San Juan is a small city in Metro Manila, surrounded by Manila, Mandaluyong and Quezon City.
Understand
[edit]It used to be a large municipality, this little city is sandwiched between the cities of Mandaluyong, Manila and Quezon City. It has a population of about 120,000 as of 2015, and a total land area of 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi).
San Juan is a young city, only chartered in 2007. It used to be the town of San Juan del Monte, after its patron John the Baptist, and for its hilly terrain, and is the site of one major battle of the Philippine Revolution, the Battle of San Juan del Monte (more known locally as the Battle of Pinaglabanan).
Get in
[edit]By bus
[edit]The city proper is served by the Quiapo–Angono city bus route between Park N' Ride in Manila and SM City Taytay. The route plies San Juan's main roads, N. Domingo Street and Ortigas Avenue.
If coming from southern Metro Manila, take a bus plying EDSA and get down at the interchange with Ortigas, near EDSA Shrine and Robinsons Galleria. There, you can transfer to a bus or jeepney towards the city proper.
By LRT
[edit]- 1 J. Ruiz Station, Aurora Boulevard. Served by LRT Line 2, it is the only rapid transit station in the city, but is at an impractical location above Aurora Boulevard. It is poorly connected to local public transportation (except for jeepneys plying Aurora Boulevard), and to reach the downtown means a walk through a somewhat seedy area.
Get around
[edit]
Map of San Juan (Metro Manila)
The city is small enough to be explored by cycling, and neighborhood districts are walkable. It is also possible to get around by tricycle or jeepney.
Jeepneys serve Little Baguio from Greenhills and Agora Market (via Romualdez in Mandaluyong).
See
[edit]- 1 Battle of Pinaglabanan Shrine, N. Domingo Street. Opened 1974, it commemorates the Battle of San Juan del Monte during the Philippine Revolution.
- 2 Museo ng Katipunan (Pinaglabanan Museum), 29 Pinaglabanan Street, Corazon de Jesus, San Juan ((inside the Pinaglabanan Shrine complex)), ☏ +63 2 7254 44 70, [email protected]. M closed, Tu-Su 8AM-4PM. A local museum on the history of the Katipunan and the 1896 Philippine revolt against Spain, operated by the local government of San Juan, and supervised by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Free.
- 3 Museo El Deposito (El Depositio Museum), Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, Pinaglabanan Street, Corazon de Jesus (inside the Pinaglabanan Shrine Complex), ☏ +63 2 7753 5439, +63 998 247 0042, [email protected]. A history museum.
- 4 Pinaglabanan Church (St. John the Baptist Church), Pinaglabanan Street, Pedro Cruz. A Neo-Romanesque church dating back to 1894. It is declared a National Historical Landmark in 1974.
- 5 Iglesia ni Cristo, Lokal ng F. Manalo, F. Manalo Street, Santa Lucia. It was the central office for the church administration of the Iglesia ni Cristo 1925–1971. The complex houses numerous Art Deco buildings, most notably its chapel, designed by the architect Juan Nakpil. Viewable from the outside, not open to the public.
- 6 Sansó Museum (Fundacion Sansó), 32 V. Cruz Street, [email protected]. A small, private museum focusing on the artistic legacy of Juvenal Sansó.
- 7 Music Museum, Service Road (Greenhills Shopping Center), ☏ +63 287216726. Performing arts theater.
Do
[edit]- 1 Filoil EcoOil Centre (San Juan Arena), Santolan Road (Get down a bus or jeepney near Fountain International School). Constructed in 2006 as a major sports venue, this serves as the main venue for Premier Volleyball League (PVL, formerly Shakey's V-League), the UAAP games, and is an alternate venue for PBA games.
San Juan Historical Bike Trail
[edit]The city promotes a cycling itinerary it calls as "historical bike trail", to showcase some of the city's cultural heritage sites.
- 1 San Juan City Hall (City Government of San Juan), Pinaglabanan Street corner Dr. P. A.Narciso Street, ☏ +63 2 77290005. 8AM–5PM.
- 2 Pinaglabanan Shrine.
- 3 Museo ng Katipunan.
- 4 El Deposito Museum (NHCP Museo El Deposito), #29 Pinaglabanan Street (Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine), ☏ +63 9982470042. 9AM–4PM.
- 5 El Deposito Underground Reservoir.
- 6 Pinaglabanan Church.
- 7 Marcos Mansion (Marcos House), #540 Mariano Marcos Street. Temporarily closed as of September 2023.
- 8 Iglesia ni Cristo, #154 F. Manalo Street. Place of worship.
- 9 Santuario del Santo Cristo Church, #183 F. Blumentritt, ☏ +63 287245466. 7–11:30AM, 2:30–6PM.
- 10 Greenhills Loop, Greenhills Shopping Center.
- 11 Club Filipino, Eisenhower Street, Greenhills, ☏ +63 02722-2001.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Greenhills Shopping Center. Su-Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. Opened in the 1970s, it is a middle class commercial-residential development with over 2000 shops in 6 mall buildings. Greenhills has over 90,000 visitors a day, and also houses tiangges (flea markets) and a pearl market.
- 2 San Juan City Agora Market, N. Domingo Street, Pedro Cruz. 7AM-7PM. The largest public market in the city, with a mixed-use commercial/retail area on the ground level, and the market below. At the street level, there is a supermarket, fast food restaurants and a drug store.
