I spent a week at S Residences Tower 1. The unit was small, but I got a very clean, well-equipped apartment with a separate enclosed bedroom, where I could cook, eat, and watch TV. The split AC was quiet and cold, the internet was fast, and Globe LTE and 5G worked very well. The building has 14 floors and a basement, big fast elevators, and a welcoming, air-conditioned reception. The hostesses and security staff were polite, and security helped with luggage. The amenities looked nice, with a large, well-equipped gym, several pools, and kids' playgrounds, but you have to pay to use them, and I didn't. It's an okay place to live, though not the best in town. If you need to be near MOA, it can work, but allow 15 minutes to walk there. Tower 1 is at the end of a dead-end street, and the residences are on a dead-end road too. Expect some city noise in the unit: loud motorcycles, bus horns, emergency vehicle sirens, and planes taking off from NAIA. I didn't hear cars. That's acceptable if you're used to Manila or other Philippine cities. If you want real quiet, Manila may not suit you; places in BGC near the Golf course are quieter but much more expensive. I didn't use public transport, but EDSA is around the corner, so there should be plenty of jeeps and buses. Taxis and Grab are easy to get through the app. Most nearby restaurants are affordable and Chinese, and there's a 24-hour mini mart. For more options, head to MOA or Ayala Mall. There are lots of malls around, with S-MAISON the best and very upscale, followed by MOA. I didn't think Ayala was as good, and there have been reports of security issues inside the mall and parking problems. I wouldn't walk alone or at night. Use Grab after 6 p.m. There are some very poor people living on the streets who might bother you, and incidents have been reported in this part of Manila. It isn't the safest area, though it's far from the most dangerous either. Pay attention to your surroundings, avoid drawing attention with fancy clothes or bright colors, don't carry a laptop bag or hold your phone in your hand, and leave extra cash, IDs, and credit cards in the apartment. I'd stay here if I needed to be in this part of town, but personally I wouldn't live here or stay longer than a week. For a staycation, there are better places around MOA, though this may be among the cheaper options and is a 10-15 minute walk away. Most developments on reclaimed land in Pasay are SM developments, so they're not fancy but provide the essentials. I was lucky to get a spotless unit and a very nice owner and caretaker. I hope you have the same luck if you book at S RESIDENCES TOWER 1. I give it 3 stars because it's fine, but there are much better places nearby, at higher prices. Better quality usually costs more.
