Location
Grand Westside Hotel is located in Westside City, a sprawling township being developed by its parent company, Alliance Global Group, into a premier leisure, entertainment, and business hub within Paranaque’s Entertainment City integrated resorts.
The hotel is just minutes away from key areas in the metro, offering a convenient escape from Manila’s notorious traffic. It is about eight minutes to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) via the NAIA Expressway; 15 minutes from the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange transfer point for provincial and in-city transport; and about half an hour to BGC and Buendia in Makati.
It is also a short distance to nearby convention centres, tourist attractions, malls, shops, and other hotels within the Manila Bay Area.
Accommodation
The upscale hotel will feature 1,530 keys, with 350 already opened in June. Construction of the 19-story, two-tower hotel is complete, with only finishing touches and room furnishings remaining. All in all, each floor will have 61 keys.
We were assigned a 39m² junior twin suite for a two-night staycation. Designed with accessibility in mind for persons with disabilities (PWDs), the room offers both comfort and convenience. The room exudes a sense of harmony, thanks to the thoughtful use of earth tones, furnishings, and the open layout. Instead of wall-to-wall carpeting, the room features an area rug—something guests with allergies will definitely appreciate.
The beds and sofa are several inches lower than usual, adding to the room’s accessibility. A small pull-out table and a height-adjustable swivel chair complete the work area. One thoughtful touch is that the room has two waste bins – one for biodegradable items and another for non-biodegradable waste.
A sliding door leads to the spacious bathroom, designed for easy wheelchair manoeuvrability. The toilet seat and wash basin are set at the required height for PWDs, and the shower area features a pull-down seat. Handrails are installed throughout, and the flooring is non-skid for added safety.
F&B
The hotel’s Cafe by Westside sits 300 pax and serves up a wide selection of international dishes. We satisfied our cravings for pad thai (Thai stir-fry noodles) by enjoying it for two consecutive dinners. The chocolate cake, generously dusted with gold, was just heavenly.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have the chance to experience Zabana Bar beside the lobby, Plunge Bar by the pool, or Quick To Go. However, the elevated dining destination, La Meza, is set to launch in November. With seating for 52, it also offers a private dining area for up to 15 guests.
Facilities
The hotel offers four venues for business events—Baltic, Arctic, Mediterranean, and Levantine—accommodating up to 250 guests. For more intimate gatherings, there are outdoor spaces like the Patio and @Gazebo.
On the open deck, the gym is located alongside a lap pool and kiddie pool. Other amenities include a jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms, and a Zen Garden.
Although the hotel does not have a standalone spa, guests can enjoy an in-room massage featuring the signature Filipino hilot technique, followed by a brew of sampaguita flowers, mango, and tarragon tea.
Service
The service was attentive and welcoming, from the moment we stepped through the doors to requesting room amenities and dining in.
General manager Joe Fijardo graciously offered us his car to explore Entertainment City, upon learning of our plans. However, the moonlit night made walking too tempting to resist. We ended up strolling for several hours to and from the hotel, passing construction sites, dark alleys, and the klieg lights of integrated resorts, with Google Maps as our only guide. We returned to the hotel after 23.00, safe and sound.
We also experienced the sampaguita brand of service through all five senses. The hotel’s blend of classic and modern aesthetics, inspired by the flow of water, was visually pleasing. Subtle touches of Filipiniana—such as the soothing blend of original Filipino and instrumental music in the public areas, the delicate scent of sampaguita (Philippines’ national flower), and the thoughtful use of local materials in the artwork and décor—added to the sensory experience.
Verdict
There’s a lot to love about Grand Westside Hotel, and its sampaguita brand of service captures it all.
Contact details
E-mail: stay@grandwestsidemanila.com
