ZEN Rooms Marvelle Studios BGC

The roof deck was my favorite part, with a great view of the BGC and Makati skyline. It’s an affordable place to stay if you’re visiting BGC, about a 10 mins walk away, and the staff are friendly. The room has a refrigerator, microwave, water heater, and hot shower, plus fast wifi. There’s no TV. And as a bonus, there are lots of cute cats! I’d recommend it if you’re on a budget.

The way they handled our six-month rental was really disappointing. We’d seen the rooms, submitted our IDs, agreed to rent, and were told the contract was being prepared. At 3pm the next day, they even asked when we’d come to pay the deposit. My roommate arrived at 3:45 PM, just 45 minutes after the agreed time, and was told the room had already gone to someone else. They said we didn’t have a reservation, even though we’d confirmed we wanted to rent and were ready to pay the deposit and advance. Nobody had explained that a separate reservation fee was required even for a day, with an agreement that it wouldn’t be deducted from the total. The staff didn’t apologize. They just said, “Nakuha na,” and insisted that without payment there was no reservation. Why collect our names and IDs in the first place? This was unprofessional, with poor communication and no accountability. I wouldn’t recommend them.

Save yourself the trouble and don’t book here. The service is terrible, and the staff and admin seem to care only about your money. It’s loud and chaotic around here, with people yelling late into the night. You can find better places for the same price. Don’t waste your money.

During Manila’s drought, water restrictions meant the staff brought me buckets of hot water so I could bathe. That kind of warmth and service at Zen Rooms Marvelle Studios was better than what I’ve had at some five-star hotels. They also readily brought extra towels, cutlery, a kettle, and plates when I asked. The room was comfortable for the very low price, and I was fully satisfied with what I paid for. Some earlier reviews criticized the service, but that wasn’t my experience. My roommate also said the staff were warm, friendly, and personable. I’ll definitely come back. Thanks to the wonderful team for making my stay so good.