The Asian Poker Tour is returning to the Philippines capital after a two-year hiatus, with the APT Manila 2024 running Monday, October 28, to Thursday, November 7, in partnership with Soul Poker at the tournament tables of the City of Dreams Manila luxury resort.
The action-packed series will spread 109 tournaments over 11 days and boasts over PHP 170 million (~USD 3 million) in prize pool guarantees, with the jewel in the series' crown—the APT Main Event—coming with a sizable PHP 100 million (~ USD 1.7 million) prize pool guarantee!
There is more than world-class tournament poker on offer in the Pearl of the Orient, with Manila showcasing the island archipelagos art, culture, and an eclectic mix of world cuisines. The city offers visitors a host of accommodation and entertainment options ranging from the vibrant local nightlife of Makati and the Poblacion, to the casino resorts of Manila Bay. We have done a little homework to bring you all the essential information on how to get to the venue, where to stay, great places to eat, and entertainment available away from the tournament tables.
LOCATION
The APT Manila 2024 is taking place at the 6.2-hectare City of Dreams Manila luxury resort, located in the center of the Baclaran district, Parañaque City, on the shores of Manila Bay, a short 15-minute drive from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
You can pre-book an airport pickup and drop-off via APT's official travel partner DK Poker Tour Bookings, with a one-way trip costing USD 22. You can also catch a metered taxi from whichever NAIA terminal you've arrived at, simply head out of the airport arrivals exit and make your way to the yellow metered taxi queue located outside. Alternately, you can download the Grab App, which you can use to book rides, order food, and more.
APT CARD REGISTRATION & KEY INFORMATION
Make things easier for yourself and apply for your APT Registration Card online; your Digital APT Registration Card can be used for all upcoming APT Events. The cut-off date for online registration is 12pm local time on Saturday, October 26.
All key information for the APT Manila 2024 can be found HERE.
APT CHALLENGE PHILIPPINES
Looking for an affordable way to participate in the upcoming APT Manila Main Event? APT have teamed up with the Metro Card Club for the APT Challenge 5M GTD festival!
Running from October 4 to 14 at the newly revamped Metro poker room, players can win APT Manila Main Event packages valued at PHP 100,000 each. Champions of the APT Challenge Opener, Single Day High Roller and the APT Challenge Main Event will all receive a package to the PHP 85,000 APT Manila 2024 Main Event. The second and third place finishes in the APT Challenge Main Event will also bag themselves an APT Manila Main Event package.
The added value does not end there however, with other exclusive APT Manila 2024 tournament tickets also up for grabs. The champion of the APT Challenge Mystery Bounty, running Monday, October 7 to Wednesday, October 9, will win a PHP 20,000 seat to the PHP 6 million guaranteed APT Manila Mystery Bounty Hunter — Sponsored by Natural8 event.
There is also a ticket to the PHP 4 million guaranteed PHP 12,000 APT Philippine National Cup up for grabs for the winner of the APT Challenge The Closer event, running Monday, October 14.
HOTELS
Manila has plenty of accommodation options and APT has teamed up with travel partner DK Poker Tour Bookings to find you some great deals:
Google Ranking: 4 stars
Deal: DK Poker Tour Bookings
This 3-star hotel is located a 12-minute walk or a 4-minute taxi ride from COD, and a 10-minute taxi ride from NAIA. All rooms have access to high-speed WiFi. Booking via DK gives guests access to a 22m2 room, and an exclusive breakfast deal. Prices start from USD 65 per night, with an airport pick up and drop off available, costing USD 22 each way.
Address: Block 2 Lot 15 Aseana City Business Park, Parañaque, 1701 Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4 stars
Deal: DK Poker Tour Bookings
This 3-star hotel is located a 7-minute walk or a 3-minute taxi ride from COD, and a 10-minute taxi ride from NAIA. Booking via DK gives guests a 25m2 Deluxe Queen room for USD 85 per night. All rooms come with complimentary highspeed WiFi, a coffeemaker, minibar, and air conditioning. An airport pick up and drop off is available, costing USD 22 each way.
