Amazonia
Amazonia operates as a combined hotel, bar, and cafe on Marcelo del Pilar Street in Ermita, one of Manila's older entertainment districts. The ground floor bar runs 24 hours with a pool table and waitstaff in the venue's signature uniforms. The hotel rooms above are basic but cheap, with fan rooms at the lowest tier. The Ermita area has seen significant redevelopment pressure and some sources describe the building as aging. Amazonia caters primarily to budget travelers and freelancer-friendly bar regulars.
What to Expect
You find a ground-floor bar that is exactly what it looks like from the street: basic stools, a pool table, Ermita regulars, and affordable drinks. It is not glamorous and not trying to be. The 24-hour operation is its main practical advantage. The freelancer-friendly environment means women approach independently rather than through a bar fine system.
Low-key, lived-in, and budget-oriented. Older crowd of regulars and backpackers mix at the bar.
Background pop and ballads at low to moderate volume.
None.
Budget travelers who want cheap drinks and a 24-hour option in Ermita without the tourist-bar pricing of nearby larger venues.
Cash only.
Price Range
Beer: PHP 100 to PHP 150. Drinks: PHP 120 to PHP 250. Hotel rooms: PHP 800 (fan room) to PHP 1,650 (deluxe).
Beer ~EUR 1.70 to EUR 2.60 / USD 1.80 to USD 2.70. Rooms ~EUR 14 to EUR 29 / USD 14 to USD 30.
Hours
Bar open 24 hours. Hotel reception 24 hours.
Insider Tip
The 24-hour bar makes it a fallback option when other Ermita venues close. Hotel rooms are on the third floor with no elevator, so factor in the 24-step climb with any luggage. The bar is more useful as a cheap late-night option than as a primary destination. Confirm current operational status before visiting as the building has shown signs of deferred maintenance.
Full Review
Amazonia combines a hotel, bar, and cafe into one building on Marcelo del Pilar Street, and none of these elements pretend to be more than what they are. The ground-floor bar is basic in every sense: stools, a pool table, cheap drinks, and a crowd of regulars who have been coming for years. The lighting is dim, the furniture has seen better decades, and the air conditioning fights a losing battle on hot nights in Manila.
The crowd skews older, mixing budget-conscious expats with backpackers and the occasional curious tourist who wandered in from the street. There is no entertainment program, no stage, no dancers, and no pretense of being anything glamorous. It is a drinking bar with rooms upstairs, and the 24-hour operation makes it Ermita's most reliable fallback when everything else on the strip shuts down for the night. Beers run PHP 100 to 150, putting it among the cheaper options in the area.
Compared to LA Cafe down the street, Amazonia trades energy and atmosphere for economy. There are no live bands, no large crowd, and no scene to speak of. What you get instead is a place where a beer costs less than almost anywhere nearby and nobody bothers you while you drink it. For some travelers, particularly those on extended stays, that simplicity is exactly the point.
The hotel rooms start at PHP 800 for a fan room and top out at PHP 1,650 for the deluxe option. They are on the third floor with no elevator, so pack accordingly. The rooms match the bar's overall aesthetic: functional, clean enough for the price, and positioned firmly at the budget end of the market. Do not expect reliable Wi-Fi above the ground floor.
The Neighborhood
Amazonia sits on Marcelo del Pilar Street in Ermita, part of a strip of budget-friendly bars and hotels that cater to long-stay expats and backpackers. It is one of several 24-hour options in a neighborhood that never fully sleeps.
Getting There
Grab or taxi to Marcelo del Pilar Street, Ermita. The UN Avenue LRT station is about a 10-minute walk. The street is narrow and one-way, so drivers approach from the Taft Avenue side.
Where to stay in Manila
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Ermita
LA Café
Long-running bar on Mabini Street that's been a fixture of Ermita nightlife for decades. Draws a mixed crowd of tourists and locals, open late.
Cowboy Grill
Filipino live band bar chain with a location in Ermita. Cover bands play OPM and Western rock to a predominantly local crowd. Affordable beer and cocktails.
Ringside Bar
No-frills drinking spot that's been part of the Ermita scene for years. Simple setup with cold beer and a jukebox, open until the early hours.
Hangar 18
Music bar in the historic Casa Tesoro Building on Mabini Street. Hosts live bands covering rock and OPM, drawing a crowd that comes for the music rather than the traditional entertainment scene.
Memories Bar
Late-night bar near Robinson's Place with karaoke and cheap beer buckets. A mix of Filipino regulars and expats keep it going until the early morning hours.
XO KTV
Mid-range KTV lounge with private rooms and hostess services. Cleaner and better maintained than many Ermita competitors, with transparent pricing posted at the entrance.