Book The Peninsula Manila with VIP Benefits

Napoleon Abueva's Sunburst sculpture is set against a sky-colored, silver-leaf dome by Paola Dindo. Below it, two grand staircases lead toward the guestroom towers. Large tapestries made using Portuguese Arraiolos needlework depict Philippine landscapes, including Mayon Volcano and the Sierra Madre mountains. These are substantial works within the public space, giving the lofty room detail to look at beyond its scale. The Lobby serves meals through the day, with afternoon tea from 2:30pm to 5pm. Live piano and Sunday jazz accompany its social life, and the menu includes halo-halo alongside continental dishes. A table here places you among hotel guests and Manila residents meeting for coffee, tea or a meal.

Deluxe Rooms measure 41 square meters, with a king bed or twin beds and large windows facing the city. Blue and gray tones give the furnishings a softer character than the busy streets below. A desk and seating area share the bedroom, while the marble bathroom has a bathtub and a separate shower. Bedside panels operate the lighting and temperature, and coffee and tea facilities are in the room.

The 88-square-meter Premier Suite adds a separate living room and dining area, with wide windows overlooking Ayala Triangle Gardens. A foyer and guest powder room sit apart from the main bathroom. The king bedroom has its own work desk, while a walk-in closet and vanity area provide a place to unpack. Marble surrounds the bathtub and separate shower. The suite's living room has long sofas and daybeds, with enough seating to receive visitors without using the bedroom as the meeting space.

An Executive Suite measures 93 square meters and has a living area with a daybed, sofas and a dining table for four. A walk-in closet and vanity lead to the marble bathroom. King or twin beds are available, and the suite accommodates two adults and two children. A connecting room can be requested, with any extra bed arranged separately. Families can also request a cot through housekeeping.

In-room dining runs around the clock, with international food and Filipino specialties. Breakfast has its own menu from 6am to 11am, followed by an all-day selection. A children's menu is also available. Mediterranean dishes can be ordered from 11am to 11pm. Food from Spices is served in rooms from 11am to 2pm and again from 6pm to 10pm.

Old Manila is the hotel's French fine-dining restaurant. Art Deco details and large photographs give the dining room a distinct visual identity, with wine forming part of the evening. Escolta serves an international buffet with live cooking stations, regional specialties and Filipino classics. Its bright dining room is on the ground floor of the Makati Tower. Breakfast runs daily from 6:30am to 10:30am, while Sunday brunch takes place from noon to 3pm. Lunch and dinner buffets fill out its weekly schedule. The Bar is another address for drinks within the hotel.

Spices looks toward the swimming pool and tropical gardens through broad windows. Its Balinese-inspired interior sets the scene for a menu that ranges across Indian and Southeast Asian cooking. Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian and Vietnamese dishes are among the traditions represented. The garden-facing room gives this meal a different setting from the Art Deco interior of Old Manila or the high-ceilinged Lobby.

Salon de Ning draws on 1930s Shanghai, with a resident band, cocktails and themed private rooms. On the ground floor of the Makati Tower, its Art Deco setting is theatrical, with music giving the evening its pace. It operates on selected evenings rather than every night, so check the entertainment schedule before planning a visit around it. The private rooms provide a more secluded setting for a group, and private events can also be arranged here.

The 22-meter outdoor swimming pool sits on the ground floor of the Makati Tower, surrounded by palms and tropical planting. It opens from 6am to 10pm, leaving room for morning laps as well as an evening swim. The Pool Snack Bar serves drinks and light dishes beside the water. This is one of the hotel's open-air spaces, with a sun deck and garden setting framed by the surrounding city buildings.

The fitness center has Life Fitness cardio machines, including treadmills, cross-trainers and exercise bikes. Free weights and resistance machines round out the equipment. Yoga and stretching sessions are part of the program, subject to availability. There are lockers and shower rooms, as well as separate spaces for massage appointments. A sauna and steam room complete this part of the hotel.

The Peninsula Spa's menu includes Filipino hilot, Swedish massage and Japanese shiatsu, along with foot massages and Algotherm facials. Treatments take place in the fitness-center rooms and, for selected services, in guest rooms. The spa opens from 7am to 10pm, with in-room service continuing until midnight. Arrive fifteen minutes before an appointment to allow time for a shower or use of the sauna or steam room.

The hotel's If These Walls Could Speak tour explores Intramuros with a private guide, beginning at Fort Santiago and following the story of national hero Jose Rizal. It runs for two to three hours and is limited to one to five participants aged eighteen or older. Reservations are requested at least a week ahead and remain subject to availability. This is a specific historical outing into old Manila, separate from the shopping and business streets immediately around the hotel.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the arrival gateway, with an onward road journey to Makati that varies with traffic. The concierge can arrange airport cars and other transport. For a more distinctive local outing, the hotel's customized jeepney is based on a 1955 Willys Jeep, finished with tan leather seating and air-conditioning for four passengers. It is arranged in advance. Around the hotel, Greenbelt and Glorietta provide nearby shopping and dining.