Seven Suites Hotel Observatory

We booked one of the wedding prep packages and stayed for two nights. The staff were so accommodating and really helped make the preparations and our stay worthwhile. The hotel is old, but the rooms are still comfortable. There are seven rooms, including two spacious ones suited to wedding prep. The lounge has its own bathroom and can serve as a makeup room for the entourage or a place for other guests to wait.

The price and the actual experience were nowhere near what I expected from the photos and reviews. It didn't feel homey, most staff weren't very friendly and many ignored guests, and even check-in felt awkward. The beds were stiff, the walls were thin, and it was hard to get a good night's rest. The aircon couldn't keep the room below 25 degrees, even after someone tried to fix it. Our cabinet was broken, and the hooks, islands and cabinets in the FRIDAY room were crooked. I was also confused to see someone using the pool that morning when we were told it was under renovation. Breakfast room service came with a charge, but nobody gave us a heads-up. We wouldn't have minded paying, but guests should be told. The stay left us unhappy with what we paid for. It's frustrating that little things like clearer information on the flyers and better attention to room details were overlooked. Just a little effort and follow-through would have made a difference. A horrible staycation experience.

The hotel's main advantage for us was being less than 10 minutes from Mango Farm Antipolo, where our college friend was getting married. We stayed the night before, drawn by the city lights and the rooftop stargazing, and paid 2,393 PHP for the room. I checked in around 7pm after arriving late. The place seemed almost empty, with dim reception lighting. The staff member seemed unsure about our Agoda booking and asked for payment even though I had paid online. He was polite, though, and asked about breakfast and when we wanted it. He didn't ask for ID. He led us to a room overlooking the city lights. There was no elevator, and our room was three flights up, which was difficult since I was pregnant. It isn't suitable for PWDs. The room's interior felt more like a motel than a hotel and could use renovation and paint. The bathroom wasn't pristine, though it had a heater. The bathrobes were old and tattered. We could choose a queen bed or two singles. The AC kept drifting back to 23° even when we set it to 18°. My husband woke up sweaty, and I improvised a fan with a pile of paper. The AC also kept cycling between running and nearly stopping. Our room was called Wednesday, so you might want to avoid it. There was no room phone. To reach the front desk, we had to go downstairs or call their smart number. Viber was another option, but they hadn't been online for a while, so it wasn't convenient. We asked about dinner in the room, but the front desk pointed us to fast-food delivery leaflets. Grilla nearby delivers Filipino food, and I recommend the Pork Sisig. The hotel itself has no food at night. Wi-Fi and TV were available. Breakfast was free, with Filipino options like tocino, tapa and hotdog, or Western choices like bacon, pancakes and eggs. We ordered Western breakfast and tocino; it was okay. We checked in late and asked to stay until 1:30pm, but the staff member didn't really respond to the request. Other hotels we've stayed at, even Okada and Solaire, have allowed late checkout until 2pm instead of noon or 1pm. I wasn't asking them to be lenient, just understanding of our late arrival. Maybe they're trying to save electricity, but I don't think that approach will help bring in more customers. We left at 1pm. The pool was still under renovation during our March 2019 stay. I had seen a review from early 2017 saying the same thing. I might not return. We live in Makati and have stayed in hotels there at a similar price, and I think you could find a better hotel or condo for that amount, perhaps through Airbnb. Still, the location works well for events at Mango Farm Antipolo.

The place itself is nice, and the staff are friendly and serve you well. The rooms are simple and won't wow you. The stargazing offer is unusual, and the food and pastries are the best part.