Not only is this one of Manila's finest pieces of surviving pre-WWII art deco, but it's also the centrepiece of the Escolta St revival. Inside are galleries, cafes, co-laboratories, artist collectives, the First United Community Museum and the HUB Make Lab. Head up the fantastic spiral staircase to observe photos of old Manila lining the corridors of the 3rd floor.
First United Building
Manila
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
2.45 MILES
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Nearby Manila attractions
1. First United Community Museum
Opened in 2015, this modest museum is dedicated to Sy Lian Teng (1904–2004), a self-made Chinese tycoon whose family still owns the First United Building…
0.09 MILES
One of several ornate arches within Chinatown that distinguish the neighbourhood from its surrounds.
0.14 MILES
In the historic, beaux-arts Calvo Building (1938), this little museum houses a treasure trove of pre-WWII photographs and memorabilia. Of particular…
4. Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch
0.24 MILES
Ornate arch marking the entrance to Chinatown when coming over the Jones Bridge. Do not confuse it with the gargantuan new (2015) Chinatown Arch, which is…
0.27 MILES
Plaza Miranda has some history. This is where the common folk came to watch beauty contests, political rallies, and various events and festivities, until…
0.28 MILES
Quiapo Church is a 1933 replacement of an older structure destroyed by fire. One of Manila’s best-known landmarks, Quiapo is the home of the Black…
0.32 MILES
This stunning piece of art deco opened as the city’s premier opera theatre under the Americans in 1931. Today it’s in a state of utter disrepair, but…
0.34 MILES
Built in 1914, this beautiful ancestral home is the former residence of Perona Nakpil, the widow of Andrés Bonifacio ( father of the Philippine Revolution…
- placement: superzone
- path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
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