Executive Hotel Lounge Review: Sofitel Manila

How would like to enjoy your afternoon tea or a glass of wine with the iconic Manila Bay sunset as your view? Sounds like a dream, right? Well, look no further as Sofitel's Club Millesime lets you savor that and more when you book a room in one of their well-appointed luxury club rooms or suites. To read more on our Sofitel Luxury Club room experience, please click here.

Ambiance and Amenities.

I've been to Club Millesime several times and the excitement never gets old everytime I hear the ding sound in the elevator signaling that we've arrived in the club floor. As soon as we step inside the lounge, a staff immediately attends to each guest regardless if you're a regular or a first timer as the treatment is one and the same - warm, courteous, professional, and accommodating.

Variety and Abundance of Snack Choices.

What I love about Club Millesime is the assortment of your non-regular food items that we usually see in club lounges in Manila during evening cocktails. While most hotels tend to offer the basics, Club Millesime takes it a notch higher by offering a wide array of Western appetizers, a selection of cheese and cold cuts, at least 4 hot dishes, and jaw-dropping dessert spread.

 

Unlimited alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages.

Free-flowing cocktails, wine, champagne, fruit juices, and soda await guests during evening cocktails. Kids are strictly prohibited at the lounge at this time, as most Manila hotels impose nowadays. Coffee and tea, on the other hand, are available anytime of the day.

Operating Hours.

• Afternoon tea - 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
• Evening cocktails - 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Breakfast - 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  

Full Breakfast Buffet.

An interactive buffet breakfast with 21 ateliers? There's no better way to start your morning but to dine in the most extensive offering any hotel in Manila can offer - welcome to Sofitel's Spiral Buffet! Go wild and enjoy food hopping from one cuisine to another to savor its HUGE selection because I guarantee that whatever morning cravings you might have, you can definitely find it in Spiral along with ten other breakfast staples you will surely love.

But if you like your privacy and some quiet, you are always welcome to enjoy your breakfast at Club Millesime with fewer but well-thought of options, of course.

Dining in Spiral is an incredible experience in itself so if you haven't tried it at least once in your life, you're definitely missing out on the best buffet in the whole country!

Other Perks & Services Offered. 

Overall Service.

It would be a shame to expect less than perfection from one the country's premier five-star hotels who have hosted several dignitaries and VIPs in the past. Except from the slow service we've encountered during cocktail hour, Sofitel Philippine Plaza's service embodies what true Filipino hospitality is all about from the moment we hear the parking attendant say, "Magandang hapon po!"

~o~o~o~

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd.
Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 573-5555

Thumbs Down for Brasserie on 3, Conrad Manila

Read our Conrad experience here.

Guests staying at the executive floors have the option to eat breakfast at the exclusive lounge on 7th floor or at Brasserie on 3, an all-day dining venue, alongside all other hotel guests and walk-in customers of Conrad Manila. While both places offer buffet breakfast, CS and I decided to check out Brasserie for more options and hopefully, a better breakfast selection.

Just an hour after it opened, Brasserie on 3 was already full of guests, myself included, excited to taste what Conrad Manila has in store for the first meal of the day. We waited for about 5 minutes before we were ushered to our table near the salad station. Selection was decent with some exciting offerings like the detox drinks corner and the make-your-own yogurt section.

Assorted bread and pastries

Waffles and pancakes

More breads

Variety of cereals

Salad section

Dimsum station

Selection of homemade jams

Hot breakfast meals

I was thrilled when I saw that poached free-range eggs were offered along with a small variety of hot meals placed on the table by the open kitchen. I ordered one for myself and told the staff our table number so they can deliver it to us once cooked. Ten minutes has passed and still no poached eggs in sight, I asked the staff to follow up on my order and the only reply I got was that they already received a lot of orders. No time frame, no apologies whatsoever.

Yogurt shop

Fresh fruits

Fresh fruit juices and other healthy drinks

On the table

Ham and salami

Caprese salad

The only remarkable dish we had on Brasserie on 3 was this Caprese salad. Too bad some people just get the grilled mozzarella on top and leave the tomato on the serving plate.

My breakfast plate

They only have one female staff manning the waffle and pancake station so be patient when she mixes up your orders. When I went back to get my waffle, what was left of my order was the 1/4 slice she kept in the oven because they already ran out of the pancake mix and is no longer accepting new orders. This was just halfway thru breakfast so I can imagine how many hangry customers came to her that she had to cut my order into 4 slices to distribute to the other diners.

Waffle + honey

When I asked the staff the third time on my poached egg order and still got no clear response, that's when I lost my patience and asked CS if we can finish our breakfast at the executive lounge. Its one thing to endure the restaurant's slow service but when we got ignored multiple times whenever we follow up our requests, its a recipe for a disaster waiting to happen especially if you have guests who pay premium to book a room in Manila's newest 5-star hotel. As with the accommodation in Conrad Manila, I wouldn't mind paying more if it means that the service is at par with the high quality standard Hilton Hotels and Resorts is striving for. Hoping that management can reiterate and retrain the staff on good customer service because a hotel's excellent location can only take you so far with first time clients but its the returning customers and their recommendations that make a successful business running for a long time.

