A Day at The Rockwell Club, Makati: Gym, Pool, Sauna, Tokiya, and How to Get In (₱3,080 a Month)

The short version: The Rockwell Club is the members’ club in the middle of Rockwell, Makati. A gym with a golf simulator and studios, an outdoor pool over the gardens, a jacuzzi and sauna, a few restaurants, and Tokiya, the poolside Japanese place that’s the best thing about it. It’s calm, safe and busy without being stuffy. The gym is on the small side, the men’s sauna fits about four, and the toiletries are generic. But at ₱3,080 a month in dues, ₱830 of it back as credit, it’s a good deal if you live in Rockwell, and worth it even if you don’t. A direct booking at Aruga gets you in, minus Tokiya. Here’s how I’d spend a day there, and how it compares with Kerry Sports and Manila Golf. 7.5 out of 10.

Disclosure: I’m not a member. I’ve used the club many times, on a friend’s membership and through Aruga stays, and I pay for everything I eat there. The friend isn’t named here.

Pros

• Tokiya: well-priced Japanese food by the pool, with a Japanese sushi chef
• A big outdoor pool over the gardens, with tables to work at and palms all around
• A gym most Rockwell buildings can’t match, with a golf simulator, yoga and personal trainers
• A proper hot jacuzzi, a sauna and clean changing rooms
• Safe, with guards at every side, and a calm walk around Rockwell at night
• Family-friendly: kids’ play area, a busy pool, events through the year
• ₱3,080 a month in dues, with ₱830 of it consumable

Cons

• The gym is modest for the number of people using it, and the cardio gets crowded
• The men’s sauna fits about four, and it’s sometimes set too low
• Generic toiletries and dispensers in the changing rooms
• The jacuzzi room has no windows
• Events like Easter and Mother’s Day cost extra, and the sales table feels a bit salesy
• No real place to work, and no outlets by the pool
• No parking; use Power Plant’s or get dropped off

A day at the club

Here’s the day I’d do. Start with a walk around Rockwell, then into the club on Amorsolo Drive for breakfast at Rocky’s. Then the gym, with a look at the golf simulator or a session with one of the personal trainers if you want one. After that, the jacuzzi, a stretch at the outdoor pool, the sauna and a shower. Lunch or an early dinner at Tokiya by the pool. Work a bit at the tables behind the pool afterwards, though bring a charged laptop, since there are no outlets. End with a walk along the club and through Rockwell when the lights come on, and back to Aruga.

Getting in

The entrance is on Amorsolo Drive. You walk into an open lobby in beige, Southeast Asian tones, and it smells good. One of the condo entrances is on the right; the elevators are straight ahead and to the left, with a few seating areas around. There’s a guest sign-in desk, though they don’t check it much; the gym is where they check you properly.

Three ways in: own a share and pay the monthly dues; be a Rockwell resident with access through your building; or book direct at Aruga, the serviced apartment in Edades. Aruga gets you everything except Tokiya, which is members only. I’ve used the Aruga route myself. Reciprocal members from other clubs need a letter of introduction and their membership card. Chef Jessie and Rocky’s, as far as I know, are open to the public.

The gym, jacuzzi and sauna: 7 out of 10

The gym is on the first floor: modest in size, with modern equipment, plenty of cardio machines, a golf simulator and yoga classes. It’s usually a bit busy, there are often personal trainers working, and the cardio gets crowded. The main thing I’d change is the size; it could be larger. You can also come in from the back, behind Tokiya.

The changing rooms are clean, with several showers and a towel area, but the toiletries are a bit generic and the dispensers could be upgraded. The jacuzzi is hot, which isn’t a given in Manila, with four seats in a warm room, which seems few but is usually enough; it’s dark, with no windows, and a view would make it. The men’s sauna fits about four people, and sometimes someone’s left it on a low setting. There’s a juice bar selling healthy drinks, which I haven’t tried.

The gym matters more than it sounds, because most Rockwell buildings don’t have good ones; Proscenium, Edades and Balmori are the exceptions.

The pool

The pool is fairly large and looks over the gardens at the back, with palms and coconut trees around it, loungers, and tables and chairs where you can sit and work. There are often families, and the feel is relaxed and resort-like. Behind the pool are chairs facing it and the Rockwell skyline, and there’s a kids’ play area with slides near Rocky’s. The Wi-Fi usually holds up; the network is called West Block.

