Conrad Manila review: Kinda secluded (but the breakfast buffet makes it worth the trek)

There’s good news and bad news when it comes to staying at the Conrad Hotel in Manila:

Good news: it’s a very luxurious / stunning property with a really great staff and a killer breakfast buffet (killer in a good way lol).
Bad news: it’s pretty freakin’ far from the hustle and bustle of Manila. There’s not much to see (and do) within walking distance.

A full review of my one night stay at the Conrad Hotel in Manila

This was my first visit to the Philippines. I felt like I wanted to do it right. Decades of travel experience has taught me that choosing to stay at a Conrad technically qualifies as “doing it right,” so that’s how this visit came to be. I might need to tweak that line of thinking going forward…

Location

You’ll find the Conrad (eventually) very far outside of the city center of Manila. It’s actually located on the far eastern edge of town, right on the shores of Manila Bay in Entertainment City (just a stones throw away from the legendary Solaire Manila).

Exterior of the Conrad hotel in manila — Ahoy there! Welcome to the very boat-ish Conrad Manila.

Scott standing in front of the Conrad Manila hotel — *“Yup, this is by far the most aerodynamic hotel I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen some swoopy ones!”*

Note: This is not the hotel for you if you hope to walk around and explore the city of Manila on foot. Although the Mall of Asia and SXM Convention Center are located right next door, there’s not much else.

It’s about a 15 minute taxi ride from the Manila International Airport (MNL) BTW. Expect to pay the equivalent of $5(US) both directions.

Driveway leading into the Conrad Manila hotel

Main entrance of the Conrad hotel in manila

The lobby (and checking in)

Despite being located so far away from the city center, this is a very popular (and busy) hotel. There was a bit of a wait to check in, but they got me situated and on my way within 10 minutes.

Conrad Manila hotel reception desk — How awesome would it be if the guy working the reception desk this morning is named Conrad?

Lobby of the Conrad hotel in manila — It wouldn’t be as awesome as the view of the bay from the lobby, that’s for sure. I’ll take a view like this over a conveniently named hotel staff member any day of the week.

Conrad Manila hotel lobby design — All of this natural light is nice! If anyone reading this is in need of a stable job, I reckon being a window washer here at the Conrad Manila would be a pretty sweet gig.

Getting to my room

It was during the walk to my room when I started feeling conflicted about my decision to stay at the Conrad. On one hand, the location was slightly disappointing. On the other hand, it was a stunningly beautiful property. Quiet too!

Conrad manila hotel elevators — And then…the windows just stopped. Oh well. The elevator just arrived anyway.

Conrad Manila hotel elevator — *“Beam me up ~~Scotty~~ Conrad!”*

Conrad manila hotel guest room hallway — The fact that I can’t see the end of this hallway amuses (and confuses) me.

Scott walking to his room at the Conrad Manila hotel — *“How much funny math was involved to fit such a long and straight hallway into such a swoopy hotel?”*

Conrad Manila hotel room 4070 — Although room 4070 is mine for the night, it lived rent-free in my head for a few days afterwards as I pondered the hallway thing.

Room overview

I paid $320(US) for what they call a “Deluxe” room with a view of the Bay. Long story short, it was absolutely worth it. This room reminded me a lot of the room that I had at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore not too long ago. It had it all: warm tones, natural wood finishes, and a really nice scent.

Walking into my room for the very first time at the Conrad Manila Hotel — Popping open the door to my room for the very first time, and…did you see the size of that hallway? How were they able to make it so straight and boxy?

Storage shelf in the entryway to my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — A shelf in the entryway as conveniently placed as a front desk check-in guy named Conrad would’ve been.

Conrad Manila Hotel standard room layout — When the couch looks just as comfy as the bed. I like having options!

King size bed in my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — Who am I kidding? I’m going to sleep the *sh*t* out of that bed.

Stuffed animal on my bed at the Conrad Manila Hotel — Don’t let that innocent looking smile fool you. He didn’t give up the bed without a fight. *“I was here first cholo!”*

Conrad Manila Hotel standard room design — I finally got him to shut up when I asked him to explain to me how such a boxy room fits into such a curvy hotel. He couldn’t do it.

Couch in my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — That couch that I mentioned earlier? It looks even better (and even more squishy) up close.

