A newly opened chain hotel where style, comfort and value for money converge
Conveniently located in the heart of Quezon City’s entertainment hub, just right beside Smart Araneta Coliseum, Novotel Manila Araneta Center is truly a remarkable place to stay whether you’re up for a solo staycation, romantic getaway, family holiday or business trip.
Novotel is a mid-scale brand of AccorHotels, a French multinational hotel group which operates in various countries across the globe. But after our much-needed staycation, we can dare say with all our hearts, that Novotel Manila Araneta Center is beyond mid-scale – service and amenities wise, it exceeded our expectations!
From the minute we passed through the entrance security, to checking in and finding our way to the different areas of the hotel, up until we left, the hotel staff went to great lengths for us, ensuring that we were well taken care of. We have nothing but high praises for Novotel Manila Araneta Center, and we recommend that you experience it yourself to get what we mean.
Although this is the most basic of all the room types, we still felt like VIPs having the best staycation of our lives. Upon entering our room, we were surprised to find some welcome fruits and cookies, and a letter from the General Manager, Mr. Bernd Schneider. We thought that was kind of sweet!
The entire Superior Room is spacious enough for the both of us. In fact, all room types in all Novotel hotels worldwide can accommodate up to two adults and two kids ages 15 and below – that is their Family & Novotel promise. And when we saw the huge beds with spotless fluffy pillows and comforters, we couldn’t resist but snuggle down in an instant. Ahhh, the comfort was beyond words. We could sleep here forever!
The room is also equipped with all the basic facilities you can find in any hotel room but with ultramodern touches. It has a flat-screen cable TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a minibar with a fridge, and a work desk with various sockets to charge our gadgets with. And, don’t get us started on the bathroom. It has all the high-end amenities including fair trade all-natural toiletries, hairdryer, hot and cold shower, and a separate toilet with bidet. We also couldn’t leave out the fact that the bathroom has glass walls with automated blinds. Upon stepping inside, we felt like we’ve been transported into our own futuristic world!
But the best part? The view from the floor-to-ceiling glass window! Not all rooms have this kind of vantage point though, so we were just so lucky and thankful that we have stayed in this incredible room.
The Deluxe Room is exactly like the Superior Room. It has similar amenities to give you the same level of comfort, but it is located in higher floors for those who want better views. Trust us when we say that upgrading to a Deluxe Room is well worth your money!
As the name suggests, the Executive Room is still pretty much the same with the first two rooms except that the bathroom amenities are upgraded, and it has a complimentary access to the Premier Lounge where guests can have a 360-degree view of the city and enjoy an exclusive, more intimate dining experience. We’d certainly check this room out when we bring our families next time.
The Executive Suite is truly every staycationer’s dream room, at least for us! Entering this extremely chic and well-designed suite made us feel like instant celebrities. Oh, did you know that Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach stayed in the Executive Suite on her homecoming from her win? Not only her, Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan, Miss Universe Myanmar 2015 May Barani Thaw and Miss Universe Malaysia 2015 Vanessa Tevi stayed in this lovely suite, too! With its spacious, well-equipped separate lounge, an exceptionally posh bedroom and a well-appointed bathroom, you could definitely channel your inner Miss Universe here!
Think the Executive Suite is the fanciest of all? Wait until you stay at the Presidential Suite. This exclusive, extremely luxurious room category occupies the entire 25th floor! Can you imagine that? It has two bedrooms with the Master’s bedroom having its own outdoor lounge, a separate living room, a powder room, an outdoor garden and balcony, a dining area and bar, and so much more. Not to mention, the city views from here are unbeatable! It could take us another book to describe the luxury and grandeur written all over this suite. Interested? We advise that you inquire directly with the hotel for prevailing rates.
Novotel Manila Araneta Center has a wide range of dining options for your gustatory needs. We had a hearty buffet breakfast at the Food Exchange Manila, the hotel’s main restaurant located on the ground floor. It was Mother’s Day when we stayed there so we kind of expected a long queue, but it didn’t take too long for us to have a table, thanks to their very alert and attentive restaurant staff. When we settled down, we couldn’t decide which food to pick first! From Filipino favourites like adobo and danggit (fried fish), down to the Asian and Western delights, we were spoilt for choice! Insider tip: Try their homemade corned beef and Canadian bacon – they’re worth getting fat for, we promise! If you’re not a coffee lover, wash down your hearty breakfast with Novotel’s signature pandan iced tea or guava iced tea.
Guests checked in at the Executive Rooms and Suites get exclusive access to the Premier Lounge on the 24th floor. Here, you can enjoy a more intimate, less crowded breakfast or afternoon tea while taking in the beauty of the city skyline. We did not get to dine here as we were checked in at the Superior Room, but we will surely be back for it.
For dinner, we had our fill at the Gourmet Bar by Novotel, found right beside the Food Exchange Manila. It has a fine, relaxing ambience for an exquisite dining experience. They serve delightful international and Filipino dishes, snacks and drinks. We ordered beef rendang and we can say, it was perfect – just the right taste and tenderness for our liking. For drinks, we did not order anything but you can always ask the bar staff for recommendations. There’s plenty of cocktails and signature mixes to choose from. And for desserts, hit up Ice N Cream just right outside Gourmet Bar and treat your tastebuds to lots of ice cream, cakes and pastries. There's a wide selection of homemade ice cream flavours, along with Carmen's Best artisanal ice cream, and you could even customize your own ice cream dessert.
