The Henry Hotel Series:
· Best Heritage Staycation in Manila! @TheHenryHotel (2023)
· The Henry Suites Miranila QC (Staycation Guide) (2022)
Henry Hotel was the first local boutique hotel in Manila that we fell in love with. We love its old-world Filipino-Spanish charm, and the good food at Apartment 1B. Staying at The Henry is like staying in a riad in Morocco or a hanok in Korea. We had a memorable stay in 2015 to celebrate Aidan’s birthday, and we finally got to stay in the owner’s suite during our family’s summer staycation this 2023.
Welcome to The Henry Hotel Manila, a hidden gem amid the bustling metropolis. Escape the tiring routines of urban life and awaken the old soul in you with its perfect combination of old-world comfort and contemporary amenities.
THE HENRY HOTEL MANILA
📍2680 F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City, Philippines
📩 reservations.manila@thehenryhotel.com
☎️ +63 2 8807-8888
📞: +63 997 866-3338
IG: @thehenryhotel
♾️: The Henry Hotel Manila
🌏: https://manila.thehenryhotel.com/
Related Blog Post: THE HENRY MANILA: Aidan’s Birthday Staycation Experience @TheHenryHotel
SUITES
At first, I thought we should not have brought the kids because the room looked charming and romantic. My wife’s in-laws’ ancestral house is similar, but modern and doesn’t feel old.
As long as the room has strong Wi-Fi, their own beds, a nice bathroom (a bathtub is a plus), and good food, the kids will have a blast on our staycation. 🙂
The Owner’s Suite was perfect for our family of six. The master bedroom had a queen-size bed that felt like a double bed, perfect for the parents. There was also an adjoining room with a queen-size bed and a single bed for the teens. The younger ones loved the sofa bed, which gave them their own space.
The bathroom was the centerpiece, perfect for romantic escapes. But for a family staycation, it was big enough so that there wouldn’t be any traffic, and everyone could enjoy the bathroom the way they liked it. The teenagers loved their own big bathroom, and they would take their time to enjoy it.
What sets the Owner’s Suite apart is its beautiful balcony with a vintage patio feel and a stunning view of the garden and pool. This is perfect for a private family celebration or a reunion with friends. Ang ganda!
This Henry Suite Room on the ground floor is just as beautiful, with a cozy living room and a writing desk for inspired moments. The bathtub is integrated into the bedroom, making this the perfect staycation for you and your special loved one. You won’t want to leave the room!
BREAKFAST
Breakfast is irresistible, the type of meal that would make you break your intermittent fasting schedule. The outdoor patio is perfect for a lazy brunch, and you’ll forget you’re in the city.
The complimentary Pinoy breakfast of meat, egg and fried rice was decent, but our favorites were the smoked bacon and longganisa.
This is the most coveted corner table for breakfast and I would wake up early just to secure this table.
(L-R Clockwise):
Eggs Benedict (2 pcs. ₱605). Served with poached eggs, hollandaise, home fries and petite salad.
Steak & Eggs (₱2,035). 8oz US Ribeye, 2pcs. Poached Eggs, Petite Salad, Home Fries or Garlic Rice
3-Egg Omelette (₱540). All served with home fries, petite salad & bread
French Toast (₱450). Challah Bread, Caramelized Apple and Banana, Whipped Cream & Butter
I would suggest upgrading to the à la carte breakfast. Apartment 1B is known for its continental breakfasts, which are done in the proper way. You can choose from Eggs Benedict, Steak & Eggs, Omelette, or French Toast for a glorious finish.
MOMENTS
The pool is embraced by the natural trees around it, providing privacy and a feeling of bathing in a batis feels. It is quite cold, perfect for energizing you during hot summer days and nights.
(L-R Clockwise)
Angus Beef Burger (₱690), Caramelized Onions, Cheese, Pickles
Vongole (₱490), Manila Clams, White Wine, Butler
Carbonara (₱490), Pancetta, Egg, Cream
Truffle & Shrooms (₱590). Truffle Pasta, Mixed Wild Mushrooms
The merienda food trip here is the best! Order the classic pastas and proper beef burgers, which they do very well. The Vongole had the proper clam broth taste, the carbonara was very creamy with nice pancetta bits, and the mushroom truffle flavors were creamy delicious.
The bathtub is the centerpiece of the owner suites — imagine just the two of you naked around the room and doing lovey dovey on every corner. The bathroom has remained pristine white throughout the years and was well maintained during the pandemic, with no maintenance issues. Galing!
But if you are with the kids, you should save your fantasies with your wife for another time and enjoy a family bonding session with bath bombs and harutan (playing) in the bathtub all day.