Technically, the walk through the back, where Luna Gardens is, is for Luna Gardens residents, and I’d like the club to open it to members. It’s a calm, almost romantic place to walk when Rockwell lights up at night.

The food: 7.5 out of 10

Tokiya carries it. Well-priced Japanese food with a Japanese sushi chef, outdoor seating over the pool, soft Japanese music and a pleasant, almost resort-like feel; the full review has the dishes and prices. Its restrooms at the back aren’t always as clean as they could be.

Rocky’s, the café and bar, has friendly service and the feel of a small American restaurant with a touch of sports bar. I’ve eaten there once, the American breakfast: toast with butter and jam, ham, crispy bacon and two eggs any style, over easy for me. 7 out of 10: everything was tasty, the white toast especially, but nothing memorable, and the menu leans toward breakfast. Chef Jessie does Mediterranean and French and is a popular spot for celebrations; I haven’t tried it. The Lounge, indoors and poolside, has Casa Nostra’s Neapolitan pizza.

The setting: 8.5 out of 10

The heart of Rockwell, and very safe: guards on multiple sides, and at night Rockwell itself has checkpoints and some roads blocked off. It’s close to the villages, Urdaneta, Bel-Air, Dasmariñas and Forbes, so it’s easy for people to get to, and Power Plant Mall is a few minutes’ walk. The club runs events through the year, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Easter, which you pay for, and promotions for places like Amanpulo. There’s also a table where you can ask about Rockwell’s other properties, like the Edades West tower under construction. The table feels a little salesy, though nobody comes to you. The whole place feels pleasant and alive, not stuffy.

Vs. Kerry Sports and Manila Golf

Kerry Sports, at Shangri-La The Fort in BGC, has a far larger gym on two floors, with a much wider range of equipment. It has a basketball court, a sauna, a steam room and a jacuzzi, but no pool. It gets busy too, and it’s more popular with expats, probably because of where it is. It’s also hard to get into. The trade-off is the setting: you can’t really walk outside at night in BGC the way you can in Rockwell, so it feels less like nature, and there’s no coworking there either.

Manila Golf, in Forbes Park, is a different kind of club again: about 500 members, the course and a small restaurant doing Japanese and Asian-Western food, and a feel that’s very exclusive, quiet and peaceful. I’ve been there as a guest, and I’ll write it up properly another time.

What it costs

Dues are ₱3,080 a month, with ₱830 of that consumable at the club. Buying in means a share plus a ₱35,640 transfer fee for an individual, or there’s a “playing rights” route at ₱35,640 processing plus a year of dues in advance, about ₱72,600 in all. Share prices move; check a broker like clubshares.net for current quotes.

Value: 8 out of 10

If you live in Rockwell, it’s affordable for a quiet pool, a decent gym, a sauna and Tokiya, and it makes sense even from outside Rockwell if your building’s gym is weak. The things that keep it from a higher score are the paid events, the small sauna and the lack of a place to work.

Verdict: 7.5 out of 10

A clean, pleasant club whose strong points are Tokiya, the pool and the sauna, in one of the safest and calmest corners of Makati. It could use a bigger gym, better toiletries and a few small renovations. If you’re living in Rockwell, or staying at Aruga, it’s worth using. 7.5 out of 10.

Deciding between the two districts? See my Makati vs. BGC guide: hotels, food and nightlife, compared.

For another private club in Asia, see Pacific City Club in Bangkok: quieter and very Thai, with more places to work, but no pool that I saw.

FAQ

How do I get access to the Rockwell Club?

Own a share and pay the monthly dues, be a Rockwell resident with access through your building, or book direct at Aruga, which includes the club apart from Tokiya.

How much is Rockwell Club membership?

Dues are ₱3,080 a month, with ₱830 of it consumable. Transfers cost ₱35,640 for an individual; share prices vary.

What are the Rockwell Club gym and pool hours?

The gym, golf simulator, courts and studios are open 6 am to 10 pm and the pool 6 am to 9 pm, daily, per the club’s site. The club’s number is +63 2 3450 0992.

Can non-members eat at Tokiya?

No, Tokiya is members only. Chef Jessie and Rocky’s, as far as I know, are open to the public.

Is there parking at the Rockwell Club?

Not really. Use Power Plant Mall’s parking, walk if you live in Rockwell, or get dropped off.