Another Stylish Staycation at Midas Hotel & Casino
Midas Hotel & Casino was one of my first few staycation experiences when I started traveling around the city a few years ago. The big casino resorts along Entertainment City were not open yet during that time, and Midas Hotel was always a favorite destination for me, especially with its convenient location just a few blocks away from Mall of Asia. The previous years have seen me visiting the other new hotel resorts in the city, but Midas Hotel had always kept its special place inside my heart. So I was happy to be back at one of my favorite hotel escapes, an intimate spot in the city where I experienced many unforgettable and cherished moments.
Located along Roxas Boulevard just a few steps away from EDSA, Midas Hotel & Casino is a stylish boutique hotel with a glamorous history of its own. Guests from the older generation will remember it as the former Hyatt Regency Hotel during the late 60s. It was eventually renovated and reopened last 2011 to a new generation of hotel guests, which includes myself. So come with me as I relax and unwind with another fantastic weekend staycation at Midas Hotel.
Nestled along the majestic stretch of the Manila’s famed sunset boulevard, Midas Hotel and Casino mixes glamor, contemporary style, and cutting-edge design. It’s a cool escape from the summer heat, especially with its vibrant colors and fashionable atmosphere. Guests will find luxurious Italian furniture by Poltrona Frau and Philippe Starck all around the hotel, starting from the lobby all the way to the guest rooms.
Midas Hotel and Casino has a total of 225 spacious guest rooms and suites. After checking in at the front desk, there are several ways to enjoy your stay at the hotel as it comes complete with restaurants, bars, lounges, and a full casino area on the first and second floors. For those who want to do a little shopping, complimentary scheduled shuttle services to Mall of Asia are also available for checked-in guests.
One of my favorite areas at the hotel is the 2702 Lounge with its glamorous wall. I heard that the hotel owner’s wife loves Hermès bags and the design of this hotel wall is a tribute to those orange Hermès colors. That must be why I also love taking photos in front of this gorgeous area! The adobe walls behind the shelves are actually part of the original hotel structure and has been preserved and improved for this new generation of guests.
Meeting me at the 2702 Lounge was Ms. Treena Tecson, Media Relations Consultant for Midas Hotel who will be having a weekend staycation here as well together with her family and kids to celebrate Mother’s Day. The lounge is open 24 hours a day so this is a great place to hangout while waiting for friends and acquaintances.
I headed to my Executive Room on the 9th floor and got ready for another memorable stay. The spacious room has 36 square meters of comfort and contemporary design. A King-sized bed was waiting for me as I unpacked my bags and explored my hideout for the next 24 hours. The bed sheets are just so soft and comfortable, I wanted to take a nap right away!
The well-appointed room comes with an LCD cable television right behind that sliding mirror. A Philippe Starck ghost chair sits by the workstation that comes with complimentary wired and wireless internet access.
The bathroom comes with its own stylish design as guests can even take a soothing bubble bath while enjoying premium toiletries from L’Occitane, a renowned beauty and health care brand from France.
The room also comes with a view of the busy Roxas Boulevard, although most of the newly-constructed buildings have obstructed the view of Manila Bay. The window opens to a small veranda outside where guests can relax al fresco. A welcome platter of fruits and a bottle of wine were also set up to make this an even more enjoyable stay.
Midas Hotel is offering their Momma May Have promo this month of May where families can relive heartwarming moments in their Deluxe Room for P6000 nett or an Executive Room for P7000 nett. A special 30-minute signature massage at Essenses Spa awaits mothers as well as a Mother’s Day cake sampler. In June, it’s dad’s turn as the Pampering Papa promo offers the same affordable rates but with a 15-minute foot massage and a mini liquor bottle of choice for fathers.
We went on to have a fabulous lunch at Yanagi Japanese Restaurant on the hotel’s mezzanine floor (read about it here). Then after a short nap inside my room, it was time to head over to the Sunset Lounge on the 9th floor for cocktails.
The Sunset Lounge is a new outlet of the hotel that is available for all hotel guests and even walk-in guests. It used to be the Executive Lounge exclusively for guests booked at the Executive Room and Suites, but since a lot of guests wanted to enjoy this amenity as well, Midas Hotel decided to open it to the public. Guests can enjoy panoramic views of the city skyline while treating themselves to an extensive menu offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages plus light snacks.
