Eastwood Richmonde Hotel

Best for a long weekend stay in the heart of Eastwood City with all its specialty restaurants, brand-name shopping, and leisure facilities

BY BRIDGET DALTON

First impressions

EXTREMELY WARM GREETING from the doorman and behind the desk concierge. The lobby is spacious with an impressive raindrop crystal chandelier at the center. Hotel staff were all accommodating and not only gave us a run down of the amenities but a guided walkthrough of what the hotel had to offer — from its rooftop pool, to the extensively equipped gym, we were shown how the hotel is perfect for leisure and business travellers alike. The bright and vibrant color scheme of the lobby gave the place a welcoming vibe, with hints of purple, gold, and lime giving that sense of comfort and luxury.

The hotel’s contemporary design is a result of its recent renovation — its first since it opened in 2010. This, together with its prime location within the modern mixed-use community of Eastwood City, add to the hotel’s appeal to the new breed of travelers.

Room. The color palette of the lobby can be seen in the renovated guest rooms as well, with the blend of walnut wood, cushioned headboards, soft printed carpets, and gold chrome accents, giving you an extra homey feel. As you enter and walk down the corridor and enter the one-bedroom suite, you are led to an open plan living room space, perfect for families to hang out, eat and watch TV. There is also a built in desk with a lamp and chair, ideal for those travelling on business and require a comfortable working space. The en-suite bathroom was exceptionally spotless with its shower cubicle, complete with hot and cold water. A unique feature of the bathroom I found was a curtain, which when drawn up overlooks the bedroom. This I found accentuated the size of the bathroom giving it more of an open plan vibe. The bedroom was exceptionally lit and airy with windows going from one wall to another with beautiful surrounding views of Eastwood.

Food. There is a huge selection of food to choose from on the pages of the a la cart menu of Eastwood Café+Bar, the main restaurant of Eastwood Richmonde Hotel — from their all-day brunch, which sees the likes of some classic Filipino breakfast favorites, to their broad specialty starters, entrées, and pub grub items. Their dishes are flavoursome, beautifully presented and a perfect balance of Filipino cuisine and other classic dishes locals will know and love.

Must-trys on the menu include the Cashew Kare Kare, a modern take on the classic Filipino stew with peanut sauce, with US short ribs and cashew and shrimp bisque; the sous vide pulpo with chimichurri sauce; and their in-house

Richmonde salad. Make sure to end with their Chocolate Pavlova!

What’s on the doorstep. The hotel is adjacent to the trendy Eastwood Mall, with direct access at the second floor. The mall is home to brand-name shops, a cinema, amusement centre, restaurants, and a supermarket. The Eastwood Citywalk has a bowling alley, more cinemas, shops and restaurants and is also connected to Eastwood Mall.

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, 17 Orchard Road Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City 1110 Philippines. Visit www.eastwoodrichmondehotel.com.ph