Birthday Weekend at The Admiral Hotel: El Atrio Lounge x Admiral Club Manila Bay

EL ATRIO LOUNGE

To celebrate my birthday this year, and as a belated Christmas gift for my family, I decided to book a weekend staycation at The Admiral Hotel. I’ve been looking for a reason to stay in this boutique hotel as I’ve been admiring its gorgeous interiors on social media ever since it opened late in 2022. For more info on the hotel room itself, please check the review I left for The Admiral Hotel on Tripadvisor.

FLAT WHITE (P260)

After checking in, I headed down to its lounge, El Atrio, to get some work done. It was easily the best-looking hotel lounge I’ve been in - there's a lot going in because everywhere you look, there's something interesting that would catch your eye. It's an eclectic mix of colors and decors that somehow simply works. It was a bit hard to get some work done with everything going on - its impeccable service, its reasonably-priced coffee selection and LIVE music playing simply elevate the experience to new heights.

HALO HALO BONBON (P260)

Kevin Ong’s desserts have always intrigued me as these seem like art masterpieces. El Atrio Lounge makes these works of art more accessible by serving them in their café. They are quite pricey but I decided to try one bonbon to make the most of my experience in the lounge. The Halo Halo was the top recommendation so I got one – and boy it was gorgeous. Its colorful hues come from the use of banana ganache, purple yam ganache and milk ganache. It’s completed with a pili praline filling. I definitely took a moment to admire its beauty before taking that first bite – but somehow, one bite in and I’m underwhelmed. I expected the pili praline filling to have more crunch (the bonbons may not be as fresh as they would ideally be). It took my second (and last bite) in and the ganache didn’t really satisfy me in any way. I’m not sure if it’s just too sophisticated for my liking – but it’s definitely not my cup of tea.

ADMIRAL CLUB MANILA BAY

I was fortunate to get a sweet deal from Agoda which bundles in a dinner buffet (apart from the typical breakfast buffet inclusion) with our overnight stay. Once the elevator opened up to the restaurant, we can't help but be in awe. Admiral Club Manila Bay was easily the most breathtakingly gorgeous buffets I’ve gone to in recent years. The center table would immediately command your attention upon entry as it’s set-up like a fashion runway, with its colorful screens and the glass ceiling above it.

The buffet restaurant also offers sunset views of the Manila Bay; however, as we were there in the middle of a stormy day; the outdoor area was closed down for the guests’ safety and the sky was simply too overcast to see anything.

Selection is pretty narrow compared to other hotel buffets; but you know they gave a lot of thought when it came to the layout of the food selection. From the handwritten labels, to quirky notes here and there (spot the nod to Ratatouille!), it makes for an interesting, personable, and unique dining experience.

Expect an array of cold cuts and cheeses, grilled meats such as lamb and steak, an Asian section (mainly Chinese and Japanese fare) and a Spanish-forward section. Unfortunately, I was struggling with an upset stomach so I barely got to try its food – which means, I’d have to schedule another visit to review it fairly!

One noteworthy thing is that its dessert section boasts of a carousel of Manila Creamery’s quirky flavors. We definitely had fun taking turns whirling the carousel around to check out the flavors available.

Fortunately, later in the night, the rain eventually stopped so we were able to explore its alfresco area. Its infinity pool commands most of the space, but there’s more than enough space for guests to lounge in and enjoy the serene atmosphere.

Its bar, Coconut Grove, also serves up some booze for you to enjoy indoors or poolside.

The breakfast buffet is also served inside Admiral Club Manila Bay – and I loved that finally, the sun was up and about! I loved how the natural sunlight gave a completely different vibe to the restaurant.

The food selection was further narrowed down to less than half of dinner’s selection – yet, you're still treated to the usual Western and Filipino breakfast staples – from bacon, sausages, egg and hash browns. Made-to-order soups, cold – cuts, and fresh fruits are also available.

The best part is that you’re free to go beyond the usual brewed coffee in this buffet! If a cup of cappuccino or flat white is your preference, you can order a freshly made one at no added cost! Unfortunately, my stomach was still recovering so I still barely ate – but despite that, one thing that is completely noteworthy is the level of impeccable and hospitable service you get from their staff. From check-in to check-out, the staff of Admiral Hotel never failed to impress us!

Can’t wait to stay there again!

Admiral Hotel Manila – M Gallery

2138 Roxas Blvd, Malate, Manila

Dates of Visit: January 6 to 7, 2023 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua and Jem Chua