You wake up from a restful sleep and reach over to your bedside table for a tablet. A push of a button draws open the curtains, bathing your room with morning sunlight. Breakfast at Medley Buffet calls you and your empty stomach. As you make your way down the elevator, you take stock of what you have planned for the rest of your day: a dip in the pool, a walk around the shops, a blissful massage at a Forbes 5-star rated spa, and, to cap off the evening, fine dining over wood-fired pizzas and a glass of award-winning wine.
All this is just a taste of what one can experience when staying at a Forbes 5-star luxury resort that is Okada Manila.
Recently, I had the privilege of enjoying a 3-day 2-night staycation at Okada Manila, and I have to admit—with no exaggeration in my heart—that it has been one of the most luxurious and relaxing experiences I’ve ever had in Metro Manila. If you ever find yourself booking a stay at this resort sometime soon, here’s how to make the most out of the time you’ll spend there!
The Executive Suite
For any hotel stay, it’s the room that sets the tone. I was given an Executive Suite at the Pearl Wing, which spans about 200 square meters and features a dining and living area, a bar, a massage room, a walk-in closet, a powder room, and an expansive en suite bathroom with a hot tub and a rain shower.
Our king-sized bed was exceptionally cozy that it was tough to emerge from the cotton sheets I’ve cocooned myself in every morning. The DigiValet tablet, stationed next to the bed, made controlling everything in the room so easy without ever leaving my spot—from adjusting the room temperature and switching the lights on and off, to contacting hotel services and connecting to YouTube on the flat screen television.
It truly felt like home away from home. If it were up to me, I would have loved to just relax in our suite for an entire day, just lounging in the hot tub, playing boardgames at the living room, or watching movies on TV. But there were just so many things left to see and do in the property that I couldn’t miss out on.
The Retreat Spa
When at Okada Manila, it would be a crime to skip a treatment at The Retreat Spa, which has earned a prestigious 5-star rating by the Forbes Travel Guide every year since 2023.
Having indulged in quite a few spa sessions there over the recent years, I can confidently say that what you pay for is truly what you get: top-tier service, world-class facilities, and an unparalleled sense of calm and wellness.
Here’s a pro-tip for when you’re visiting The Retreat Spa for the first time: arrive at least an hour or two before your scheduled treatment to make the most out of the facilities and relaxation zones that are available for you to enjoy. Inside the locker room, separated by sex, is a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and showers. Outside, there’s an outdoor pool you can swim in or sunbathe at. If you’re in no mood to try the aqua therapy facilities, you can also just unwind at the holding area and enjoy free snacks and refreshment, or meditate at the Wave Dream chamber—the first in Southeast Asia.
The main event, of course, is the spa treatment. Whether you opted for a revitalizing massage or one designed to melt your stress away, you know you’re in great hands with their internationally-trained therapists. During my stay, I was treated to Okada’s version of hilot (a Filipino traditional healing massage) called “Indayog ng Duyan” to help get rid of my muscle tension or lamig. If you’re with a partner, though, I highly recommend you book the Couple’s Connect ritual, which fosters physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy through a body scrub, back massage, and facial.
The treatment suites are particularly worth mentioning for their serene ambience of relaxing soundscapes and aromatic essential oils, becoming a private sanctuary for you to receive pure, holistic wellness.
Aside from the spa itself, there is also a barbershop, beauty salon, and nail art studio for those who don’t only want to feel good but look good too. And if, by any chance, you’d want to get a workout done before a well-deserved pamper sesh, there is a dedicated fitness center with many top-of-the-line strength and cardio equipment.
Medley Buffet Breakfast
Buffet breakfast is included in your Okada Manila stay, and it’s definitely worth waking up early for. At Medley Buffet, the selections seem limitless to cater to every possible food craving. There are local and international fare, the latter of which includes Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Chinese; there’s a build-your-own salad bar, different soup stations, plenty of bread selections, and even a roving taho server. Medley Buffet may be a favorite for diners to visit for lunch and dinner, but the breakfast fare is just as impressive.
Signature Dining at Okada
One of the many highlights of Okada is its diverse dining experiences. I have tried most of the signature premium restaurants in the resort, and there are two I highly recommend that will complete your Okada stay.
Kappou Yoshi, located at the Restaurant Promenade along Pearl Wing, offers a contemporary and elevated interpretation of Kyoto’s gastronomic food fare under its Chef de Cuisine Yoshihiro Sugiyama. I opted for the newly released 7-course Chef’s Signature Menu, consisting of appetizers, soup, premium sashimi, agedashi tofu, charcoal-grilled Miyazaki A5 Wagyu, three desserts, and the absolutely delicious Truffle Rice.
Other must-tries from the à la carte menu are the Wagyu Sukini, thinly sliced wagyu that you cook yourself sukiyaki-style; Red Lobster with Uni, a delicious, fresh, and creamy sea urchin that sits on top of a red lobster shell; Japanese Unagi Kabayaki, Japanese eel over a bed of white rice; and, of course, the assorted sashimi. (Do not skip the fatty tuna!)
For Italian food fare, La Piazza is the place to be. Located at the Crystal Pavilion, La Piazza serves exquisite antipasti, pastas, steak, seafood, and brick-fired pizzas in a posh dining room with crystal chandeliers, plush seating, and an amazing view of the evening fountain show.
Here are some of my personal favorites from the menu: Carpaccio di Manzo (Mulwara Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio), Risotto alla Pescatora (seafood risotto), Carrè di Agnello (New Zealand Lamb Rack), Costata (Ribeye Steak), and Tiramisu.
La Piazza is well-known for its expansive collection of premium and award-winning wines, but you don’t have to worry about getting overwhelmed with the choices—their sommelier is there to help guide you to the best possible wine experience you can have.
There are other dining options too at Okada Manila that are easier on the pocket. Kiapo is one such restaurant serving Filipino comfort food in a more casual setting. There are rice bowls and viands great for sharing, making it a good option for solo diners and big families.
A blissful getaway within Metro Manila
It is amazing just how much Okada Manila offers to its guests in terms of entertainment, gastronomy, and wellness without them ever leaving the property that calling it simply a “staycation” feels like an understatement. What it is, is a blissful getaway within Metro Manila, and even after spending three days there, I’m already counting the minutes until I find myself back there again.
(ALSO READ: Indulge in Delicious Korean Cuisine at Goryeo in Okada Manila)
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