Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila is one of the few hotels that has been very busy during the pandemic. They have been accredited by the Department of Tourism as a staycation hotel since last year and this is where we even celebrated Valentine’s Day (Read: Love, Suite Love Valentine’s Staycation at Joy Nostalg Manila). Their signature restaurant, Nostalgia Lounge and Bar, has also been busy catering to its guests, so I was happy to find out that they have expanded their dine-in and delivery menu with even more mouthwatering dishes.
Nostalgia Lounge & Bar is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant located on the sixth floor. We had a lovely weekday lunch here last week to check out the new delectables items on their menu. We have had several orders during the past year from their Nostalgia To Go delivery service, but it is really a different and more rewarding experience dining at the restaurant itself.
I have been part of Nostalgia Lounge & Bar’s gastronomic journey ever since its inception as the Nostalgia Dining Lounge in 2015. It has won several awards and distinctions though the years, most notably when it was judged as one of the Top 20 Best Restaurants by Philippine Tatler in 2016 and 2017.
The restaurant follows strict health and safety protocols in accordance with #Allsafe, the new cleanliness and prevention standards set by the Accor Hotels group. Guests are required to wear face masks and face shields except when sitting at their tables. Temperature scans are conducted upon entry, and you also have to answer the Health Declaration Form using the QR Code or with pen and paper.
The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar is a step back in time where diners can relive the good old days amidst a backdrop of contemporary classic elegance. There used to be more sofas and tables in the restaurant, but now they have also implemented social distancing measures with only 50% maximum dining capacity.
Guests can feel safe and secure with this amount of space in-between seats. Several tables also have plexiglass barriers for those business meetings and get togethers.
You can also choose to sit at the sofas which feels more like you’re at home instead of at a hotel restaurant. Despite all the safety procedures, Nostalgia Lounge & Bar still retains that relaxing homey ambiance to set the mood for a cozy afternoon.
There are a few private dining rooms here as well and this is where we had our socially distanced lunch with Ms. Kyra Cabaero, PR & Marketing Communications Director for Joy Nostalg Manila. It had been such a long time since I last talked with Kyra face-to-face, so this is a great venue to catch up with friends and family, without having to open your homes to visitors.
Since everything is now digital, you can find Nostalgia Lounge & Bar’s new menu using the QR Code on the placemat. But don’t worry, they also have a disposable printed version of the menu for those who are not as technologically adept. Payment options are also available digitally or through traditional methods.
We started by ordering some beverages and these are the perfect summer refreshments. I had the Banana Chocolate Almond Milkshake (P330) for myself and my husband had the Virgin Mango Piñacolada Milkshake (P330). They also have a variety of juices, sodas, wines, and beers.
Complimentary bread rolls with butter were served before our orders arrived.
For our appetizers, we ordered the Escargots (P700), a classic French delicacy made with... snails! This may not be a dish that everybody enjoys, but we really like ordering this at French restaurants when we can.
It comes with delectable escargots or land snails sautéed in garlic butter, white wine, and parsley. The garlic butter sauce was extremely tasty, and we even used the rolls and bread to scoop up the remaining oils.
Another recommended starter is the French Onion Soup (P450). This hearty bowl comes with a rich beef broth prepared with caramelized onions and a splash of white wine then topped with bread, gratinated gruyere and emmental cheese. It’s a warm and cheesy bowl of soup that packs a lot of flavors.
I ordered another one of Nostalgia Lounge & Bar’s new dishes for myself, the Seafood and Crab Roe Fettuccini (P720). This gorgeous pasta dish has prawn, scallop, fish, and squid simmered in crab roe cream with a hint of fresh green chili. I like its creamy texture combined with all of those succulent seafood.
Executive Chef Edgar Alejandria also has a few Asian favorites on the menu like the Crispy Pata (P880). This Filipino classic is quite familiar with everyone but I have never seen it presented this elegantly.
The twice-cooked whole pork knuckle is deep fried until crisp and golden brown. Nostalgia Lounge & Bar then makes it easier for us by deboning the pork knuckle and serving it in bite-sized portions. The pork was both crispy and juicy. I absolutely loved it! This is also served with atchara, soy vinegar sauce, and steamed rice.
For the Lenten season, the Pan-Fried Salmon Fillet (P1,380) would be a good seafood option. This fresh Norwegian salmon fillet is seasoned and cooked perfectly with its soft and tender meat.
The salmon is served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, tomato confit, and lemon caper sauce. I was really impressed with all the new dishes being offered on the menu.
But this item that my husband ordered is an old favorite. The US Certified Angus Ribeye (P2,200) comes with a huge 250 grams of rib eye steak grilled to medium doneness. It is served with mixed greens and peppercorn sauce.