- 3 Santolan Town Plaza, Santolan Road, Little Baguio, ☏ +63 2 8898 1702, [email protected]. 8AM-610PM. Santolan Town Plaza, is a small, upscale mall in San Juan with a supermarket, cinemas, office spaces, and several dining and service establishments.
- 4 Fully Booked, 2/F Promenade Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Avenue, ☏ +63 28721 4757. 10AM-8PM. The best bookshop in the Philippines.
- 5 Fully Booked Santolan Town Plaza, #276 Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue (located in Santolan Town Plaza), ☏ +63 277291310. 10AM-10PM.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Little Baguio. A gastronomic enclave of restaurants and homey, food establishments tucked around the intersecting streets of Wilson, P. Guevarra, J. Abad Santos and V. Cruz in San Juan, and named after the territorial barangay of Little Baguio. The establishments in this area serve a variety of cuisines, and ambiance may range from formal, sit-down restaurants, to hole-in-the-wall food specialists, to casual, local street food vendors.
- 2 Recess Food Alley, 19-B General Vicente Lim Street. noon-9PM. A neighborhood "food court" with concessionaires offering local and foreign comfort food, especially for the budget conscious. Originally, the main market were students from nearby schools, but since 2020, has evolved as a venue for affordable "food trips.".
- 3 Bugis Singapore Street Food - San Juan, 285 P. Guevarra Street, ☏ +63 2 88719316. 9:30AM-10PM.
- 4 Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food, 92-93 Jose Abad Santos, corner Gen. Segundo Street, ☏ +63 2 82965724. 10:30AM-10PM.
- 5 Cocina de Relleno, 319-B, Alvir Street, ☏ +63 9053369984. M-Sa 9AM-5PM.
- 6 Mann Hann, 628 Jose A Santos Street, ☏ +63 2 87232918. 10AM-10PM. Chinese restaurant
- 7 Oyasumi Ramen, Unit 3, 308 P. Guevarra Street, ☏ +63 2 82750309. 11AM-10PM. Ramen house
- 8 Tra Vinh, 691 Jose Abad Santos Street, ☏ +63 9606808041. 11AM-8PM. A Vietnamese restaurant.
- 9 China Mommy, 200 M. Paterno Street, ☏ +63 9175148540. 8AM-6PM. Chinese takeaway.
- 10 Brothers Burger, Filoil EcoOil Centre, Colonel Bonny Serrano Avenue, ☏ +63 2 85151921. 10AM-10PM.
- 11 Hanamaruken Ramen, Col. Bonny Serrano Ave (in Santolan Town Plaza), ☏ +63 2 8714 2977. 10AM-10PM.
- 12 Chef Laudico Guevarra's, 387 P. Guevarra corner Argonne Streets, ☏ +63 9173112222. 11AM-2PM, 5-10PM.
- 13 Flossom Kitchen + Cafe, 187 N. Averilla Street, ☏ +63 2 8356 6900. 8AM-10PM.
- 14 Yuujin, Wilson Corporate Center, Wilson Street, ☏ +63 917 168 1414. 11AM-3PM, 6-9PM. Japanese restaurant
- 15 Century Seafood Restaurant, Wilson Street corner Don Miguel street, ☏ +63 2 85706670. 10AM-10PM.
- 16 Chocolat Deep Dark Chocolate Cakes San Juan, 205 P Burgos corner A. Mabini Street, ☏ +63 287260330. 9:30AM–10:30PM. Cake shop.
- 17 Dampa sa Greenhills, P. Guevarra Street, ☏ +63 9171493306. 10AM-10PM.
- 18 Lágrima San Juan, Wilson Street, ☏ +63 9369177372. noon-10PM. Mexican fusion restaurant.
- 19 Crosta, O-Square Building 2, Greenhills Shopping Center, ☏ +63 917 105 3141. noon-10PM. Pizza restaurant.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Arko Karaoke Hub, #214 F. Blumentritt Street, ☏ +63 9173279322. 5PM–4AM.
- 2 Shotblock Coffee, #193 F. Manalo Street Extension, ☏ +63 9772734147. 2–10PM.
- 3 YiFang Taiwan Fruit Tea, Unit C, #17 M. Paterno Street, ☏ +63 9276687000. 11AM–11PM. A bubble tea store.
- 4 Barcino Wine Resto Bar Santolan, Pavillon, Santolan Town Plaza, #276 Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue. 11AM–2AM.
- 5 McLaren's Pub, 2nd Flr, #220 Wilson Street (located in 220 Taps n' Tiles Inc.). 5PM–2AM.
- 6 Dirty Daddy, Wilson Street corner, Don Miguel street. 10AM–3AM.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 The Leaf House, 1500, 45 A Rita, ☏ +63 966 329 1118. Like staying in a big house. ₱1348.
- 2 Summit Hotel Greenhills, 13 Annapolis (part of Annapolis Wilshire Plaza), ☏ +63 2 8898 5200. Hotel tower with a luxury feel that has an indoor pool and restaurant. Breakfast served.
- 3 Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern, 49 Annapolis, ☏ +63 2 7744 7979. Pretty cheeky place with concierge and a restaurant and pool. ₱1637.
- 4 RedDoorz Plus @ A Rita Street San Juan, #45 A Rita Street, ☏ +63 282498745. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 5 One Beverly Place, #35 Annapolis Street, ☏ +63 287239304. For long term stays.
- 6 OYO 794 Regatta Residences, Silvana Townhomes, #28 B. Padilla Street, ☏ +63 285488234. Check-in: 2PM.