Where to Stay in Manila | Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle



I used to think Hotel Benilde was simply a high-rise playground building of culinary and HRM students of College of Saint Benilde. I am guilty of downplaying the establishment as merely having the basic necessities needed for elevated education yet still not up to par with industry standards. Oh man, how mistaken I was—when after stepping foot inside its lobby—I quickly noticed how everything is ran professionally, just like other fancy hotels I’ve been to.


A 4-Star Hotel for Business and Leisure Travelers

Apart from realizing Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle isn’t just an expansive workshop venue for students, I was also pleased to learn that it is a 4-star rated hotel. Situated right smack at the busy Taft neighborhood of Malate, Manila--the hotel enjoys a very strategic location. In fact, prior to my checking-in, I just came from exploring some of Manila's museums: the National Gallery, the National Museum of Natural History, Intramuros Museum and the Destilleria Limtuaco Museum. Going to the hotel took only about ten minutes by Grab car.


The check-in process concluded very clockwork with the young receptionist thoroughly explaining to me all the amenities the hotel provided, the time of breakfast and check-out time, before handing me my keycard.

The reception desks stands right in front of the main entrance. It is flanked on both sides by the small lobby and the restaurant Cafe Romancon—known for its delicious medley of fusion cuisines (thanks to the world-class culinary program of College of Saint Benilde)

Modish and Spacious Accommodations

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle offers five different type of rooms: dormitory room, superior twin room, deluxe queen, deluxe king, one bedroom suite and the presidential suite. I was billeted at the 30-square meter Deluxe Queen room—which I find roomy enough even for two people.

The Deluxe Room where I stayed. Behind me is a floor-to-ceiling mirror, the closet and the entrance to the bathroom
Everything I look for in a hotel room are inside: a working station, large LED-screen TV, a mini-ref, a couch for reading a book, a soft queen-sized bed, spacious closet and an airy bathroom (with complete toiletries and vanity kits plus it has the right water pressure and a bidet). The warm colors and the various locations of lighting fixtures gives you many options for achieving warm illumination inside your room—or otherwise, the perfect combination of lights that are not too dark and not too bright.

Dorm rooms for budget travelers can sleep 8 people (with individual working spaces) and measures 61 sq-meters. 
Their other rooms: the Deluxe King also measures 30 square meters while the One-Bedroom Suite spans 61 square meters and the Presidential Suite covers 90 square meters.

Cafe Romancon

Highly rated in all user-submitted ratings in various travel websites, Cafe Romancon has earned a reputation as a place where culinary students of Benilde show off their cooking skills. True to it, just one bite from the salmon dish I ordered, and I already understand all the raves.


Cafe Romancon is located at the ground floor of the hotel where non-guests can also dine in and enjoy the restaurant's international dishes menu.


The hotel's breakfast inclusion is also served at Cafe Romancon. Not to be outdone by other leading hotels in Manila, they serve a more-than-modest array of breakfast choices catering to both Filipino and Foreigner tastes.

Other Amenities (Gym, Rooftop Swimming Pool & Vatel Restaurant)

Since a TV crew from GMA coincided with my stay, I wasn’t able to explore the other amenities of the hotel like the physical fitness gym, the rooftop swimming pool and Vatel Restaurant—which offers a more fine dining vibe, also located at the rooftop. It’s not that the crew caused a disruption but rather each time I would step out of my room, I always would chance upon them interviewing someone. They were there to feature the hotel for a TV show showcasing the best places to stay in Manila. 




Summing up my Stay

On the rare times I feel glad at being proven wrong, this is one of it. I am pleased to discover another fine hotel in Manila that I can recommend to families and friends who are looking for a place to stay in the city—whether for business or for leisure.

Being this sprawling “laboratory” for students of College of Saint Benilde to hone their skills in cooking and hotel management, has also given the establishmenta young and fresh vibe very much welcomeespecially in the hospitality industryas this brings new concepts in elevating guest experiences.

If given another chance to explore and do business again in Manila, I will surely give myself another go at staying at Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle.

Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle
address: Arellano corner Estrada Street, Malate, Manila
Instagram: @hotelBenilde

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