Want a room with a view? Hole up at one of these three cool hotels by Manila Bay! Your next staycation in three, two, one...
G HOTEL
The modern boutique hotel is a popular destination for business executives and leisure travelers looking for quiet yet entertaining accommodations. The G Hotel opened its doors in 2006 and as the ï¬rst boutique hotel in the Philippines, it’s also the latest addition to the brood of properties under the well-known Waterfront group. Architect Gerry Contreras stayed true to Waterfront’s clean and modern design elements with a zen-inspired theme of black and white interiors.
Bask in the bay breeze and watch the sunset al fresco style at Mirage Pool Bar and indulge in snacks and margaritas. The chic and cozy Café Noir serves Asian fusion dinners or hearty breakfast buffets. G Hotel also houses unforgettable parties in the Promenade, the hotel’s ballroom, with personalized service and an extensive array of gourmet cuisine.
THE MANILA HOTEL
Step into the Manila Hotel and transport yourself to the year 1966. Notice the Amorsolo-decorated walls, the vaulted high ceilings, the glistening chandeliers that overlook the Terno-dressed women, and smell the rich mahogany that lingers in the air. More than 40 years later, Manila Hotel still exudes the same elegance and sophistication that once welcomed The Beatles, but with a bit of a tweak: “Manila Hotel has also evolved to meet society’s changing needs and conï¬ dently faces the future as it is poised to become the hotel of choice in Manila,” says Atty. Marcelo S. Ele, Jr., President of Manila Hotel.
Although renovations have been placed to modify with the changing times, some of the familiar areas like the Champagne Room and Tap Room age with grace. Dine on some delectable escargot baked in parsley compound and butter and wash them down with an endless list of champagne or wine from the Champagne Room. Continue the night away at the newly-renovated V.I.P. Room for a more intimate affair. If only the walls could talk—there’s no telling what they would say.
HOTEL H20
Located inside Manila Ocean Park, it’s no wonder a water theme pervades Hotel H2O. In the lobby, a whimsical chandelier reminds one of bubbles—in fact, bubble shapes are present from carpet to curtain to ceiling. Mosaic tiles mimic light bouncing on water, while glossy, reflective surfaces and wavy patterns on walls make one feel as if under the sea.
The theme streams through the rooms as well, from the famous Aquarooms, where 50 species of ï¬sh swim within giant tank to the Deluxe Suites, ideal for honeymooners, where transparent bathroom walls allow you to see Manila Bay from the bathtub and to the Presidential Suite, where floor-to-ceiling windows offer an unobstructed view of the sun setting over the water. Hotel H2O lives up to its promise of being “fabulous, fluid, forward-looking.”
*This story originally appeared in the November 2010 issue of Preview Magazine. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
