Metro Manila’s Most Expensive and Luxurious Condos

Not all condos are created equal, as some in Metro Manila can rival or even surpass the gaudiest mansions in terms of cost and luxury

There are many reasons why people purchase ultra-luxurious properties. To some, they are trophies and the fruits of their hard work. They are also considered good investments, since their values rarely stagnate and provide lucrative opportunities, such as renting to third parties.

For a condo to be considered luxurious, it must fulfill certain criteria beyond a high price tag. Among these are a truly great location, unobstructed views, architectural uniqueness, limited units per floor, and abundant ceiling height and square footage. In addition, top-notch amenities, such as a heated indoor swimming pool, create a luxurious and exclusive feeling.

In Metro Manila there are only a handful of condos that fulfill these criteria. Although most of these are located in close proximity to the metro’s popular lifestyle spots and business districts, they still offer their residents some quiet city seclusion, which is hard to come by. The units here tend to be quite large and pricy.

Using data from its 70,000-plus property listings, Lamudi has compiled a list of the most luxurious and expensive condos for sale in Metro Manila. Note that this list includes only condos completed and turned over as of 2017.

This article is an updated version of the one posted on October 1, 2014. –Ed.

Discovery Primea
Location: 6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati
Price per square meter: about Php248,364

Sitting on the former Gilarmi Apartments site along Ayala Avenue and Apartment Ridge, Discovery Primea is one of Metro Manila’s tallest skyscrapers and is one of the most exclusive properties in Makati. With only 86 residential units, ranging from 380 sqm to a whopping 680 sqm, each floor has a maximum of two units, with elevators opening directly into the residences’ foyer.

This project was developed by JTKC Inc., the same name behind the award-winning Discovery Shores in Boracay. Some of its amenities include in-residence catering and a chef, an executive butler, a library, a spa, a sky atrium, and even a medical clinic. The tower also provides its own helipad.

Raffles Residences
Location: Makati Avenue, Ayala Center, Makati
Price per square meter: about Php258,732

The Raffles project houses three properties: the 280-room Fairmont Hotel Makati, the 32-room all-suite Raffles Hotel Makati, and the Raffles Residences, a 237-unit property occupying the top 20 floors of the tower. Property owners here are afforded access to all the hotels’ amenities (swimming pools, spa, etc.) and can make use of discounted rates at all their bars and restaurants.

Architecturally, the property is one of the best additions to Makati’s skyline, with its dark indigo-hued glass exterior. Aside from its hotel amenities, unit owners also get an exclusive Raffles Ambassador membership, granting them preferred rates at all Raffles, Fairmont, and Swisshotel properties worldwide.

Pacific Plaza Towers
Location: 4th Avenue, West Crescent Park, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Price per square meter: about Php228,753

For a long time, the Pacific Plaza Towers have been Bonifacio Global City’s most recognizable skyscrapers. These blue glass-walled towers stand across the Manila Golf and Country Club, offering residents of west-facing units unobstructed views of the golf course, Forbes Park, and the Manila Bay sunset. Consisting of two towers (North and South), the condo’s resort-like amenities include a spa, meditation gardens, terraced waterfalls, a lagoon-inspired swimming pool, and helipads for each tower.

Edades Tower and Garden Villas
Location: Amorsolo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati
Price per square meter: about Php220,539

In the midst of posh Rockwell Center in Makati City is Edades Tower and Garden Villas, a 50-story upscale community, and one of the four prominent residential towers within the development’s West Block.

Turned over in 2014, the luxury condo features one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats, two-bedroom garden villas, three-bedroom garden Z-lofts, and three-bedroom lofts. Among the tower’s state-of-the-art amenities are a lap pool, function rooms, landscaped pocket gardens, game room, and a central piazza that houses high-end boutiques and top dining restaurants and cafés.

Amorsolo Square
Location: Amorsolo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati
Price per square meter: about Php212,460

Twin residential towers, the 18-story Amorsolo Square features units with verdant views of the Rockwell Center’s parkland and the metropolis surrounding the development. The Amorsolo East and West towers are the embodiment of quality living, with both featuring topnotch services.