We wanted to cap off our night at the Pool Bar & Lounge adjacent to the pool and garden area but we were already too late for its nightly happenings. Even so, this is really a good place to order some drinks and chill or party the night away with families, friends or business acquaintances. We heard that the DJ booth on top of the pool turns the area into a party place during weekends. We hope to catch this pulsating party scene next time.
After all the food indulgence, time to burn those extra calories! Novotel’s In Balance Fitness is complete with gym equipment and technology such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, dumbbells, exercise balls and a Kinesis machine to work on your cardio, flexibility and strength. The fitness instructor demonstrated how the Kinesis works, and when we tried it ourselves, we had a hard time pulling the strings up. It’s more challenging than it looks!
Exhausted from the day’s activities? Head to the In Balance Spa and soothe your aching muscles. Choose from their different massage services to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. But the highlight here is their stylish modern jacuzzi. It’s so tempting, we secretly wished to strip down and take a relaxing dip. Maybe next time when we have a spa-cation with friends.
We were surprised to find out that such a lovely outdoor area exists in the middle of Quezon City’s hustle and bustle. It is located on the 6th floor, right outside the Fitness and Kids Club. Here, both kids and adults will enjoy swimming with their two separate outdoor pools. It was a bit crowded when we went there, again, because it’s a holiday and a weekend, but on regular days, we’re sure anyone can have their own relaxing quiet time at this side of Novotel.
Like us, if you don’t feel like swimming, there’s always the Versailles Garden as an alternative place to simply relax and take in the city views. Tip: The sunset here is worth waiting for!
Would you believe that kids ages 15 and below can stay with their parents and eat buffet breakfast for FREE? Not only that, Novotel also has various spaces for children to enjoy – kids areas on the ground floor with interactive table play, outdoor playground and Kids Club by Novotel where the ball pit is located. We’ve stayed in many hotels around the Philippines but this is the first time that we’ve heard about such kind of special arrangement for families and kids – only in Novotel!
Novotel Manila Araneta Center maintains its own organic farm in San Mateo, Rizal, so guests get to enjoy fresh, healthy food and produce at the hotel. Even the orchids used to decorate the hotel come from the farm. We really find this admirable! How often do stay in a hotel with such level of health and environmental commitment?
Did you know that Novotel’s eco-designed Live N Dream bed has a dual-technology mattress, and the ultra soft quilt and pillows are 100% conceived with recycled bottle fibers? The smart pillows can even be folded for back support when working in bed and unfolded for sleeping. This is by far the comfiest and the most advanced bed we’ve ever slept on!
Take your meetings up a notch at a Novotel exclusive Eureka meeting room. The stylish cutting-edge furniture can be arranged according to your needs – you can have one meeting or break the furniture into pieces depending on your requirements. This innovative concept allows you to create you own comfortable meeting space, thus boosting creativity and enhancing productivity. This is way too cool, we’d absolutely love to have our future meetings here.
Weddings are usually done either inside an enclosed space or a garden. But why limit yourself to one setting only when you can have the best of everything? At Novotel, there is a garden overlooking the city views with sunrise or sunset to make weddings more magical, and a tent to house your reception. Upon seeing Versailles Event Garden & Tent, we could already imagine our very own wedding being held here.
Novotel Manila Araneta Center is located in Gen. Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta Center, Quezon City, just right beside the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The hotel is approximately 45 minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
To reach the hotel, you can avail of the hotel limousine airport transfer or take a metered taxi outside the airport. For more convenience, you may book an Uber or Grab and just key in Novotel Manila Araneta Center. But if you wish to commute, you may take the MRT and LRT to Araneta Center – Cubao Station. From Araneta Center Station, enter Farmer’s Plaza, walk across Gateway Mall and exit towards Araneta Coliseum. The hotel is just a few steps away from there. LRT Cubao is connected to Gateway Mall, so just enter the mall and follow the same instructions above.
Novotel Manila Araneta Center is in a strategic and convenient location, alongside many entertainment and shopping establishments. The hotel is just literally a stone’s throw away from Smart Araneta Coliseum, one of the country’s biggest arenas where concerts and competitions are held. The KIA Theatre, another events venue, is also nearby.
Shopaholics will rejoice here as shopping malls dot the area. The nearest one is Gateway Mall where boutiques and restaurants are found. Right across it is Shopwise, where you can buy some groceries and chill out at the restaurants and cafes. If you want to buy fresh produce and cheaper goodies, walk towards Farmers Market from Gateway Mall, both establishments are connected via a walkway. Still can’t get enough of shopping? Head to SM Cubao or Ali Mall, these are bigger malls and have more shopping options.
For art lovers, Cubao Expo is a great place to check out. It’s a short 10-15 minute walk from Novotel. Just walk along the Gen. McArthur Avenue until you reach Gen. Romulo Avenue. Then, turn left until you see the Cubao Expo Entrance. Here, you can find galleries and specialty stores selling unique vintage items. We were tempted to take Instagram-worthy shots while exploring the area, but photography is strictly prohibited so consider yourself warned. For added fun, don’t miss the Art In Island, Asia’s largest 3D museum that transports you into a world of fantasy and illusion. It is housed right inside Cubao Expo.