Andy Mossack reviews the Fairmont Hotel Makati in Manila
Amongst the hustle and bustle of Manila lies a peaceful enclave, a haven of tranquillity if you will, with parks and lakes and smart upscale shopping. This is Makati, seemingly a world away from traditional Manila, this is a purpose-built business district that is very much pointing to Manila’s future. In the heart of this cocoon, you’ll find the Fairmont Hotel Makati which along with Raffles, its sister property, proves how traditional Filipino hospitality can be successfully delivered into high-pressure modern luxury hotels
The Fairmont brand has built a solid reputation in the USA for high standard luxury living but with the Fairmont Hotel Makati, the brand has reached a new level for me. This is a shining 30-storey glass tower block built from the bottom up that simply oozes class, from the hugely impressive lobby to the effortless charm of its delightful service team. To me, this is just how a luxury hotel should be; built for luxury but staffed by people who can deliver top-notch service standards. In other words, making sure the collars perfectly match the cuffs.
The lobby is the beating heart of the Fairmont Hotel Makati. There’s a lobby lounge for teas and light meals; a place for business meetings and greetings clearly, but you would feel at home here too if you were simply sitting and people-watching. A short walk away, passing Cafe Macron’s on-the-go sandwiches and coffee is Spectrum the buffet style all day restaurant; a culinary feast of flavours and cuisines not just Malay, Filipino and Asian but a range from simple sushi to full-on dishes from around the world prepared in the open style kitchen format.
Upstairs the 280 spacious guestrooms reflect Fairmont’s industry-standard style and elegance including beds the size of Asia. My deluxe king room offered stunning floor-to-ceiling window views of Makati and the rest of Manila beyond, a work desk with state-of-the-art connections for everything I needed a very comfortable couch and a luxury bathroom complete with a rainforest shower (compulsory for me these days) good size fluffy bathrobes and Le Labo toiletries.
Back downstairs, the Willow Stream Spa and Gym await me, a calming retreat for re-energising my ying and yang balance from the techno fitness machines next door. A bevvy of treatment rooms, a welcoming mineral pool and a full-size outdoor pool are all you need to get the mind and spirit in order.
Fairmont Hotel Makati is certainly a perfect place to rest and relax before diving back into Manila’s vibrant but hectic streets, and for me The Fairmont Hotel Makati will deliver an effortless luxury stay.
I want to stay at the Fairmont Hotel Makati. How much is it?
Fairmont Hotel Makati King Room with breakfast from £151
