#VatelRestaurant

[thehungrykat1]

Hotel Benilde: A Comfortable Staycation in the Heart of Manila

When I think of staycations in Manila, the first hotels that come to mind are the big sprawling establishements along Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue. While these are the places most foreigners and tourists usually frequent, there are times I like to stay at hotels which are a bit off the beaten track, with an ambiance and feel that is much closer to home. That’s why I was happy to discover for myself this relatively new boutique hotel located in a less touristy side of Manila.

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle offers stylish accommodations and exquisite service for the travellers who want a more charming and local hotel experience. It is located in a more quiet residential side of Malate, which is known as a bustling nightlife district. It is just a few blocks away from Taft Avenue and other landmarks such as the Manila Zoo, Malate Church, and the CCP complex.

The Hungry Kat was invited for an overnight stay at Hotel Benilde last week and it was my first time to see and visit this very friendly hotel. Check-in was easy and guests also receive two complimentary welcome drinks at Cafe Romancon which they can redeem right away or later on. Parking is available inside the building but there is also a small open outdoor parking in front of the hotel in case it gets full.

I was having some difficulties walking last week due to my condition (See: My 6-Year Journey with Lupus) and had to climb a few steps up to the lobby. The doorman saw this and immediately offered to help me with a wheelchair going up the ramp. Everyone was also so helpful and attentive during my stay and I do commend the staff for their excellent service.

Hotel Benilde’s 49 well-appointed guests rooms occupy the top two floors of the building. My room was on the 11th floor with hallways that welcomed me with cozy furnishing and warm lighting.

I stayed at the Superior Twin (Published Rate: P5500) which is the most common room type in the hotel. This comes with carpeted floors and plump beds with duvet linens and pillows. The bedsheets were just so comfortable and I really didn’t want to get up once I lied on my bed. There is complimentary Wi-Fi access all throughout the hotel with pretty good internet speed.

Each room is refurbished with unique state-of-the-art features which include a 40-inch LED Smart TV and automated service-calling system. Complimentary coffee and tea making facilities are available, as well as free local calls on the telephone which is also a good bonus.

Another thing that impressed me was the free minibar items given to all guests, especially the Kit Kat chocolates! These are the small things that truly make a stay extra special.

The spacious bathroom comes with waffle design bathrobe and slippers plus a rainshower.

In charge of Hotel Benilde is General Manager Paolo Sumera who I met before when he was still the hotel manager at Rizal Park Hotel. He also gave us a quick tour around the different hotel rooms and its facilities.

One other room option is the Deluxe Queen (Published Rate: P5500) which comes with one queen-sized bed and a bigger lounge and sofa area. I noticed that they also offered a Deluxe Queen-PWD room which has bigger spaces to accommodate wheelchairs for Persons With Disabilities. I really appreciate how the hotel takes care of its guests and makes sure that they are truly comfortable during their stay.

The One Bedroom Suite (Published Rate: P9000) is definitely a step higher for bigger families or those celebrating a special occasion. It has a separate living area with its own LED TV and plush sofas and chairs. The bedroom comes with a king-sized bed that opens up to its own bathtub and shower.

Now for those truly momentous celebrations, go for the Presidential Suite (Published Rate: P15000) which not just has its own living room, but also a kitchen and dining area. Aside from the big masters bedroom, it also has its own marble jacuzzi and LED TV inside the spacious bathroom. That’s three televisions inside the suite.

For solo travelers, Hotel Benilde has a unique room type called Dormitory Rooms which can be shared by up to eight guests with a price of only P1200 per person. The hotel also has several function rooms on the second floor that can cater to corporate events, seminars, birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions with a total capacity of over 300 guests.

Health buffs can have their daily workout at the Fitness Center located on the 11th floor. It comes with standard gym equipment and weights for those who need to stretch their muscles.

The swimming pool can be found at the roofdeck which has a great view of the Manila and Makati skylines. While it may not be that big, the pool offers a quiet and refreshing vibe where guests can enjoy the cool wind while taking a dip.

Just beside the pool is Vatel Restaurant which offers are more intimate and private dining experience versus the hotel cafe on the ground floor. It has both an indoor and al fresco dining space which would be good for sunset drinks or corporate events and parties.

The vibrant and charming interiors of Vatel Restaurant are conducive for casual lunch meetings or meriendas. This is where we decided to have dinner later that evening so we can sample some of their specialties.

We started with some of their signature mocktails including the Coco (P75) with coconut water, lime juice, sugar, cucumber and mint leaves. The Margarett (P75) is also interesting with its sweet and sour mix, grenadine, mint leaves and rosemary. 

I’m not really that fond of salads but we really enjoyed the Roasted Beef with Cherry Tomatoes (P350). This big salad bowl comes with a generous serving of roasted beef slices plus red onion, red bell pepper, olives, and blue cheese dressing. Now this is my kind of salad.

My favorite dish that evening was actually my soup! The Prawn Bisque with Clams (P160) has both prawns and clams in a classic French crustacean soup. I could not believe how huge my prawns were, and it only costs P160. This is such great value for this warm and hearty bowl.

There were a couple of sandwiches on the menu so we tried the unique Salmon Cheese Burger (P375). I have tried shrimp burgers before but never a salmon burger. The salmon patty is soft and you can see the salmon chunks inside. This is combined with lettuce, mozzarella and potato fries plus a tartar dip to complete the dish.

For our mains, the Braised “Diavolo” Pork Baby Back Ribs (P385) is a big serving of baby back ribs baked in white wine and mustard sauce, then topped with julienne vegetables and served with greek potatoes.

Meat lovers should definitely go for the T-Bone Beef Steak (P395) smothered in Diane sauce made from demi-glace, cream, and brandy. This is also served with buttered baguio beans and mashed potatoes.

As a finale, we ordered the Cerveza Negra and Chocolate Ice Cream (P145) which comes with two scoops of local dark beer chocolate ice cream with pistachio. After our lovely roofdeck dinner, it was time to go back to the room and I slept soundly on my soft and comfortable bed.

I had such a great sleep that I woke up feeling much better from the previous day. Buffet breakfast is served from 6:00am to 10:00am at Cafe Romancon on the ground floor, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant which also serves a la carte lunch, merienda and dinner options.

The buffet serves a good set of breakfast favorites which includes salads, fruit juices, cereals, cheeses, soups, and assorted breads.

It also includes hot dishes such as Pork Hamonado, Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, and Cajun Chicken which are actually good enough for lunch. A dedicated egg station is also available to cook your preferred choice of eggs whether they be sunny side up, scrambled or omelette.

Unlimited coffee refills are just what guests need to start the day. It was amazing that after just staying one day at Hotel Benilde, I was able to walk down to the lobby for checkout and back to the car on my own. I’m not sure if it was the unbelievably comfortable bed or the relaxing vibe of the hotel, but my body really felt better and more energetic after my stay. Thank you to Hotel Benilde for your amazing and excellent service and for showing me a different side of Manila.

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle

Arellano corner Estrada Street, Malate, Manila

230-5230

www.hotelbenilde.com