Let’s start at the top. Coconut Grove Bar and the hotel’s swimming pool are the building’s twin rooftop features; here, you have one of the best sunset views of Manila Bay and Roxas Boulevard. With a martini in hand, one can well imagine the hotel in its golden age — once the cultural and social force of its time — and how it has adapted to modernity without losing its charm or glamour. The hotel is now the first Philippine property of the MGallery Collection and, according to General Manager Matthieu Busschaërt, the first top hotel to reopen in the country after covid. 

The Doña Presidential Suite, where I had an impressive dinner with some curated Burgundian red and white wines (Santenay!), is an ideal spot to host. Book the suite, hell, book the entire wing and let the chef and butler pamper you.

Like the Intramuros, the old-world, walled area just down the road, the Admiral (we’re on first names basis now) also abounds with Filipino-Spanish architectural influences. As you head down, each floor is uniquely designed to showcase local culture, while each boutique room is updated with a Bose Soundbar and Nespresso coffee machine.

In the El Atrio Lounge, innovative stretch fabrics depict the Filipinos’ religious and community life.

All this is the bee’s knees, but in my reckoning, we haven’t even gotten to the best part of the trip, which is why I’m here in Manila. To kick off World Cocktail Month, I’m here to check out the hotel’s stylish Ruby Wong’s Godown speakeasy — through a secret fake bookcase and to the basement. (We started at the top, but we’re definitely going to end on a high.)

The vibe is unabashedly 1930s Shanghai, with dragon motifs, lanterns, umbrellas and secret dens.

In MGallery hotel bars, creativity expresses itself everywhere. Mixology is an ideal way to summon the essence of a place through sight, smell and taste. So it is no surprise that one of its brand pillars is ‘Mixology’. According to Diane-Laure Dudoué, Regional Marketing Director (Asia) of the group, “Creativity is part of MGallery's DNA and values, and mixology is one way of expressing this — combining it with local know-how and products. Each of our hotels has a bar, and it's a promise that sets us apart while bringing consistency through the collection.”

Industry stalwart John Silva helms the bar and is responsible for its sensorial cocktail delights.

Award-winning mixo John Silva (champion of the Rémy Martin Cocktail Competition 2023) is at the forefront of bars in Manila embracing local produce and spirits. Archipelago’s gins (and the must-try Lava Rock Vodka), Don Papa’s rums and Dionysus’ fruit mixes and syrups feature prominently here. The sustainability footpath is obvious, and it makes sense to forge a bar identity predicated on freshness, fun products and fine spirits.

Well, well, well, what do we have here?

Mezcal Negroni.

This is a mule’s kick of a cocktail bracing and delicately balanced.  

World Cocktail Month: Sydney — Opera Symphony. 

A fine example of a cocktail with local ingredients and spirit the bar is known for — clever use of garnish to pay tribute to the Sydney Opera House. Crisp, refreshing and easy as an aria.

World Cocktail Month: Thai — Sunfire. 

It’s a sweet cocktail with just a sprinkle of spice to keep you guessing. To paraphrase Robert Frost, “Nothing gold can stay…in the glass for long.”

Once you emerge, you’ll find yourself in the heart of a strategic location, surrounded by numerous sights. A romantic stroll along the bay at sunset is a must. The aforementioned Intramuros is just a skip away and can be best enjoyed with a ride in this beautifully restored 1950s Buick. 

All in all, there are enough F&B options in this luxury boutique hotel that you may not leave, not least when the sun sets on the rooftop and you head down to the speakeasy for Chinese and cocktails — highly recommended if you’re ever in Manila. 

Each boutique hotel in the MGallery collection tells a unique story, inviting guests to immerse themselves in tales of adventure, romance, history, culture, nature and more for the length of a memorable stay.

Book the Admiral Hotel Manila now.

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