Top 5 Premium Office Buildings in Makati City
Where should your global team set up in Makati? Five buildings, the criteria behind them, and an honest read on each.
Makati CBD has long been the first stop for multinationals entering the Philippines. BGC sits right next door, and the two districts are close and well connected, which makes them natural alternatives to each other.
The biggest difference is public transport. Makati runs along EDSA with direct MRT-3 connections, so it remains the more accessible choice for commuting staff. BGC is still building its rail links. Metro Manila Subway stations are under construction, including one at Uptown Bonifacio targeted for 2028 to 2030, and a planned monorail will connect BGC to the MRT at Guadalupe.
Where BGC has pulled ahead is office stock. When Makati vacancy sat below 2% before the pandemic, much of the overflow demand went to BGC's newer Class A towers. Since the pandemic, Makati has more supply than demand overall, and aging buildings are losing tenants to newer developments. The premium end is a different story. Towers like Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2 still lease well, because truly modern space in Makati remains thin.
The short answer: the five premium office buildings in Makati CBD most worth shortlisting are Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2, The Enterprise Center, RCBC Plaza, the Zuellig Building and NEX Tower. Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2 leads on prestige and amenities, while the Zuellig Building and NEX Tower lead on sustainability credentials. The right pick depends on your team size, operating hours and budget.
The five buildings
| Building | Address | Developer |
|---|---|---|
| Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2 | Paseo de Roxas cor. Makati Avenue | Ayala Land |
| The Enterprise Center | 6766 Ayala Avenue cor. Paseo de Roxas | KSA Realty Corporation |
| RCBC Plaza | 6819 Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue | Yuchengco Group (RCBC) |
| Zuellig Building | Makati Avenue cor. Paseo de Roxas | Bridgebury Realty (Zuellig Group) |
| NEX Tower | 6786 Ayala Avenue | Nova Group |
Five criteria for a global company office
Building quality
Full backup power, dependable air-conditioning, multiple telco carriers for redundancy, and a structure that allows flexible layouts.
Green certification
LEED and WELL ratings signal energy efficiency and employee wellbeing, and matter to companies with ESG mandates.
Location and access
An easy commute for your talent pool, walkability, and a strong address within the CBD grid.
Amenities
Dining, retail, fitness, banking and green space close by. Less friction for daily operations and better retention.
Floorplate efficiency
For larger teams, efficient floorplates mean more usable space and less paid-for common area.
Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2
Ayala Land's flagship office tower sits inside Ayala Triangle Gardens itself, at the heart of the CBD. Iconic architecture, a premium tenant roster and the most visible address in Makati.
- LEED Gold and WELL Gold certified
- Direct connection to Ayala Triangle Gardens, the signature park of Makati CBD
- Twin tower to the upcoming five-star Mandarin Oriental Manila
- Integrated retail and dining from the lower ground floor up to the 3rd floor
- Centralized air-conditioning
- Large, efficient floorplates with premium finishes and a modern lobby
Best forPremium-tier global companies that want an iconic Makati address and an edge in attracting top talent.
The Enterprise Center
A mature two-tower development at one of the CBD's best corners, directly across from Ayala Triangle Gardens.
- Beautiful hotel-grade lobbies and common areas
- Prime corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, across from Ayala Triangle Gardens
- Elevated walkway connecting the towers to Greenbelt Mall, sheltered from rain and heat
- Integrated retail on the 2nd floor, including a food hall with more affordable options for employees
- Flexible unit sizes across two towers
Best forCompanies on standard business hours that want a polished, established Ayala Avenue address.
RCBC Plaza
A landmark two-tower complex and the headquarters of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, anchoring the northern end of Ayala Avenue.
- Prime corner of Ayala Avenue and Gil Puyat Avenue
- Two towers, the taller at 46 storeys
- LEED Gold certified
- In-complex amenities including the Yuchengco Museum, a theatre, private dining rooms, a chapel, and meeting and function rooms
- Retail mix of cafes and restaurants, convenience stores, diagnostic centers and a gym
Best forFinance, banking and corporate occupiers that want an established CBD presence.
Zuellig Building
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Zuellig Building was the Philippines' first LEED Platinum Core and Shell building when it was completed in 2013. A prestige address with sustainability credentials to match.