You really can’t go wrong with steak so this was an easy choice for him. The juicy beef still is still red and pinkish inside so it retains a lot of its natural flavors.
You can also order additional sides like the Creamed Spinach (P150) and Mashed Potatoes (P150). Aside from these, other options include French fries, buttered vegetables, baked potatoes, or garlic rice as your side dish.
We were both really full and satisfied with all the dishes we tried. So for our dessert, we just shared the Classic Chocolate Lava Cake (P560). This chocolate fondant cake comes with a molten chocolatey center and is served with strawberries and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
We would like to thank Ms. Kyra for inviting us back to sample these new dishes at the Nostalgia Lounge & Bar. We all have to be careful when dining out during the pandemic, so it is important to choose a venue where guests can really feel safe. But if you are still not comfortable dining out, all of these are also available for takeout and delivery through Nostalgia To Go (check their menu here), so you can still indulge in these new and classic favorites at the comforts of your homes. Give them a call or message them for reservations and deliveries! Nostalgia To Go is also available on GrabFood and Foodpanda.
Nostalgia Lounge & Bar
6/F Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites, 17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig
Love, Suite Love Valentine’s Staycation at Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila
My husband and I usually celebrate Valentine’s Day with a staycation at one of our favorite hotels in the metro. This year, we wanted to continue our annual tradition even with the current community quarantine, especially since this was our first Valentine’s together as a married couple. Thankfully, there are a few five-star hotels in Metro Manila that already accept leisure guests, and one of these happens to be a hotel that is close to our hearts - Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila. Even better, they were offering their Love, Suite Love Valentine’s Staycation promo which included an overnight stay in their One-Bedroom Executive Suite, Valentine’s dinner for two, set breakfast for two, antigen test for two, plus late checkout for only P12,000 nett. It’s a complete luxury staycation package that exactly fits our needs during this ongoing pandemic.
Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila is a five-star serviced residence with 229 spacious and fully-furnished suites well equipped with entertainment, kitchen and laundry facilities. Their rooms are available for overnight as well as long-staying guests since the suites really feel like home. Joy Nostalg Manila is located right at the heart of the Ortigas Center business district along ADB Avenue. I could immediately notice the small changes at the lobby area, with plexiglass dividers at the front desk and everyone wearing face shield and face masks.
We checked in for our Valentine’s staycation last February 13, 2021. The last time we stayed here was just a few weeks before the hotel changed its name and management, back when the hotel was still called Oakwood Premier (Read: Elegant and Spacious Holiday Staycation at Oakwood Premier Manila). Guests are encouraged to register beforehand for the PasigPass QR Code which handles Pasig’s contact tracing procedures. This makes things faster during the check-in process and you can also use the same QR Code for all Pasig establishments. A separate Digital Health Declaration Form from the DOT and DOH is also required to be filled up.
Aside from the temperature check at the entrance, one new requirement for all overnight hotel guests is that they have to present a negative Rapid Antigen Swab Test on the day of their check-in. Joy-Nostalg makes this process easier by offering their own antigen testing center right at the hotel. This service is included in the Love, Suite Love staycation package so we scheduled our antigen test just before our check-in. It just took less than 15 minutes to get our negative results so we got our key cards from the front desk and started our Valentine’s staycation!
Health and safety is a priority during the new normal so you will find alcohol dispensers all over the hotel. Each room also has small tables set up outside the doors so they can just leave your room service orders and other requested items here without the need for face to face interaction.
We entered our huge One-Bedroom Executive Suite on the 21st floor and it is still as gorgeous as we remember it. Each 86-94 square meter apartment comes with its own spacious living room equipped with a 40" high definition LCD TV and sound bar home theater system. Guests can also find a small dining area for your takeout or food deliveries.
The window opens up to a magnificent view of the Ortigas skyline. It’s a little bit more quiet nowadays because of the quarantine, so we also prefer to just enjoy our time inside the hotel during our stay.
What better way to welcome us home than with these fruits and sweet delicacies? It was a surprise seeing these on the dining table just as we entered our suite. We even got a personalized greeting card from the hotel’s general manager and marketing director. It’s these small personal gestures which truly makes a staycation feel extra special.
What also makes Joy Nostalg Manila different is that each serviced apartment can function as your home away from home. It comes with a fully-equipped kitchen complete with a microwave and convention oven, a Vitroceramic cook top, dishwasher, refrigerator, toaster, rice cooker, coffee maker, cooking utensils, a washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board.
I also found this new water purifying device set up on the faucet so you can get clean drinking water straight from the tap. I think I want to get this type of device for my own home.
