The Deluxe Room at Shangri-La at the Fort.

It made perfect sense when Shangri-La set up shop in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), an enclave that has blossomed into one of Manila’s most popular hubs for business and leisure. Despite the wealth of lifestyle haunts in the area, there was no property of such scale and grandeur to call home before the arrival of the Hong Kong–based hospitality chain. Since Shangri-La at the Fort opened last March, the 576-room hotel has quickly become the most coveted address in BGC—and arguably in Manila. Its contemporary interiors are adorned with works by Filipino artists including Bea Valdes and Jinggoy Buensuceso, while bespoke glass chandeliers by Czech manufacturer Lasvit add a sublime glow to the public spaces. The complex features 15 dining and entertainment venues including the hotel’s very own Chinese restaurant Canton Road, and Samba, which offers poolside Peruvian cuisine. Another standout is Kerry Sports Manila: at 8,000 square meters, it spans two floors and counts an NBA-grade basketball court, two tennis courts, a lap pool, four fitness studios, a spa, and a café among its host of amenities. One more way to get active, and a unique manner to explore the surrounding locale, is to go for a spin on the handcrafted bamboo bikes parked by the hotel entrance. (63-2/820-0888; shangri-la.com; doubles from US$267).

This article originally appeared in the December 2016/January 2017 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“The Luxe List 2016: Shangri-La at the Fort”).

The interior of High Street Cafe.

Views of Makati.