12/21/15 Update: A Christmas Staycation @ManilaHotel
We love staying at The Manila Hotel because of its historic feel, delicious outlets, and close proximity to Manila landmarks and the famed Manila Bay sunset.
We decided to go on a staycation at the famed hotel this past Philippine Independence Day long weekend.
Here are the moments that made our Manila Hotel staycation memorable…
THE MANILA HOTEL
One Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines
Nestled in the lush greenery of Rizal Park, the 100-year old edifice of Manila Hotel is a historical landmark, having housed many heads of state and royalty for the past decades. It now also boasts of newly renovated areas and modern amenities.
Telephone: +632 527-0011
Website: http://www.manila-hotel.com.ph
Facebook: Manila Hotel
Twitter: @ManilaHotel
Instagram: Manila_Hotel
Check out low rates and availability from Agoda: The Manila Hotel
Related Blog Post: A Christmas Staycation @ManilaHotel
MANILA HOTEL JUNIOR SUITES (Room #923)
I love the classic and charming feel of the newly-renovated rooms.
It’s best to reserve the Junior Suites (with living room space) if you’re a big family like us with 4 kids.
The welcome fruit basket, chocolate, and cookies for the boys.
You have two room options: one that is facing Intramuros and the sunrise…
…or the rooms facing Manila Bay, all known as the sunset rooms. I recommend getting the rooms on the higher floors with a view of the Manila Bay Sunset.
Nice bathroom layout with bathtub. All the toilet bowls are equipped with an eco-washer.
The boys loved taking a bath in the tub while watching cartoons.
I love the Asprey Purple Water bathroom amenities!
Cafe Ilang Ilang Breakfast
Start your day by swimming with the kids. The pool may be small…
…but it has a bar at the center where you can order fruit juices while you swim. 🙂
The hotel has an extensive health club that is open from 6 am until 10 pm.
We had breakfast at Cafe Ilang Ilang. You can reserve the private room for your big family.
The pork skinless longganisa was a hit with the boys and their Papa. 🙂
One of the unique features of the breakfast is the Ironman pancake for the kids!
The Cafe Ilang Ilang culinary staff is cool, friendly, and always there to help you with your breakfast requests.
My breakfast plate with Ironman pancake, salmon, garlic rice, longganisa, chicken tocino, curry, dimsum, and taho.
Cafe Ilang Ilang Lunch
For lunch, they have 3 options for siomai: Chicken, Beef & Quail Egg, and Shrimp. We went crazy over the chicken siomai with chili.
The eat-all-you-can hot shrimp salad with mayo was also a favorite appetizer.
Fresh shrimps and oysters that they can cook or bake, depending on your specifications.
Make-your-own pizza and pasta is also a popular station in the lunch buffet.
Cream of Mushroom Soup (P330 +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax) with truffle oil foam.
You can order a la carte if you have guests who may find the buffet too much. The Cream of Mushroom soup came highly recommended.
CAFE ILANG ILANG MENU: Cold Kitchen, Soups, Sandwiches | Pasta and Pizza | Local Delights | Healthy Options, Kiddie Meals | Sweet Temptation, Native Rice Delicacies | Pagtitipon (Good for 4 persons) | Salo-Salo (Good for 4 persons) | Handaan Espesyal (Good for 5 persons) | Fiesta (Good for 6 persons)
We also love the Sinigang na Salmon (salmon simmered in tamarind broth with native vegetables served with steamed rice – P600) with generous amounts of salmon meat good for 2-3 persons.
Checkout: Our Cafe Ilang Ilang Lunch Buffet Bill
The best features of the Cafe Ilang Ilang lunch buffet include: Churrasco Meat Station…
…the US Prime rib carving…
…Mongolian Station…
…and the Curry/Halal Food Station.
Afternoon Activities
In the afternoon, you can take the Manila Revisited Tour with your family.
MANILA REVISITED TOUR
This two and a half hour tour will take you to the historical Walled City and Rizal Park on a horse-drawn carriage. This tour will include a visit to Fort Santiago, Rizal’s Execution Site, Casa Manila, Palacio del Gobernador, Manila Catherdral, San Agustin Church, and the former headquarters of Douglas MacArthur.
Tour only: P 1,900
Tour + Room Package: P 8,750
For inquiries and reservations, patrons can call +632 527 0011 local 1175 to 1178 or email resvn@manila-hotel.com.ph.
