City Garden Grand Hotel

Sitting in the busy Makati, in a melting pot of pubs and a variety of entertainment. City Garden Grand Hotel has made its footprint amidst the high hotel competition in the area.

With an array of sky reaching buildings and hotels in the neighborhood, one might easily overlook how highbeaming City Garden Grand Hotel is, the hotel has been easily wrapped in such a hyperactive surrounding that it makes you ask, what do they have to offer?

It didn't take me more than ten minutes to figure out the answers. Just as as soon as I entered the lobby, greeted by their staff and being in awe of a regal looking interior, with palms nested between couches, a grandiose chandelier made of Kapis, a wooden ceiling with intricate smooth edges and an energetic staff behind the front office. Just the sight of all these gives you the impression of being in a four star hotel, and true to that, City Garden Grand Hotel breathes luxury and contemporary comfort with a touch of Filipino elegance.

Stepping foot inside the room is already a remarkable experience. You instantly get that blissful feeling of excitement. Having been able to review various hotels before, this feeling is rare only to rooms that offer a bizarre aura, contrary to the "standard" hotel room look.

Different from the typical industrial interiors, City Garden Grand Hotel lays out an entire wooden flooring inside the rooms, with area carpets that give accent to a sophisticated and chic room, the hotel boasts a 32 sqm room area which is considered generous in hotel standards.

Bed linens are of top quality and bed sizes come in either two double beds or a king size bed. Toilet and shower room, with a bathtub all dressed in marble. It has an overall classic feel in it and being a new hotel, you can be guaranteed with cleanliness and fully functioning amenities.

But City Garden Grand Hotel's crowning glory will definitely be the stunning view of Makati City from the rooms and a breathtaking sight at the hotel's rooftop. City Garden Grand Hotel gave me the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Metro Manila for the first time.

With an infinity pool that gives you a chance to have fun on top of the world, dining al fresco with a 360 degree view of the city and an afternoon yoga session in clouds, City Garden Grand Hotel should definitely be included in the must-go list in Makati.

Dining in City Garden Grand Hotel is one not to be missed as well. Firefly Restaurant at the 32nd floor offers a fancy way to enjoy Mongolian and Spanish delights or a booze at the sky bar. I think I just found myself a new hideaway in Makati.

Enjoying great food has just been brought to greater heights and in the case of Firefly, it is 32 levels high.

The food selection in their Spanish buffet menu was top notch, but should you crave for a Mongolian dinner, you can treat yourself by filling up your bowl and having them cooked by the Chef right in front of you.

Meanwhile, a wide variety of Filipino and International cuisine await the early birds for breakfast at the Spice Cafe at the 7th floor. Spice offers quite a long list of breakfast buffet choices which to me is highly commendable.

I had limited expectations about City Garden Grand Hotel when I first heard about it and it wasn't until I finally experienced it that I realize how much people are actually missing out. Location and quality are both superb in this hotel.

City Garden Grand Hotel, a member of the Filipino hotel chain City Garden Hotels is absolutely worthy of the Grand title it bears and deserves to be in the spotlight. It is with two thumbs up that I recommend staying in this hotel.