Bonifacio High Street

Background

Bonifacio High Street is a 1-kilometer-long lifestyle destination located in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It is the pioneer shopping center in the country to establish the main street concept with a vibrant environment. Bonifacio High Street is owned by Ayala Malls and is the home of a myriad of passions ranging from dining options, high-end shopping areas, technology, fashion, and entertainment.

According to its history, Bonifacio High Street was opened to the public in the year 2007 as a mixed-use development consisting of retail shops and restaurants on the ground floor and second floor. The site is featuring a broad outlook bordering the retail shops on both sides which visitors can enjoy. In the year 2012, the high street central was opened, and in the year 2014, the Central Square Mall was opened. Then in August 2018, the One Bonifacio High Street Mall was opened and it features a nice architectural design with top brand shops with a great selection of luxury brand boutiques to choose from. Fast forward to May 2022, the biggest Nike store in Southeast Asia was opened to the public along 9th Avenue. On October 27, 2022, the largest best-in-class naked-eye 3D-led billboard in the Philippines was launched by United Neon Advertising at the One Bonifacio High Street along 5th Avenue. It is a vivid technology that has game-changing visuals and it’s the future of advertising in the country. It is an icon around the globe and it’s a canvas for creative storytelling to encourage everyone to visit Bonifacio Global City.

Presently, Bonifacio High Street is well known as a unique centerpiece in Bonifacio Global City and is the most visited place in Taguig City. It is the favorite go-to destination of local and foreign tourists within Metro Manila. Bonifacio High Street is home to many fancy restaurants that cater to every taste such as Din Tai Fung, Brothers Burger, Single Origin, Nanbantei of Tokyo, The Alley by Vikings, TGI Fridays, Marugame Udon, Wild West Roadhouse Grill, Italianni’s, Amici, Soban K-Town Grill, Ooma, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and Shake Shack. So find your favorite restaurant and have a wonderful dining experience on the world-class Bonifacio High Street.

Name: Bonifacio High Street
Location: Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Philippines
Features: a mixture of open-air shopping and indoor commercial-residential buildings.

My trip to Bonifacio High Street

I’m thrilled to discover and explore the Bonifacio High Street after I find out that one of my friends works there and enjoys the place after his work shift end. So one day I decided to have an afternoon walk in Bonifacio High Street since the weather is nice. The moment I reach the high street central I feel like I’m in another country because of its various retail shops on both sides of the street that take the visitors into a whole new level of shopping experience together with spacious space covered in greeny grass and shady trees. I can see people enjoying the greenery and having a great time hanging out with their family, loved ones, friends, and workmates. Also, the air quality is good and the place is incredibly peaceful, safe, well-planned, so clean, and well-maintained. No wonder why Bonifacio High Street is an emblematic shopping spot in the Philippines.

In my opinion, the placement of wide open green space at the heart of a condensed urban environment integrates the city with the environment to create a distinctive sense of place that construe the people who share the space as an essential element. The atmosphere here is so lively and it’s a nice place to refresh with family and friends. Also, every time I turn a corner, I can see a lot of people having their pet dogs as they walk around this beautiful place. The broad open spaces and designated areas for dogs provide a safe and enjoyable place for them to stretch their legs or socialize. Without a doubt, it’s quite a fascinating place to visit especially since it’s my first time here.

At 5th Avenue, I can see the well-known 3D billboard in the Philippines which is very similar to those found in Shinjuku Japan. I’m very impressed with the out-of-this-world cat animation as well as the car animation as it shows off the state-of-the-art trend in multimedia display and visual arts. Nonetheless, I hope not only foreign content is advertised in this curved 3D billboard. A few minutes later, I have a selfie along 5th Avenue and I really like the wide walkways that can accommodate a lot of folks.

Then as I continue to roam around I can see various elegant restaurants offering Filipino, Japanese, and Korean cuisines as well as cafes. It’s no surprise the place continues to be a popular spot among Filipinos and foreigners. In the middle, I can see a well-tended fountain and on the other side, I can see an interactive artwork that creates a perfect serene atmosphere to relax and rejuvenate.

