For some, big hotel chains just don’t cut it anymore. If you’re the kind of traveler or leisure seeker who has grown tired of properties with massive lobbies, endless hallways, and flawlessly-designed yet conventional rooms, staying in a boutique hotel is probably the perfect thing to try on your next trip or staycation. Something eclectic and hip, with a noticeably different personality, but still delivers the level of service you would expect from that four- or five-star hotel you used to go to all the time. One such establishment is Hotel Celeste, a Europe-inspired boutique hotel right at the heart of Makati City.
I have stayed at this incredibly charming hotel last year and have been bewitched ever since. It spells chicness, luxury, and uniqueness, and places emphasis on accommodating guests with an atmosphere that indulges all the senses through its construction, interiors, color schemes, lighting, scent, and art. From the façade that instantly transports you from a busy city to a stately home that feels like thousand miles away, to the little details like fabrics and carvings, Hotel Celeste guarantees a stay unmatched by no other.
Each of its 25 guestrooms and 5 suites has its distinct design—from the headboards, pillows, and bed runners down to the lamps, curtains, mirrors, chairs, and wallpapers (excuse me, I meant hand-painted walls). Even the en suite bathrooms are different from each other. But while we stayed in a Deluxe Room previously, this time we got to try one of the amazing Suites—coupled with the hotel’s Overnight Urbanscape Package.
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Read also: In Love at First Sight with Hotel Celeste
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Our Marie Antoinette Suite (48 sqm., CHECK RATES HERE) was a truly astonishing choice—a perfect spot for a lazy weekend staycation. The first thing that stuck to mind was “Moulin Rouge”; the color palette—maroon, gold, red, white, black, olive green—was incredible, it was amazing how these hues blend seamlessly together. Normally a red room would agitate me and fail to put me to sleep, but our suite’s design did otherwise. The harmonious combination of colors resulted in a cozy, classy, and majestic space that was as comfortable as it was pretty.
The door leads to the dining area which can accommodate four persons on luxurious high-backed chairs. Look at those details! I don’t know how anyone couldn’t feel like royalty with furniture like these!
A Pullman-style kitchen is nearby, equipped with cupboards, a sink, a microwave, a water pot, and a full-size refrigerator. Water, coffee, and tea are all complimentary—as is the mini-bar if you’re getting the Urbanscape Package (PhP6,300 nett). There’s a good selection of local and imported snacks, sodas, bottled juices, beers, wines, and liquors in miniature bottles, although the last two items mentioned come with additional charges. Dinnerware is available upon request.
The closet has enough space for two to three people staying overnight. Heavy, fluffy David Brandon robes and bedroom slippers are provided. An electronic safe, a flashlight, shoe-cleaning tools, laundry bags, and extra pillows are also available.
The adjoining living area features a luxurious sofa with velvet upholstery, partnered with throw pillows with sophisticated Victorian patterns. A leather club chair offers an alternative seating option, a perfect spot while reading magazines, sipping coffee, or enjoying your in-room foot and leg massage. The tufted heart-shaped ottoman serves as a foot rest and doubles as an extra seat. I love how the floor-to-ceiling windows fill the room with so much light.
Catch up on your favorite show from the 32-inch LCD cable TV, or request for some DVDs from the front desk (free of charge). Normally, I would want to go out and drink somewhere, but with a room like this, it was hard not to savor each precious second. We then requested for a couple of movies and enjoyed the night tucked inside our lavish haven for one night. Here’s a suggestion: order a pizza (I recommend the Quattro Formaggi and the Al Salumi) from Lucia Ristorante downstairs and be a total bum!
If you’re picky with beds, worry not; Hotel Celeste uses the finest beds and linen. The mattress itself is of just the right softness—as is the plush duvet that perfectly warms you even when the air-conditioning is turned up. Pillows of varying sizes and softness are available, and with so many of them—and the opulent headboard—it really makes you feel like a king or queen turning in your royal crib!
Tables flank the bed, equipped with a phone, an iPod dock, power outlets, and intricate lamps, whose designs seem to extend all the way to the wall and up to the ceiling. Another chair sits by the foot of the bed. Nearby is the work area with an executive desk, a high-backed chair, and a mirror bordered by two elaborately-decorated lamps. I can’t find just one word to describe this area: sensuous? dazzling? grandiose? One thing’s for sure: whichever word you pick from these is appropriate.
And look at that entry way! I loved the carving that makes the bed, when viewed from the living area, look even more beautiful. Plus the heavy curtains which you can actually pull down in case you want more solitude.
The bedchamber further leads to the en suite bathroom, which is as expansive as any bathroom could be—I could literally do some chachacha inside. There’s a vanity area on the right, fitted with a sink, huge mirrors, and a hair dryer, along with the piles and rolls of face and hand towels and premium L’Occitane toiletries.
A freestanding tub is directly in front of the doorway—an oval-shaped marble tub with a handheld shower. The wall design provides a stunning backdrop. Of course, I spent a substantial amount of time here while everyone else was fast asleep—catching up on my social media notifications with the hotel’s ultra-fast Wi-Fi connection.
The rain shower is in a separate area, enclosed in glass. The water pressure is just right and it doesn’t take too long (nor too fast) for water to switch from cold to hot, and vice versa. To its left is the toilet, equipped with a bidet and an extension of the telephone.
As part of the Urbanscape Package, we were treated to an in-room foot and leg massage—which we enjoyed very much. Since I don’t dance as often as I used to anymore, I get to enjoy more frequent massages now. The therapist was very skilled, loosening up tight and painful parts of our feet. If you wish to have a full-body massage, take advantage of this package because it includes a 40% discount for that treatment!
To maximize your staycation, why not order some delicious Italian food and enjoy them in the privacy of your suite as well? We enjoyed it so much that we didn’t want to go down for breakfast and lunch!
The Urbanscape Package comes with a Deluxe accommodation, but you can add only PhP1,800 per night to upgrade it to a Suite. At the bottom of this post are the promo details for your reference. For me, upgrading to a Suite is a must if you’re into experiential travel—after all, it’s not every day that you get to stay in a room as extraordinary as this. Not to mention the amazing inclusions! But just like in my previous stay, what really left a mark was the exquisite service lavished upon us by the staff of Hotel Celeste. Warm, polite, and helpful, each uniformed person I met—from the door man and the front desk officer to the masseuse and the restaurant staff who took our food to our room—made sure I was having everything I needed for a comfortable stay. Indeed, I can say that at this hotel, you are well taken care of—something not even some of the more expensive hotels can give you.
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Hotel Celeste
#2 San Lorenzo Drive cor. Arnaiz Ave., San Lorenzo Village, Makati City
(02)887.8080
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What do you think of this suite at Hotel Celeste? Would you like to experience being king/queen for a day?
My stay was sponsored by Hotel Celeste. All opinions, however, are my own.
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