For business travelers in need of a plush place to stay in Makati, Metro Manila’s central business district, or for leisure travelers heading to this buzzing city in the Philippines and wanting a centrally located abode with the creature comforts of a fine retreat, the Dusit Thani Manila is just the place.
Black-and-gold damask pattern accentuate the The Dusit Club reception desk.
The Look: Over the past 65 years, Thai hotel and resort brand Dusit International has become increasingly renowned for its Thai-style hospitality and décor—that being discreet, graceful, and exceptionally warm—and here it is no different. The lobby is graced with gold pillars, black marble floors, and flower-like chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. Although quite large with 537 rooms, the hotel is personable throughout, with vases of flowers scenting the air and staff in chic Thai uniforms on-hand at every turn to assist guests.
The newly renovated Club Executive Suite has plenty of room for guests to relax or catch up on work.
The Rooms: Thai influence and modern Asian luxury with earth tones and simple designs keep rooms’ atmospheres relaxed and soothing—lovely escapes from the rush of the surrounding city, whose skyline is framed by large windows. There’s a room for every type of traveler, from the base-level Deluxe Rooms sizing 30 square-meter all the way up to the 157-square-meter Presidential Suite complete with a dining room. Club Deluxe Rooms and suites afford access to the Dusit Club and its private check-in and breakfast area, lounges, evening cocktails and canapés, and boardroom. All rooms, however, come with gorgeous bathrooms equipped with separate baths and showers.
The Club Deluxe Room has also been recently renovated, boasting with touches of Asian luxury.
The Appeal: In a city known for its street food, Dusit offers a different draw with its restaurants of fine cuisine. At Benjarong, Thai fare is served by staff outfitted in traditional silk attire and set to a background of khim music. Umu serves the freshest sushi and sashimi around, and Tosca offers a wine list that has been recognized by Wine Spectator as having one of the best restaurant wine lists in the world for the past five consecutive years. Guests looking to stay fit during their stay need not worry. DFit, the hotel’s fitness center, provides the latest work out equipment, and an outdoor pool is perfect for swimming laps. As for decompressing, the Devarana Spa offers a range of rejuvenating treatments, and there’s a serene outdoor pool as well.
The hotel’s Umu restaurant serves exquisite Japanese cuisine.
The Surrounds: Makati brims with upmarket restaurants, shopping, and contemporary art galleries. The Ayala Museum—a trove of Filipino artifacts, art, and history and one of the city’s top attractions—is just a 10-minute walk away, and it’s connected to the Greenbelt mall set on the edge of Greenbelt Park, an oasis of a green space that’s perfect for a morning run. On Saturdays, head to the Salcedo Saturday Market (about 10 minutes by car), a foodie heaven with everything from imported-cheese stalls to locally-made ginger ale and Chinese spinach noodles along with every kind of Filipino dish imaginable.
For those in the know: The hotel will soon introduce The Pantry, their new all-day dining outlet with nine global food stations that include a live lechon pit and a carving station, a brick oven Italian pizza, a Chinese bao bar, an Indian Tandoor oven, an organic paleo counter, and a sinfully divine dessert section.