Joy-Nostalg Manila offers one of the most luxurious staycation experiences you can find. The bedroom is just as spacious with its king-sized bed and another 40" LCD TV for your viewing pleasure. The interiors inside the One-Bedroom Suite evoke a classical elegance with simple beige and wooden undertones providing a comforting environment.
Since it is Valentine’s, we found this very cute towel display on on our bed, plus a few other welcome gifts that are just as appreciated. Sanitation Kits are also provided containing alcohols, face masks, and wet wipes to make sure your gadgets and other items are always clean.
We were even so surprised to see our wedding photo by the bedside! Now that is what I call service with a very personal touch. This room really feels like our own home.
Another thing I really love about the One-Bedroom Suite is its exquisite bathroom with a free-standing bathtub and Vessel-type double sinks. I’m definitely going for a warm bubble bath later in the evening before I go to sleep. The shower stall comes with a rain shower and eco-friendly refillable soap and shampoo dispensers. But the best part about the bathroom is the 20-inch waterproof flat screen television which makes it a total of three LCD TVs inside the suite. Now I can watch my favorite shows while taking a leisurely bath.
Another change brought about by the pandemic is the use of the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, which is arguably the best among all the hotels I have visited. This heated pool actually features underwater music which you can hear when you swim. At the end of the long lap pool is a warm bubbly jacuzzi where I like to soak my body.
The pool can now only be used by hotel guests on a reservation basis. This is to maintain social distancing even when swimming. But since the hotel is also on a limited capacity, we basically had the entire pool to ourselves. We just needed to schedule our one-hour time slot in advance and we ended up with our own private indoor pool.
The most exciting part of our staycation was the pre-Valentine’s dinner date we had scheduled at the Nostalgia Lounge and Bar, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant on the 6th Floor. I was able to try their Valentine Delights Set Meals for delivery a few weeks ago, but it still feels more romantic to go on a real Valentine’s dinner date.
The restaurant also follows strict health and safety protocols in accordance with Allsafe, the new cleanliness and prevention standards by the Accor Hotels group that includes Sofitel, Raffles and Fairmont, and Novotel. These are the same measures followed whether you are a dining guest or a check-in guest.
The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar is a step back in time where diners can relive the good old days amidst a backdrop of contemporary classic elegance. There used to be more sofas and tables in the restaurant, but now they have also implemented social distancing procedures so there is more space in between tables.
There are a few private dining rooms here as well and we were lucky to be able to have one for our Valentine’s Day Set Dinner (P2,500). This is a 5-Course dinner complete with appetizers, a main course, and dessert plus a glass of red or white wine.
Aside from the wine, we were also given a fruity welcome drink called White Sangria. Since we both ordered white wine, the server actually gave us the entire bottle so we had plenty of drinks that night. The Amuse Bouche was then served. This was a small but tasty plate of grilled focaccia topped with roasted garlic spread and grape tomato confit.
Next came our Appetizer which was a salad composed of mixed greens, toasted hazelnuts, gouda, roasted bell pepper, and vinaigrette.
We also had the Roasted Tomato Soup with basil pesto. This warm and hearty bowl of soup was a great way to prepare us for our meaty main course.
We are both steak lovers, so it was an easy decision to choose the Beef Tenderloin for our main course. This pretty tenderloin steak is served on a bed of parmesan potato cake with julienne vegetables then topped with blue cheese butter. This is the same main course I ordered for my Valentine Delights Hotbox delivery but it is really much better to eat it at the restaurant itself. The ambiance and quality of the dishes makes it a truly wonderful Valentine’s date.
We ended with the Strawberry and Brownie Trifle for our dessert. This beautiful glass is filled with homemade fudge brownies, jam, and rich custard topped with whipped cream plus white and dark chocolate strawberries.
I even received another pretty surprise from Nostalgia Lounge and Bar, a long-stem rose and cookies to take home! These were given to all dining guests that evening to make their Valentine’s dinner more memorable.
But our night wasn’t over yet, because after dinner, we headed up to the 43rd floor to have a nightcap at The Roof, Joy Nostalg Manila’s rooftop bar and grill with a breathtaking view of the city. We actually haven’t seen this part of the hotel before because it wasn’t open yet the last time we stayed here, so it was exciting to finally be able to visit it.
The Roof is a great place to unwind with their grilled specialties and cocktails. This was also an alternative dining venue for the Valentine’s Dinner Set that weekend, especially since its al fresco environment is probably a safer option during the pandemic.
We were quite full from our 5-course dinner, so we ended up enjoying a couple of cocktails while waiting for the clock to strike midnight to welcome Valentine’s Day.
I had a glass of Daiquiri (P240) while my husband ordered their Hennessy Milk Tea (P450). He likes trying “unique” cocktail combinations so this was a quirky beverage for him. A few more drinks later and we were ready to go back down to our suite for a relaxing slumber.
