Stressed after weeks of traveling and attending events, we decided to have a weekend staycation in the city and chose G Hotel Manila by Waterfront, a quaint, chic property located along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. We’ve had great experiences with its sister hotels, so we were eager to experience the only boutique hotel under their portfolio. Read more…
G Hotel Manila By Waterfront is ideally located along Roxas Boulevard, one of Manila’s most vital thoroughfares. As such, it enjoys close proximity to leisure and entertainment hotspots. Tourist destinations Rizal Park and Intramuros can be easily reached by jeepney, while the Malate entertainment district is a convenient 10-minute stroll. There are shopping malls nearby as well, including Robinsons Place Manila and the famous SM Mall of Asia.
As for business travelers, the trade and convention centers of Pasay City, including SMX at the SM Mall of Asia, are only a short ride away by taxi or rental car. The business district of Makati and Bonifacio Global City, on the other hand, can be reached using the metro line or by a 30-40 minute drive. The Embassy of the United States in Manila is close to the hotel too.
With help from Google Maps, we searched for the hotel and expected an imposing facade; however, what welcomed us was a hotel perfectly quaint for our weekend staycation. Ushered into the hotel by friendly doormen, we entered a bright but cozy lobby cleanly laid out in a theme of sleek black and white.
Young and smiling receptionists immediately came to our assistance. They were so friendly and hospitable that I wish we had more of them in our hotels—or better yet, the country. Yani, an expat Frenchman who’s the general manager of the hotel, happened to be on shift and insisted that he show us our junior suite on the sixth floor.
But before we went into our room, Yani gave us a quick tour of the seventh floor. The topmost floor of the hotel features a small banquet hall for meetings and intimate weddings, a cocktail bar, and a swimming pool. All these enjoy the world-famous Manila Bay sunset.
A little later, Yani opened the doors into our room, and we were immediately impressed with the space the room afforded. Their tastefully-decorated junior suites have relaxing earth colors with touches of Filipino native as motif and are well divided into a living space with a dining area, a spacious bedroom, and a bathroom. Have I already mentioned that their suites enjoy the best breathtaking views of the Manila Bay sunset?
Most of our idle time during our weekend staycation was spent in the cozy, warmly-lit living room, where there were a couch and an LCD TV. The dining area, meanwhile, already had a table setting for four, and it is complemented by a small wash area, coffee and tea making facilities, and a fully-stocked mini bar. The entire suite had complementary wireless internet.
Lit by ambient lamps, our bedroom came with a queen bed and fluffy pillows that gave us nights of great sleep. Also inside the bedroom were a side table and chair, a closet with electronic safe, another LCD TV, and an executive desk that doubles as a dresser. The adjacent bathroom, on the other hand, was clean and had complete towels and amenities.
As it was a staycation weekend after all, we ordered room service for lunch and dinner from Cafe Noir, the hotel’s sole restaurant. Their menu is admittedly isn’t as large as those in five-star hotels, but it has a good selection of Filipino, Western, Asian, and Italian favorites.
But despite their smaller menu, all the food we had were never amiss. Crispy pata (pork knuckles), kare-kare (beef in peanut stew), tenderloin steak, grilled salmon, ayam kari (chicken curry), Vietnamese fried rice, supreme pizza, seafood marinara, and ravioli carbonara were just some of the sumptuous dishes we had the pleasure of eating.
Breakfasts at Cafe Noir were served on a buffet, and while the choices weren’t as extensive as Seasons, the main restaurant of its nearby sister Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel, its food didn’t fail to please. Our mornings were started with Filipino and continental comfort fare that ranged from traditional adobo (soy-vinegar stew) to pancakes and bacon.
While we found everything to be ideal about the hotel, service, we think, is the hotel’s prime selling point. We were given much attention and treated with courtesy and politeness each time by the doormen, receptionists, wait staff, and everyone else working for the hotel.
There’s much to rave about G Hotel Manila by Waterfront, making it among the best we’ve tried. The spacious, well-appointed room with a stunning visage of the Manila Bay sunset, the delicious food Cafe Noir serves up, and its prime location made our weekend staycation perfect. However, we believe that its personalized and warm service clearly defines its distinction as a boutique hotel and makes it a true standout among the hotels in Manila.
G HOTEL MANILA BY WATERFRONT
Roxas Boulevard (near Quirino Avenue), Malate, Manila
Contact: +63 2 525 0888
Website: www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/waterfront/g-hotel/
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