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M H del Pilar St
Along M H del Pilar St in Ermita there are numerous shops selling paintings by local artists. The standard is often quite good and the subject matter varies (puppies and sunsets are faves), even though the artists turn these things out at an alarming rate.
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Marikina Shoe Expo
Easily the oddest collection of stores in Manila is at the Marikina Shoe Expo, a once open-air collection of discount shoe vendors. Some of the shops in this old single-level complex remain (with inventory unchanged since Imelda was in her prime), but now some of the storefronts have been taken over by an uber-hip assortment of kitschy shops and galleries who have discovered the cheap rent. There's a gallery, Blacksoup Project Artspace, a bookshop, Datelines Bookstore and a funky Italian café, Bellini's.
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National Book Store
Starting out as a mere book stall way back in the 1930s, this is the mother ship of the Philippines' largest bookstore chain. Branches of the store can be found at major shopping centres in Manila, including the convenient Robinson's Place.
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NeoComputer.Net
If you need services beyond just internet browsing, NeoComputer.Net has printing, disk-burning and other computing services.
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Organic Farmers Market
There's an organic farmers market in a tiny park at the corner of Leviste St and Toledo St.
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Ortigas Center
Mall fans with Brobdingnagian fantasies should head east to Ortigas Center, which sits on the border of Quezon City, Mandaluyong and Pasig. With its dense concentration of shopping malls and high-rises, Ortigas Center has become Manila's second-biggest business and commercial hub. However, it's still got a lot of work to do to find its soul.
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Popular Book Store
This eclectic shop sells new and used books. Titles range from Suzanne Somers' Get Skinny to Freemasonry and Its Etiquette to numerous academic tomes on Filipino culture.
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Power Books
Poshest bookstore in town, with a huge selection and a little café with tables outside overlooking the park. There's another location nearby inside Tower Records, also at Ayala Center (level 2, Glorietta 3).
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Power Plant Mall
North towards the river, the ritzy new development Rockwell Center is anchored by a large mall called the Power Plant Mall. It has over 100 high-end shops, restaurants, theatres, offices and condos.
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Quinta Market
At Quinta Market you'll find vendors boisterously peddling fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and other foodstuffs.
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Robinsons Place
Shopping malls at times seem to have eaten Manila. Many are thronged on weekends as residents escape their jammed and steamy abodes for a walk through the air-con comfort. You can find a range of department stores such as Shoe Mart at most, and, depending on the neighbourhood, the selection of stores can be startlingly upscale. Most include a supermarket and food court.
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Salazar Bakery
This immaculate store is redolent with the smell of freshly baked treats. All manner of filled rolls are sold individually wrapped and ready to go.
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San Andres Market
San Andres Market, which runs 24hrs a day, is one endless fruit-stall selling exotic delicacies like durians. It's a place with character - and it's characterised by that distinctive open-drain aroma.
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Shangri-La Plaza Mall
One of four malls in the the Ortigas Center.
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SM Department Store
There are large supermarkets in the shopping malls. Biggest by far is the SM Department Store between Glorietta Mall and the Ayala MRT station.
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SM Megamall
Stretching over a kilometre, SM Megamall sprawls between two other malls in the Ortigas Center, Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Robinsons Galleria.
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Solidaridad Bookshop
Owned by the award-winning Filipino author Francisco Sionil Jose, it is well stocked with books on topics from history to existentialism. Among the titles on offer are the owner's own collections of short stories and essays.
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Street Market
Around Quiapo Church there are dozens of dubious apothecary stalls selling all manner of herbal and folk medicines, as well as amulets (carved stones and medallions believed to have magical powers). Showing admirable initiative, vendors will tell you that the 'Pampa Regla' potion is good for everything from weight loss to curing erectile dysfunction, depending on how you look. Langis Ng Ahas is literally snake oil - maybe.
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The Podium
Just behind SM Megamall in the Ortigas Center is The Podium. Virtually every chain store and restaurant and fast-food joint can be found in this retail blight, which is as suburban as you can get in Manila.
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Tradewinds Books
Varied assortment of books on the Philippines and Asia, including out-of-print or hard-to-find volumes.
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Tutuban Center Mall
The Tutuban Center Mall is a former train station converted into a shopping arcade.
