What do you call the item you ordered is not on the menu? Confidence. It’s the confidence to specifically ask something that is not on the menu. 😬🤣 . . #specialorder #manilalifecafe #doublechocolatechipfrappe #frappe #chocoholic #chocolate #igersph https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsw_1ANHQbw/?igshid=1hy2eeo3pmy9v
Manila Life Café by Marriott Manila Opens at NAIA Terminal 3
Checking in early for your flight at the airport used to be so boring. With the horrendous city traffic, we really need to get to the airport way ahead of time. But what are we supposed to do while waiting for our departure? We don’t always have access to airport lounges, and the usual dining options at the airport can be uninspiring. But now, there’s a new casual dining outlet at NAIA Terminal 3 that offers a new take on Filipino cuisine, plus it lets you relax in the comfort of a cafe that feels more like staying in a five-star hotel lounge.
Manila Life Cafe by Marriott Manila has just opened at the fourth floor of NAIA Terminal 3, just above the entrance from the airport’s indoor carpark. This is the hotel’s first standalone cafe and establishment outside Resorts World Manila but it serves as perfect welcoming party for travelers who have just arrived at the airport, or a great sendoff for those waiting for their flights. Manila Life Cafe gives a taste of Manila's comfort food and local favorites from 7:00am to 8:00pm daily and there’s no better place to while away the time in luxury and style.
The cafe held its opening and ribbon-cutting ceremonies last October 16, 2017 and is now ready to serve not just travelers with valid plane tickets, but also friends and relatives who are waiting inside the terminal. You can find the cafe at the airport’s public area, so you don’t need to have any ticket to enjoy its facilities.
Aside from the terminal entrances, another way to access Manila Life Cafe is with a short walk via Runway Manila, a new bridge directly connecting Resorts World Manila to NAIA Terminal 3. This modern walkway lets guests staying at Resorts World Manila simply walk to the airport in a convenient manner, which is actually a faster way to get there than through the airport shuttles or taxis.
Traffic inside NAIA Terminal 3 can be hazardous at times, so Runway Manila offers a good alternative for arriving and departing passengers. It also comes with walkalators and shuttles for those with very heavy luggages or equipment.
Manila Life Cafe is actually the first establishment that will greet travelers as they enter the airport using Runway Manila, so it acts an an extension of their Resorts World Manila hotel stay. This 94-seater café feels like those classy airport lounges that are only available for flyers with business class tickets or special travel cards.
One of Manila Life Cafe’s best features is its front desk service that lets Marriott Manila guests easily check in right after landing at the airport. They can immediately check-in for their stay and request for concierge services if they need to do so. Guests can even finish check-out procedures off-site from the hotel, especially if they are in a rush to catch their flights.
The cafe offers several cozy nooks with its walls and designs giving a small glimpse of Manila’s busy city life. Flat screen TVs are available inside the cafe so you can just grab the daily newspaper, order a cup of coffee, and relax as if you were staying at the hotel lobby. Don’t worry about missing your flight, because the front desk will gladly remind you about your schedule.
For foreign travelers who have just arrived at Manila, the cafe will be their first contact with the exciting and oftentimes adventurous city called Metro Manila. The atmosphere inside the cafe is fun and happy, just like how Filipinos are, with nostalgic pop music playing in the background like the late Francis Magalona’s Man from Manila and other tunes from the 70′s to the 90′s.
The bar area is also another place to unwind with its menu of local and imported beers, signature cocktails, juices, brewed coffee and brewed tea. Local craft beers from Crazy Carabao Brewing are one of the cafe’s highlights, like the Exit Wounds (P300) IPA. They also have other refreshing beverages like smoothies, bubble teas, and fresh buko juice.
Manila Life Cafe takes pride in serving classic Filipino dishes and flavors with a twist. This is a great introduction for foreigners to open their palates to Filipino cuisine. On the other hand, balikbayans will be happy to rediscover these classic flavors they have always loved.
The cafe offers an interesting set of appetizers which include the Grilled Chicken Inasal Salad (P280). This Filipino-style salad comes with cuts of flavorful chicken inasal, a recipe from Bacolod with the chicken cooked in vinegar. It is combined with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, salted egg, and then doused in garlic dressing.
