The Perfect Museum Day: Family and Couple Adventures at Ayala Malls Manila Bay

Planning for a museum day? Now you don’t need to travel beyond the metro. Ayala Malls Manila Bay features a trio of museums that blends education, art, and fun – perfect for families and even couples. This is a great activity to do that will let you bond together, learn new things in interactive ways, or pass away the time on rainy days.

We were invited to visit these museums to share them with you! In this feature, we’ll dive deep into these museums: the Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo, MindSpark, and a:museum.

Ayala Malls Manila Bay Museums

Opened in 2019, Ayala Malls Manila Bay is an expansive mall spanning 400,000 square meters. But it isn’t just a shopping and dining hub – it also boasts multicultural zones like Filipino Village, Japan Town, and Korea Town and three immersive museums: the Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo, MindSpark, and a:museum.

These museums are operated or partnered with the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corporation (PAEC), ensuring high-quality, interactive setups. Each averages 5,000-9,000 square meters, perfect for half-day explorations. 

1. Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo

Have you ever wanted to know about the food served in different parts of the Philippines? Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo will take you to a gastronomic journey across the country’s over 7,000 islands.

Located on the 2nd floor of the Filipino Village, this 5000-square-meter interactive haven celebrates the Philippine’s 17 regions through 1000-plus hyper-realistic replicas of iconic dishes. Launched in September 2022 after relocating from S Maison, this museum offers installations of local street food, regional dishes, different types of pancit, fruits and vegetables, and many more. There are also spots for local drinks and concoctions, including a wall display of the different coffee beans harvested in the country and a collection of vodkas.

Aside from these, the museum also has kid-friendly interactive zones, activity rooms where you can try hands-on crafts like making local kakanins, and a mini-farm area where you can interact with chickens, goats, pigs, and other farm animals. Finally, you can watch a traditional dance performance and even join in the fun at the end!

Don’t forget to drop by their souvenir store, where you can buy fun shirts with art depicting street food and other favorites, bags, mugs, and various chichiria.

• Location: 2nd Floor, Filipino Village
• Operating Hours: Daily, 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Rates: Regular rate – P850
• Pet-friendly: Yes.

2. MindSpark

If you’re a nerd at heart who believes that science is amazing, period, you’ll find that MindSpark delivers in spades. Unveiled in August 2025, this 9000-square-meter behemoth is the largest interactive museum in the Philippines, sprawling across the 5th floor of Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Curated with input from top Filipino scientists, it boasts over 100 hands-on exhibits across 30 themed rooms.

Don your lab coats and try various science experiments; learn about the insect kingdom, fossils, and gemstones; and pilot modern robots, including a replica Tesla Optimus robot.

MindSpark isn’t just for kids. Exhibits scale for all ages, with toddler zones for simple cause-effect play and advanced challenges for teens. This 2025, the museum has also partnered with the Department of Education for subsidized school tours.

Before you know it, a 3-hour visit flies by, leaving you with a renewed appreciation for the wonders of discovery.

• Location: 5th Floor, Building A
• Operating Hours: Daily, 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Rates: Regular rate – P899
• Pet-friendly: No, except for service animals.

MindSpark: Book discounted tickets here.

3. a:museum

Yes, we just saved the best for last! This was our favorite museum among the three we’ve visited. We highly recommend it, especially if you’re someone like us who loves taking gorgeous snaps!

a: museum is where digital art comes alive. It’s one of the most instagrammable spots in Paranaque, perfect for couples and families. Located on the 3rd floor of Building B, spanning 5000 square meters, this exhibit is billed as the largest permanent digital art museum in the Philippines. It opened in early 2025 to great reviews, transforming classic works by Picasso, Van Gogh, and Gustav Klimt into immersive projections.

Take gorgeous photos bathed in projects of Van Gogh’s starry nights and other renaissance landscapes. Watch how art along the walls and floors pulsate as they follow your movement. Create portraits, make interactive art, and unleash your inner artist as you explore the beauty in its 12 stunning art rooms.

• Location: 3rd Floor, Building B
• Operating Hours: Daily, 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Rates: Regular rate – P999

a:museum: Book discounted tickets here.

Essential Tips for Visiting Ayala Malls by the Bay

• Book tickets in advance: Book tickets cheaper in platforms like Klook or the official Amusements.global site for discounts up to 20% and to skip lines, especially on weekends.
• Time your visit wisely: Aim for weekdays or post-12 PM openings to avoid peak family hours. You may also want to inquire the date in advance so you can visit on dates without scheduled field trips. Allocate 2-hours per museum. You can visit all three museums in one day, but be prepared for a lot of walking!
• Dress comfortably. Wear comfortable sneakers or other footwear since you will need to walk a lot. It’s best to also keep a reusable water bottle with you to stay hydrated. Bring a powerbank to make sure you won’t run out of battery juice for taking pictures.
• Check out the museum’s souvenir shops. Allocate a bit of money to bring home souvenirs, as a lot of items are exclusively sold in the museums. We personally love the fun shirts at Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo.
• Other good-to-know tips: If you’re visiting all three museums in one day, combine Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo and MindSpark since they are located in the same area, while a:museum is located in another part of the mall area. Other fun spots in the mall to visit? Check out Outside the Box and Craft Academy!

Discover and have fun!

Together, these three museums embody PAEC’s mission: making culture accessible and fun. Living in the metro with its daily hustles, these spots remind us to take a break, have fun, and explore the beauty of the world around us.