Then as I continued walking, I noticed that the place is a minute away on foot from different well-known malls, office buildings, elegant hotels, and high-rise condominiums. Furthermore, it is a great place for photography enthusiasts. The buildings around the Bonifacio High Street are visually appealing, very stylish, world-class, and modern which is very akin to those found in Austin Texas. I hope one day there will be BGC-like cities all over the Philippines.

Then I sit on the elevated platform and wait for the magical sunset. As I watch the scenery, it came to my mind that I need a photographer because I went here alone and it was an instant regret. I have my best outfit with a view of a well-designed place but no photographer around. Nonetheless, I sit for almost fifteen minutes and I think this is the best spot to unwind and simply enjoy the open-air pathway while eating my snacks. Unlike the big-box typical malls in other parts of Metro Manila, Bonifacio High Street comprise strips of fine-dining restaurants and high-end retail shops to choose from in an outdoor setting surrounded by a refreshing landscape. Without a doubt, I absolutely love this place as it gives me unparalleled relaxing moments and the ambiance here is unlike any other place in the Philippines. For this reason, I have never been bored.

Later I started my night stroll and I can see many joggers passing by and to my right side, I can see lots of milk tea shops and cafes as well as a wide array of restaurants which is tempting me to spend money. Also on my left side, I can see lots of inviting storefronts and the popular multi-story bookstore Fully Booked, a great place to lounge around. Furthermore, from a distance, I can see the Serendra residential complex which houses a good mix of restaurants and shops for the satisfaction of the community. To be honest, just walking around makes me feel happy and grateful to be in such a wonderful place. From my perspective, Bonifacio High Street is a superb place for all ages to enjoy an evening stroll and it deserves nothing less than a top score for its prodigious shopping experience and dining options as well as a very nice place for a leisurely walk.

Anyway, I have my late dinner at the Brothers Burger and will definitely come back to satisfy my cravings. All in all, my visit to Bonifacio High Street is super worth it. It is now my favorite place to relax and chill and my go-to shopping destination. I considered it the best outdoor shopping in Metro Manila and it reminds me of Singapore and Hong Kong. From cozy cafes to upscale restaurants, there’s a culinary delight to suit every taste. Visitors can gratify with mouthwatering dishes while enjoying the attractive views and the soothing sounds of nature. It’s a true gastronomic treat that correlates with the overall ambiance of the place. I highly encourage everyone to visit this place if the weather is nice.

How to Go to Bonifacio High Street

By commute

Option 1:

1. From Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), ride a bus going to the Ayala bus terminal. 
2. At the Ayala bus terminal, walk towards the BGC Bus Terminal, and after that ride a west route BGC bus and drop off at The Fort station. From there, walk for a few minutes in order to reach the Bonifacio High Street. Note: before riding the BGC bus make sure you have a beef card. 

Option 2:

1. From EDSA-Taft MRT station, ride a northbound train and get off at Ayala MRT station and walk to the northbound exit (on the right side), and head toward the BGC Bus Terminal near Jollibee. 
2. Then ride a bus and alight at The Fort and walk towards Bonifacio High Street.

Option 3:

1. From Guadalupe Commercial Complex or Guadalupe Mall in Makati City, ride a jeep with signage of Fort Bonifacio Gate-3 and drop off at the Market! Market! Mall parking area.
2. From the Market! Market!, walk for seven minutes to reach the Bonifacio High Street.
   
   
   
   

Reminders and Tips:

• There are designated parking, walkways, and restrooms across Bonifacio High Street.

• The best time to visit Bonifacio High Street is during nighttime to have a lively walking tour.

• Don’t litter to help keep the place clean and green. 

• You can take your pet with you at High Street because the place is pet friendly. However, it must be properly secured and leashed.

• All community cats that you will see within the Bonifacio High Street are in the care of the state so don’t feed them.

• One Bonifacio High Street Mall opens at 11 am and closes at 9 pm. It is located near the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) building and Shangri-La The Fort. 

• Above all, always place your trash in a designated trash can.
  
  
  

There you have it, folks. Find a place where every single thing you see tells you to stay. Comprehensively, I aspire that this blog has been favorable to you. Slow down and enjoy life.