After arriving from
Cotabato, weary from a weeklong festival coverage, I made my way to Park Avenue Boutique Hotel 2443, a heritage bed-and-breakfast tucked along a gated street
in Pasay. Newly-reopened following the completion of a five-room expansion, the
property is a seamless blend of history and thoughtful renovation. Original
elements—narra headboards, kamagong tables, capiz windows—have been refurbished
and carefully integrated, preserving the soul of the ancestral home while
adapting it for modern hospitality.
The current owners
purchased the property a few years ago and transformed it into a passion
project that quickly became a favorite among foreign travelers when it first operated
from 2016 to 2019. Even the original owners were astonished at the
metamorphosis: what had been a dilapidated, near-demolished house now radiates
warmth, character, and a clear respect for its heritage. The renovations honor
the original architecture, yet feel entirely alive, with spaces that invite
lingering and reflection.
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| The room assigned to me |
I spent two nights
there as the only guest, which meant I had the entire house to myself. I
confess a brief flicker of worry about ghosts, given the house’s history, but
the stillness was reassuring rather than unsettling. The peaceful vibe, while
rare in Manila, allowed me to savor the intricate details of the space: the
patterned capiz windows filtering the morning sun, the polished narra and
kamagong surfaces, the faint creak of old wooden floors that somehow felt like
part of the house’s conversation with time.
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| The pretty stairs |
During my stay, I
had the pleasure of speaking with the owner, Marites Ang, who graciously showed
me her family’s connected quarters, where she and her children and husband
reside. Seeing the home from both perspectives, the public guesthouse and the
private family space made me appreciate how seamlessly a house can function as
both living space and intimate retreat for travelers.
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| The front of the property |
I have always been
partial to old houses, particularly heritage homes repurposed as
bed-and-breakfasts. There is a homeliness to them, a tangible sense of
narrative layered over walls and floors. Modern high-rise hotels offer comfort
and luxury, certainly, but they often lack the storytelling that a property
like Park Avenue provides. Every room, every corner here whispers a history
that travelers can inhabit, not just visit.
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| A couple of foreign guests pinned their hometowns on the global map |
One wall features a
world map where past guests pin their hometowns. A glance at the pins reveals
the property’s international appeal: travelers from nearly every corner of the
globe have stayed here, leaving a small trace of their journeys behind. I am also
delighted in the framed black-and-white photographs of old Manila, which lend a
subtle museum-like quality to the house, anchoring its contemporary function in
a city’s past.
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| Old photographs of Manila are displayed on the hallway |
The juxtaposition
of historical images with functional, inviting rooms creates a layered
experience that is at once educational, comforting, and inspiring.
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| Facade of the hotel in a quiet part of Pasay |
Mornings at Park
Avenue are a particular delight. I looked forward to breakfast on the
second-floor balcony, where the service is simple but thoughtful, the food
satisfying, and the coffee—richly brewed—perfect for lingering over the day’s
plans. To sit there, in the light of early morning, overlooking the
neighborhood while sipping coffee, felt like a rare pause, a chance to absorb
the atmosphere of a home that had been loved, renovated, and opened to
travelers with care.
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| The cozy bed |
Park Avenue Guesthouse 2443 is more than a place to rest; it is a study in how architecture, history, and hospitality can intersect to tell a story. In a city where new developments relentlessly reshape the skyline, it offers an immersive experience, a connection to Manila’s past that still feels lived-in and warm.
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| Got some work done in the second floor terrace |
For a travel writer—or anyone who values narrative as much as comfort—it is
precisely this ability to inhabit history without pretense that makes a stay
here unforgettable.
