[2] The name likely referred to the brackish waters, where the river estuary (in today's Malate Estero) meets the bay.

"[3] Malate was thought of as the place where the kings or high chiefs of Manila settled after losing their fort "Maynila" (now Intramuros) to the Spanish in 1571.

It was bordered by Pasay to the south, San Andres Bukid to the east, shores of Manila Bay to the west, Paco to the northeast, Makati to the southeast, and Ermita to the north.

American expatriates and some of the old Spanish mestizo families populated the district in modern high-rise apartments and bungalows.

The displaced wealthy families who evacuated their homes during the war returned and re-built their private villas and kept the whole district exclusively residential until the 1970s.

During the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, visual and performing artists found a haven in Malate and it became a bohemian enclave.

Agencies like the Department of Finance (DOF), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and lending institution LandBank of the Philippines are headquartered in the district, whilst the National Naval Command Headquarters of the Philippine Navy is at the boundary limits of Manila and the city of Pasay along Roxas Boulevard.

Harrison Plaza, Manila's first enclosed modern mall, was located in the Malate district.

There is one public hospital, the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, located at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Quirino Avenue.