1 Hour: P599
- 30 Minutes: P399
G. Game Room
- Big Room: P550/hour
- Small Room: P400/hour
Location: 3/F South Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
EAT!
With how huge SM Mall of Asia is, you’ll surely get hungry from walking around. But that’s not a problem because there are tons of options here. From fast food restaurants to casual dining options, to coffee and tea places, to food kiosks, to their food hall, the choices around Mall of Asia are endless. These restaurants and food kiosks are scattered all over the mall. Whether you’re in the south wing, north wing, main mall, entertainment mall, or even SM by the Bay, you’ll find a place to dine or grab a quick bite.
And if you are really hungry, there are also a few buffet restaurants in MOA. These are eat-all-you-can restaurants where you can dine to your heart’s content. Among these buffet restaurants are Vikings Luxury Buffet, Four Seasons Buffet & Hotpot, and Buffet 101, which are all located at SM by the Bay. If you want to try an array of Filipino dishes, you can go to Cabalen Plus on the ground floor of the Entertainment Mall or head to La Fiesta at SM by the Bay.
Another gem of a restaurant that you can try at SM by the Bay is Young Won Asian Grill. Our teammates enjoyed their dining experience here so much so we recommend you give it a try too. Young Won is an unlimited grill and hotpot restaurant, which is par for the course for restaurants in this area, but beyond the usual Japanese, Chinese, and Korean flavors found in grill & hotpot restos, they also serve Thai cuisine. When you dine here, try their Thai hotpot broth, which our teammate commends.
Shopping
While you’re in SM Mall of Asia, there’s no escaping the many shops sprinkled all over the mall — from countless clothing, beauty, jewelry, and fragrance stores, to electronics and toy stores. Honestly, everything you need or anything you can think of getting is probably available here.
But if you’re looking for a variety of necessities, you can make your way to the department store or the SM Store located at the South Parking Building. If you need grocery items, go to SM Hypermarket at the North Parking Building.
If you’re a tourist and you’re looking for souvenir items or gifts to bring your loved ones, here’s a tip: check out Kultura if you are specifically looking for locally crafted items and other local products. Located on the ground floor of the main mall, Kultura carries handmade souvenirs, decors, accessories, and even traditional clothing like Filipiniana and Barong. They also have locally-made chocolates and popular Filipino snacks like dried mangoes and banana chips!
Okada Manila
Okada Manila is a casino resort and hotel complex located south of SM Mall of Asia. It is situated within Entertainment City or E-City in Parañaque. Although this is a casino resort and hotel, you don’t necessarily have to go to the casino or book a room to explore the hotel complex. There are plenty more attractions that you can visit here even if you’re not a fan of going to casinos. In fact, Okada Manila has several day tour packages you can avail!
Day Tours
We opted for the Okada Manila Tour and Dine package from Klook. This includes a guided walking tour of Okada Manila and P1,000 F&B gift certificate that you can use at any of Okada Manila’s in-house restaurants. The tour took about two (2) hours and we saw some of its facilities including the ballroom halls, gardens, and pool area. We were also able to get a tour of one of their rooms.
✅ BOOK OKADA TOUR & DINE PACKAGE HERE!
After the tour, we decided to have lunch at Kiapo, which offers Filipino cuisine. Here’s a little trivia! We initially thought it was named after “Quiapo”, a district in the city of Manila, but our tour guide revealed that the restaurant’s name was derived from a water plant!
Anyway, we ordered their shrimp and salmon sinigang, but unfortunately, they didn’t have salmon so they replaced it with a different fish. It was still a great comfort dish after a tiring walking tour. We also had their pork sisig, which was also good, but has a very prominent calamansi taste than the usual sisig. If you don’t like fatty food, you might want to skip this dish. And of course, we ordered rice because it’s best to pair Filipino dishes with rice!
If you’re craving some Japanese food, you can head to Enbu, Ginza Nagaoka, or Japanese Kappou Imamura. Meanwhile, if you want to have Chinese cuisine, try Red Spice. Okada also has an unlimited Korean barbecue restaurant called Goryeo, which is included in other tour packages — the Okada Manila Sunset Experience and the Okada Manila Daytime Pass.
✅ BOOK OKADA SUNSET EXPERIENCE PACKAGE HERE!
✅ GET OKADA MANILA DAYTIME PASS HERE!
Another package you can book is the Okada Manila Sole-ful Walking Tour which includes a guided tour of the casino resort and hotel complex and a 60-minute foot treatment at one of their spas, The Sole Retreat.
✅ BOOK OKADA SOLEFUL WALKING TOUR HERE!
PLAY at Okada Manila
If you have kids, Okada Manila also has an area especially for kids. PLAY at Okada Manila is an indoor facility with multiple play areas for kids. PLAY (Purposeful Learning and Activities for the Young) is open for children aged 1 to 17. Here, they can either do free-play or join programmed classes or coach-assisted programs for two (2) hours. Guardians can also accompany children for a separate fee.
