During my birthday back in June, I found myself stuck in the city after having spent many birthdays in the past going somewhere in the country or abroad. It was a bummer but this Roamer was intent on making the most out of the situation.
So instead, the Urban Roamer booked a staycation at two hotels with interesting and contrasting characters that make for a memorable stay in the metropolis. Or not. Here is the first part of the staycation experience.
A Hotel With a History
Night one was spent at Orchid Garden Suites, a hotel located along Pablo Ocampo Sr. Avenue in Manila’s Malate district. It opened as a hotel in 1995 but its history goes far beyond that.
The structure that would become Orchid Garden Suites was built originally in 1935 as residence for the family of Philippine Supreme Court Justice Antonio Villa-Real . It was designed by National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio in an Art Deco style of architecture reminiscent of his other works such as the buildings of the Far Eastern University, Life Theater, and Scala Theater.
Back then, this part of Manila was an upscale neighborhood as the area benefited from the proximity of the De La Salle college campus, the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the wide open green space of Harrison Park, with the Villa=Real house located right across it. It was a nice and quiet neighborhood during the prewar era before war and urbanization turned Harrison Park into a mall (which at the time of writing has been demolished to make way for yet another mall) and the area into an urban mess.
As such, the Villa-Real house is one of the very few remnants of prewar Malate that have managed to not only survive but thrive with the times. At some point, it even served as the embassy for Russia and Indonesia. And when it was decided to convert the residence into a hotel, the old house was largely preserved and transformed to be the focal point of the hotel, with the addition of a 14-level hotel building behind the old house.
Elegance and Old Manila Charm
Stepping inside the hotel further radiates the old Manila charm and homeyness of the hotel mixed with elegance that the old house might have had. The fact that it’s not a large hotel with a large lobby is part of its charm. And the lobby’s size did not prevent having a small bar and some quiet corners where one can sit and relax.
Another nice touch of the hotel is that it has a swimming pool, which they manage to fit despite the somewhat limited space. As such, the pool is not large but it’s enough for one to have a dip or a leisurely swim while enjoying the views of the mini gard3en intricate details of the old house. The atmosphere is less that of a hotel and more of a private, secluded villa even though it’s in the middle of a bustling city.
There is also a restaurant in the hotel, the Cafe Alicia, which is open for lunch, dinner, and buffet breakfast. I didn’t get to eat in the restaurant though.
Disappointed With the Room
As for the room, the regular room that I booked was very spacious with lots of room to put your stuff in. However, that is the only most positive thing I could say about it. For one, the room is showing its age and the fixtures and the amenities have seen better days, which I actually didn’t mind. But the most disappointing thing about the room is the bed they used: a box bed with wheels on it. So if you move quite a bit when you sleep, you might find your bed moving as well.
Needless to say, the room ruined somewhat my otherwise positive experience with Orchid Garden Suites. And considering the room being the most important aspect any hotel should attend to, one might argue the room really brought an otherwise charming hotel down. It is disappointing that a hotel that has managed to preserve the heritage and legacy of an old Manila landmark couldn’t at least pay the same attention to their rooms.
Contrasting Neighborhood Atmospheres
Orchid Garden Suites’ location is a peculiar one. On one hand, it is quite close to the dense, somewhat gritty neighborhood and Pasay at the south. And walking along Ocampo Sr. Ave. up north from the hotel to Taft Avenue passes along pockets of those neighborhoods, not to mention the poor condition of the road in that area.
On the other hand, it is strategically located to the aforementioned Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and De La Salle University, as well as the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex which also happens to be a popular area for exercises and strolls. Once SM City Harrison is completed at the site of the old Harrison Plaza, the area will see more foot traffic than before, even more than when Harrison Plaza was around.
Another interesting thing is that Orchid Garden Suites is located right across a larger hotel, the Century Park Hotel which is the dominant landmark in the area (that is until SM City Harrison opens). It serves as a polar opposite to Orchid Garden Suites in terms of size, atmosphere, facilities but complement each other at the same time.
Final Thoughts
As someone who appreciates heritage and history, Orchid Garden Suites has to be applauded for being able to preserve its past for present and future generations to appreciate. It is a standout example on how to preserve and adaptively reuse an old structure and give it a new purpose, especially in an evolving urban landscape and balancing old and new elements to make it an appealing place to stay in the city.
That being said, I hope the hotel upgrades their rooms and make it a bit more in tune to today’s expectations. In particular, I hope they change their bed boxes to ones that are more stable. If they make those changes, the hotel will be a more attractive place to stay, especially those who want to experience what Manila was like before.
On the next post, we go to a newer hotel, which is right in the middle of all conveniences and connectivities.
Acknowledgements as well to Orchid Garden Suites, who did not sponsor this stay FYI