Note: *All tours are inclusive of transportation to and from the Hotel
You can also have a short walk to the Rizal Monument and around Rizal park…
…or check out DreamPlay by DreamWorks at City of Dreams Manila!
There’s also Manila Ocean Park, just walking distance from the hotel.
If you’d just like to hang out at the hotel, you can stay at the magnificent lobby and listen to live piano music.
Make sure to go up the MacArthur Club Lounge before 6pm to watch the beautiful Manila sunset.
The food at the MacArthur Club Lounge located at the 15th floor was surprisingly good, especially for breakfast.
Check out the Drinks Menu at the Mc Arthur Lounge.
The kids loved watching TV here because of the comfy living room setup and the drink options.
Mabuhay Palace Dinner
Mabuhay Palace is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Manila.
Best to make reservations, especially if you plan on eating here for dinner.
Mabuhay Palace a la Cart Menu: Appetizers and Barbecued Specialties | Bird’s Nest Abalone and Sea Cucumber | Soups | Live Seafood | Fresh Seafood 1 | Fresh Seafood 2 | Poultry | Pork and Beef | Beancurd and Vegetables | Vegetarian | Rice and Noodles | Dessert | Drinks
Check out Our Mabuhay Palace Bill (Budget about P1,600/head).
Cold Scallop with Mango (P450 +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax)
For something unique, try this fresh cold scallop dish with a sweet-sour mango.
3-Way Peking Duck: 1st Way, Sliced crispy duck skin with pancake and condiments. (P1,250 -half +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax)
Mabuhay Palace is known for their Peking Duck. We ordered a half serving for the family.
2nd Way, Stir-fried minced Duck (P1,350 – half +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax) wrapped in fresh lettuce.
My favorite is this minced duck in lettuce wrap with hoisin sauce.
3rd Way, crispy-fried duck bone with minced garlic and salt pepper (P1,450 – half +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax)
The duck bone was very tasty with salt, pepper, and garlic flavors.
Tower Mei Cai Pork (P980 +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax) with steamed Chinese steamed buns (please order 1 day in advance).
Tower of Pork Belly with Brocolli! One of our favorite and unique signature dishes at Mabuhay Palace.
We like cutting the soft buns in half then putting the pork belly pieces with minced vegetables in between and eating it like cuapao.
Salted Duck Egg Ice Cream (P180 +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax)
Salted duck egg made into ice cream…yum!
Deep-fried Glutinous Rice Balls with Chocolate (P180 +12% Vat, +10% service charge + local tax)
Not as good as I remember, but still a nice sweet finish to a Mabuhay Palace meal.
The Manila Hotel turned out to be the perfect venue for our Diaz family reunion with my older brother, Enzo and his kids, Elania and Milo!
THE MANILA HOTEL
One Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines
Nestled in the lush greenery of Rizal Park, the 100-year old edifice of Manila Hotel is a historical landmark, having housed many heads of state and royalty for the past decades. It now also boasts of newly renovated areas and modern amenities.
Telephone: +632 527-0011
Website: http://www.manila-hotel.com.ph
Facebook: Manila Hotel
Twitter: @ManilaHotel
Instagram: Manila_Hotel
Check out low rates and availability from Agoda: The Manila Hotel
Related Blog Post: A Christmas Staycation @ManilaHotel
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: We stayed as guests of Manila Hotel. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.
P.S. One of the best things about Manila Hotel is their in-room massage, which is available 24 hours!
The masseurs are very good, utilizing strong pressure to lull you to sleep.
Check out the Spa and in-room massage rates.
the blog is very good and i really gain my knowledge from your blog. it is verybeautiful
hello Anton,
I would just like to clarify if the amenities you mentioned above (welcome fruit basket, chocolates and cookies and access to the Mabuhay Lounge) are really part of the package when I book the Junior Suite or were these given to you since you were writing for Manila Hotel. I dont mean to sound sarcastic, I just want to set my expectations correctly.
I once booked a room in a hotel you wrote glowingly about but was disappointed that the things you mentioned werent available to paying guests like me. Ironic when you think about it, since they get their business from paying guests.
Hi Sunshine,
You have to book the rooms (typically the suites are included) that has the MacArthur Club Lounge access.
This is the extra service and amenities that they provide. The 15th Floor Club lounge access is a must. The food is good there either for cocktail or for breakfast.
Anton
Wow! That was a great experience. Worth it!