Power Breakfast at Restaurant 5

Our stay at the Serendipity Suites comes with a free buffet breakfast for two at Restaurant 5. We woke up early to have some power breakfast to start our day.

It has a variety of breakfast items to choose from - fresh fruits, yogurt, breads, soup, cereals and a lot more.

There is a pancake and omelet station where you could ask them to make your pancakes and omelets while you choose the toppings.

I chose blueberries and cream pancakes while hubby chose to have strawberries and peaches.

There are also pizzas, bacon, corndogs and hash browns. For those who likes Filipino breakfast, they also have fried rice, tocino and eggs.

My favorite cold cuts and cheese.

They have unlimited coffee and hot chocolate as well, plus fruit juices, too!

Discovering Serendipity Suites

 The most family-friendly hotel for me is none other than Discovery Suites. Not only because of its spacious suites, but the staff gives you a warm welcome as if they are your staff at home. Now, another reason to love the Discovery Suites is their newly-renovated Serendipity Suites.

Located at the sixth to eighth floors of the hotel, the Serendipity Suites offer one, two and three bedroom suites that are spacious and homey.

The suites are equipped with a fully-furnished kitchen (with oven, microwave, fridge, glasswares, silverwares and stove). If you are planning to have a Christmas staycation, the Serendipity Suites is perfect because you can bring in food and cook it the way you want it.

It is also complete with coffee- and tea-making facilities. The kitchen itself is so spacious. It is created that way so that it will give you a homey feel even if you are not at home. Discovery Suites is just across The Podium and walking distance from SM Megamall, so you could buy food or groceries anytime.

The dining area is chic. Here, you can have a small pica-pica or fondue party.

They have welcome fruits, too! 

If, and only if, you decided you want to work while on a staycation (com'on!), the Serendipity Suites are also equipped with a work desk that has internet access. Otherwise, just checkout your FB and upload your holiday photos ASAP.

There are 2 flatscreen TV's in a One-Bedroom Suite - in the lounge and inside the bedroom.

The bed is so cozy that you would wish you could just sleep all day!

The bathroom is again, my favorite part. It has a tub, so I and Akisha enjoyed having a long warm bath. 

The bathroom amenities are superb, too! I love their body scrub!

The Serendipity Suite package also comes with a free use of their swimming pool and jacuzzi at the 5th floor. You have nothing to worry because they provide towels, coffee and juice at the pool area. No need to bring sunblock because the pool is covered.

The hotel also has a playroom for kids, also lcated at the 5th floor. You can bond together with your little angels and have some coloring or drawing activities.

Akisha enjoyed playing the toy donuts and croissant. 

I hope we can celebrate Christmas at Discovery Suites this year!

Revisiting Terra Wellness Spa at Discovery Suites

Terra Wellness Spa is one of my favorite spas in the metro. It has been a year ago since I last visited Terra Wellness Spa in Discovery Suites, Ortigas Center. We had a spa party here during the launch of a skin care product I was handling back then.

It feels good to revisit this spa and see that they still give the same superb customer service, having a league of courteous staff assisting you in the cozy waiting lounge. We were served jasmine tea and given our spa footwear in preparation for our one-hour body massage. The concierge said they are still filling up the jacuzzi. WOW, I can't wait to have a dip in that warm jacuzzi!

While waiting, we were asked to choose our massage oil. Terra Wellness Spa uses the Amu'in Wellness line of Ms. Cathy and Mr. Mike Turvill (also the owners of Nurture Spa in Tagaytay). Choices are Alaga (care) and Sigla (energy). 

Alaga relaxes tense and tired muscles with a blend of rosemary, ginger and peppermint while Sigla melts stress away with lemongrass, peppermint, lemon and May Chang essential oils.

We chose Sigla.

Afterwards, we were led to the couple's room and the warm and bubbly jacuzzi is waiting for us!

We indulged here for 20 minutes. I swear, when the time comes that I am already able to have my own house, I will have a jacuzzi, by hook or by crook. It is so relaxing! If only I could stay here for the entire day.

After the jacuzzi indulgence, our therapist started our one-hour Signature Terra Wellness Massage. This massage never fails to make me fall asleep. The strokes are just right, not hard, not effortless. Seriously, I fell asleep and woke up rejuvenated. I wish to try Terra Wellness Spa in Discovery Shores soon!

Fine Indulgence at 22 Prime, Discovery Suites

I and my hubby loves three things: travel, food and Akisha. From pasta to desserts to buffets, we make sure we treat ourselves to good food from time to time.

