Bino

What’s New at Marriott Cafe at Marriott Manila

April 23, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

Marriott Café at Marriott Manila has recently revamped its buffet offerings. I have been there a couple of times and enjoy the nice modern ambiance of the all-day dining restaurant and absolutely love their desserts. Timing their new food offerings for the summer season, one can expect a lot of new refreshing flavors. Recently, we were invited to check out Marriott Café once more after what has been a long while.

Those who have been to Marriott Café previously would no doubt recognize the oldies but goodies – the cold cuts, salads, sushi bar and Chinese station with roast meats and dumplings. I was pleasantly surprised to find the rarely seen mackerel and yellowtail sashimi during my latest visit as I didn’t recall seeing these previously.

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Karma Kandara Resort in Uluwatu, Bali

April 19, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

Located in Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, Karma Kandara Resort is one of Bali’s most luxurious. The property sits in a location which is named as “Billionaire’s Row” due to its sweeping views and unparalleled access to the famous cliffs of Uluwatu. This all-villa resort features some spacious living and sleeping quarters for quests that blend traditional Balinese architecture as well as modern creature comforts. Think thatched huts contrasted against wood, white concrete and décor that give off a cool blue shade. To top it off, guests get to enjoy the warm hospitality of the Balinese people. There’s no need to venture far from the resort to witness the traditional life of the locals.

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Food Review: Grand Shanghai 大上海 at Havelock Road

April 18, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

Evoking the atmosphere of China’s preeminent commercial center in the 1930’s, Grand Shanghai in Grand Copthorne Hotel brims with a decidedly old world flair. A band serenades diners with Chinese tunes from decades past while staff churn out Shanghainese specialties such as crispy eel, xiao long bao and crystal pork. The restaurant itself is not new to Singapore’s food scene – it’s been around for more than a decade. Wedding banquets from Grand Copthorne Hotel have also been held here for years. The other thing to note is that Shanghainese cuisine is not that common in Singapore. When I received a media invite from the good folks at Noisy Crayons, I knew I had to check it out!

As the name suggests, Grand Shanghai is set in a rather grand dining hall with a stage used for performances. Two singers wearing cheongsams took turns in entertaining the audience, easily switching between hits in Mandarin and Cantonese.

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Ash & Elm in Intercontinental Singapore

April 15, 2016 by Bino 2 Comments

Ash and Elm is the newest dining concept to open at the Intercontinental Singapore. Taking over what was once Olive Tree, the new restaurant is a stylish venue that easily transitions itself from hearty breakfast buffets to sumptuous multi-course meals for lunch and dinner. Entering the restaurant for the first time, I immediately knew I was in for a treat when I saw that Ash and Elm has its own charcuterie room. I was also pleasantly surprised when the restaurant staff invited me over to inspect the kitchen which was deliberately built for diners to come in and inspect.

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Hotel Yan – A Hipster Boutique Hotel in Singapore’s Jalan Besar District

April 10, 2016 by Bino 2 Comments

Singapore may have plenty of boutique hotel options but not a single one I have encountered possesses the industrial chic of Hotel Yan in trendy Tyrwhitt Road. Entering the lobby for the first time, I was greeted by grey, unfinished walls and reception counters contrasted against wood and glass. The brainchild of a husband-and-wife team who wanted to recreate Tyrwhitt Road’s past as a hardware store enclave, this property immediately stands out among the myriad of boutique hotels along the Jalan Besar area.

stunning lobby of hotel yan

The lobby has some similarities with a hipster café which made more sense to me after I found out that a café called Nido is due to open to take up half of the lobby’s space eventually.

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What to Expect From the NEW Ibis Styles Singapore on Macpherson

April 8, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The new Ibis Styles Singapore on Macpherson finally opened its doors on the 3rd of April, 2016. I managed to do a site inspection on this property, the first under the Ibis Styles brand in Singapore during their very first day in business.

The hotel is situated in an up-and-coming portion of the country, near the industrial areas of Paya Lebar and on top of what’s touted to be the new Macpherson Mall. The property’s quite a walk from the nearest MRT stations – Potong Pasir and Macpherson MRT stations are both 1km away – though there is a bus stop nearby. More importantly, the property offers complimentary shuttle services to the MRT station.

For those not used to the Ibis Styles brand of Accor, it is a step-up from the regular Ibis brand which is well-known for its budget proposition. In the case of this particular property, this meant a swimming pool, gym and rooms that are above 20 sqm in size.

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Time Out Weekend Staycation at Shangri-la Singapore

April 4, 2016 by Bino 3 Comments

Shangri-la Singapore has recently unveiled a tempting staycation package that’s bound to make guests think twice about leaving the comforts of the hotel during their stay. Aptly called the “Time Out Weekend Staycation,” this package for two for a stay at the Garden Wing comes full of extras to differentiate it from the typical staycation. During a recent weekend, I managed to check out firsthand exactly what makes this package special.

shangri-la singapore garden wing

As with my previous stay at Shangri-la Singapore’s Garden Wing, I checked in via dedicated counters located near the entrance to the resort-like building. At the time of my check-in there was just one person manning the desk. As soon as I was seen queuing, a second person came by to check me in so I did not have to wait long.

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Seafood From the Heart Dinner Buffet at The Kitchen Table, W Singapore – Sentosa Cove

March 23, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The Kitchen Table at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove competes within a dining scene where seafood buffets are becoming a dime a dozen affairs. Thankfully, they’ve managed to put a twist into this ever popular buffet theme. I’m not talking about the sustainable sourcing practices of this property though that’s one thing you’re bound to remember after reading their marketing collaterals. To be honest, I came in expecting a run-of-the-mill buffet with the usual cold and grilled seafood items but left pleasantly surprised. Due to the restaurant’s collaboration with celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita, Seafood From the Heart is not your typical seafood buffet. During my staycation at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, I found out exactly why.

The design concept of the F&B outlets of any W hotel is always quite decadent and it was no exception when I entered The Kitchen Table. I didn’t even notice what the “concept” was exactly until a staff member pointed me to look upwards and see how the ceiling was actually designed as an upside down kitchen!

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