Pets are Welcome at This Fancy Staycation Place in the Heart of Salcedo Village in Makati

Don’t be surprised if there’s a welcome card just for your pooch when you check in at Somerset Central Salcedo Makati (SCSM) with your pet. A special message from a hotel to their guests isn’t uncommon, but how many would go out of their way to go through your social media account, look for photo of your pet, and then print it out so it’s the first thing you see when you enter your room? 

A special welcome message and gift for your pooch

Photo by PJ Cana.

There aren’t a whole lot of pet-friendly hotels in the city, and many of those that do welcome our furry friends often make you feel like bringing them with you is a colossal hassle. But this fairly new hotel/serviced residence in the heart of Makati City—it opened in late 2021—is wearing its pet-friendly badge with pride and going the extra mile to make sure guests’ stay is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

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It starts with hotel staff, who are all trained to greet both guest and pet with sincere smiles (behind their masks) whenever possible. SCSM has five room configurations—studio, studio premiere, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom suites. The 32-storey property is still undergoing finishing touches though so only the first three room types are currently available.

The one-bedroom apartment is about 55 square meters and has a washing machine, a kitchen with a refrigerator and stove top, a four-seat dining table, a carpeted living area, and, of course, a bedroom. Each room is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected so you can be sure it’s safe for you and your pet. 

The living and dining rooms of a one-bedroom unit at Somerset Central Salcedo Makati

Photo by Ascott Group.

A relaxing weekend in the heart of the city

You can pretty much choose to stay in your room if it’s that kind of weekend staycation—watch TV or connect to the internet to catch your favorite Netflix shows on the bed, or finally finish reading that novel on the couch. But the hotel itself has a few amenities if you ever feel like stepping out.

The swimming pool is at the seventh floor, as is a play area for kids and kids-at-heart. There’s also a gym if you just have to sweat it out and a laundry area where you can wash your clothes for a small fee (in case your room doesn’t have its own washing machine).  

The swimming pool is at the seventh floor

Photo by Ascott Group.

At the ground floor just beside the lobby is Nonya Restaurant, which serves Singaporean and Malay cuisine. Order regional favorites like Hainanese Chicken Rice, Nasi Lemak, and Chili Crab, and Laksa, but if you have a hankering for local cuisine, there’s also things like Sinigang na Hipon, Classic Beef Bulalo, and Pork Belly Pinakbet. 

Of course, since you’re right at the heart of Salcedo Village, one of the most charming and vibrant neighborhoods in Makati, you can always step out and go exploring. On Saturday morning, the famous Salcedo Market is a two-minute walk away. For breakfast, you can sample interesting food offerings and fresh finds from dozens of vendors and stalls. Eat them there or choose to take them with you to eat back in your room.

A lunchtime favorite is Ikomai, which is another two-minute walk away from SCSM. Serving Japanese “street and comfort food,” the restaurant has a great selection of poke bowls, gyoza, sashimi, Japanese tacos, and kushikatsu or deep-fried skewers. It also serves ramen, filling mains (like steak), and full lunch sets. Ikomai is also known for its cookies, particularly the salted caramel, which can be a satisfying end to your meal.

Your pet is just as welcome as you at Somerset Central Salcedo Makati

Photo by PJ Cana.

Weekend coffee

After lunch, you can choose to spend a nice Saturday afternoon at Habitual Coffee, which is just beside Velasquez Park along LP Leviste Street. It’s a tiny third wave café with friendly baristas that will make suggestions if you’re not sure what to get. It can get full even on a slow weekend, so consider yourself lucky if you get a table. Bring a book or your laptop if you’re looking to finish some work or if you want to get cracking on that creative writing project.

Both Ikomai and Habitual are pet-friendly so, no, you don’t have to leave your pet when you step out of your room. 

For dinner, Wholesome Table serves guilt-free but tasty offerings, from soups and salads to Chicken Inasal and Chicken and Pork Adobo to Sinigang na Salmon sa Miso. It’s along HV Dela Costa and is less than 10-minute walk from the hotel.

The lobby of the Somerset Central Salcedo Makati

Photo by Ascott Group.

But if you just want to chill, you can also just order a pizza and pick-up some ice cream and just enjoy your room.

Somerset Central Salcedo Makati is the kind of hotel you can choose to stay at when you’re looking to spend a comfortable weekend “away” with your pet without leaving the city. Perhaps the only thing bad about staying there is checking out and leaving it at the end of the weekend.