Flat screen television in my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — Itty-Bitty ~~Titty~~ TV Committee here in full effect at the Conrad Manila. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a TV this small in a hotel room.

Pillows on my bed at the Conrad Manila Hotel — The little bastard still hasn’t moved. *“What kind of a loser takes pictures of hotel room pillows for a living?!”*

Complementary bottled water in my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — He may be a bit of an a**hole, but he’s not wrong. How did I end up here?

Conrad Manila Hotel desk and chair in my room

The desk in my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — This looks like a fantastic place to complain to your boss about how much you would’ve loved to get some work done, but you couldn’t because the desk was too small.

Cabinet containing mini bar and drinks in my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — Wanna know what’s not small (other than the ego of the antagonistic cow on the bed)? The refreshments cabinet!

Ice bucket, complementary water and glass

Wide angle overview of my entire room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — *“Loooooser!”* He better watch it, because I’m going to overnight his a** to the Comfort Inn in Deming New Mexico if he doesn’t shut the heck up.

The view

I’ll be honest. Even with a view of Manila Bay, there wasn’t much to see. The Bay itself is huge (so big that you can’t see the other side). Still, it was fun to watch all the little motor boats trolling past with fishing nets in tow.

View of the Bay from my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — That’s a pretty nice view, don’t you think? I couldn’t quite figure out what it was that they’re building on that little man-made island over there, but they looked serious.

SM MOA Eye ferris wheel as seen from my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — I spy with my little eye the SM MOA Eye. I’m gonna have to give it a whirl next time I think.

The bathroom

Perhaps my only criticism of the bathroom is the fact that it was completely closed off from the rest of the room. It would’ve been nice if there was a sliding door that let some natural light in, but no biggie. It was large. And clean (which is the most important thing).

Bathroom in my room at the Conrad Manila Hotel — Not a bad looking bathroom! I could feel myself getting cleaner just by looking at it.

Bathroom selfie at the Conrad Manila Hotel — *“Hey guys, look how clean I am!”*

Conrad Manila Hotel bathroom shower — if for whatever reason the *“just look at it and you’ll get clean”* thing doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. The shower is just as effective as it is huge (and nice).

Conrad Manila Hotel bathroom toilet — The toilet (in its own separate room). Not a bad looking place to puke your guts out after one too many times on the SM MOA Eye I’d imagine.

Breakfast buffet

All I’m going to say is that the breakfast buffet (located in the Brassire On 3 restaurant adjacent to the lobby) was the best I’ve ever experienced any hotel anywhere in the world. Even better than the one that I had at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport! It’s absolutely worth paying extra for.

Entrance to the lobby restaurant (Brasserie on 3) at the Conrad Manila Hotel — You know you’re in for a good time when you can smell fluffy waffles even before walking through the main entrance.

Conrad Manila Hotel breakfast buffet — Basically, if you can’t find anything interesting to eat in here, you’re the most boring (and picky) person on the planet.

Conrad Manila Hotel breakfast buffet dim sum

Conrad Manila Hotel breakfast buffet meats and cheeses

My breakfast at the Conrad Manila Hotel — My breakfast. Conrad (wherever he is) would surely approve of my selections.

Scott enjoying the breakfast buffet at the Conrad Manila Hotel — **Plot twist:** Maybe *I’m* Conrad (just like the whole Fight Club / Tyler Durden thing)? Whoa…

Pros and cons of staying at the Conrad Manila

I can think of two really good reasons to stay at this hotel:

You need to stay close to the Convention Center
You’re looking for a resort style “getaway” experience that hardly involves leaving the hotel at all

Choosing to stay here on your first visit in the Philippines (as I did) might be disappointing due to how secluded it is. I recommend staying closer to the city center instead if you plan to do touristy stuff.

Pros

Luxury up the yin yang.
The best breakfast buffet I’ve ever had in any hotel anywhere.
The benefit of being secluded? Peace and quiet!

Cons

Going anywhere will almost always require paying for a ride.
It’s kinda fancy, so you might feel out of place if you’re a flip-flops and T-shirt kinda person.
Reserving a room for a decent price might be impossible if there’s a convention in town.

Conrad Manila review: Kinda secluded (but the breakfast buffet makes it worth the trek)