Cubao

A prominent destination in the Areas scene.

Cubao is a major commercial and transit hub in Barangay Socorro, Quezon City, located near Smart Araneta Coliseum.

  • Exact Barangay/City: Barangay Socorro, Quezon City
  • Best For: Thrift shopping, indie gigs, street food crawls, and major concerts
  • Average Spend: ₱150 - ₱400 per person
  • Power Outlets & Wi-Fi: Available in Gateway Mall cafes and Cubao Expo coffee shops like Hachiko or Brewman

The Commuter Reality

Honestly, Cubao is probably the ultimate chaos center of Quezon City, but in a good way. It's the place where the MRT-3 and LRT-2 cross, which means you have thousands of commuters rushing through Araneta Center every single day. If you're commuting, it is super easy to get here via jeepney along Aurora Boulevard or by taking any EDSA-bound bus. Just a heads up, the transfer between the MRT and LRT stations involves walking through Gateway Mall, which can get extremely crowded during the EDSA rush hour.

From Modern Malls to Indie Expos

But beyond the crazy foot traffic, Cubao has a very distinct split personality. So, during the day, it's all about retail malls like Farmers Plaza, Ali Mall, and the newer Gateway Mall 2. You can buy literally anything here, from cheap surplus clothes to fresh seafood at Farmers Market. If you want a more hipster, artistic vibe, you just walk a few blocks to Cubao Expo. It's an old shoe expo turned into a community of thrift shops, vinyl record stores, art galleries, and indie bars.

Food, Tambayans, and Late Nights

Anyway, Cubao Expo is best visited at night when the local pubs and diner spots open up. The crowd here is mostly college students and artists, and it's a great tambayan if you want to escape the generic mall scene. For food, you can get everything from cheap carinderia meals to high-end dining in Gateway. If you are on a budget, the food courts in Farmers are actually legendary, especially the seafood grill area. If you want something trendier, Fred's Revolucion in Cubao Expo serves great craft beer and pub food in a very quirky setting. There are also nice coffee shops around the area with decent Wi-Fi and power outlets if you need to study or work. Just remember that parking around the expo is almost impossible, so we highly recommend taking the train or getting a tricycle from the Aurora Blvd terminal instead. It's cheaper and saves you the headache of Quezon City traffic.

Updated on Jun 19, 2026 by George Gemson