The next morning, we woke up to Valentine’s Day with a bountiful breakfast in bed. Joy Nostalg Manila now let’s hotel guests choose whether to have their breakfast at the Nostalgia Lounge and Bar or inside their own rooms. Since buffet breakfasts are frowned upon during the quarantine, we decided to the room service option so we can spend the entire morning in our suites. Guests just have to fill out the Breakfast Menu and choose their desired breakfast sets with their indicated time of delivery.
This is definitely more fun than having to wake up early to shower and preparing to go down to the cafe. Now I can sleep longer and just lazily wake up with my breakfast all prepared. Don’t worry, this isn’t all for me. Dexter ordered the American Breakfast with bacon, pancakes, sausages, cereals, and hash browns while I had the Filipino Breakfast with Beef Tapa, garlic rice, fried egg, and fruits. These are all served with a variety of breads, juices, tea, and coffee. What a Happy Valentine’s Sunday!
It was almost noon when we ate our breakfast so it ended up being a brunch-in-bed. But we didn’t have to rush for checkout because the Love, Suite Love staycation package also includes late check-out up to 4pm! That meant more time for me to enjoy lounging around in the bathtub while watching my favorite shows. You can experience all of these as well with their ongoing Suite Welcome staycation package until March 31, 2021 which includes an overnight stay with breakfast and antigen tests for two starting at P9,000 nett per night. Thank you, Joy Nostalg Manila for letting us have such a romantic and memorable Valentine’s staycation.
Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila
17 ADB Ave, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines
Valentine Delights Set Meals From Nostalgia Lounge & Bar
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. While some are ready to dine-out and celebrate Valentine’s Day at hotels and restaurants, majority of the population will still probably be staying home where it is safer for them. If you haven’t set up your plans yet, here’s one option for a healthy and romantic Valentine’s dinner at home.
The Nostalgia Lounge & Bar of Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila has just launched its Valentine Delights Set Meals To Go. This is a complete 3-course set meal that has an assortment of scrumptious dishes safely packed in a self-heating HotBox that can be used anywhere, anytime. I got an early Valentine’s treat from Joy-Nostalg Hotel last Saturday but this will be available only from February 8 to 14, 2021.
The Valentine Delights hot box comes with a set of appetizers, a main course, and a dessert for a complete Valentine’s dinner. Normally, you have to place your takeout orders in the oven or microwave if you want it heated, but what if you are outside on the roof deck or on a picnic? The pandemic has made people very creative with their venues and we don’t always have an oven beside us. The HotBox solves that problem because you can have your meals fresh and hot no matter where you are.
HotBox is the first portable self-heating food box in the Philippines that allows you to enjoy a hot meal anytime, anywhere. I have never seen this type of self-heating box before, so I was also curious to try it out for myself.
So how do you use the HotBox? First, place the box on a flat surface. Hold the box down with one hand and pull the string completely with the other hand.
You won’t notice anything for the first few minutes, but the box is already heating up inside. Leave it for around 8-10 minutes then you will notice the steam coming out from small hole. Be careful when touching the box because some areas are hot, but the bottom of the box actually isn’t, so you can still lift it up and place it where you want.
Open up the box and you now have your hot gourmet dinner! The box can keep hot for 30 minutes so it’s really very convenient. I’m ready to eat!
Let’s start with the appetizers. The Cheesy Spinach Dip comes with creamy spinach, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese served with toasted flat bread. I love the creamy consistency of the spinach.
My main course was the Beef Tenderloin which was quite flavorful. It was cooked medium which is just how I want my steak to be. It is served with julienne vegetables topped with blue cheese butter. It also comes with a parmesan potato cake which I ate as a side dish.
Other main courses to choose from are Grilled Squid and Mahi Mahi, Chicken Ballotine, or Mushroom Quinoa. The last course is the dessert which I also loved. The Chocolate Lava Cake came with oozing molten chocolate inside. The HotBox is a perfect way to serve this because who wants to eat a cold lava cake? Everything was so good!
The Valentine Delights Set Meal is available for takeout and delivery for only P2,200 nett per set. Order 2 boxes of their Valentine Delights for you and your date and get 50% OFF on a bottle of your choice from their wine list. You can check out the Valentine Delights menu at bit.ly/ValentineDelights and their Wine List at bit.ly/NostalgiaWineList. Call 7719-1160 or message (0961) 567-9658 to reserve a seat at their 5-Course Valentine’s Dinner from February 12 to 14 or to place your orders for the Valentine Delights Set Meals To Go. You get free delivery for orders above P1,500 within 2-kilometers from the hotel. Start planning your Valentine’s Date now!
Nostalgia Lounge & Bar
6/F Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites, 17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig
