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Pork Barbecue Spareribs |
D I N I N G
I N M A N I L A
With all the influence of the old Philippines
and the presence of modern Manila ,
Ermita is a pulsating district that’s worth a visit at least once a month if
you happen to live in the region. For those on tourist mode from abroad, the
location is perfect for leisure a deux, a rendezvous with friends or a solo
travel destination over rare books. Most of all,
no one leaves the district hungry as there is a restaurant per block.
Serving The
Discriminating Appetite
Fortunately, the owner of City Garden Suites understands the evolving appetite of locals and visitors of the area enough to
design the hotel’s F&B outlet called Café Miranda to endure during peak
season or off-peak, rain or shine. The gustatory desires of Manila is in a tasteful perspective as a
result.
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Function Room |
A Venue With A Strong
Presence
Café Miranda’s menu is a good mix of season-inspired local
and international cuisines. It offers sumptuous meals and refreshing drinks
whether for solo hotel guests or those in the company of family or friends. The
restaurant is highly visible along the busy Mabini Street at the ground floor of the
hotel, so walk-in guests can also dine in for lunch or make reservations for
dinner.
Buffet Breakfast
During my stay at the City Garden Suites’ Penthouse, I had
the chance to enjoy a room rate-inclusive buffet breakfast at the F&B
outlet. Served daily from 6:00am to 10:00am, the dining experience is a must
for morning people like me.
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The Black Hole |
There was a decent number of dishes on display but it was
the restaurant’s saucy and slightly sweet Chicken Adobo that got me returning from the buffet selection. Another
delicious dish was the Filipino meatloaf Embutido
which was fried after necessary steaming. I also appreciated that there were
different flavors of jam to go with butter on my bread.
Hotel guests who happen to book sans the inclusion of the
buffet breakfast rate for whatever reason can still enjoy a morning meal
experience at Café Miranda on a separate charge by simply stepping in at the
restaurant from the lobby and order from the menu.
Sumptuous Dinner of
Spareribs
The night before, I spent my dinner at Café Miranda to
determine how it looked like after daytime. I remember it to appear stunning
with ambient lighting as darkness engulfed the streets outside. I did not
expect opulence to be palpable at the restaurant of the three-star hotel but
there it was, from the majestic peacock-inspired steel sculpture to the
inventive pattern created by the wooden divider.
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My buffet breakfast plate |
My delicious dinner of Pork Barbecue Spareribs was
remarkable in taste. The fall-off-the-bone meat was a good palate massage for
me that night. It went down well with a refreshing glass of Raspberry-flavored
Iced Tea.
The Lobby Bar
For those who want to unwind over interesting drinks, the
Lobby Bar is just a step away from the dining area of Café Miranda. It has a
wide selection of wine and champagne, plus mixed drinks and cocktails.
The Black Hole Music
Lounge
I had the chance to take a peek of the next-door Black Hole
Music Lounge which is a prime hotel facility of City Garden Suites along with
the restaurant. It looked spacious and has a dedicated full-service bar, a
grand piano, and a stage for bands.
City Garden Suites and Cafe Miranda are also close in proximity to essential tourist-friendly destinations that one can visit on foot at the Ermita district. Such spots include the newly-opened Museum of A History of Ideas (open to the public for free starting December 1, 2014; call 904-0122 for more info), Solidaridad Bookshop for rare book finds, and numerous antique shops.
I happened to visit all three destinations while I was checked in at the City Garden Suites.
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Museum of A History of Ideas |
I happened to visit all three destinations while I was checked in at the City Garden Suites.
When you happen to be in Ermita and need to fill your
nagging craving, get a seat at Café Miranda and enjoy the dining experience of
a hotel-restaurant with a friendly staff.
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The Penthouse |
Photography by Michael
Gacer and Karl Ace
Café Miranda of City Garden
Suites-Manila
Address: 1158 A. Mabini St. ,
Ermita, Manila , Philippines
Phone: (+63) 2
536-1451 or (+63) 2 526-0954 to 55
Domestic Toll Free:
1-800-1888-6789
More Photos Below:
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A side trip to Solidaridad Bookshop after my breakfast at Cafe Miranda |
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A kalesa in modern-day Ermita |
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Dining solo at Cafe Miranda for dinner |
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