Growing up, I’ve always loved the hustle and bustle of Binondo, walking through its streets lined with vendors, family-owned stores and restaurants. I also loved how icons of the past such as horse-drawn carriages and the picturesque Binondo Church seem to peacefully co-exist with the modernity of tall buildings, malls and cars. I haven’t been there for the longest time ergo one weekend, I decided to head on over and to spend the night there to reacquaint myself with the place. Where’d I stay, you ask? When in Manila, specifically in Binondo, I stayed at Binondo‘s newest and first four-star international-standard hotel, Ramada Manila Central.
The Ramada Manila Central boasts of 114 well-appointed rooms as well as first-rate amenities: the Premiere Lounge, a kid’s play area, fitness center, and high-speed Internet access in rooms and all public areas. Delicious dining and banquet spaces are also available for celebrations and gatherings – News Café, the Luna Roof Deck and Multipurpose Hall, the quietly elegant Lobby Lounge, and the Plaza de la Barca Events Hall.
After parking in the hotel’s underground parking, I was accompanied by one of the bell boys to the well-lit, simple yet aesthetically pleasing lobby where I checked into my room with ease. Now, in the Chinese culture, the number “8” is considered a lucky number, so you can only imagine my delight when I was told that I’d be upgraded from the Deluxe to the Executive room on the 8th floor.
I love this safety feature! Outsiders are welcome to dine in the hotel’s restaurant, however, to ensure the safety of Ramada Manila Central‘s patrons, only guests with hotel key cards may access the guest floors. All one has to do is tap their hotel key card on the sign where it says to and then press their floor number!
Upon entering my room, I was pleased to see that my room was incredibly spacious but most of all, I LOVED THE VIEW!!!
View of Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, also known as Binondo Church.
The Executive room entails an electronic door-lock system, an in-room electronic safe for your valuables, high speed Internet connection, and a 32” cable Plasma TV with eleven (11) Chinese channels meant to cater to both international and local guests. It also has a spacious bathroom that has quality toiletries, an overhead shower and a luxury tub. A couple of things that amused me about the bathroom was (1) it had a bidet and (2) it had a window with blinds that allowed you to look into your bedroom.
Incredibly dorky pose in the bathroom, haha.
After settling in, I took to the streets and was ecstatic to discover that the hotel was within reasonable distance of shopping havens Lucky Chinatown Mall, 168 Mall, or Divisoria Mall, where quality goods can be had at quite a bargain. There were also an array of treats available if one were to get hungry, although I did make a mental note to eat at a childhood favorite of mine that was right beside the hotel, Tasty Dumplings. With that being said, I realized I was getting hungry so I made my way back to the hotel’s News Cafe for dinner. The staff was so accommodating and friendly!
I was served a number of dishes, but the scene stealer was definitely the Twice Cooked Filipino Beef Ribs Adobo (P180), a beef dish served over rice in a clay pot. Every bite into this was heaven.
After dinner, I decided to check my email and relax in my room’s tub before calling it a day.
Beautiful view when I woke up…
For breakfast, I again made my way to the News Cafe where I had several dishes to choose from via their buffet.
Before checking out, I heard mass at neighboring Binondo Church…
Check out was a breeze as the staff once again proved themselves to be friendly, quick and efficient. Although I suggest that the hotel add more items to their restaurant menu and add to the services available to stay-in guests, overall, my stay at the Ramada was comfortable and pleasant, thus making it a place I’d highly recommend to family and friends who wish to stay in Binondo.
Due to an event being held in the hotel, I wasn’t able to access the function rooms and etc, however, if you wish to see more photos of the hotel’s amenities, feel free to check out their website: https://www.ramadamanilacentral.com/. Ramada Manila Central is managed by Hospitality International, Inc., a vibrant Filipino management company that is considered one of the foremost specialists in the operations of world-class lodging facilities, with over a dozen expertly-managed properties in its roster.
Ramada Manila Central
Address: Ongpin cor. Quintin Paredes Sts., 1006 Manila
Contact Number: 5886688/ 3544151
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RamadaManilaCentral
Website: https://www.ramadamanilacentral.com/
Ramada Manila Central: Your Home Away From Home In Binondo
