The Peninsula Manila offers luxury and sophistication in the heart of the Filipino capital. It is arguably the most luxurious hotel in the central business districts of Makati and Bonifacio Global City.
Location
Perfectly situated in the heart of Makati City, The Peninsula Manila offers excellent access to the city’s premier business and shopping districts. Guests can explore Glorietta Mall (1 km away) and Greenbelt Mall (1.3 km away), both renowned for their upscale boutiques and fine dining establishments and both within walking distance from the hotel.
The best way to get to The Peninsula Manila from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is a private hotel transfer arranged through The Peninsula. Alternatively, you can take a Grab ride (the local ride-hailing service), which costs around $5-$10, depending on traffic and the time of day. Travel time varies between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on traffic, as the hotel is in Makati, Manila’s central business district.
Style & Character
You know you’re in for a treat when you step into the opulent and impressive lobby at The Peninsula Manila. The soaring ceiling in this palatial room must be three or four storeys high. So high that full-height palm trees grow out of pots with their lengthy trunks holding up fans of palm fronds that seem to gently brush the ceiling.
The ceiling itself is gorgeous and ornate, with sundial-shaped light fixtures. Plant foliage spills out over upper balconies as your eye travels down the walls. Back on the ground, upright armchairs have been placed around tables, separated by yet more plant pots and mountainous flower arrangements, providing an excellent venue for an afternoon tea. The entire space feels regal, and circular stairwells and marble flooring finish the look. At certain times of the day, a live orchestra plays music which is not to be missed and is a reason to stay at this luxury hotel in itself.
Service & Facilities
The Peninsula Spa is a sanctuary of relaxation, offering award-winning treatments inspired by Oriental, Ayurvedic, and European techniques. The fitness center, equipped with state-of-the-art Life Fitness machines, overlooks the pool. Both the gym and the pool are located on the hotel’s ground floor.
The outdoor pool is surprisingly green and peaceful, shaded by palm trees and surrounded by small trees decorated with fairy lights. Skyscrapers and the cityscape surround the pool, making it feel like a luxurious oasis in the center of the city. Wooden loungers carpeted with plush cushions tempt guests to relax outside under terracotta parasols.
Rooms
The Peninsula’s elegantly appointed rooms and suites do not offer the regal feel of the lobby. Instead, their khaki colour palette and classy furnishings offer luxury haven in the city with fantastic views. Ask for a high floor for the best possible views. The decor offers a hint of Asia with intricate crisscross headboards, but the rooms are not particularly characterful, instead offering everything you could want and need without overegging their Asian style.
The bathrooms are classy, with lots of marble, a sink with a large countertop on either side, a large bath, and everything else you could need from a bathroom. Select suites offer separate living and dining areas for guests seeking heightened indulgence, providing a true home-away-from-home.
The Peninsula Hotel has two towers, and its rooms span across both towers. You will likely only use the lift in one tower unless you book a club room. As the club lounge is located in only one of these towers, if you book a club room, you may or may not have a room in the same tower, so you might have to cross the lobby to the other tower to use the lounge facilities. We suggest requesting a room in the same tower as the lounge if you book a club room.
Club Lounge
The Peninsula Manila’s Club Lounge, named ” The Gallery Club Lounge” offers breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening canapés, and drinks from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The lounge has a very warm atmosphere with exceptionally friendly and kind staff and enough food to fill you up completely.
The afternoon tea in the lounge is particularly good, with little smoked salmon, egg and prawn sandwiches, and pastries. In the evening, there are hot dishes like Nachos, local Filipino fried nibbles, and tuna salad. There is a generous supply of wines and bottled beers in the evening, too.
Food & Drink
The place to enjoy breakfast is the grand lobby, which is pictured below and which is one of the most unique spaces in the city. Here, you can enjoy all the usual Western egg dishes but also Filipino specialties like fried milk fish, and Filipino-style dried fish. As long as the thought of a non-Western breakfast doesn’t frighten you, you will be rewarded with some tasty local breakfast dishes. If you book a stay via our luxury travel concierge, breakfast is included as complimentary as one of our benefits.
The Lobby has been an institution since the hotel’s inception in 1976 and is a great venue for breakfast, business meetings, or a leisurely high tea. Its multi-tiered afternoon team, which comes complete with cucumber sandwiches, smoked salmon, and mouthwatering chocolate cake, continues to captivate guests partially because of the setting and the live orchestra. We also love the crockery here. Tea and cakes are delivered in cups and on plates with a whimsical flower design that is so pretty that you’ll want to take them home.
Salon de Ning and The Bar are your top bar choices at The Peninsula Hotel. They have themed private rooms, expertly crafted cocktails, and an ambiance reminiscent of 1930s Shanghai and old Havana, respectively.
The renowned Old Manila, with its Art Deco-inspired interiors, serves contemporary bistronomy and grill specialties complemented by an extensive wine selection. Escolta, the hotel’s international buffet, delights guests with live cooking stations and a farm-to-table concept highlighting Philippine produce.
For those craving authentic Asian flavors, Spices transports diners to a Southeast Asian paradise with its dishes from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and beyond. Its Balinese-inspired décor and poolside views create a mesmerizing dining experience.
For those searching for sweet indulgences, The Peninsula Boutique is a must-visit, offering exquisite pastries, handmade chocolates, and signature Peninsula teas. Poolside relaxation is elevated with light bites and refreshing cocktails at The Pool Snack Bar.
Conclusion
The Peninsula Manila can be found in a prime location in Makati and has luxurious rooms with incredible views, a great club lounge, a tropical outdoor pool, and an amazing foyer perfect for enjoying live music and indulgent cake.
True to the Peninsula brand, The Peninsula Manila currently offers Peninsula Time, a flexible check-in and check-out service that allows guests to arrive as early as 6:00 am and depart as late as 10:00 pm at no additional charge. This is a massive benefit of choosing this brand over other hotel options in Manila.
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Image(s) courtesy of The Peninsula Manila.
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