Both towers also house The Rockwell Club, which boasts swimming pools; tennis, basketball, badminton, and squash courts; a tropical landscaped garden; fully equipped gym; a dance studio; spa and sauna; function rooms; and a gift shop.

One Serendra
Location: 32nd St. corner 11th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Price per square meter: Php204,160

One Serendra offers residents an enviable suburban atmosphere in the middle of a busy business district. The condominium complex is comprised of seven towers: East Tower (41 floors), West Tower (50 floors), Jasmine (18 floors), Mahogany (nine floors), Bamboo (nine floors), Narra (nine floors), and Palm (nine floors).

Among the development’s country club–like amenities are 24-hour security, and the exclusive use of a gym, swimming and kiddie pools, game and function rooms, a day care center, fitness and spa and wellness centers, playground, semi-enclosed badminton court, and underground volleyball and basketball courts. Pets are also allowed in the complex.

The Residences at Greenbelt
Location: Esperanza St., Ayala Center, Makati
Price per square meter: about Php199,843

This three-tower condo project (Laguna, Manila, and San Lorenzo), built next to the upscale Greenbelt Mall and the Renaissance Makati Hotel, is one of Ayala Land’s flagship Makati projects. Its tallest tower, San Lorenzo, is also Metro Manila’s 15th tallest residential condo. Part of Ayala Center, it is strategically located near shopping malls, offices, schools, and entertainment areas. The towers also face San Lorenzo Village to the west and southwest, affording its residents unobstructed views of Laguna de Bay and the famed Manila Bay sunset.

Arya Residences
Location: McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Price per square meter: about Php199,756

Arya Residences is a two-tower condominium complex that offers two-bedroom grand, two-bedroom premier, three-bedroom grand, penthouse villa, and penthouse mansion units ranging from 124 to 591 sqm in size. It is the first high-rise residential building in the country recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED).

Arya Residences also offers amenities such as The Terrace, which consists of function rooms that are convertible to a grand banquet hall, gym, indoor play room, and media room; and The Plaza, an elevated floor of luxurious space, which stretches along the McKinley Parkway and features 25-meter lap pool, leisure pool, children’s pool, kid’s play area, feature pavilion, lounge, pocket garden and lawn, and landscape walking trail.

One Roxas Triangle
Location: Paseo de Roxas corner Cruzada St., Makati
Price per square meter: about Php197,620

One Roxas Triangle towers over the green space of Ayala Triangle Gardens and Urdaneta Village, providing its residents with unobstructed views on all sides. It houses some of Makati’s largest condo units, and its lagoon-shaped swimming pool is so large and luxurious, that it is considered to be better than those of some upscale Makati hotels.

The tower was designed by American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (the same firm behind the Willis’ Tower and Burj Khalifa). The condo’s high-end amenities include private lobby lifts for residents (which open directly to residents’ homes), a tennis court, 24-hour concierge service, and even a helipad. Its sister tower, Two Roxas Triangle, is currently under construction and is expected to be finished soon.

Essensa Private Residences
Location: 21st Drive corner 5th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Price per square meter: about Php176,395

Located at the quieter side of Bonifacio Global City, the two-tower, butterfly-shaped Essensa Private Residences is one of the township’s first condo projects. It offers high ceilings (10.5 feet) in its residential suites and residents are afforded an unobstructed view of both the Manila Golf and Country Club and the Manila Polo Club. Its amenities include a well-equipped fitness center, private dining facilities, an outdoor swimming pool, helipads for each tower, and even an indoor heated lap pool.

Hidalgo Place
Location: Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati
Price per square meter: about Php174,041

Completed in 1999, the 24-story Hidalgo Place is one of the first towers completed in Rockwell Center. Strategically surrounded by lush greens, it is easy to forget that it is but a few blocks away from the Makati central business district when living in the area.

Like with the rest of the residential towers in Rockwell Center, almost everything is also within walking distance of Hidalgo, including shops, cafés, Power Plant Mall, and The Rockwell Club. Along with an exclusive location, Hidalgo owners and tenants get to enjoy amenities such as swimming pools, function rooms, a gym, and a library.

Main image via Deposit Photos