There's No Place Like The Mall In Manila At Christmas

American shopping malls may be dead, but Asian shopping malls are very much alive, especially during the holidays.

In Manila, the holiday shopping season has been in full swing since Halloween. At the SM Mall of Asia, one of the world’s largest, the Christmas trees are trimmed. The lights are strung. The holiday tunes are playing; the staff is wearing reindeer ears, and everyone is taking Christmas card photos.

I almost skipped the mall during my 36-hour stay in Manila, but I’m so glad I didn’t. In Manila, like much of Asia, going to the mall can be a cultural experience.

SM Mall of Asia has more than six million square feet of retail space spread across three interconnected buildings. It’s home to more than 650 shops, more than 200 eateries, so many salons and a seemingly endless supply of claw machines.

The Conrad Manila, where I stayed, is connected to the mall. I walked from the first floor of the hotel through a hidden entryway and straight into peak Christmas at the mall. Even the soundtrack changed.

I’ve been to a lot of spectacular shopping malls over the years—including icons like the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the Galleria in Houston, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris and the Lotte Department Store Myeongdong in Seoul, but I’ve never experienced anything like this place.

This is a one-stop shop for everything. Get your hair and nails done, then treat yourself to a facial or a massage. Shop for new clothes. Hang out at the playground. Go bowling or ice skating. Catch a movie or opt for dim sum. There’s even a whole story about Momo the corgi who befriends Mimi the lonely cat.

SM Mall is a free, air-conditioned escape from oppressive Philippine heat and humidity, and it’s a place that’s about much more than shopping. It’s a vibrant community center where daily routines intersect.

It’s a window into local life and modern Filipino culture that you can’t get at a museum or historic sight. And it’s as authentically local an experience as it gets.

You really can experience the best of Cairo in 48 hours. Here’s my guide for a perfect 48 hours in the Egyptian capital.

If you’re thinking of trying skiing, read about my experience learning to ski —and the things I wish I knew when I was starting out.