Another fusion dish is the Sisig Nachos (P270) which has crunchy tacos topped with pork sisig, Jalapenos, pickled onions, chicharon, and onion cream. The sisig is one of the Philippine cuisine’s most popular delicacies and this is a good way of promoting our unique food and flavors.
If you miss eating all those yummy but sometimes dangerous street food, then get the Manila Street Food Platter (P290) for a true taste of the city. This bowl comes with homemade fishballs, chicken fritters, and fried quail eggs or kwek kwek which you can make “tusok-tusok” with the stick. You can also dip it on the sweet soy, spiced vinegar, or sweet and sour sauce.
Manila Life Cafe offers a couple of All Day Breakfast items like the Tap-de-log (P250), a Tapa & Egg Pandesal Sandwich with savoury beef tapa and fried egg inside a freshly baked pandesal bread. This is one way of eating your beef tapa on the go.
Those who want to get a heavier breakfast should order the Manila Surprise Plate (P290). This rice bowl comes with pork longanisa, tocino, fried egg, and salted egg with tomato on top of warm garlic rice. This is the typical Filipino breakfast and it’s comforting to have this option inside the airport.
Diners who want a quick snack can choose from the cafe’s Manila Tacos and Burgers. The Crisp Fish Tacos (P330) is made with sustainably caught Mahi Mahi fillet, green mango slaw and garlic sour cream. Other tacos include the Pork Sisig Tacos (P330) and the Chicken Inasal Tacos (P330).
Burgers are also on the menu like the Crispy Chicken Burger (P320). This crunchy burger is cooked with inasal marinade and comes with tomato, lettuce, onions, and garlic soy aioli. The bun is actually made of pandesal bread, a unique way of serving burgers.
Their signature burger is the Manila Life Bacon and Mushroom Burger (P390) with its homemade beef patty, cheddar cheese, mushrooms, bacon crisp. This meaty burger will surely satisfy any appetite. All burgers are served with house fries.
Those who want a complete meal for lunch or dinner should get any of the Mama’s Comfort Bowls - Filipino favorite rice toppings and stir fry noodles.
The Pancit Luglug (P350) is a Pampanga version of the palabok, a Filipino rice noodle dish served with a medley of toppings and sauces. This one comes with a homemade shrimp sauce, chicharon bits, and boiled egg.
The Sisig Rice (P350) is always a favorite, especially with its generous serving of pork sisig, chicharon, green chili, and fried egg on top of steamed rice. Cut open the egg and mix the yolk together with the sisig for a truly indulgent meal.
The Beef Kaldereta (P380) is a popular Filipino dish that can be seen in any home. This Filipino tomato-based beef stew comes with local vegetables and is always a good viand to have with rice.
If there’s one item that can be considered as the Filipino national dish, then it is the adobo. Diners can enjoy this classic at Manila Life Cafe with their Pork Adobo (P350) rice topping. This braised pork belly is cooked in soy sauce and vinegar then served with boiled egg, a simple but well-loved Filipino recipe.
There’s one other highlight at the cafe, a celebrity-inspired dish from one of the most popular showbiz families in the country. The It Takes Gutz Homemade Bam-I (P330) is a recipe from actress and beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez which was inspired by their homegrown dish from Cebu. This Cebuano pancit is made with chicken strips, sliced pork, shrimp, chinese chorizo, wood ear mushroom, cabbage and carrots. It is surprisingly quite good and I highly recommend you try this when you visit the cafe.
For desserts, the Purple Yam Roll (P205) is another specialty with its good shepherd ube, purple yam cake, cream cheese filling and macapuno strings. Another option is the Mango Sago (P180) with its Gumaras mango cubes and milky mango puree, tapioca pearls and pomelo bits.
For those in a hurry, the cafe also offers items you can easily grab and take with you including freshly baked pastries, pies, breads, empanadas and cookies. Cakes are also on hand like the tempting Leche Flan Cake (P85/slice) which just looks too good to resist.
Travelers can also take a little piece of Manila with them with these take away food items and souvenirs. Caps, shirts, mugs, and even small jeepney toys are available to keep Manila always in their hearts. Manila Life Cafe is a very welcome addition to the facilities and restaurants inside NAIA Terminal 3. Now, I don’t need to look for an airport lounge because dining at the cafe is just as cozy and luxurious. Congratulations to Marriott Manila for such a great concept!
