I was clearly excited about the new Novotel Manila Araneta Center that I immediately said yes when our friends from AccorHotels invited me over for lunch and a walkthrough of the hotel. A few weeks back, I was only sent renderings of the hotel, so I was so thrilled to be seeing the hotel—including its rooms, facilities, restaurant, and bar—for the first time.
Although Cubao is technically a couple of cities away from my place, I breezed across EDSA, and made it to the hotel in a few minutes—talk about lucky. Anyway, I was awed how more vibrant the area now looks compared to the last time I was there a couple of years back.
I was ushered into the hotel’s stark lobby by friendly bellhops, and right as I stepped in, one of their smiling concierge guys immediately asked me how he could help. I was surely able to feel how excited all of their staff were, as everyone seemed so positive.
We had lunch at Food Exchange Manila, “208-seat contemporary restaurant serving an array of international cuisine with dishes prepared at live cooking stations.” With their sister hotel, the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, famous for its food, my expectations were somewhat set high.
And the place didn’t disappoint. Surprisingly, it was like a scaled version of Sofitel’s Spiral, with several live cooking stations—it even has Indian aside from the usual Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, and Western stations. But what I really loved about it was the cold cuts and cheeses station—they unexpectedly offer an impressive selection!
Adjacent to Food Exchange Manila is Gourmet Bar by Novotel, which allows guests to interact fully with the bartender. Its unique proposition is that it focuses on using locally-grown produce from a dedicated organic farm in San Mateo, Rizal.
We went into one of the higher floors to check out one of the hotel’s deluxe room. Walking across the hallway, the first Novotel in the country seems to have followed a newer design scheme compared to the other properties under the same brand.
And as we entered the room, I saw further how their design does seem sleeker and more modern. I loved the room’s colors, and I love how younger it felt.
Afterwards, we checked out the hotel’s the facilities and open spaces. A temporary fitness center was placed as the new one is being readied, but the swimming pool is already operational. Their function rooms are also ready to be used, and their pillar-less grand ballroom, undoubtedly among the biggest in the city if not the entire country, is already accepting events.
In all, there’s really much to Novotel Manila Araneta Center, and based on what I saw, I can say it’s up to the standards set by the prestigious AccorHotels Group. I’m looking forward to staying there soon to discover more of Cubao’s newest and grandest gem.
NOVOTEL MANILA ARANETA CENTER
General Aguinaldo Ave, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 990 7888
Email: H7090@accor.com
Website: www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-7090-novotel-manila-araneta-center
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