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Last Updated on October 14, 2021 by Lamudi
Philippine mall builders are rolling shopping complexes the size of small towns.
You have probably heard this a million of times, but one of the many things that make Filipinos unique is our penchant for shopping and retail. After we get our paychecks we always make it a point to drop by a nearby mall to get pasalubong for our loved ones at home (yes, we also happen to be a thoughtful bunch), we spend our down time relaxing al fresco in a mall café, or when we feel a bit glum, we pamper ourselves with some retail therapy.
It is no wonder why we have malls here the size of half a town that you can practically live in it. Now, we rounded up top nine of the largest shopping malls in the Philippines, so you know what we’re talking about. Read on to find out the biggest malls in the Philippines.
1. SM Megamall, Mandaluyong
Surpassing SM City North EDSA in the ranks of the largest malls in the Philippines, SM Megamall was named the biggest mall in the Philippines in 2014 when its Fashion Hall (home of H&M’s flagship store in the Philippines) opened in late 2014. Boasting a total floor area of 484,373 sqm, this huge sprawling complex seems to be continually expanding every few years as it has been renovated and expanded more than three times.
It houses the first ever ice-skating rink in the country that was removed in 2009 but rebuilt in 2014, features two main buildings annexed by a bridge, with the Mega Fashion Hall as its latest addition. SM Megamall, in case we forget to mention, can accommodate a daily traffic of up to 4 million people.
2. SM City North EDSA, Quezon City
Opened in the turbulent mid-1980s, SM City North EDSA is the very first SM supermall in the country, also happens to be the second largest mall in the Philippines, and one of the most popular, too.
Over the years, it has undergone several expansions and transformations, with the North Link, a hybrid of a corporate building and retail stores, as its newest addition. It features more than 1,000 shops, more than 400 dining establishments built on a vast floor space of 482,959 sqm. The vast complex within which SM City North EDSA is situated is also being transformed by SM Prime to become a mixed-use township in its own right.
3. SM Mall of Asia, Bay City, Pasay
The largest mall in the Philippines upon its completion in 2006 and currently the third in the country, SM Mall of Asia boasts more than 1,000 shops, 360 dining establishments, and parking slots for about 8,000 cars. The mall itself also an Olympic-sized skating rink, an IMAX theater, and two supermarkets.
No doubt, one of the most unique malls around because of its open-air halls, this 406,961-sqm retail wonder is situated within a massive complex that houses its own concert grounds, a convention center, BPO offices, residential condos, and a theme park.
4. SM City Cebu, Cebu
Situated down south in the Visayas region, the first SM supermall is outside Metro Manila. It has a total floor area of approximately 273,804 sqm, and boasts stores and amenities that rival its Metro Manila counterparts. SM City Cebu has eight cinemas, a bowling center, and a broad activity center that spans 8,000 sqm.
5. Glorietta Mall, Makati
One of the biggest malls in the famous business district Makati, Glorietta is divided into four sections (with Glorietta 5 detached from the other three and Glorietta 1 and 2 renovated to become a single section. It is popular for its huge activity center situated at the very heart of the mall proper, and features more than 500 shops and restaurants plus everything one would expect in a 250,000-sqm shopping center. Attached to the mall is a Holiday Inn hotel, a two-tower Ascott property, and a BPO tower.
6. Greenbelt Mall, Makati
Greenbelt Mall may just be the most popular choice for high-end shoppers as it carries most designer brands shoppers not to be found elsewhere in Metro Manila. Among its more than 300 shops, foodies can also explore a wide variety of dining options with a few restaurants that are exclusive to Greenbelt. Boasting a floor area of 250,000 sqm, this shopping complex is divided into five parts, each one with its unique mix of brands and boutiques, while in their center lies the Greenbelt Park and a church.
7. Robinsons Place, Manila
A sprawling shopping mall right beside the Manila campus of the University of the Philippines, Robinsons Place Manila is also the largest mall owned by the Robinsons group. It has seven floors, two of which are parking spaces. Boasting a floor area of approximately 240,000 sqm, this large shopping complex in the historic Ermita section of Manila is connected to five condo towers (two for Robinsons Place Residences and three for Adriatico Place Residences).
8. SM Aura Premier, Taguig
SM Prime’s 13th supermall in Metro Manila and its first in Taguig, SM Aura Premier can be described as the mall developer’s most high-end. Situated in Bonifacio Global City, this 234,892-sqm complex has a trade hall, a 1,000-seat performance hall, and a 29-story office tower.
9. Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City
Also in Ortigas Center is one of Metro Manila’s first and largest shopping malls, Robinsons Galleria. Boasting a floor area of 216,000 sqm, this five-level complex at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue has more than 500 shops and dining options, cinemas, and arcades. Two office buildings and three hotels are attached to it — namely, Crowne Plaza Manila, the Galleria Regency, and the Holiday Inn Manila — all of which can be directly accessed from inside the shopping mall.
