I’M HOTEL: 5-Star Hotel Staycation in the Center of Brgy. Poblacion, Makati! @IMHotelPH

I’M HOTEL is one of the best Luxury Hotels to open in Manila this 2017. It’s the only 5-Star Hotel in the heart of Brgy. Poblacion that houses the first Onsen Spa and the largest urban spa property in the metro.

The name is an invitation to guests to call the hotel their own and to personalize it to their preference. The “I’M” is a good branding anchor that sets it apart from the other business hotels and backpacker hostels in the area.

I like how they put emphasis on luxury with more focused on the what is truly useful instead of the usual over-the-top material things.

Here’s our wedding anniversary staycation experience at I’M Hotel last January…

 

I’M HOTEL
7862 Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City
Website: www.imhotel.com
Facebook: @imhotelph
Twitter: @imhotelph
Instagram: @imhotelph

I’M Hotel is a 434-room luxurious 5-Star Hotel located at the corner of Makati Avenue and Kalayaan Avenue, flanked by the City Garden Hotels.

 

1 BEDROOM EXECUTIVE SUITE

We stayed in the 1 Bedroom suite with a memory foam bed, 500 thread count sheets, and pillow menu–all customized to our preferred sleeping experience.

 

This complimentary Welcome Mini Bar makes you feel right at home.

 

There’s a separate toilet, shower, and bathtub…

 

…with Designer Bath Amenities by Crabtree & Evelyn of London.

 

You have a large refrigerator, kitchenette with cooking facilities, private laundry facility, and a cozy 4-seater dining table.

 

The living room is quite spacious but a bit plain. There’s a 49-inch SMART LED Television, complimentary WiFi…

 

…and a balcony overlooking the Makati Skyline.

 

CLASSIC STUDIO/INDULGENCE

Even the basic room Classic Studio (30 sqm) or Indulgence (34 sqm) with a King Bed and Executive Writing Desk is quite spacious.

 

The bathrooms have the same Designer Bath Amenities, Rain Showerhead, and a separate Bath Tub sometimes, with a view of the bedroom.

 

EXECUTIVE PRESTIGE TWIN

The Executive Prestige Twin Room (40 sqm) with 2 double beds is ideal for sharing business rooms or for a bigger family affair.

 

I love the clean look of the bathroom with separate toilet, shower, and bathtub.

 

PREMIER SUITE

Ask for the corner rooms like Room 902 that is lengthwise in layout…

 

…but with bathrooms with a floor-to-ceiling window view of the Makati Skyline.

 

MEETING ROOMS  & BALL ROOMS

The biggest Narra Ballroom has a capacity of 335 on the 5th floor with a 504-sqm area.

 

There are also different meeting room combinations on the 6th floor, from 50-seater (Banyan Room & Palmera Room) to 70-seater rooms (Mahogany room and Acacia Room) that has an actual capacity of 95 people.

 

EMPRESS JADE

Empress Jade Menu: Dimsum | Signature Roasts, Appetizers, Soups | Seafood (Mains) | Meat and Poultry Dishes | Homemade Beancurd and Vegetables | Noodles, Rice, Congee | Cocktails & Juices

Empress Jade is the Dimsum & Modern Chinese restaurant of the Ming Kee restaurant adjacent to I’M Hotel.

 

Hakau (P180). Classic steamed fresh prawn dumplings.

I like the hakaw with thin skin and generous amount of shrimp. Our boys would surely love these.

 

Their chili paste is quite good. Your dimsum session just wouldn’t be complete without it (ask for the XO sauce too if available).

 

Hot and Sour Soup (P355). Chinese favorite egg ribbon tofu, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots.

The soup was good but also a bit on the heavy side.

 

Spinach with Trio of Eggs in Superior Stock (P350 – small). Fresh spinach with three kinds of egg, served in superior chicken stock gravy. 

Make sure to order this spinach with century eggs, salted egg, and egg white.

 

Crispy Prawn Cake (P250 – small). Minced prawn, seasoned and crispy fried.

The flavor was good, the crust was thin and crispy, but we’re still not fans of fried oily food.

 

Glazed Guinness Spare Ribs (P360 – small). Pork ribs marinated overnight in Guinness beer, grilled and basted with a glaze of honey soy sauce.

You can’t help but use your hands and bite into these spare ribs with a deliciously salty sweet sauce.

 

Crispy Cereal Prawns (P700 – small)

The crispy cereal is quite satisfying by itself, with the right crunch and shrimp flavor. Remember to mix it with the different sauces.

 

We made the mistake of ordering too much appetizers. Make sure you leave enough room for Ming Kee’s Singapore specialty–Tripled Cooked King Crab with Bee Hoon!

