Shangri-La The Fort vs. Makati Shangri-La: Which Should You Book? (2026)
Two Shangri-Las, $150 apart. The Fort, easily, and here is why, section by section.
Manila, Philippines MNL
The short version: Shangri-La The Fort, easily. Pay up. It’s more consistently luxurious in every way that matters: the service, a room that isn’t musty, newer finishes, and a gym and wellness setup that the Makati Shangri-La can’t match. Makati Shangri-La wins on price, the tennis courts and a grander lobby, and if you have to be in Makati for Greenbelt and Ayala. Even then, I’d book the Fairmont next door instead. I scored the Fort 8.5 and Makati Shangri-La 6.
Two Shangri-Las, two districts, about $150 a night apart. I’ve stayed at both in 2026, the Fort in October and Makati in June, and walked through Makati again in October. Here’s how they compare, section by section.
At a glance
| Shangri-La The Fort | Makati Shangri-La | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 8.5 | 6 |
| Room | 8 | 5.5 |
| Service | 9 | 8 |
| Food | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Setting | 8.5 | 8 |
| Value | 9 | 6 |
| Paid a night | $378 with breakfast | $229, no breakfast |
| Sleep test | Pass (38 dB) | Not measured; fairly bad road noise |
| Wi-Fi | 345 Mbps down | Not measured |
| Stay again? | Yes | No, not until the rooms are redone |
The room
This is where the gap is widest. The Fort’s rooms are quiet, clean and well soundproofed, with the best shower pressure of any Manila hotel I’ve stayed in and the fastest Wi-Fi by a mile. The one quirk is a shower head that can swing and spray into the bathroom.
Makati Shangri-La’s rooms need a renovation. My first one had stained carpets and a musty, moldy smell, which other guests have reported too, and the soundproofing on the road side is poor. The road noise was fairly bad, probably one of the worst of the Manila hotels, because the building is older and not well soundproofed. They moved me, and the duty manager handled it well, but a Shangri-La shouldn’t need a second room.
Service
Both are good; the Fort is better. Warm, attentive staff who remember you, six elevators so you never wait, and a hotel that feels well run. Makati’s service is good too, especially when things went wrong, and when I asked for mangosteens they cut them up for me. But there are lines at check-in and lines for the buffet, and one hallway had a sewage smell they were masking.
Gym and wellness
Not close. Kerry Sports at the Fort is two floors, with a basketball court, a sauna and a steam room, a protein bar outside the gym and wellness activities through the week. It’s the best hotel gym in Manila. Makati has a large, lively gym with personal trainers, which is better than most, and it has tennis courts, which almost no hotel in Manila does. If tennis is the point of your trip, that’s a real reason to pick Makati.
Horizon Club
A club room doesn’t change the answer. Makati’s Horizon Club is dated and a little packed. The Fort’s lounge is good: it overlooks the whole city and the food is a real selection, with very good kiwis. The one con is that the 39th floor, right below the lounge, can be noisy in the morning.
Setting and location
Makati has the grander lobby: the chandelier under the dome, the twin staircases, the garden at the end, and a very Southeast Asian feel. It’s also in the center of Makati, next to Greenbelt, Glorietta and Landmark, with Salcedo Market close by. The Fort’s lobby is grand too, and it’s in the middle of BGC, connected to High Street and the mall, with the pool deck as the nicer place to sit. Which district you want is the Makati vs. BGC question; on the hotel itself, the Fort.
Food
Neither breakfast is the reason to book. The Fort’s High Street Cafe is decent, not great, with little fruit and coconuts at ₱220 extra; I scored it 6.5. Makati’s Circles is huge, maybe the biggest buffet in the city, but the food is just alright, 7. The Fort has Samba by the pool, which is one of my favorite settings in Manila. My breakfast guide has both in detail.
Price
I paid about $378 a night at the Fort with breakfast for one, and about $229 at Makati without. The Fort costs more and is still the better value, because you’re paying for a stay that works, not a lobby.
Verdict
Shangri-La The Fort, and it isn’t close. Even if Makati renovated the rooms and the price were the same, I’d still pick the Fort. The gym is a lot bigger, and the service is better: they remembered me, gave me late checkout without my asking, and were very warm. The restaurants are better too, with Samba. Book Makati Shangri-La only for the price, the tennis, or because you must be next to Greenbelt, and if it’s the last one, look at the Fairmont first. The Fort is the most consistent luxury hotel in Manila; Makati is a grand old hotel waiting for a renovation.
FAQ
Which is better, Shangri-La The Fort or Makati Shangri-La?
The Fort, by a wide margin: better rooms, service, gym and value. Makati wins only on price, the tennis courts and the lobby.
Is the Horizon Club worth it at either?
Not at Makati; the lounge is dated. At the Fort it’s good, with a city view and proper food, but avoid the 39th floor if you’re a light sleeper.
Which has the better gym?
The Fort. Kerry Sports is two floors with a basketball court, sauna and steam room. Makati’s gym is good and it has tennis courts.
Which is better for Greenbelt?
Makati Shangri-La is next door. But so is the Fairmont, which I’d pick over it.
What did each cost?
About $378 a night at the Fort with breakfast; about $229 at Makati Shangri-La, room only, in 2026.
Where to stay in Manila: 10 luxury hotels, compared
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