~o~o~o~

Conrad Manila

Seaside Blvd., Coral Way

Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (632) 833-9999

Website: www.conradmanila.com

The Conrad Manila Experience

A distinctive ship-like architecture that commands a second look, the 8-storey Conrad Manila finally opened its doors to the public last June 15. The hotel which sits atop S Maison, a high-end retail complex with 3 state-of-the-art cinemas, is the perfect venue if you're looking for a place to relax and unwind without driving too far from home. Located within the Mall of Asia Complex, Conrad Manila is owned by SM Investment Corporation and managed by Hilton Worldwide.

Before my birthday, CS gave me a grueling task of choosing between staying a night in a suite or 2 nights in a deluxe room. But it was a choice I thought would be best if we both agreed on. So after days of meticulous analysis, we reached an agreement that excited us both and made us extremely happy even up to this writing. Now, let me share to you our wonderful Conrad Manila experience.

From the parking at the basement, we took the elevator going to the 3rd level where the main lobby is. I love the astonishing view of Manila Bay seen from the floor to ceiling glass that greeted us as we step out of the lift. Despite the tight competition among local and international hotels in the area, Conrad Manila prides itself with the absence of a casino, which makes it a family-oriented hotel targeting not only business travelers but balikbayans and local residents as well.

Conrad Manila has a total of 347 rooms, 6 multi-functional rooms, a 24-hour fitness center, the spa with a view of the bay, several fine dining restaurants and an executive lounge. All guests booked in the executive rooms and suites enjoy an express check-in and check-out service done at the lounge. Since the elevator going to the executive floor requires a key card, you have to ask the staff at the lobby to assist you. Four more levels up and we made our way to the executive lounge where were greeted by the courteous and friendly staff. While CS signed all the forms, I took a sip of the fresh pineapple juice served to me. I don't really fancy pineapple but they serve the sweetest I've ever tried that it instantly became my favorite drink throughout our stay. After getting our key cards, it was time to see our home sweet home aka the Diplomat Suite.

The 95sqm corner Diplomat Suite was stylish and spacious. The seating area with sofa was our favorite nook while watching TV because the bed was too comfortable it was so easy to fell asleep!

I received a lot of questions from friends regarding Conrad's complimentary mini bar that a popular website claimed. Sad to say that its not true but coffee and tea lovers will be pleased to know that there's an espresso machine available and the tea they provide was delicious and soothing.

A separate toilet area by the living room comes handy if you're expecting visitors.

The tastefully designed room was a pleasant retreat amid the jungles of the city. The luxurious bed with duvet covers was soft and smelled heavenly! Guests can also choose from the pillow menu located in your bedside table aside from the feather pillows already sitting on your bed. For your charging needs, there are sockets within your arm's reach that are already equipped with usb ports.

The black-out curtains are all switch operated as well as the blinds you can find in the bathroom.

The suites can either have a bay or a city view. Too bad that they only have the latter available that day because our city view was just a view of SMX and its building parking.

The bathroom connected to the room was extravagance personified! Guests will adore the granite counter top for him and for her which comes with lighted vanity mirrors and an in-room television.

Behind the counter is a bathtub guarded by Conrad's Nemo and is overlooking the hotel garden.

I could stay in the tub all day if only there's a TV or the vanity can make a 180-degree turn.

A separate toilet and bath completes the sizeable bathroom. For a 5-star hotel, we were surprised that no bidet was attached to the bowl. There's also a bad odor emanating from time to time.

A three-jet body shower was the best thing in this side of the room next to hot water.

Further down the bathroom is the walk-in closet with bathrobes, iron and ironing board, an in-room safe, ultra soft bathroom slippers, an umbrella and hair dryer. Conrad also offers a complimentary shoe shine for its guests, a teeny detail we appreciate and availed for CS' overworn work shoes.

Other exclusive amenities for guests staying in the executive floor include the use of the board room for the first 2 hours after check-in, breakfast at the lounge, afternoon tea from 2PM to 4PM, cocktails between 5PM to 7PM and free coffee, tea and drinks from 6AM until 11PM.

At exactly 5PM, we left the comforts of our room in time for cocktails at the executive lounge. I was expecting the usual canapes and sandwiches but was surprised by all the mouthwatering food laid on the counter. My top choices are the Tuna Tarte with Mango Sauce and Smoked Salmon.

Best time to avoid the crowd in the pool is last afternoon just as the guests prepare for dinner time otherwise, it gets really cramped. Wearing of proper swimming attire is also observed.

With all the buildup and promotions prior to its opening, I must admit that Conrad Manila, a 5-star hotel backed up by a global luxury brand, lacks the grandiose and wow factor I set in my mind long before our stay. If you can afford it, pay more to upgrade your accommodation to an executive room or a suite for the ultimate luxurious staycation and I promise you, it's worth the splurge!

Mall of Asia's fireworks display as seen from our suite

~o~o~o~

Conrad Manila

Seaside Blvd., Coral Way
Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (632) 833-9999

Website: www.conradmanila.com