Read More: MING KEE’s King Crab–Triple Cooked with Beehoon–now in Manila! (A Review)

 

Signature Crab Bee Hoon (P2,000/kg)

The crab is fresh, with beehon noodles in rich buttery sauce cooked in crab jus. Best to eat it while still hot! Good for sharing among 4-6 people.

 

The claws are huge and usually the cause of a food fight. Good thing we were on a date so we get one claw each.

 

We ended our meal with our favorite chendol dessert.

 

ONSEN SPA

This is the first authentic Onsen thermal bath in the Philippines….

 

… and the biggest Urban Spa spanning 3,800 sqm across 6 storeys. It has its own entrance along Kalayaan separate from the I’M Hotel entrance.

 

You can have a massage in a variety of treatment rooms from Spa Treatment Pods, Spa Executive Suites, and Akasuri Scrub Suites on the 3rd Floor.

 

We tried the romantic spa couple suites. The masseuses are trained well in the use of strong pressure and proper technique.

 

You can also relax in the Mezzanine 2 (M2) Relaxation Lounge or have a foot spa in the Foot Therapy Zone.

 

The Mezzanine 1 (M1) houses my favorite VIP Spa Suite, where you can have a spa and even sing karaoke while on a team building session with your team.

(Note: There are 3 VIP Spa Suites with sizes ranging from 39-52 sqm)

 

The gym is also located in M1 Floor, furnished with the latest Life Fitness equipment.

 

The 2nd Floor of the Onsen Spa houses the iconic acrylic-bottomed swimming pool…

 

…with a bird cage-like lounge area, as if hanging over the pool area.

 

You can see the traffic along Makati Avenue below. They can also surely see you swim in the pool!

 

The Mermaid Bar with Deejay Paete’s signature graffiti serves bar nibbles paired with cocktails, spirits, and good music.

 

The second floor also houses the Wellness Suites…

 

with Sauna facilities…

 

…Steam Room…

 

…and an “Onsen”, which is Japanese for hot spring, “using proprietary technology that mimics the mineral composition of hot springs in Japan”, according to the hotel.  

 

BLOOM RESTAURANT

Bloom Menu: Appetizers, Soups and Sandwiches, Pizza | Pasta, Main Course, Asian Selections, Sweet Temptations | Local Beer, Soda, Water | Wine by the Glass, Wine by the Bottle

The spa package includes a wholesome buffet meal at the All Day Dining Bloom Restaurant located on the 4th floor.

 

If you are eating with a group, make sure to reserve this corner private function room with views of the vibrant streets of Makati.

 

Bloom Breakfast: Breakfast Specials | Breakfast Set

The Filipino breakfast and International comfort food dishes are decent.

 

Bloom Signature Salad (P295). Mesclun, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Glazed Green Apple, Candied Walnut, Cherry Tomato and Blue Cheese.

 

Fish and Chips (P325). Beer Battered White Fish, Coleslaw, French Fries, Calamansi Aioli.

 

Salpicao (P550). Garlic Marinated Beef Cubes, Garlic Rice.

 

Pad Thai (P345). Rice Noodle, Bean Sprouts, Peanuts, Chicken.

 

Truffle Mushroom (P425). Wild mushroom, Tartufata, Parsley, Parmesan Cheese.

 

Bloom Burger (P525). Angus Beef Patty, Brioche Bun, Tomato, Blue Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon and Caramelized Onions.

 

They were sweet enough to make us a Happy Anniversary cake! 🙂

 

ROOFDECK BAR

We got a preview of the I’M Roofdeck that would have a 360 view of Makati.

 

Choose from the unobstructed view of the Makati Business District…

 

…or the view of Rockwell surrounded by the Makati neighborhood.

 

We loved our staycation experience in I’M Hotel even if it was still on soft opening when we visited, particularly:

— the sleeping experience in the I’M Hotel bed
— dimsum, crab beehon lunch at Empress Jade
— the onsen spa, which is like an oasis in the busy Brgy. Kapitolyo neighborhood
— the massage was very good and better than the other luxury hotel spas
— the interesting and unique Acrylic-Bottomed Infinity Pool

Can’t wait to go back and try the Onsen Spa experience and the Roofdeck Bar when they are fully operational this summer.

Book your Summer Staycation now at I’M Hotel!

 

I’M HOTEL
7862 Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City
Website: www.imhotel.com
Facebook: @imhotelph
Twitter: @imhotelph
Instagram: @imhotelph

Related article: PHILIPPINE URBAN OPULENCE: THE I’M HOTEL EXPERIENCE

Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com 

Disclosure: Our staycation was courtesy of I’m Hotel. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights. 

P.S. Check out the introductory Onsen promo (P1,500 nett), which includes any 60 minute massage/reflexology/scrub treatment, buffet at bloom, access to Onsen, steam, and sauna.