Why Stay?

For its genuine Filipino hospitality, low-key comforts, and sunset views over the sheltered expanse of Manila Bay. The Philippines’ sole Conrad hotel feels at times like an urban resort by way of its seaside location and unconventional design. A coolly restrained aesthetic unites the guest rooms and public spaces dotted with pieces by local contemporary artists, while the culinary offerings are headlined by a fabulous mod-Chinese restaurant.

The Neighborhood

Conrad Manila sits atop the boutiquey S Maison mall, whose tenants include the luxury fragrance brand Joe Malone London. A network of elevated all-weather walkways connects the hotel to the SMX Convention Center and the nearby SM Mall of Asia, an enormous shopping and entertainment center (there’s even a 15,000-seat indoor arena) spanning multiple city blocks. Traffic permitting, the Conrad is about a 20-minute drive from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Sweeping views of Manila Bay await at the third-floor main lobby inside Conrad Manila.

The Feel

Singapore-based WOW Architects derived Conrad Manila’s sleek lines and striking silhouette from the cruise ships frequenting the bay. The five-star property inhabits a stark white S-shaped building full of stylized nautical furnishings and subtle Filipino flourishes. A quick elevator ride from street level, the third-floor reception has graphic carpets, a pair of long curving sofas, and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the sweeping sea views. Restaurants and event venues are also on the same floor, ensuring the lobby and its adjoining areas are always animated with people.

Guest Quarters

A soothing color palette of cream wallpaper, sand-hued wood, and gray marble sets the tone for plush fittings such as beds with 300-thread-count Frette linens. (Conrad Manila guests have a pillow menu at their disposal.) Entry-level King Deluxe rooms measure in at a spacious 40 square meters, while suites start from 70 square meters. Above an inviting couch that could easily fit three or four people, natural light floods in through the panoramic windows. Land reclamation projects are starting to change the views from sea-facing rooms except in the southwest, where vistas extend over aquaculture platforms to the low-slung skyline of Cavite City, and, on clear days, the mountains far beyond Metro Manila’s urban sprawl. In the large bathrooms, oversize rain shower booths have Byredo Mojave Ghost amenities and an extra power-shower installed at stomach height. All suites come with a bathtub and access to the Executive Lounge; some feature private balconies.

Food and Drink

Specialty restaurant China Blue by Jereme Leung serves exceptional Chinese delicacies like Peking duck, egg custard buns, braised e-fu noodles with seafood, and deep-fried live grouper dressed in mango and calamansi sauce. Its double-height dining room is buzzy even on a weeknight. At the opposite end of the hotel, Brasserie on 3 offers daily-changing themed dinner buffets and hearty breakfasts that include Filipino hits like braised pork humba, champorado porridge, and sweet-savory tocino. From the à la carte menu, meat-lovers should go for the oxtail kare-kare with tripe and string beans in a rich peanut sauce. Downstairs at the arrival lobby, the display cases at Bru Coffee Bar are loaded with chocolates, cheese bread, and pastries; try the indulgent purple ube ensaymada. Third-floor C Lounge is the sleek backdrop for afternoon tea sets and cocktails after dark (there’s live music most nights of the week). Signature drinks include Manila Twilight, a blend of rosemary-infused tequila and Chambord raspberry liqueur; and Dark Temptation, which mixes cognac with prosecco and lemon zest for a balance of strong yet refreshing flavors.

Roast Peking duck and barbecued honey-glazed Matsusaka pork neck are two must-try dishes at China Blue by Jereme Leung, the specialty restaurant at Conrad Manila.

Wellness Factor

The in-house Conrad Spa comprises four single treatment rooms and two for couples with their own sauna. Some therapies utilize organic skincare products from the Colorado-born beauty brand Isun. Popular offerings include the 90-minute traditional hilot massage and the two-hour Kalinga Detoxifier treatment, which involves a Himalayan salt scrub, a moringa and turmeric body wrap, and a lymphatic drainage massage. Overlooking the pool terrace, the 24-hour gym has Life Fitness equipment with PTs on call during the daytime hours.

Family Matters

As its clientele is largely made up of business travelers attending MICE events, Conrad Manila does not have a kids’ club, but there is a children’s pool. Pop-up activities for the little ones coincide with festivals and seasonal celebrations, while kid-friendly food options are available at Brasserie on 3 and on the in-room dining menu. The hotel’s adorable stuffed toy mascot Carey the Carabao is offered to all guests as a complimentary gift.

Sustainability Cred

The 500ml bottles of drinking water placed in the guest rooms support HOPE, an ethical business whose profits go toward building public-school classrooms around the Philippines. Restaurant kitchens use cage-free eggs and there’s an emphasis on sustainably caught seafood endorsed by global NGOs like the Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Endangered species are strictly off the menu. The hotel relies on the advanced Winnow system to track and reduce food waste, and has also made the transition to LED lighting.

What Else?

Conrad Manila’s impressive art collection comprises more than 700 pieces in various mediums, all by Filipino visual artists. The centerpiece of the ground-floor arrival lobby is Leeroy New’s sea plant–inspired hanging installation Oroborus, which was given a lustrous mother-of-pearl finish. Facing the corridor outside Brasserie on 3 is Fragments, a series of six Stanley Ruiz wood sculptures recalling the Philippines’ indigenous textile patterns. Gallery C, which takes up a long wall near the main lobby, displays a rotating selection of paintings (all for sale) that changes every two months.

Reviewed by James Louie

hilton.com
+63 2 8833 9999
Seaside Boulevard corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Conrad Manila

Manila Hotels

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