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Travel, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

manila hotel

Buffet at Cafe Ilang Ilang, Manila Hotel

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A contender for the most underrated hotel buffet in Manila has got to be the Cafe Ilang Ilang, the all-day dining restaurant inside Manila Hotel along Roxas Boulevard. Though a deserving 5-star hotel buffet in its own right, it doesn’t get as much buzz as Makati or Ortigas hotels. During my staycation at Manila Hotel, I finally got to try out the dinner buffet at Cafe Ilang Ilang. Here is what to expect.

Entering the restaurant for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised to see modern and almost hipster-looking decor. It’s certainly not what I had in mind for a traditional sounding name like Cafe Ilang Ilang.

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A Heritage Staycation Experience at Manila Hotel

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If there was one hotel in Manila that I’ve long wanted to try, it would be the historic Manila Hotel located near Rizal Park and Manila Bay. The property is to Manila as the Raffles is to Singapore, the Metropole is to Hanoi or the Strand is to Yangon. For several years, I’ve admired the hotel for its iconic lobby but circumstances never led me to stay there or even try the food options available in-house.

Manila Hotel has the distinction of being the longest surviving luxury hotel in Manila and is 103 years old. It is the biggest and most distinct heritage hotel in the city dating its roots from the American colonial period in the early 20th century. It has seen World War 2, where the hotel subsequently became living quarters for the Japanese Army and the martial law years when Imelda Marcos used to host lavish parties in the hotel. The property has witnessed the ups and downs of the city and due to its strategic location, the ups and downs of the country as well. During Manila Hotel’s centenary year in 2012, the rooms were renovated and in-house restaurants were spruced up and revamped.

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