Why should you stay in the Peninsula Manila? (Overview)
If you’re looking at staying in the Philippines’ financial hub in Metro Manila. You can definitely book your stay at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City. Towering skyscrapers and patches of greens are all over the city.
Since it’s the central business district, you can expect that everyone is in a rush and everything is fast-paced. But hidden within the city is an oasis that has set the benchmark for luxury and sophistication — the Peninsula Manila.
The Peninsula Manila opened in 1976. It was one of the first luxury hotels in Makati. From the façade itself, you can already tell that they’re all about opulence and grandeur. They have nearly five decades of experience in the industry.
So, we know that they’re highly skilled in accommodating guests and giving the guests the best hotel stay.
Where is the hotel located? (Location)
The Peninsula Manila is in a business district and about 6.5 km from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Because of its strategic location, it doesn’t surprise us why it attracts so many business travelers.
The hotel sits at the intersection of Makati and Ayala Avenues, and just across the Ayala Triangle Gardens. We instantly knew we were at our destination because of the opulent waterfall at the corner. You can’t miss this popular landmark in Makati!
Big malls such as Greenbelt, Glorietta, and Rustan’s were just walking distance from the hotel. Aside from shopping centres, there were also museums within the vicinity. We recommend paying Ayala Museum or Intramuros a visit if you want to appreciate the cultural history of the Philippines.
But if you want to see works by some of the most prominent Filipino artists, we think the Avellana Art Gallery will be more interesting for you.
What about the rooms? (Accommodation)
The Peninsula Manila has eight different rooms and suites to cater to both business and leisure travelers. Families or large groups of guests can also request for adjoining rooms.
The biggest and grandest suite you can book is the Peninsula Suite. It’s 280 sqm big with a 180-degree view of the city, and has been graced by celebrities and dignitaries.
What we appreciated about our room was how big the windows were to allow enough natural light inside. Although the room was spacious itself, the windows made it feel more roomy and airy.
The interiors and fixtures had touches of classic Filipino design elements such as the rattan and capiz window panels. The room was luxurious but fairly simple. We think the highlight of the room was really beyond the window, which is a sweeping view of the city.
The Peninsula Manila offers a program that allows for a fully flexible check-in and check-out experience. They call it the Peninsula Time. Guests can arrange to have their room ready as early as 6:00 am on their arrival date and check out as late as 10:00 pm on their departure date.
If you’re a business traveler, we recommend you take advantage of this opportunity for a hassle-free stay.
What to eat or drink? (F&B)
Since the Peninsula Manila has 351 rooms since its renovation in 2019, it’s no surprise why they have several restaurants and bars to accommodate everyone. We felt like dining at the Peninsula Manila is a journey in itself.
The selection is extensive and every dish and drink we had was delightful.
If you’re an avid foodie, we highly recommend staying at the Peninsula Manila. You don’t have to leave the hotel to have an amazing gastronomic experience.
The most famous halo-halo!
Besides the opulent fountain at the Peninsula Manila’s facade, another iconic part of the hotel is The Lobby. The bronze Sunburst sculpture adorning the ceiling also amazed us. It’s created by the National Artist Napoleon Abueva.
We heard that the halo-halo here was the best in the world, so we just had to try it — and we can attest that it truly was incredible! They call it the Halo-Halo Harana.
It’s a cooling tropical dessert made with shaved ice and tropical fruits topped with a scoop of purple yam ice cream and leche flan. The Lobby alone is worth paying a visit. Try their award-winning halo-halo, afternoon tea, or even a hearty meal.
A 46-year old signature restaurant (on September 2022)
Meanwhile, Old Manila is The Peninsula Manila’s 46-year-old signature restaurant. You can have a taste of their award-winning contemporary market cuisine menu and extensive wine selection.
Spices restaurant serves Southeast Asian cuisine for lunch and dinner service. If you get the opportunity, nab a seat at the garden gazebo. The ambiance is absolutely stunning!
Escolta, on the other hand, is renowned for its international buffets at lunch and dinner. The selection includes home-baked breads, hand-rolled sushi, and fresh pasta.
They even have a ‘farm-to-table’ concept, where we were able to taste the freshest produce.
A Shanghai nightclub-like bar!
Salon de Ning is a glamorous bar inspired by nightclubs in Shanghai in the 1930s. We enjoyed the creative cocktails they served, as well as the atmosphere of the place. Have a few drinks here if you want to live your James Bond fantasy)!
Another great place for drinks at the hotel is The Bar. It’s reminiscent of the dimly lit bars of La Antigua Habana in Cuba. So, the atmosphere and experience here is also different from Salon de Ning.
What to do? A Unique Experience (Facilities & Service)
Life in the city — especially in Makati — is very fast-paced. And if you just came from a flight, you’ll want the rest of your day to be as comfortable and easy as possible, right?
During our stay in the Peninsula Manila, we barely felt that we’re in the middle of one the busiest cities in the metro. The Peninsula Manila is the epitome of luxury. From the design and architecture, down to the menu and service. The staff members were courteous and accommodating.
Checking in and checking out was smooth sailing. And everything else in between was so pleasant because of the amazing service.
From all the hotels we’ve been to, we think the staff at the Peninsula Manila is one of the most professional. The hotel had the basic facilities: a spa, fitness center, and a 22-meter outdoor swimming pool.
The Peninsula Spa offers different massage treatments and beauty treatments. The fitness center, on the other hand, has a wide range of cardiovascular and strength-training equipment.
It also has a sauna and steam room for winding down after a sweat sesh.
We think there’s nothing much different to do at the Peninsula Manila if you’re staying for a leisure trip. But if you’re looking for a unique experience, we recommend exploring Makati or checking the Peninsula Academy.
The Peninsula Academy offers curated programs and exclusive activities that gives guests an insider introduction to key aspects of Filipino culture, lifestyle, cuisine, arts and history. Programs may change from time to time, so make sure you ask the front desk what their current program is.
Quarantine at The Peninsula Manila
Some people might be looking to spend their quarantine in a hotel in Manila. This is what you need to know if you’re going to spend it in the Peninsula Manila:
- The Department of Tourism and the Safe Travels Stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council awarded The Safety Seal Certification Program to the Peninsula Manila.
- This guarantees that the hotel follows health and hygiene measures, and even goes beyond the necessary protocols required by leading health experts and local government authorities.
- Because of this, they’ve earned their permit to be a Multiple Use Hotel that can accommodate you for a quarantine stay.
- You can also expect exceptional and unparalleled service from the staff even if you’re staying just for quarantine. Food for the entire stay is also provided.
- The staff prepares and delivers every meal to your room.
- Only one (1) Person Under Quarantine (PUQ) can stay in a room the entire time. Room sharing isn’t allowed, unless you’re a family with minors and/or persons needing assistance.
If you need more information, you can also visit their website: Peninsula – 5 Star Luxury Hotel in Manila.
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