Elegant Birthday Staycation at the Raffles Presidential Suite
The first time I stayed at Raffles Makati was during my birthday in December 2014. It was that first visit to a Raffles property (Read: Raffles Makati - Unmatched Elegance & Sophistication) which opened my eyes to the level of elegance and sophistication attached to this brand, so much so that I have personally ranked Raffles Makati as the best hotel in the country. While I have made several other birthday and Christmas vacations at this prestigious hotel, my birthday staycation last December turned out to be the most memorable yet, because I was billeted at the most glamorous room in the property, the Raffles Presidential Suite.
For over 130 years, the Raffles name has been synonymous with luxury, glamour and extraordinary adventure from the first time it showcased the classic colonial splendour of Raffles Singapore in 1887. Raffles Makati’s Junior Suites are already so magical, but I never thought I would have the privilege of staying inside their lavish Presidential Suite. I had booked my usual birthday staycation at this “six-star” hotel last December and I was so surprised when the front desk informed me that I had been upgraded to their Presidential Suite. Being a loyal guest of Raffles Makati does have its perks.
Raffles Makati occupies the same property with its sister hotel, Fairmont Makati, but it only offers 32 elegant suites, making each guest a VIP in their own right. Aside from the 23 Junior Suites, there are also 8 Executive Suites and only one Raffles Presidential Suite. With 150 square meters of refined taste, the Raffles Presidential Suite is truly an experience to behold.
Just like in any of the other suites at Raffles Makati, all guests have their own Raffles Butler to take care of all their needs and requests. You can ask them to help you pack or unpack your luggage, make restaurant reservations, or help you with any task that they can manage.
Raffles Makati is my home away from home. A stay in any of their suites comes with a wealth of privileges such as daily breakfast for two at Mireio or Spectrum Cafe, free high speed internet and local calls, and complimentary all-day refreshments, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails at Writers Bar.
It’s not every day that you can stay at the Raffles Presidential Suite, so I made sure to explore and enjoy all the different areas inside this gorgeous room. This spacious and elegantly-appointed suite comes with a separate living and dining area, both designed with hardwood flooring and accented by hand-tufted oriental carpets matched with rich silk velvet pillows.
I always look forward to the birthday cake Raffles prepares for me during my stays, and this time is no different as I found this big decadent chocolate cake waiting for me on the dining table. A welcome platter of fruits accompanied it as well so my birthday is really off to a fantastic start.
The Presidential Suite actually comes with its own kitchen and a separate entrance door for special in-suite events or food orders. Aside from the huge fridge and microwave, there is a coffee machine with an entire box of complimentary Malongo capsules from France, one of the most prestigious coffee brands in the world. Coffee addicts will love indulging in endless cups of this premium coffee.
The suite also comes with a minibar for those sudden cravings, although these items are not complimentary. It really feels like an entire residence all in one suite, but the most important area is still waiting in the other room.
The bright and spacious Master’s Bedroom of the Raffles Presidential Suite is even bigger than most other hotel rooms. A big and comfortable king-sized bed stands in the center surrounded by windows with elegant views of Makati city. I just love lying inside the bed’s plush comforters with its rich 100% cotton linens.
The room is so big that is has its own stand-alone workdesk, leather recliner seats and a sofa. With a suite this beautiful, I don’t think I want to do any work here at all and just enjoy every single minute of comfort and relaxation.
The bedroom also has its own separate dressing area with walk-in cabinets and an en-suite bathroom. Each Raffles Suite features a spacious marble spa bathroom with a deep soaking tub and separate shower stall with a rain shower head. I’m planning to have a warm bubble bath later this evening so I’ll just ask my butler to prepare the bath for me later.
Every corner of the Presidential Suite is just so pretty, with colorful artwork and decors adorning the rooms. This is the best place to take photos for those special occasions, or just to add to your social media portfolio. I couldn’t resist doing so myself.
I didn’t want to to leave my room, but there are so many privileges that guests have while staying at Raffles Makati. Complimentary all-day non-alcolohic refreshments are available at the Writers Bar which come with a set of pica-pica snacks. Guests can have this any time of the day.
A complimentary Classic Afternoon Tea is also available from 2:30pm to 5:30pm. Raffles Makati usually has different themed afternoon tea sets throughout the year and one of my favorites was the Tiffany & Co. inspired Afternoon Tea. This time, since it was the Christmas season, Writers Bar offered a festive Christmas set with cute snowman cupcakes.
Raffles Makati guests have access to not just one but two large outdoor swimming pools. Aside from the Fairmont swimming pool located on the 4th floor, guests can also use the more exclusive Raffles swimming pool on the 8th floor. This pool is available only for Raffles Makati and Raffles Residences so guests from Fairmont Makati are not allowed to use this.
They also have a poolside bar offering a selection of fresh juices and cocktails. I took a quick and refreshing dip late in the afternoon and I had the pool all to myself. The Fitness Center and Willow Stream Spa, which is my favorite spa in the city, is also available for Raffles guests. You can definitely enjoy your privacy and exclusivity at Raffles Makati.
When I got back to the room after dinner, I found this bottle of wine waiting for me as part of Raffles’ turndown service. Guests can also avail of the complimentary Evening Cocktails from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Writers Bar where they can order Raffles’ signature drinks like the Singapore Sling and other enticing concoctions.
I went inside the bathroom and saw that my butler had already prepared my evening bath for me, just like I asked him to do. I really feel like royalty whenever I stay in Raffles Makati and everything is done perfectly. Time for my bubble bath!
The next morning, guests staying at Raffles Makati can have buffet breakfast at Spectrum Cafe on the ground floor, or they can choose to have a more private and exclusive breakfast at Mirèio, the elegant French brasserie-style restaurant of Raffles Makati on the 9th floor.
The breakfast at Mireio is a semi-buffet setup where diners can get items from the continental buffet and choose one a la carte dish from their Breakfast Favorites which will be cooked upon order.
Among the items you can get are a variety of French breads, croissants, danish, muffins, doughnuts, oats, grains, and salads. A cheese plate is also on hand offering bree, goat cheese, and other variants.
They also feature a nice selection of hams including farmers ham, chorizo, salami, and air dried beef. Smoked tuna and smoked mackerel are also part of the buffet, as well as fruits, honey, and spreads.
For my a la carte dish, I ordered the Pan-seared Salmon with miso and nori which is served with rice and two sunny side up eggs. Other choices include beef tapa, crepes, pancakes, eggs benedict and french toast, among others.
Each of my stays at Raffles Makati has been an unforgettable experience, but nothing can be more memorable than my birthday staycation at the Raffles Presidential Suite. It was an early Christmas present for me as well, and I am looking forward to sharing more lovely adventures at my favorite luxury hotel in the Philippines.
