Mandaluyong City—When you visit Manila, you make hard choices. There are a lot of good restaurants, there are a lot of good bars, and there are a lot of good hotels.
And the problem with choosing a hotel is that you usually only choose one. Limiting your options to boutique hotels in Metro Manila might simplify the decision, particularly if you’re seeking an intimate, upscale stay that’s not only for out-of-towners.
Typically with 150 rooms or fewer, boutique hotels are characterized by strong, focused design identities that became a thing in various urban central business districts, as well as tourist spots in Southeast Asia in the past two decades.
Now, everything old is new again. Metro Manila’s hotel scene is fresh off a splash of exciting openings—and boutique hotels feature heavily, perched on a wave of properties emerging from the pandemic which reflect travelers’ increased needs for space and tranquility, while also serving their desire to be tapped into a scene.
Boutique hotels are beloved for their strong character, intimate scale, and general cool factor. Their food and beverage programs are often a special focus, too, and can be destinations in and of themselves.
Enter the Novotel Suites Manila, Century Properties’ first hospitality venture, which opened its doors to leisure and business guests last week.
Housed at the sixth and final tower of Acqua Private Residences, Novotel Suites Manila is a 152-room hotel conceptualized by Century Properties in partnership with Accor, a multinational hospitality company.
The hotel can be found along a quaint street by the Pasig River called Coronado Street, Brgy. Hulo, Mandaluyong City.
Smack in the middle of CBDs
The hotel takes pride in being located in what many deem as a midpoint in Metro Manila —at the boundary between the Makati and Mandaluyong and cities where everything is a few minutes away. Its location opens a plethora of options, whether guests are planning to shop, explore, or look for entertainment hotspots in Makati, Ortigas, and Bonifacio Global City.
It is accessible via the Estrella-Pantaleon and Makati-Mandaluyong bridges that connect the two cities and is very close to the Guadalupe-EDSA area, which connects to the airport via the Skyway.
CPGI president and CEO Marco Antonio said the opening of the hotel comes at a good time, now that movement restrictions are easing amid the government’s continued push for tourism.
“December is an opportune time for Novotel Suites Manila to open as Century Properties can actively participate and address the demand surge for tourism and leisure travel, which is also in line with the government’s thrust to promote the industry,” Antonio said.
Modern and stylish
Guests—whether they be families, business travelers, or backpackers—can find a home away from home here. Modern, spacious, and stylish, each of the hotel’s rooms offers a luxurious experience with its Live N’ Dream beds. Guests have a choice between four room types—standard studio, one bedroom deluxe suite, one bedroom superior suite, and one bedroom premier suite.
An anchor of every hotel is the set of amenities it offers. At Novotel Suites Manila, amenities are designed to meet the lifestyle needs of its guests. Guests can access a fitness center with contemporary equipment on the 21st floor, and a spectacular swimming pool on the 6th floor where they can take in a view of the city, as it juts out of the tower.
Business travelers can also look forward to a comfortable and convenient experience with the hotel’s meeting rooms for small-scale business meetings—the Coronado, Hulo, and a Private Dining Room, each of which features high-speed WIFi and other meeting and communication facilities.
Dining concepts
Novotel Suites Manila also ensures that stays become memorable with its food and beverage concepts, a lounge, a café, and a pastry shop. For this, the hotel has tapped King Golden Dragon, the company behind House of Lasagna, as the hotel’s food and beverage partner.
The restaurant group diversifies its offerings as it enters the hotel food and beverage scene, promising a leveled-up service and menu as it partners with a veteran chef with an international hotel dining experience.
Located near the front desk on the 21st floor, a lounge offers quick bites, coffee, and sweet treats. Aside from the award-winning lasagna, its menu features choices of cakes and pastries best enjoyed with a cup of coffee. An all-day dining restaurant overlooks the pool, making it the best spot for hearty brunches, laid-back lunches, and night-time feasts.
Scheduled to be launched in January 2023, the pastry shop will be located on the hotel’s ground floor, making it perfect for those looking for snacks and treats they can grab on the go or pick up just in time for special celebrations.
Novotel Suites Manila general manager Raul Aquino said they are excited to welcome guests at Acqua Private Residences. “We are proud to carry the Novotel name, along with other 500 establishments globally. It’s a trusted brand, known for excellent rooms and service,” he declared.