Shangri-La The Fort Review: Manila's Most Consistent Luxury Hotel, for $378

The short version: Shangri-La The Fort, in BGC, is the most consistent luxury hotel I’ve stayed at in Manila. It has a very grand lobby, the best service of the Manila hotels, quiet rooms with by far the fastest Wi-Fi, and Kerry Sports, probably the best hotel gym I’ve ever seen. Breakfast is decent rather than great, and the shower head can move and spray into the bathroom if you don’t notice. At about ₱24,200 ($378) a night with breakfast for one, it costs less than the Fairmont and Raffles, with a better room and amenities. A great value, and I’d stay again.

I stayed one night at Shangri-La The Fort, October 28, 2026, in a Deluxe Twin. It’s also where I stayed for almost a month when I first arrived in Manila, almost a year ago, so I know the hotel well. I booked through Agoda and paid for everything myself.

Pros

• Kerry Sports: two floors, a basketball court, a sauna and steam room
• Warm, attentive staff who remember you
• A very grand lobby
• Quiet, clean, well-soundproofed rooms
• By far the fastest Wi-Fi in the series: 345 Mbps down
• The best shower pressure of the Manila series, with a rain shower
• In the middle of BGC, connected to High Street and the mall
• Six elevators, so you never wait
• Less than the Fairmont and Raffles, for a better stay

Cons

• The shower head can move and spray out into the bathroom
• Breakfast is decent, not great, with not much fruit, and coconuts cost extra
• The gym can get packed with members
• Doesn’t feel as Filipino, or even Southeast Asian, as some other Manila luxury hotels, like the Peninsula and Raffles

Arriving

The airport can be a little chaotic and cramped, so just get a Grab.

As you come into BGC, Manila’s central business district, the city changes: wide, clean streets, glass towers and an almost Singaporean feel. At the hotel, you first turn into a gated area on the ground floor, where every car is checked, trunk included, so allow a few extra minutes if there’s a queue. Then the car climbs a long, circular ramp, and as you come around the curve, the big Shangri-La sign appears in front of you, lit up against the BGC towers. It’s a beautiful way to arrive, especially at night.

Step inside and the lobby opens up: very high ceilings, a huge chandelier, warm yellow tones and an almost glamorous feel. It’s one of the grandest hotel lobbies in Manila.

Check-in was very smooth. Shangri-La Circle members can check in on their phone and collect the key at a kiosk, but the regular desk moves quickly too. There are plenty of staff, and you can tell the hotel is well run.

The room: 8 out of 10

Probably my favorite room among the Manila luxury hotels. It has warm, rich color tones and looks out over the city, and it’s very clean and very well soundproofed. At night it measured about 38 decibels, one of the quietest of the series, and the Wi-Fi ran at 345 Mbps down and 276 up.

One thing to know: if you can, avoid the 39th floor. The Horizon Club is on 40, and you can sometimes hear them setting up in the morning.

You get a full amenity kit, including a toothbrush and toothpaste, outlets to charge your devices, a tub (I didn’t use it), and two large glass bottles of water. The lights run from a master control by the bed. One very minor thing: in the twin room, it’s only on one side.

The shower is a bit small, but the pressure is excellent, the best of the Manila series, and there’s a rain shower too. The one design flaw is the shower head: it can move and end up angled toward the bathroom, and if you don’t notice, it sprays straight out into the room. Anything left outside gets wet, and I hit my knee when it happened.

There are six elevators, so you never wait, and the hallways are very nice and clean. It would have been nice to see a little more Filipino character in the room’s design.

Breakfast: 7.5 out of 10

Breakfast is at High Street Cafe, a buffet with a fairly deep selection: an Indian station, an egg station, Filipino dishes, noodles, congee and more. The food is decent but not incredible; some of the other Manila hotels have better buffets, and it’s not quite as large as you might expect.

The fruit selection is small. I’d love to see more kiwis and mangoes, especially in the Philippines, and the coconuts cost ₱220 ($3.40) extra.

Breakfast wasn’t included in my rate and cost ₱1,350 ($21) a person. One small improvement: it closes right at 10:30. That’s normal for most hotels, but a little flexibility goes a long way; Raffles, for example, was quite relaxed about it. Still, it’s a pleasant place to start the day.

Kerry Sports and the spa

This is the hotel’s strongest point. Kerry Sports is a fairly exclusive club, popular with Filipino celebrities and locals, and hotel guests get access. It’s probably the best hotel gym I’ve ever seen: two floors, a basketball court, a steam room, a sauna, a hot tub, rows of running machines, and pretty much every machine you could need.

There’s also a café, a shop with protein powders and shakes, and plenty of healthy drinks. Get the On the Edge juice, with fresh pineapple, papaya, aloe vera, lemon and honey. It was my favorite; I had it twice and would get it again. The only downside is that the gym can get a little packed, since a lot of locals use it too.

I had the 60-minute aromatherapy massage, and it was very good: 8 out of 10. At ₱3,400 ($53), it’s a lot less than at some other luxury hotels, but expensive for the Philippines; mobile massage services that come to your room cost about a third of that. It’s ₱500 ($8) more to have it in your room, which I recommend, so you can go straight to sleep afterward. The menu is long, too, with options like a 30-minute headache release for the head, neck and shoulders.

The setting: 8.5 out of 10

You’re in one of the best parts of Manila. A lot of people prefer BGC to Makati, since it’s more walkable and has more expats. I personally prefer Makati, but right now there isn’t really a hotel at this level there. The hotel is connected to High Street and the mall, which is very convenient.

The lobby lounge, under a ceiling of glass fish, is a nice spot in the evening; there was live music the night I was there.

The pool deck is on the 8th floor, with a long pool, a kids’ pool and an outdoor hot tub. I didn’t swim, but the hot tub is a nice touch, and one of the few I’ve seen at a Manila hotel.