RATES
Weekdays (2 Hours)
- Child (1 to 17 y/o): P588
- Guardian (18 y/o and above): P288
Weekends (2 Hours)
- Child (1 to 17 y/o): P688
- Guardian (18 y/o and above): P288
SCHEDULES/PLAY SESSIONS
Monday to Thursday
- 12:30 PM to 02:30 PM
- 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM
- 05:30 PM to 07:30 PM
Friday to Sunday
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- 12:30 PM to 02:30 PM
- 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM
- 05:30 PM to 07:30 PM
- 08:00 PM to 10:00 PM
You can book a PLAY at Okada Manila admission ticket online. You can also avail the Okada Manila Tour and Dine + PLAY Access package, which is good for three (3) adults and 1 kid. This package includes a guided tour of Okada Manila and admission at PLAY at Okada Manila for one child and one adult companion. Also included in the package is a P2,000 F&B gift certificate that you can use at Okada restaurants.
✅ BOOK OKADA PLAY TICKET HERE!
✅ BOOK OKADA TOUR & DINE + PLAY ACCESS HERE!
Location: Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Parañaque City, Metro Manila
Dream Play
If you have kids and you are looking for activities that are specifically for them, visit Dream Play. Located in the City of Dreams in Parañaque City, Dream Play is an interactive play and creativity center. Here, you can see your favorite DreamWorks films character like Shrek, Po from Kung Fu Panda, and the animals from Madagascar. There are different activities for visitors to enjoy at the different Dream Play zones. You’ll also find a Dream Theater where DreamWorks stories are performed by puppets.
There are two types of tickets you can purchase here. First is the participant ticket which will give you all-day access to all the attractions in Dream Play. Meanwhile, adult companions of kids can pay for a non-participant ticket, which means you can enter, but you cannot participate in any attraction. Tickets can be purchased on site, but you can also book in advance online.
✅ GET DREAMPLAY ADMISSION TICKET HERE!
Location: Upper Ground Floor City of Dreams – Manila, Aseana Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard, Entertainment City, Parañaque City, Metro Manila
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Ticket Prices
- Participant Ticket: P1,500
- Non-Participant Ticket: P350
Nearby Malls
SM Mall of Asia isn’t the only mall in this area of Metro Manila. If you’re staying around this area for a few days, you definitely have more options on where to go aside from SM MOA. These malls are of varying sizes and have different vibes so just take your pick based on what you prefer. You can also check online first what these malls have, especially if you’re looking to do something particular.
Not too far from SM Mall of Asia is Parqal, a mixed-use development in Aseana City. The name Parqal is a portmanteau of park and kalye, which means street. Aside from the mall, you can also find Bounce at Parqal, which is an outdoor sports complex. Bounce at Parqal has two multi-purpose courts, a basketball court, and a football pitch.
Another mall in the area is Ayala Malls Manila Bay, which is currently Ayala Malls’ largest shopping mall. It is located along Macapagal Boulevard corner Aseana Avenue in Parañaque City, around 10 to 15 minutes away from MOA. If you want to avoid the thick crowds at SM Mall of Asia, this might be a good option for you.
If shopping is what you’re after, you can also go to Okada Manila and City of Dreams. These lifestyle urban resorts have commercial strips flanked with upscale and luxury brands. Various restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining are also situated within these resorts.
Concerts & Events
If you’re a Filipino fan of live music and trade events, chances are you’ve heard of the SMX Convention Center and the Mall of Asia Arena.
The SMX Convention Center Manila, usually known as SMX, opened in 2007. With 4 exhibition halls, 5 function rooms, and 14 meeting rooms, this convention center is the largest private venue for trade events in the country and can fit approximately 6000 people. It has seen some of the largest trade events in the country, having hosting all kinds of industries: food, fashion, manufacturing, books, baby and motherhood needs, and even travel fairs!
As for concerts, Mall of Asia Arena or more commonly known as the MOA Arena is one of the most popular venues in Metro Manila. It is an indoor arena with a full capacity of 20,000 people which opened in 2012. Before the construction of the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, large indoor concerts were mostly held here. Aside from concerts and fanmeets, sporting events are also held here. Fans of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines or UAAP, the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA, and the Southeast Asian Games will be familiar with the venue as well.
Where to Stay Near Mall of Asia
Are you still on the hunt for a place to stay during your trip to Manila? If you’re looking to stay around MOA area, here are the hotels you can consider booking.
Top Hotels on Agoda
- CONRAD MANILA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - OKADA MANILA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - SOLAIRE RESORT ENTERTAINMENT CITY
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - KINGSFORD HOTEL MANILA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - LIME RESORT MANILA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Top Hotels on Hotels.com
- HYATT REGENCY MANILA CITY OF DREAMS
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - CITY OF DREAMS – NUWA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - CITY OF DREAMS – NOBU HOTEL MANILA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - CITADINES BAY CITY MANILA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - HOTEL 101 – MANILA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
You may also check our Top 10 Hotels in Parañaque article for more options and more details about each hotel.
If you prefer staying near Manila Bay, check out this Top 10 Hotels near Manila Bay post.
Find more Hotels Near Manila Bay!
Updates Log
2024.10.07 – First uploaded
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