Why should you stay in Sofitel? | Overview
If you want to get up close and personal with one of the most popular spots in Metro Manila, then consider staying at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel. Pasay City, particularly Roxas Boulevard, is known for entertainment, restaurants, cafes, clubs, and, most importantly, Manila Bay.
The best way to enjoy these establishments is to stay at a hotel close to these places — such as Sofitel.
Sofitel was built in 1976; it was actually Asia’s first, biggest, and most expensive city resort in the 70’s. From outside, Sofitel looks like any ordinary hotel — blocky and plain. But when we walked into the lobby, the dramatic staircase, chandeliers, and architecture took our breaths away.
We were practically inside an artwork. The hotel was designed by the famous Filipino architect Leandro Locsin, who also did the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Folk Arts Center.
When we were walking towards the front desk, we saw another work of art: a 21 ft bronze sculpture by the national artist Eduardo Castrillo. Everything in the hotel screams luxury, while their outdoor space is all about relaxation.
We really have a great connection with this hotel, probably because it shows the French Way. What we love the most there is probably watching the sunset by the bay. The view from there is just amazing!
Where is the hotel located? | Location
Sofitel is right next to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and World Trade Center Manila Manila (WTCMM). PICC remains to be the country’s premiere venue for historic events and international conferences. In fact, it hosted the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant, when Miss India Sushmita Sen brought home the crown.
On the other hand, WTCMM has been the venue of many of the major exhibitions and trade shows in the Philippines. It’s even an accredited member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) based in New York, USA.
Furthermore, Sofitel is 6 km away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). That’s why we highly recommend you book your stay at Sofitel if you’re traveling for business or attending an event at PICC or WTCMM.
But even if you’re a leisure traveler, there are still a lot of things to love at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel.
What about the rooms | Accommodation
Sofitel has seven different rooms and suites. Just as how elegant the hotel lobby is, the rooms also combine French elegance with refined Filipino craftsmanship. The room was spacious and cozy, while the bed was very comfy. However, the room was just a bit too dark for us.
We think it’s because of the furnishings made of dark wood, plus the minimal lighting in the room. Despite that, we appreciated that the room had a balcony (which is available in all rooms and suites).
So, when we wanted to make the room brighter, we would simply draw the curtains. Or, better yet, hang out on the balcony and enjoy the view outside. Speaking of view, we recommend requesting the bay view when you book your room. You get to see the sparkling waters of Manila Bay and enjoy the light ocean breeze from the balcony.
Having the bay view made us feel like we were in a vacation resort rather than at a hotel in a busy city. But if you request a room with a city view, you’ll see the spectacular Manila skyline and the twinkling city lights at night.
What to eat or drink? | F&B
Sofitel has four restaurants, two bars, and a lounge exclusive for Club Millésime members. La Veranda is a quaint indoor lounge that opens to an outdoor terrace. It also has four gazebos outside, near the swimming pool.
We suggest hanging out here for a few drinks at night. The enclosed lounge has a glass ceiling, so you can see the moon and stars from the inside. Sunset Bar offers al fresco dining and serves salads, sandwiches, pizzas, grilled skewers, and Filipino dishes. They also serve fresh fruit juices and shakes, beer, and even specialty cocktails.
If you want to enjoy the Manila Bay sunset while having drinks or dinner, then we think you’ll enjoy staying at the Sunset Bar.
A restaurant that takes you around the world
The Ultimate star of the show here is Spiral, one of Manila’s grandest international buffets. There’s just so much to love at Sofitel. But one we think the best thing about this hotel is the breakfast at Spiral.
They serve a wide range of cuisines such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Filipino, French, Western — they even had gelato for breakfast! We also noticed that Spiral had several fridges that had the freshest fruits, yogurt, juices, as well as vegetables for the salad bar.
There were fresh breads and pastries too, much like what you’d expect in Europe.
Out of all the buffet stations, the most impressive was the glassed-off cheese room. They had an extensive selection of amazing cheeses, as well as cold cuts to go along with it. There was goat’s milk cheese such as chevre and blue cheese, as well as cow’s milk cheese like kesong puti and queso rustico.
But we highly recommended trying the sublime line. It’s a blend of cow and goat’s milk, and just as creamy and smooth as chèvre. The sublime line selection included farmhouse pesto, dried Philippine pineapple, and dried Philippine mango. But for us, the best out of the three was the one with dried mangoes.
Laid-back bars with great drinks
If you combine a bistro, patisserie, and library, you get Le Bar at Sofitel. This French bistro had bread, wine, cheese, and patisserie. They also take pride in their Signature Cocktails and French High Tea. The ambiance was very laid-back and intimate, and the seats were very comfy. Plus, there was live musical entertainment.
Besides Le Bar, Sofitel also has Snaps Sports Bar.
It’s a modern sports hub that has large LCD screens for the best viewing experience, and even a billiard and foosball table for impromptu matches. The menu at Snaps Sports Bar includes burgers, pizzas, wines, and spirits.
What to do? A Unique Experience | Facilities & Service
Sofitel has a well-equipped fitness center, as well as an in-house spa. Le Spa offers world-class massage therapies and a unique spa experience. We suggest arriving at least 30 minutes before your appointment if you want to enjoy their hot tub, steam room, and sauna.
For a holistic wellness experience, you might also want to check out Sofitel’s Philippe Tordjman Le Salon, Vietura Aesthetic Lifestyle, and Nail Artisan.
Go to these places if you want to have your hair styled by an international celebrity hairstylist, your face treated with non-invasive aesthetic procedures, or your nails pampered with the best nail treatments at foot care services.
Sofitel’s iconic lagoon-shaped pool
One of Sofitel’s iconic facilities is their lagoon-shaped outdoor swimming pool, surrounded with sun beds for lounging. In terms of facilities, the best part of Sofitel is their outdoors. It was set up to look like a beach resort, which was perfect for the sea view.
The garden was big enough to have walking paths and an area with several cushions on the grass and outdoor furniture such as daybeds. We think it was the most relaxing place in the hotel.
We think Sofitel is great for leisure travelers who either want to explore the establishments in Roxas Boulevard, or just want to have a relaxing getaway but can’t go out of town.
Quarantine at Sofitel
For those who might need a place to spend their quarantine, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila can accommodate you.
The hotel follows health and hygiene measures required by leading health experts and local government authorities. So, the Department of Tourism has identified Sofitel as a Multi-Use Hotel. For more information, just visit their website: Sofitel – 5 Star luxury resort hotel in Manila
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