Ayala Center in the context of Ayala Avenue

Makati Avenue (Filipino: Abenida Makati) is a major commercial thoroughfare in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. It forms the eastern border of the Ayala Triangle and is one of the three main avenues of the Makati Central Business District. The avenue runs roughly north–south diagonally, almost parallel to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). It passes through two distinct neighborhoods of the city: the Makati CBD and the old Makati Población. At its northern end lies the older part of Makati, starting from J.P. Rizal Avenue. It continues through Población to Gil Puyat Avenue, marking the southern edge of the old district. South of Gil Puyat onto the CBD, the avenue becomes more commercial and upscale. The Ayala Center shopping hub and Arnaiz Avenue are at its southern end.

Makati Avenue has two lanes each way in the Poblacion area and widens to three or four in the CBD. It has a short extension into the gated San Lorenzo Village as San Lorenzo Drive.

The Makati Central Business District (Makati CBD) is a privately owned financial and central business district in the Philippines located in the heart of Makati in Metro Manila. It is politically and administratively known as "Central Cluster" in the West District of Makati. It is different from the Makati civic center known as "Makati Poblacion" which is situated at the northeast portion of the district. It is bounded by EDSA, Amorsolo Street, Ayala Avenue, Gil Puyat Avenue, Osmeña Highway, South Luzon Expressway, Metro Manila Skyway, Zobel Roxas Street, Ocampo Street, Metropolitan Avenue, Nicanor Garcia Street, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati Avenue, Anza Street, Polaris Street, Orion Street, Mercedes Street, Amapola Street and Estrella Street. The whole district occupies the barangays of San Antonio, San Lorenzo, Bel-Air, and Urdaneta.

Many of the skyscrapers in Metro Manila are in this area. The business district is also considered one of the most vibrant commercial districts in Southeast Asia. It contains the Ayala Center, one of the region's major shopping centers.