Which Hotel Restaurants Are Open?

Many restaurants and food outlets have begun to reopen as restrictions are slowly relaxed. It’s never going to be the same, but, with proper safety precautions, we can achieve some semblance of normalcy when we choose to go out and dine at our favorite places pre-pandemic. 

Some of the city’s top hotels, in particular, are pulling out all the stops to make sure a visit in one of their dining establishments is not only safe, but as memorable as it was before the onset of the health crisis.

Consider these restaurants in the city’s top hotels when you absolutely have to go out for a proper meal.

1| City of Dreams

Photo by City of Dreams.

The signature restaurants of City of Dreams have reopened at 50 percent capacity, as have all three of its hotels (Nobu Hotel, Hyatt Regency Manila, and Nüwa Manila). But the must-visit arguably has to be the property’s best. Nobu Manila reopened last month only for dinner, Wednesdays to Sundays starting at 5 p.m.

If you’re ever visited the restaurant that bears the name of world-renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, you can expect to taste its bestselling items—Black Cod Miso, New Style Sashimi, Rock Shrimp Tempura, Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, and Beef Tobanyaki.

But with its reopening, at least five new dishes are ready to fly out of the Nobu kitchen and onto your table—Nobu Sushi and Sashimi made of the freshest local and sustainably sourced seafood, Nobu Sisig, Nori Tacos, Nobu Tofu Burger, and Nobu Green Tea Leche Flan with Home-made Mochi Pearls, Azuki Beans and Goma tuile.

Nobu's Ocean's 12

Photo by City of Dreams.

Apart from supporting City of Dreams Manila’s commitment to sustainability and support to local SMEs, diners will have the pleasure of choosing from mouthwatering sushi that includes big-eye tuna, lapu-lapu, aori squid, shrimp, and belt fish.

Nobu is open until 10 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Meanwhile, the other signature restaurants of City of Dreams that have also reopened are Crystal Dragon, Red Ginger, Jing Ting, and Wave, which are all operating at 50 percent capacity. 

Nori Tacos

Photo by City of Dreams.

City of Dreams’ stringent hygiene protocols include alcohols and hand sanitizers by the restaurants’ entrances, menus accessible through QR codes, and mandatory face masks and face shields for all guests and property colleagues throughout the complex.

2| Marriott Hotel Manila

Marriott Café, one of the city’s best buffet restaurants, is introducing a “redefined fining experience.” ServSafe-certified servers will take guests on a quick tour and familiarize them with the hotel’s safety protocols. Dishes across the various stations are now behind clear sneeze guards.

Marriott Cafe's carving station includes Midwest ribeye steak, pork steak, and sausages

Photo by Marriott Hotel Manila.

The all-you-can-eat experience is taken up a notch when it’s combined with a la carte dining concept; from cooking stations to platters, guests can simply choose what they like—from crispy pork belly and ribeye steak, finest seafood selections from mud crab to tiger prawns, cheese and charcuterie to cuisine from all around the world—and servers will prepare it for them on the spot.

Diners can also choose dishes through a QR-code enabled menu. Chefs can prepare it as soon as it’s ordered and it will be served directly to their table. 

There are also private dining rooms for small group gatherings. 

Chicken Peri-peri with Garlic Tomato Coulis, Beef and Wild Mushrooms Pot Pie, Baked Zucchini Medallions with Parmesan Crumbs, Almond Crusted Salmon on Lemon Truffle Sauce, and Slow Cooked Pork Belly on Ricotta Polenta with Balsamic Thyme Jus.

Photo by Marriott Hotel Manila.

Marriott Café is open for lunch from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Monday to Saturday) and dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Sunday) at P1,700, and Sunday Lunch 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for P1,988. Prior reservation is encouraged but walk-ins will be allowed. Regular a la carte is also available.

Apart from Marriott Café, the hotel’s Cantonese-themed restaurant Man Ho, and award-winning Cru Steakhouse, Still Bar and Greatroom are all already open.

Man Ho is open daily to serve authentic Cantonese dishes

Photo by Marriott Hotel Manila.

Marriott’s health and safety protocols include careful and frequent disinfection and sanitation, sneeze guards, social distancing practices, QR-code enabled menu, and contactless payment via Paymaya and GCash. 

3| Makati Shangri-La

Three dining outlets in Makati Shangri-La are currently open—Circles Event Café, Shang Palace and Lobby Lounge. The others, meanwhile, will open for a limited period just for the holiday season.

Circles Event Café has an all-you-can-eat food selection on December 24, 25, and 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021 for lunch (12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and dinner (6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.). there’s also special Noche Buena buffet on December 24 from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Price starts at P1,500++ per person.  

Photo by Makati Shangri-La.

Shang Palace, meanwhile, is open and has a Premium Dim Sum Plus offer available on December 24, 25, and 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021 for lunch (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m) at P1,888 per person. 

The Makati Shangri-La’s iconic Lobby Lounge currently offers Christmas Afternoon Tea until December to 27, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at P1,200 per person. It’s also open for Christmas Eve Dinner buffet (7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.), Noche Buena buffet (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), and Christmas Day Lunch buffet (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). Price starts at P1,500 per person. 

Assorted holiday pastries by Sinfully Circles

Photo by Makati Shangri-La.

Finally, the hotel’s signature Japanese restaurant, Inagiku, is opening for a special Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet (6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m), Christmas Day Lunch buffet (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), and New Year’s Eve Dinner buffet, which starts at P2,900 per person. 

4| Sofitel Philippine Plaza

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila reopened Spiral in October, and, as in previous years, it’s sure to be a favorite destination this holiday season. To ensure the safety of guests, the hotel has launched the ALL SAFE Cleanliness and Prevention Label, a signature set of global cleanliness and prevention criteria developed with and vetted by Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspections, and certification.

Spiral is open for the holiday season

Photo by Sofitel Manila.

In addition to Spiral’s reopening, the hotel is also offering a new food concept: Spiral At Home, which is a specially curated menu of the restaurant’s signature dishes from across its 21 dining ateliers. It’s basically a collection of all-time favorites at Spiral that guests can take home and enjoy during the holiday season.

Spiral at home comes in two sets: Classic Christmas Dinner (P18,000) includes a five to seven kilogram whole roasted turkey or 3.5 kilogram US prime rib with sides like sausage and herb bread stuffing, potato gratin, and French beans with pickled mustard seeds to name a few.

Ilustrado Christmas dinner

Photo by Sofitel Manila.

Ilustrado Christmas Dinner (P22,000), meanwhile, includes a cochinillo (suckling pig) and paella valenciana with patatas bravas, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, and pan con tomate as sides. Add two bottles of champagne for P5,000 to make the holidays more festive.

Finally, Sofitel’s Sunest Bar makes a limited return engagement with a poolside food truck festival just for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Guests can enjoy al fresco dining featuring international cuisines for P4,299 nett inclusive of free-flowing champagne, wine, beer, juices, and soda.