The Henry Hotel Manila

Inside the gates, the hotel feels like a calm little oasis, with colonial architecture, vintage touches, greenery, and a tasteful boutique style. It's tucked into a peaceful courtyard and has lots of character. The surrounding neighborhood doesn't quite have the same charm, and you can hear planes taking off from the airport. Service was warm, attentive, and genuine without being intrusive. The staff clearly take pride in making guests feel welcome. It's a small hotel, and our room near reception was very comfortable. If you can, get one with a balcony.

For one night's sleep it was fine, but not especially impressive for the price compared with other places. We arrived at 10:30 PM with my young child and waited just under an hour for the room. The room was nice, if a little small, and the bed was comfortable. My son had a small cut on his lip that left a few spots on his pillow. They charged us 100php for it, which didn't seem fair for such a minor mark. I could understand a charge if it had been heavily soiled. At checkout, reception said we'd eaten two boxes of the in-room biscuits, though we hadn't. They charged us anyway, and only after I challenged it did staff call it “a confusion.”

A lovely colonial-style hideaway in the middle of busy Manila, and a must for anyone who enjoys that kind of architecture. There are also some great galleries and vintage furniture shops in the compound. The service was great, the staff friendly, and the restaurant food delicious. Worth every penny.

We stopped in just for breakfast. It was delicious, and the calm, beautiful setting in the middle of the city made for a lovely start to the day.