- LEED Platinum certified
- Column-free floorplates of roughly 1,870 to 1,945 sqm
- Raised floors on every level for flexible layouts and cabling
- Directly across from Ayala Triangle Gardens
- Retail annex with a healthy mix of premium and more affordable dining, retail banks and a gym
- Roof garden available for events
Best forCompanies that want corporate prestige, large single floors and top-tier green credentials.
NEX Tower
A newer-generation tower completed in 2018, also designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Its crystalline glass form is one of the most recognizable on Ayala Avenue.
- LEED certified with a strong sustainability brief
- 16-metre lobby with a living green wall
- Public lobby connecting Ayala Avenue to Dela Rosa Street
- Landscaped outdoor spaces, including a roof garden
- Rainwater harvesting and energy-efficient glazing
- Tenant-controlled VRF air-conditioning, so you set your own hours
Best forMid-sized teams that want modern design and wellness features on Ayala Avenue.
Which building fits which need
- Ayala Triangle Gardens T2
- Top-tier prestige, park frontage and a hotel next door
- The Enterprise Center
- Hotel-grade common areas, a food hall and a covered walk to Greenbelt
- RCBC Plaza
- Landmark complex with a museum, theatre and full retail mix
- Zuellig Building
- LEED Platinum, large column-free floors, corporate prestige
- NEX Tower
- Modern design and wellness features in a mid-sized tower
Our Take on This
Makati is two markets. Since the pandemic, overall supply in Makati has outpaced demand, and older buildings are losing tenants to newer stock in Makati and BGC. That works in your favour as a tenant, with more options and more room to negotiate. The top tier is different. Modern, well-maintained towers like these five still hold their occupancy, and Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2 shows tenants will pay for the right address.
There is no single best building. If prestige leads, start with Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2. If you need large single floors and top green credentials, look at the Zuellig Building. Finance occupiers gravitate to RCBC Plaza. NEX Tower suits teams that value modern design over sheer floor size.
Now the honest part.
Check air-conditioning hours before you sign. Many Makati buildings run centralized air-conditioning on fixed hours. At The Enterprise Center, for example, running past 6 PM incurs extension charges. For a team working late or across time zones, that is a recurring cost to model, not a footnote.
Premium means premium dues. Rent is only part of the bill. Factor in CUSA, air-conditioning charges, parking and fitout when comparing buildings, because the cheapest headline rent is not always the cheapest occupancy.
Older does not mean worse, but inspect. The Enterprise Center and RCBC Plaza date from around 2000. Both are well run, but ask about recent upgrades to lifts, chillers and telco risers.
Move decisively. When a floor in one of these buildings opens up, it does not stay open for long. Know your must-haves before you start viewing.
Makati premium office FAQ
What are the best premium office buildings in Makati?
Five strong options are Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2, The Enterprise Center, RCBC Plaza, the Zuellig Building and NEX Tower. Each serves a different need, from prestige and park frontage to large floorplates and green certification.
Which Makati office buildings are LEED certified?
Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2 holds LEED Gold and WELL Gold. The Zuellig Building is LEED Platinum. RCBC Plaza is LEED Gold, and NEX Tower is LEED certified. Confirm current certification status with the building before signing.
Do Makati office buildings charge extra for air-conditioning after hours?
Many do. Buildings with centralized air-conditioning typically run on fixed hours, and extending beyond them, often past 6 PM, incurs additional charges. Ask for the after-hours rate and include it in your cost comparison.
Is Makati or BGC better for a multinational office?
Both work, and the two districts are close and well connected. The main difference is public transport. Makati sits along EDSA with MRT-3 connections, while BGC is still building its rail links, including a Metro Manila Subway station at Uptown Bonifacio targeted for 2028 to 2030 and a planned monorail to the MRT. BGC has offered more modern Class A office stock over the years, so the choice comes down to where your workforce lives and how they commute.
How do I find available office space in these buildings?
Availability changes quickly. Browse current Makati listings on cre-book.com, where each property appears once, and inquire directly with the listing agent.
- Ayala Land, Ayala Land recognized at BCI Asia Awards 2024 (October 2024)
- Ayala Land Offices, Ayala Triangle Tower Two property page
- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Zuellig Building and Nex Tower project pages
- BusinessWorld, Nova Group completes NEX Tower in Makati
- The Philippine Star, Metro Manila subway project moving quickly (February 2026)
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