Riviera Mansion Hotel

The location is central and makes it easy to get around, though it's right in the middle of the red zone, if that's what you're after. The area isn't dangerous, but I wouldn't travel there with anyone under 18. The hotel itself was decent, clean, and well managed, with staff who were beyond good. The bed was comfortable and there was plenty of hot water.

We had a family stay in Ermita, Manila for New Year's Eve '25, and it left us with mixed feelings. The kids loved the bubble bath kit and bathtub, which turned the bathroom into a little spa adventure, and the water heater worked perfectly on the chilly nights. The rooms were clean and modern, a nice surprise given the hotel's old exterior. The Wi-Fi didn't work in our room, so sharing our happy moments online was difficult. The lobby music was rap and R&B, which felt out of place. Soft jazz or something soothing would have made for a more relaxing atmosphere. The hotel has its quirks, but it gave us sweet memories as we welcomed the new year together.

I've been here about half a dozen times, and each stay has gone well. The hotel has kept its friendly staff over the last two and a half years and seems to have made progress since my first visit. There was a period of significant renovation and the inconveniences that came with it, but my latest room had been refurbished: the stained rug and dated bathroom from 2022 are gone. The bathroom was new, clean, and fitted with modern fixtures. Management is a little stingy with bathroom accessories now, though there's enough. The room safe, which wasn't there on my previous visit, has thankfully returned. BBC was on the TV, along with other multilingual programs, which was nice. If you're after Ermita or Malate nightlife, the location is hard to beat, right in the middle of the action with food, shopping, and other “attractions” close by. For cultural spots, including my favorite, the National Museum of Fine Arts, Intramuros is just north and a quick taxi ride away. I wouldn't really recommend this part of Manila for families, for reasons you can easily Google. Still, this property remains a great bargain and I'll certainly come back.

The room could use a bit of freshening up, and the tub/shower is a little narrow for a westerner. But the shower had great HOT water. The staff were great, and the restaurant food was tasty and affordable. The place is AWESOME, and there's a casino literally steps from the hotel that I hadn't known about. I wish it were a little less expensive, but I'd definitely recommend it and will be back soon.