On a recent business trip to Davao over a weekend, somebody suggested that I try out Acacia Hotel in Lanang District, where my various meetings were centered. It was my first stay at this hotel and, right away, the warm welcome from its staff made me feel like a king.
Part of the Acacia Hotels network, with sister properties in Manila and Bacolod, the hotel is renowned for its signature brand of “Simply Heartfelt Filipino Hospitality.”
Upon getting into my room, I knew right away I was going to have a relaxing and enjoyable stay, especially when I read the welcome letter on the table in my suite, signed by the hotel manager, Daffodil Bahani. What else could I have asked for? It was a weekend charmed by a beautiful flower.
Acacia Hotel Davao has 260 rooms, each with scenic views of various sections of the largest city in the country. Each room has all the modern facilities and equipment for a most enjoyable guest experience, like its fiber-speed internet, 24-hour room service, and in-room massage and spa treatments, which I availed of on my last day at the hotel.
What I enjoyed most about my room was the hotel’s trademark Dream Bed, the most comfortable hotel bed I’ve ever been on. No joke, in less than a minute after I lay down, I was in dreamland.
The hotel offers several dining options like the Waling-Waling Café, where the complimentary buffet breakfast is served; Luk Foo Palace, where I enjoyed my favorite dim sum and other Cantonese culinary specialties; Lobby Lounge for some coffee and light snacks; and the Venado Pool Bar, where refreshing cocktails are served day and night.
But I have to declare that my best experience at the hotel was when I feasted on their “Special of the Month.” One morning, when I was walking from the hotel lobby toward the elevators, I saw the poster of their special offering for the month. Just by looking at the photo of the dish, I wanted to have it right away, so I decided to order it through room service and enjoy it in the privacy of my room.
The dish was labeled “Overload Lomi Batangas,” and it lived up to its name. It was served in a huge bowl overloaded with thick miki noodles, with an indulgent mix of chicken, pork belly, kikiam, chicken liver, squid balls, pork chicharron, hard-boiled eggs, garlic, carrots, cabbage, and onions, all in a rich, savory chicken stock, seasoned with salt and pepper and thickened with cornstarch.
To add further to its flavor, there was soy sauce, kalamansi, and siling labuyo on the side. I was in seventh heaven, enjoying every mouthful of it. Later in the day, I learned from the staff that the dish is very popular among their hotel guests. I hope the management decides to keep it permanently on the menu in their all-day dining restaurant.
As if he knew that I have a sweet tooth and that I am scheduled to visit Davao again toward the end of the year, the hotel’s marketing manager, Jerce Rycil Luy, showed me photos of their year-ender “Flavors of the Season.” Their Red Velvet Cheer Cake (shown on this page) is a holiday twist on the classic Red Velvet Cake, and looking at it from any angle makes me want to have a bite right away.
To end the year right, the hotel banners its special cocktail mixes: the blue-colored Winter Fizz, which is a mix of vodka, egg white, and blue Curacao, garnished with a slice of lemon; and the Sassy Citrus Mocktail, a soothing combination of cranberry juice, honey syrup, and grenadine, topped with a slice of orange. I’m sure either of these refreshing drinks would be a good way to reenergize ourselves and end the year on a vibrant high note.
Looking back at the many things I enjoyed at Acacia Hotel Davao, I consider myself very lucky to have experienced its “Simply Heartfelt brand of Filipino hospitality.” And, as I said earlier, how can any hotel go wrong when a beautiful blossom, the Daffodil, is there to brighten each day!
More information on Acacia Hotel Davao may be obtained from (082) 298 8088 or through reservations@acaciahotelsdavao.com.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