The sofa chairs at the Sunset Lounge are also quite comfy and luxurious. Unlike other club lounges, the Sunset Lounge does not offer complimentary all-day beverages and snacks, but they do offer several dining packages throughout the day. Grab a magazine and order a few drinks from the menu for a lavish time.
From 3:00pm to 6:00pm, Afternoon Tea sessions are available for guests with an exquisite selection of canapés and non-alcoholic beverages for P500 nett per person. Then from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, a scrumptious platter of hors d’oeuvres and sandwiches plus 2 glasses of non-acoholic beverages, beer, or house wine are also available for P500 nett.
The best time to have cocktails at the Sunset Bar is of course, during sunset! I ordered the White Harvest Sangria (P295) just as the sun was setting over the cityscape. Other notable cocktails include the Boulevard Sunset, Poker Fashion, and Piña Colada. Mocktails, fresh fruit juics, tea and coffee are also available. During Fridays and Saturday, you can even catch with live acoustic entertainment and classic guitar performances at the lounge.
If all of this sounds like the perfect staycation, then the hotel’s new membership program might be suited for you. The Midas Royale Club is a new luxury perk that can be availed by fans of Midas Hotel for only P8,000 nett. As a valued Midas Royale Club member, you get access to a wide variety of complimentary perks, including one FREE night in their Deluxe room and another FREE night in their Executive room. This is the only hotel membership I have heard of that gives not just one but TWO free nights! Aside from that, it also includes dining benefits at their award-winning restaurants, discounts on spa treatments and pastry products, points on hotel spends, and more.
After our sunset cocktails on the 9th floor, we went down to Midas Cafe on the second floor for our buffet dinner. It was a Mother’s Day weekend so dining with us was the foodie mom of Mr. Dude For Food, who we lovingly call “Tita Animo.”
It was just a few hours after our authentic Japanese lunch at Yanagi, but the Japanese selection at Midas Cafe also offered some yummy sushi and rolls.
These meats and seafood are all just waiting to be grilled. Get your favorite items and hand them over to the grilling station where the chefs will prepare your beef skewers, chicken, salmon, mussels, and prawns then deliver them straight to your table.
Midas Cafe is featuring its Cafe Fiesta this May where diners can tour around the Philippines with its regional favorites for P1,600 nett per person. The Pork Sisig is one of the highlights here, having originated from Pampanga in the 17th century. Other dishes on the buffet spread were the Braised Beef, Pan Seared Fish with Water Spinach, and Lamb Curry.
Displayed proudly at the carving station is this delicious slab of Roast Beef which you can also ask to be grilled according to your preferred doneness.
There are plenty of dessert options to happily end your buffet at Midas Cafe. Aside from cookies, candies, crepes, halo halo, and ice cream, they also have several cakes varieties to choose from including the Salted Caramel cake.
After a “tiring” day eating and lounging at Midas Hotel and Casino, the best way to send me to sleep is with a soothing massage at Essences Spa. I booked a spa treatment for 10:00pm at their facility on the third floor to relieve the aches and pains on my body.
For health buffs, the fitness center might me your type of relaxation. Located just beside the spa, this area is also open for hotel guests throughout the day.
But the night is always young at Midas Hotel & Casino and there is endless entertainment available at the casino or at the 2702 Lounge which features live musical performances nightly.
The next morning, instead of having buffet breakfast at Midas Cafe downstairs, I just decided to order room service so that I won’t even have to leave my bed. Their All Day Breakfast menu is available from 6:00am until 11:00pm so you don’t have to wake up early. I chose the Filipino Breakfast (P630) with Beef Tapa and garlic rice plus two organic farm fresh eggs, soft rolls and pan de sal with chilled fruit juice and tsokolate tablea. The Longganisa set is another option but they also have Continental (P455) and American Breakfast (P640) sets for those who love bacon.
Staycation are definitely more special when spent with family and friends. Plan your next family staycations at Midas Hotel and Casino and you will surely appreciate its stylish elegance and colorful ambiance. Until next time, Midas!