Service: 9 out of 10

Excellent, and the best of the Manila hotels. The greeters in the lobby are very friendly, and they step in to help the front desk whenever it gets busy, so you’re never left waiting. One of the front desk staff recognized me from my stay almost a year ago. She offered me a 2 p.m. checkout and a room on the same floor as my family, and when I declined, gave me key card access to their floor anyway.

The concierge is very good, too. If you don’t have a debit card, they’ll let you withdraw cash, up to about ₱10,000 ($156), for a fee. Extending your stay is easy, and the concierge hands you water on your way out.

I had no complaints. A welcome gift or note would have been a nice touch, and that little bit of personalization is all that keeps it from a 10.

What it cost

One night in a Deluxe Twin, booked through Agoda, came to ₱22,868.38, about $357, with taxes and fees, room only. Breakfast was ₱1,350 extra, for about ₱24,218, or $378, all in. The hotel encourages you to book direct, which may earn you Shangri-La Circle points, but booking sites can be cheaper.

Value: 9 out of 10

A great value. You get one of the best parts of Manila, excellent service, a beautiful setting, quiet rooms and a well-managed hotel, so you can count on a consistently good stay. And it costs less than the Fairmont and Raffles, with a better room and amenities.

Vs. other Manila luxury hotels

• Fairmont Makati: about $397 a night, room only. An older room, fewer amenities and service that’s fine but low-touch. The Fort is better on almost everything, for less.
• Raffles Makati: about $446 a night with breakfast, in Makati, with a better breakfast. But The Fort’s room is more consistent, the staff are warmer and the gym is in a different league.
• Makati Shangri-La: about $229 a night, in Makati. It’s cheaper, but The Fort is more modern, with better rooms (no musty smell), better service and a far better gym. It’s simply a more consistent hotel: if you go, you know you have a great chance of a comfortable stay without too many quirks.
• Grand Hyatt Manila: also in BGC, and a little cheaper. It’s a bit more understated and less outwardly luxurious, in a slightly worse location, but it hosts popular local events, like omakase with a Japanese sushi chef who specializes in private omakases and a Valentine’s Day dinner.

Interestingly, The Fort doesn’t have a Michelin Key, while Raffles has two. I honestly think The Fort should have one, though it could bring a little more of the Philippines into the hotel.

Around BGC

BGC is very walkable and modern, so take a walk around.

• The Greenway, about a 5- to 10-minute walk away, is beautiful for a run or a stroll, and good for families and couples.
• Din Tai Fung is nearby. (My Din Tai Fung review is of the Greenbelt branch.) Outside it, look for the BGC Portal, a round public art installation that shows a live video feed of people in other cities, like Dublin and Philadelphia, so you can wave to each other. There are sometimes activities around it.
• Samba, the Peruvian and Latin restaurant by the hotel pool, for a resort-feeling lunch with great service.
• Sichu Malatang, in the underground food court right next to the hotel, for simpler food.
• A Mano, for fairly good Italian.
• Jung One, for great Korean food.
• Skip Wolfgang’s Steakhouse. It’s very expensive for what is just a regular steakhouse.

Who it’s for

A well-rounded hotel that works for almost anyone:

• Families: a kids’ pool, the basketball court and plenty of activities.
• People who train: Kerry Sports is the best hotel gym I’ve seen.
• Staycations: it feels luxurious and a little different from the other Manila hotels, right in the middle of BGC, with Kerry Sports and the outdoor hot tub to enjoy.
• Couples: the same reasons, plus a glamorous lobby lounge and the in-room massage.
• Business travelers: a central BGC location and by far the best Wi-Fi.

Tips if you go

• Take a Grab from the airport.
• Allow a few extra minutes for the security check at the car entrance.
• Join Shangri-La Circle for mobile check-in.
• Avoid the 39th floor if you can.
• Book the in-room massage, for ₱500 more.
• Get the On the Edge juice at Kerry Sports.
• Get to breakfast before 10:30.
• Check that the shower head is angled toward the wall before you turn it on.
• Walk the Greenway.

Verdict: 8.5 out of 10

The most consistent luxury hotel in Manila: a grand lobby, warm and polished service, quiet rooms and a gym in a league of its own, at a great price. Breakfast could be better and the shower head needs a fix, but otherwise there are very few quirks. Would I stay again? Yes.

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

Breakfast matters? See my best Manila hotel breakfasts guide: nine buffets scored, with prices, hours and which rates include it.

Choosing between the two Shangri-Las? See Shangri-La The Fort vs. Makati Shangri-La.

FAQ

Where is Shangri-La The Fort?

At 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig, connected to High Street and the mall.

Does Shangri-La The Fort have a gym?

Yes, Kerry Sports, which hotel guests can use: two floors, a basketball court, a sauna, a steam room and a hot tub. It’s the best hotel gym I’ve seen.

Is breakfast included at Shangri-La The Fort?

Not on my rate. It was ₱1,350 ($21) a person, at High Street Cafe, until 10:30.

How much does Shangri-La The Fort cost?

My Deluxe Twin was ₱22,868.38 for one night through Agoda, about $357 with taxes, or about $378 with one breakfast.

Shangri-La The Fort or Grand Hyatt Manila?

Both are in BGC. The Fort is grander and more outwardly luxurious, with a better location, better service and Kerry Sports. The Grand Hyatt is a little cheaper and more understated, and it hosts popular local events, like omakase with a Japanese sushi chef who specializes in private omakases.

Is Shangri-La The Fort quiet?

Very: about 38 decibels in my room at night, one of the quietest of the Manila hotels I’ve measured; only the Okura was quieter. Just avoid the 39th floor, below the Horizon Club.