Address: Abueva Road, Aseana Ave, Aseana City, Parañaque, 1701 Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.3 stars
Deal: DK Poker Tour Bookings
This 4-star hotel is located a 7-minute walk or a 3-minute taxi ride from COD, and a 10-minute taxi ride from NAIA. Booking via DK gives guests a 30m2 Deluxe room with a King or twin bed. The room comes with toiletries, complimentary coffee and tea, minibar and highspeed Wifi for USD 130 per night. Onsite facilities include a spa, games room complete with PlayStations, a pool, and an onsite mini golf course. An airport pick up and drop off is available via DK, costing USD 22 each way.
FOOD
There is an eclectic selection of dining options on offer with cuisines ranging from American BBQ to Chinese, French, and vegetarian. Some of the standouts in the area include:
Address: GXJJ+V4V, Ground Floor, S' Maison, Conrad, Manila, Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.9 stars
This popular Texas-themed steak restaurant is located a short 10-minute taxi ride from COD in the Conrad hotel and is open 11am-9pm seven days a week. Specialising in hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, burgers, and country-style dinners, this is the choice for all the carnivores out there.
Address: Unit No. 106 Plaza 100 VA Rufino, Corner Dela Rosa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.8 stars
Those looking for a vegetarian dining option should check out iVegan, located a 20-minute drive from COD in Makati. Open 8am-10pm seven days a week, this specialist restaurant offers natural, healthy, and tasty plant-based whole-food options including soups, wraps, noodles, smoothies, fresh juice, frappes, coffee and alcoholic beverages.
Address: 5921 Algier, Makati, 1210 Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.5 stars
This classy casual French bistro & wine bar also boasts a rooftop cocktail bar complete with a DJ at weekends and is located a 25-minute drive from the Manila Bay area in Makati’s Poblacion. Open 5pm-1am Mon-Fri, and 12pm-2am Sat-Sun, Dr. Wine offers some great Gaelic food including fresh oysters, mussels, and dishes like classic French onion soup, all in a relaxed setting.
Address: 5012 P Burgos St, Poblacion, Makati, 1210 Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.4 stars
This retro themed diner is a celebration of 1950s Americana and is located in Poblacion, Makati, a 30-minute taxi ride from COD. Open 24-7 Mon-Sun they serve hearty US-style breakfasts, toasted sandwiches, burgers, steaks, ice cream sundaes, cocktails, smoothies, classic milkshakes & malts, coffees, and iced drinks. Worth visiting for the memorabilia alone.
Golden Bay Fresh Seafoods Restaurant
Address: Lot 3 & 4, CBP 1, 1 Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.3 stars
A renowned Chinese culinary destination specialising in seafood and showcasing traditional and modern dishes including classic Chinese-style BBQ, fresh seafood, authentic dim sum, and a variety of set menus. Located a short 5-minute taxi ride from COD and open 11am-3pm and 5pm-10pm Mon-Sun.
COFFEE
Caffeine junkies should check out the following:
Address: Upper Ground Level, City of Dreams Manila, Aseana Ave, Roxas Blvd, Parañaque, Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.4 stars
Those looking for an onsite caffeine fix close to the poker action should be familiar with the popular Seattle-based coffeehouse chain known for its signature roasts, light bites and WiFi availability. Open 7am-1am seven days a week.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Address: Ground Level, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Parañaque, Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.5 stars
Southern Californian coffee chain The Coffee Bean & Tealeaf is located in the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, right by the Seda Manila Bay hotel, a short 5-minute walk from COD and offers a selection of salads, sandwiches, pizzas, desserts, plus the obligatory selection of teas, coffees and iced beverages. Open 8am-10pm Mon-Fri and 8am-11pm Sat-Sun.
ENTERTAINMENT
Of course, the highlight of the entertainment on offer during the festival will be the APT Players Party on Sunday, November 3 (10pm-3am). There are also plenty of entertainment options at City of Dreams, including the brand new COD KTV, and the always lively CenterPlay Bar, which offers guests a great live music option.
