What It's Like to Stay in a Private Villa at Amorita Resort and Spa Puerto Princesa

Managed by One Of Collection, the hospitality group behind properties like The Funny Lion Coron and The Funny Lion El Nido, the resort marks the brand’s expansion in Palawan following the success of its Bohol property.

Set along a stretch of coastline edged by mangroves, the resort comes with a full-service scale while still holding pockets of seclusion. The architecture, meanwhile, carries an eco-brutalist lean, with the hallways' clean and solid forms that sit directly within the coastal landscape.

The property also sits directly across The Funny Lion Puerto Princesa, making it easy to wander over for a meal at the French-Vietnamese restaurant C75 or a drink at The Coffee Bar if you feel like switching up the scenery for a few hours.

I stayed at the Palawan Pool Villa, a 109-square-meter space with the air of a compact private home. Instead of a traditional keycard, guests are given a waterproof wristband that unlocks the villa gates with a quick tap.

The living area features a generous sofa bed and a smart TV with streaming access, while a Palawan-fresh pineapple and coconut juice waited on tables upon arrival. 

The villa’s private pool runs alongside the length of the space, beginning just outside the living room and extending toward the bedroom. Sliding the glass doors open makes it easy to move between the villa and a quick dip without much thought.

The bathroom is equally spacious, with separate vanity areas and a Japanese-style automated bidet tucked into its own corner. Inside the bedroom is a plush king-sized bed and another television, though once again, the outdoors tends to win your attention here with one standout feature: a bathtub where guests can prepare their own soak using herbal packs and Cuyo salt.

Rates: Around P70,000 for two nights, but vary depending on booking dates

Guests can also book the Junior Suite, a 44-square-meter room designed with soft neutral interiors and garden-facing daybeds, or the larger Premiere Suite, a 67-square-meter accommodation with expansive windows and more spacious living areas.

One of the easiest ways to spend a stay at Amorita is to simply eat your way through the property.

What to eat: Sambal Ceviche (P460), Ocean Fritte (P700), Katala Cake (P360)

At Katala, the Sambal Ceviche was the first thing I kept going back to. The coconut cream sits under everything, but what registers first is the sharpness from the pineapple-green chili sambal. The pomelo comes through in bursts as a contrast to my palate.

The Ocean Fritte was placed in the middle of the table and disappeared in passing. Beer-battered seafood, okra, eggplant, with pickled ginger and onion-tomato tartar sauce on the side.

Dessert came in the form of the Katala Cake, a layered combination of purple yam crème caramel, cassava flan cake, and cheese tuile, leaning into familiar Filipino flavors.

What to eat: Marlin Carpaccio (P400), Frutti di Mare (P1200), Four Cheese Chicken Parmigiana (P860), Amaretto Cannoli (P360)

The menu is shaped by Mediterranean and Italian influences when it comes to Turchino. While its brick-oven pizzas are a must, the pastas and seafood shouldn’t be shrugged off.

Among the dishes, the Marlin Carpaccio arrives thinly sliced, topped with fried capers, arugula, parmesan, red onion, and gorgonzola vinaigrette. The capers come through first, followed by the sharper acidity of the dressing.

Frutti di Mare comes in a vermouth reduction with sautéed seafood and grape caponata. The sauce tends to linger on the plate, often finished with bread.

Heavier plates sit alongside these seafood-forward dishes. For the cheese enthusiasts, the Four Cheese Chicken Parmigiana layers mozzarella, pecorino, parmesan, and soft white cheese over breaded chicken, served with roasted potatoes.

The meal wound down with our dessert of choice, the Amaretto Cannoli, crisp at the edges, filled with amaretto cream and candied fruit.

For slower afternoons, there’s the Pineapple Club, the resort’s swim-up bar positioned right in the middle of the seaview pool. Take the Bloom out for a sip, a non-alcoholic drink with a citrusy edge that worked especially well under the afternoon heat. It makes for a perfect cap-off to a trip.