Stepping into the 38th-floor Sky Bar of Solaire Resort North, the hot and humid Manila air transformed into a refreshing breeze. Escaping the oppressive heat and sipping a "Perfect Lady" cocktail while gazing at the panoramic view of Quezon City felt like paradise.
Manila Quezon City's Only 5-Star Luxury Resort
We visited Solaire Resort North, a 5-star luxury resort in Manila, Philippines, which recently celebrated its first anniversary. Solaire Resort North is the only 5-star hotel located in the heart of Quezon City, Manila. It spans 15,000 square meters, stands 38 stories tall, and boasts a total of 530 rooms. While the Philippines is renowned for world-famous vacation spots like Boracay, Cebu, and Bohol, Solaire Resort North proved to be the optimal choice for a luxurious urban "hocance" (hotel vacation).
Notably, as a "newly built" hotel opened in 2024 and celebrating its first anniversary, both the rooms and facilities maintain a pristine and luxurious ambiance. As explained by a resort representative, it's the only place in Quezon City with a rooftop bar. The "Sky" lounge bar on the 38th floor offers stunning views of Manila's skyline and vibrant city lights at night.
Affordable Luxury in a Brand-New Hotel
Upon arriving at Solaire Resort North and checking in, the pristine bedding, comfortable sofa, and spacious bathroom in our room were particularly impressive. With no tall buildings nearby, the city view from any direction was unobstructed and sweeping. A standard room, used by the reporter, costs approximately 7,650 Philippine Pesos (around 190,000 Korean Won) for accommodation only. A package including breakfast for two can be booked for approximately 9,650 Philippine Pesos (around 240,000 Korean Won). While prices may increase on weekends or during peak seasons, considering the cost of a 5-star hotel stay in Korea, it offers exceptional value for money.
Every evening after turndown service, a small snack box with chocolates is placed on the neatly made bed. All restaurants and facilities provide Korean menus, and if any inconvenience arises, a Korean staff member is readily available to assist in Korean. The availability of Korean language assistance at the front desk at any time was a significant factor in alleviating the discomfort often associated with overseas travel.
The opulence of the "Diamond Room" and "Emerald Room," suite rooms exclusively for VIP guests, was extreme. With the top-tier Diamond Room fully booked, we had the opportunity to tour the next-tier Emerald Room. The Emerald Room featured a main bedroom, a secondary bedroom, a living room, a study, an entertainment room for games and singing, a dining room, and a kitchen. The bathroom was equally impressive, with a bathtub so large it resembled a baby's bath, boasting an immense size and breathtaking views. A one-night stay in the Emerald Room starts from approximately 8.8 million Korean Won.
Pickleball and Infinity Pool: A Day of Endless Fun
Solaire Resort North offers the opportunity to enjoy pickleball, a new leisure sport gaining popularity across Asia. Pickleball combines elements of tennis and badminton, played by hitting a lightweight, fist-sized plastic ball with very little bounce using a racket resembling a large table tennis paddle. While it shares similarities with both tennis and badminton, the ball's lack of bounce and susceptibility to wind can make ball control challenging for beginners. However, it was easy to adapt, and the reserved hour flew by, indicating its enjoyable nature. The pickleball court located within the hotel was an outdoor court next to the 6th-floor fitness center. A constant cool breeze made playing enjoyable even with afternoon temperatures in Quezon City exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
Another highlight of Solaire Resort North, alongside pickleball, is its infinity pool, which even includes a children's water park. Manila's strong sunlight felt just right once we were in the pool. A cool breeze drifted across the infinity pool, and lounging in a cabana, sipping complimentary melon drinks, made for a perfect swimming experience. One end of the infinity pool features a shallow children's pool, and beyond that, a water park suitable for children.
The Pool Cafe, situated next to the infinity pool, offers a delightful experience where guests can enjoy sunset-hued cocktails, vibrant mocktails, delicious burgers, and steaks while overlooking the Manila skyline. Relaxing here and savoring the urban tranquility was the true essence of a luxurious hotel stay.
A Culinary Paradise: A Feast of 13 Restaurants
The highlight of any hotel vacation is undoubtedly the "cuisine." Solaire Resort North truly lives up to its reputation as a "culinary paradise," boasting a total of 13 restaurants within the resort.
The breakfast buffet "Fresh," which can be included in a package, is perfect for indulging. It offers a diverse range of international cuisines for visitors worldwide, as well as a dedicated Korean corner featuring various dishes like kimchi pancake, kimchi fried rice, seaweed soup, and kimchi, catering to Korean tourists. It truly has everything, including traditional Filipino home cooking, Italian, Japanese, live cooking stations, and a bakery. In the evening, it transforms into a "Lobster Buffet," offering unlimited seafood, including lobster.
Upscale restaurants poised for Michelin Guide selection are also scattered throughout Solaire Resort North. The "signature restaurants" include "Red Lantern" for Chinese cuisine, "Yakumi" for Japanese cuisine, and "Finestra" for Italian fine dining. These restaurants are explained to offer authentic local fine dining, sourcing ingredients directly from local suppliers and employing authentic local chefs to deliver the best flavors. For example, Yakumi insists on freshness and quality by air-freighting fresh, high-quality ingredients twice a week from Tokyo's famous Toyosu Fish Market. Finestra, located on the 38th floor of the hotel, boasts exceptional views and showcases an extreme dedication to "local authenticity" by even planting an olive tree from Italy in the center of the restaurant.
Furthermore, "Manyaman," a restaurant developed by Solaire Resort North itself, offered a refreshing charm by introducing the flavors beloved by Filipinos. Here, they served reinterpreted Kapampangan dishes that further stimulated the palate. Kapampangan cuisine is a regional cuisine from Pampanga province on Luzon Island in the Philippines, known for its rich flavors and unique cooking methods.
To celebrate its first anniversary, Solaire Resort North was offering various events. Red Lantern hosted a Chinese opera performance accompanied by "Bian Lian" (face-changing artistry), while Yakumi presented a "Tuna Cutting Show" where a professional chef expertly carved tuna air-freighted directly from Japan, offering a special experience to visitors.
The Thrill of the Game: Lighthearted Casino Memories
Upon entering the main lobby of Solaire Resort North, the most striking feature is the overwhelming 35.5-meter-tall "Mangrove" sculpture, towering to the height of approximately three stories. Mangroves are enormous shrubs that thrive in subtropical wetlands, particularly abundant in the Philippines. Solaire Resort North symbolically represents the nature of the Philippines by installing this mangrove sculpture in its lobby.
Surrounding this mangrove sculpture, a dazzling casino occupies the second and third floors. The casino in the main lobby was freely accessible to both hotel guests and external visitors. A notable feature was the presence of "Kkanbu Chicken," a Korean fried chicken brand, within the food court. Furthermore, Korean staff members were stationed throughout the casino gaming areas, conveniently assisting with game explanations and usage instructions. Even first-time visitors could quickly grasp how to play. The casino is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and a separate casino for VIPs is also available on the upper levels.
Solaire Resort North is more than just an accommodation; it offers an "all-in-one hotel vacation" where a variety of entertainment and dining options can be enjoyed in one place. With its proximity to a shopping mall, an infinity pool, a casino, and a spa, there's hardly any need to venture outside the hotel. If you're looking to experience perfect relaxation and enjoyment simultaneously in the heart of Manila, Solaire Resort North will be the best choice this summer.
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