For those looking for more eclectic entertainment options in Manila, there are a wealth of nightspots and bars worth checking out in both Makati, and Bonifacio, and we’ve compiled a short list of the highlights:
Agimat at Ugat Foraging Bar and Kitchen
Address: 5972 Alfonso, corner of Fermina, Makati, Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.6 stars
Voted one of the best places to grab a cocktail in Manila, Agimat is located in Poclacion, Makati, a 30-minute taxi ride from COD. With live music, and an onsite distillery where they make their own Agimat gin, or award-winning Ube Cream Liqueur, this is one of the few places in Manila you can get your hands on whacky drinks like bacon vodka. Open 5pm-2am seven days a week.
Address: 100, OPL Building, Don Carlos Palanca, Makati, 1229 Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.7 stars
Mansion Sports Bar comprises three venues all with their own distinct vibe: M Bar, M Lounge, and M Dining. M Bar offers games of beer pong, pool or darts, M Lounge is more of an intimate cocktail bar, while M Dining is the main bar with giant LED screens and a lively atmosphere. Open 5pm-2am Sun-Weds and 5pm-3am Thurs-Sat and located a 25-minute taxi ride from COD in Makati.
Address: 4963 Guerrero, Makati, 1210 Metro Manila
Google Ranking: 4.6 stars
Another great venue with live entertainment, the Spirits Library comes with 1930s speakeasy vibes and specialises in cocktails, top shelf whiskeys and other rare bottles. Open 6pm-3am seven days a week and located in the heart of Makati, a 30-minute taxi ride from COD.
Xylo, Revel, Yes Please, and Clubhouse at the Palace
Address: Uptown Parade, 9th Ave, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
Google Ranking: 4.4 stars
Located in the heart of BGC, The Palace is the biggest integrated nightlife entertainment complex in the country with 4 distinct establishments: Xylo, Revel, Yes Please, and Clubhouse.
Xylo is the country’s #1 nightclub. Its decks have been graced by some of the globe’s most celebrated DJs as well as the country’s top talents. Open 11pm-4am Wednesday to Saturday.
Revel is a luxury lounge and the stomping ground of local and international celebrities, showbiz royalty, business luminaries, and the metro’s most beautiful people. This is the place to be for Manila’s upper crust. Open 11pm-5am Wednesday to Saturday.
Yes Please is your not-so-average cocktail bar with a sensational dinner menu, amazing cocktails and an eclectic mix of DJs that make you dance all night long! Open 7pm-3am seven days a week.
Clubhouse is a funky club and bar best known for its spiked slushie cocktails and serves drinks in a neon-lit setting. Open from 9:30pm to 4:30pm Tuesdays and Thursday to Saturday.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Of course, the main reason to come to Taipei at the end of September is the APT Manila 2024. Festival Highlights include:
- APT Main Event (PHP 100M/~USD 1.7M GTD): Oct 31-Nov 6 – PHP 85k/~USD 1,510 buy-in
- Philippines National Cup (PHP 4M/~USD 71k GTD): Oct 28-29 – PHP 12k/~USD 210 buy-in
- Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8 (PHP 6M/~USD 106k GTD): Oct 29-30 – PHP 20k/~USD 355 buy-in
- APT Super High Roller (PHP 15M/~USD 267k GTD): Oct 30-31 – PHP 600k/~USD 10.6k buy-in
- Super Stack (PHP 6M/~USD 106k GTD): Oct 30 – PHP 30k/~USD 530 buy-in
- Superstar Challenge: Nov 1-2 – PHP 1.5M/~USD 26.7k buy-in
- Zodiac Classic – Sponsored by Natural8 (PHP 15M/~USD 267k GTD): Nov 4-5 – PHP 125k/~USD 2.2k buy-in
- Baby Superstar: Nov 5 – PHP 300k/~USD 5.3k buy-in
- Double Stack (PHP 4M/~USD 71k GTD): Nov 5-6 – PHP 20k/~USD 355 buy-in
- APT High Roller (PHP 15M/~USD 267k GTD): Nov 6-7 – PHP 200k/~USD 3.5k buy-in
- Mini Main Event (PHP 5M/~USD 89k GTD): Nov 6-7 – PHP 25k/~USD 445 buy-in
For further information, please contact press@APT.Poker