Recently, when we had a staycation at the Discovery Suites, we tried eating at the 22 Prime, a steakhouse at the 22nd floor of the hotel.

Since it is a fine-dining steakhouse, a dress code is being implemented. For the guys, no shorts and sandos are allowed. Slippers are also prohibited.

Our dinner started with a bread basket and 3 kinds of dip: white bean, salsa and chicken liver pate. Of the 3, I like white bean, which tastes like hummus. I also like their chicken liver pate, but it still did not surpass my benchmark (La Grotta's chicken liver pate). My hubby loves the salsa.

Our soup for the night is a creamy pumpkin soup. Honestly, I do not eat pumpkin soup (I only eat selected veggies, and pumpkin is not one of those). However, I gave this pumpkin soup a try and surprisingly, I emptied my bowl up to the last drop. My Akisha loves this, too. 

Next is the Caesar Salad. Usually, Caesar Salads include chicken strip and parmesan crisps. This one is unique because instead of chicken, it has fried cheese wanton and grated parmesan which I liked so much. Though again, I did not eat the lettuce.

They also have a salad bar where you could mix your own concoction.

There is also a carvery where we saw this succulent and tempting goodness.

Our main course was Surf & Turf, a combination of the choicest cuts of US Pork Belly and Fresh Grilled Prawn with seared vegetables, potato mousseline and a rich balsamic sauce. The meat is sooooo tender and it is so heavy on the tummy! 

Pairing the hearty main course is a glass of house red wine. 

Capping our dinner is a dessert sampler that includes a custard cake, vanilla pannacotta and a brownie. Of the 3, I like the vanilla pannacotta because it is light and tasty, but not too sweet.

Overall, we give 22 Prime 2 thumbs up for the sumptuous steak dinner. A bonus is the picturesque view of the Ortigas skyline from 22 Prime's glass walls.

An Artsy Break at Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences

Nestled at the heart of the Makati Central Business District, the Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences fuses art and comfort, giving birth to a place that engages visitors and viewers in a series of layers of discoveries,

Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences has studio rooms and suites, all of which are designed artistically, remaining true to its inspiration, Pablo Picasso, a world renowned painter and sculptor and the founder of cubism. It is also the same concept that is embodied in the hotel’s façade, function rooms and gym.

In The Picasso, as it is more popularly known, everywhere you look embodies art. This lounge is an example. When I sat here, I felt I was transported inside a painting and became a part of it. 

Our room was a Malaga Studio. We requested for a non-smoking room since we were with my baby. 

The Malaga Studio is equipped with a kitchenette complete with coffee- and tea-making facilities, a microwave, a sink, a mini-fridge and a stove. The Picasso usually hosts long-staying guests, but are also open for an overnight city break, just like what we had.

The room is cozy and modern. It is adorned by pieces of art everywhere I look. There is also an ipod dock where you could play your own music.

The Picasso, as it is more popularly known, is a sanctuary for those who are craving for inspiration. If you are a writer like me, drafting an article on a workspace filled with artistic pieces will definitely amped your imagination. 

See? I can't find an excuse why one will not be inspired with this posh desk.

I personally like a hotel room with a stylish bathroom. 

The rain shower is the best  thing I like about our bathroom at The Picasso. A warm shower is always a soothing and relaxing experience for me. Believe me, I could stay here for an hour, without even noticing how time flies.

Even the bath amenities are housed in artistic boxes. 

The Malaga Studio also has a veranda with a view of Makati's skyscrapers.

We also checked out the gym and here is what we saw en route. What caught my eyes is the wooden door with an image of I'm guessing, Jesus Christ. This is placed on wall towards the hallway.

There's no one in the gym when we arrived. The facilities look new and state-of-the-art. The interiors are designed perfectly! With wood panels and mirrors, indeed, the gym is so modern.

Artworks in different media-from paintings, to sculpture, to projection art can be found at the Art Cabinet, the in-house art gallery at The Picasso. 

The exhibit showcases the works of Bacol, Balcos and Floirendo.

This is my favorite. It awakened the child in me as I remembered our dear Walt Disney favorite, Mickey Mouse.

This piece also caught my attention. Imagine, these are coiled plastic and rattan ensconced in wooden carving. Very playful and colorful.

This one on the other hand is the most intriguing piece I've seen. The top of these cubes looks like a lit CT scan film. 

And here are the other works of art we saw at the Art Cabinet.

So if you want to recharge your creative juices and have a city break at the same time, go to The Picasso. Book a night or simply drop by at their gallery.