Each Henry property has an Honest Henry store, inspired by the Honesty Store in Batanes. There is no store attendant, so you must be honest and pay for the products you take. The store upholds the Filipino values of honesty and highlights proudly Pinoy products from the Gifts and Graces Foundation.
For Sunday service, make sure to visit Our Lady of Sorrows for a beautiful solemn mass celebration just 1.2km away along F.B., Harrison St. Make sure to make three wishes if it is your first time here.
Check out the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish official page for the mass schedules.
One of the unique things about The Henry’s Hotel Mania is you can go an aesthetic “escape” in this artist enclave to visit the Artelano 11, Avellana Art Gallery and Jojie Lloren’s Atelier. Make sure to ask for their exhibit schedules and when the shops are open for viewing.
Best of all, you can enjoy an affordable in-room massage, even late at night. Be sure to arrange it when you check in for your staycation.
KL Palm Massage
📍D.jorge, Pasay City, Manila
📞: Gobe:+63 905 3058-562 | Smart: +63 950 630-9890
📩: klpalmmassage@gmail.com
♾️: KL Palm Massage
🌏: klpalmmassage.com
DINING
Apartment 1B is known for its celebratory food and people go for the dining ambiance and good food. We enjoyed both dining in the air-conditioned restaurant area or having your own private dining in the owner’s suites.
Apartment 1B Menu: Soup, Salads, Starters, All-Day Breakfast | Mains, Pastas, Nibbles, Sandwiches, Desserts | Shakes, Juices, Beers, Cocktails, Spirits, Happy Hour
The Apartment 1B restaurant compliments the old-world staycation with a taste of old-world luxury with fine wine, finest entrees, and smooth music.
(L-R clockwise) Wild Mushroom Bisque (₱220), French Onion (₱270), Korean Chicken Cutlets (₱450), Caesar Salad (₱420),
They do the classics really well, from the mushroom bisque, French onion soup, and Caesar salad. They are also known for their Korean fried chicken, which the kids love, and a healthy appetizer to start the meal.
Lemon Rice Pilaf
The meat falls off the bone easily, and you can taste the sweet barbecue sauce with a nice char. It’s a good dish to easily portion for kids and goes well with rice.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Mushroom Gravy
Their signature dish is a big slice of ground meatloaf with a Spam-packed meat texture, served like a steak with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy.
Adlai Risotto, Gremolata
My favorite hearty dish with slow-cooked braised beef shanks on a bed of healthier Adlai risotto and a beef jus reduction paired with rice and a nice red wine.
Garlic Butter Polenta, Mint Salsa
We love lamb chops cooked medium with just a touch of mint to balance the flavor. The lamb chops were beautifully presented, arranged like a tepee tent with potentilla as the base.
Colcannon
The salmon is cooked medium, with a proper crust that gives a satisfying crunch when you bite into it. It is served on a bed of mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage and beans on the side.
You can enjoy their house wines or bring your own drinks to enjoy the family moments.
The frozen desserts and pies were surprisingly good. Best to order one of each and share a bit of each.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, this was the best family staycation we had in 2023. We immersed the kids in an old-Manila kind of staycation, with breakfast and celebratory dishes done well by Apartment 1B.
Plan your special celebration with the family and book the owner’s suites and an outdoor patio private dining area. It feels like staying in an old Manila heritage house, but you get to enjoy modern amenities.
There’s no need to go out to eat, as we recommend enjoying the food of Apartment 1B throughout your staycation. For breakfast, try the Eggs Benedict, Steak & Eggs, Omelette, and French Toast. For merienda, the Angus Beef Burger, Carbonara, and Truffle & Shrooms pastas are the best. For celebrations, we recommend the Meat Loaf, Honey Bourbon Pork Ribs, Osso Buco, Lamb Chops, and Herb Crusted Salmon. For dessert, I love the White Chocolate Cheesecake and the Chocolate Frozen Pie. Make sure to coordinate with Chef Nikko Roa of Apartment 1B for your private dining.
Congratulations to The Henry Hotel Manila team for being an inspiration in heritage conservation and a leader in boutique hotel experiences with a distinct Filipino touch. Thank you for the resilience of your team and for delivering a consistent awesome experience to everyone who visits you.
THE HENRY HOTEL MANILA
📍2680 F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City, Philippines
📩 reservations.manila@thehenryhotel.com
☎️ +63 2 8807-8888
📞: +63 997 866-3338
IG: @thehenryhotel
♾️: The Henry Hotel Manila
🌏: https://manila.thehenryhotel.com/
Related Blog Post: THE HENRY MANILA: Aidan’s Birthday Staycation Experience @TheHenryHotel
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Artist, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Thank you to The Henry Hotel Manila for the awesome staycation. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. I wished they also pay more attention to sustainability and not using single use plastic containers for their mineral water and toilet amenities.