Because we need to make summer just a little longer, we’ve vetted—and bedded—the metro’s new haute crash pads to give you an idea on where to stay on your next staycation
CITY GRAND GARDEN HOTEL
Makati cor. Kalayaan Avenue,
Makati City
The hotel: You would think Makati doesn’t need another hotel—but this underrated gem of a property, just between you and I, houses some of the best suites in the metro, so beautiful, actually, that you’ll want to keep it a secret. Don’t be fooled by the hotel’s no-nonsense, tiny lobby, City Garden Hotel Group’s newest addition, located right smack in the middle of bustling, busy Makati Avenue, is a surprisingly intimate, airy 313-room property done in modern Filipino aesthetic. City Grand is outfitted with elegant features like narra doors and floors, onyx stone walls and luggage racks (swanky), pig-skin leather headboards, marble bathrooms, and my personal favorite: floor-to-ceiling glass windows which breathtakingly frame the jutting skyscrapers of this business district. Splurge on a Junior Suite when you can—with its generous receiving area and kitchen and dining space, and charming, light-filled, high-ceilinged bedrooms—you’ll feel less of a hotel guest and more like a pampered visitor in a luxurious private getaway. (Or get the Presidential Suite when it’s ready: There’s a dipping pool inside that stretches from one end of the 100 plus plus square meter room to the other, overlooking the city in sweet, silent splendor.)
Must-try: The rooftop pool and Jacuzzi at the 32nd floor. A neighboring building is ongoing construction, so that can be an irritating eyesore in the morning, but when work stops and the sun sets, and Makati is laid out before you like a glittering jewel box, you’ll be really glad to be ensconced where you are. Check out The Firefly Roof Deck Bar if you’re looking for a date place with a beautiful view of the skyline.—KRIZETTE CHU
www.citygardengrandhotel.com.
NOBU HOTEL
City of Dreams Manila
Entertainment City, Parañaque
The hotel: It’s so easy to get caught up in all the glitz and glamour of Nobu Hotel Manila. It’s practically a Hollywood lovechild (by Hollywood hotshots Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, producer Meier Teper, and Academy award-winner Robert De Niro) born and raised in Sin City then whisked away to the far east and into City of Dreams Manila. But it’s not all hype. You can snap as many selfies as you want in all corners of this modern, Japanese-inspired, 321-room boutique hotel, but when you it strip it down to the bare necessities of a memorable hotel staycation, you’ll realize that the brand’s internationally acclaimed, celebrity-inspired “fun luxury” experience is all about comfort, convenience, and class. Well-curated rooms and public spaces, along with personalized service and amenities, are intended to create unmatched experiences for all guests, especially families. You can choose from a Deluxe Room, a Premier or Corner room, an Executive Room, or you can treat yourself to a much deserved Nobu Suite. Each room and suite is fitted with contemporary Japanese interiors and crafted with custommade calligraphy art, representing Chi, or the flow of energy because at the end of the day (after living it up in the sprawling integrated casino resort that is City of Dreams Manila) you come here to relax, wind down, recalibrate. And yes, high-speed Internet access is complimentary.
Must-try: The Nobu Breakfast. Nobu is known the world over for its exquisite Japanese menu helmed by Japanese culinary genius Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and its breakfast menu is an experience all in its own, exclusive for Nobu guests. There’s the usual buffet offering of eggs, breads, bacon, pancakes, waffles, and cold cuts with a Nobu twist, and then there’s the Wagyu topped with nori, Eggs Matshuhisa, Bagel Lox (crispy rice topped with house cured salmon pastrami, tofu crema, red onion, and capers), and Breakfast Okonomiyaki (Japanese style egg pancake filled with chicken, shrimp, bacon, and topped with wasabi aioli and okonomiyaki sauce) that you can order from the servers.—JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA
www.nobuhotelmanila.com
HYATT CITY OF DREAMS MANILA
Entertainment City, Parañaque
The hotel: Hyatt City of Dreams Manila isn’t what you’d call relaxing. From the blazing lights of its lobby that beckon like sirens to its 24-hour interactive, show-kitchen restaurant, The Café (and its 100-pound Mayura Wagyu beef Yum! Yum!), the hotel pulses with unrestrained energy, spurring you to party, to play, to eat, to talk the night away. And doing just that seems to be already a given with Hyatt’s direct access to irresistible hot spots: the City of Dreams casino; Pangaea, the highest-earning nightclub brand in the world; Chaos, whose NY club was declared by The New York Times as “the hottest club” in the city, and a host of retail and leisure sites, not to mention Hyatt’s own lap pool, its 24-hour gym, and salon, the only one in City of Dreams. Even its rooms incite the senses with its floor-to-ceiling windows; warm shades of mustard, paprika, and chocolate; and sprawling view (at least for the suites) of the 6.2 hectare entertainment enclave. Those who stay in one of Hyatt’s 45 club rooms have access to the Club Lounge, which serves drinks and light snacks all day and hors d’oeuvres from 6 to 8 p.m. With all these goings-on, who would sleep a wink? Then again, inside every Hyatt room awaits a standalone tub and a bed so soft, you wouldn’t want to leave. One perfect way to end a suspenseful day.
Must-try: Never leave Hyatt without visiting The Café. The 24-hour resto is just bursting with exciting flavors and fresh fare, from its slices of juicy flank steak to crunchy, crispy lechon kawali. And unlike other buffet stations, The Café cooks your dish right before your eyes and serves it piping hot. Go straight to the Grill and Griddle section where the meats are (wagyu, satay, kebab, etc.) and don’t leave!—AMYLINE QUIEN CHING
For reservations, call +63 2 691 1234 or visit cityofdreamsmanila@hyatt.com
AMELIE HOTEL
1667 Bocobo St. Malate,
City of Manila
The hotel: Looking at Amelie Hotel, with its architecture and modern design, one would think that this hotel is somehow out of place in the old district of Malate in Manila. The hotel is very contemporary, from the huge typography on the glass walls that welcomes guests at the lobby entrance to the beautifully-designed modern maps found everywhere inside the hotel. There are three dominant colors in the hotel: gray, red, and black. The room’s design is sleek, simple, and modern. It’s all about clean lines like the wood slats headboard that goes all the way to the ceiling. It’s very spacious, too. But this doesn’t mean that the hotel doesn’t embrace the charm of old Manila. As an ode to the city, the hotel put touches of Manila in the design, like the art deco tiles at the lobby and the many framed photos of old Manila structures that hang on hallway and room walls. At the hotel’s restaurant, The Galleon, located at the ground floor, guests immediately notice the scrap wood accent wall, mixing old pieces with the new. “Some of the hotels here have their own vibe but most of them are old. We thought since we are in the old part of Manila, we’d like to showcase something new about Manila. But at the same time the photographs in the rooms give a different perspective,” says brand director Mark Abellon.
Must-try: It’s a limited service hotel, but management offers more to its guests. Soon to open are the roof deck pool and bar. The roof deck is one of the hotel’s prized areas because of the 360-degree view of Manila and nearby cities. The roof deck has a function room and a gym. The best thing about the hotel is not its facilities but its location. Since it’s in the Malate area, it’s in the center of the night scene where numerous bars line the streets. Just across the hotel, you can find the Oarhouse pub, where you can spend the night drinking with buddies and a few foreigners. Guests can also head to 1335 Mabini art gallery. Don’t be fooled by the old structure because it houses Manila’s best contemporary art exhibits. If you like to explore food choices in Malate, check out Erra’s Ramen along Adriatico St. It offers R50 to R80 ramen that people line up for.—ANGELO G. GARCIA
www.ameliehotelmanila.com
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