Staring at the facade, one has to wonder what beautiful things are tucked into this neat little 4-storey boutique hotel, where my old favorite discothèque, Mars, used to call home.  The newly opened Euro-modern Hotel Céleste is the first of its kind here in the Metro.  With its ornate and unique furnishing down to its individualized murals, guests are treated to an explosion of color and vibrancy that is such a delight to the senses.

But what is a ‘Boutique Hotel’?  Typical boutique hotels are often referred to as ‘hip’ or ‘urban chic’ and attract a specific target market that we locals would classify as the ‘A and B’ market.  So let’s see how well Hotel Céleste stacks up to PHRS’ scrutinizing review…

Location.  The property is located on the corner of San Lorenzo Drive and Arnaiz Avenue in Makati City.  It is a few steps to the Ayala Malls, art galleries, and the ritzy restaurants and nightlife of Greenbelt.  Perfectly convenient!

Architecture and Design.  Hotel Céleste marks high here.  As soon as you walk into the hotel, you are immediately attracted to the elegant and modern furnishings of their bistro, Restaurant CiÇou, owned by renowned French Chef Cyrille Soenen offering sumptuous French cuisine like the Seabass with Mashed Potatoes and Leeks in Truffle Sauce — delectable! 

The lobby itself is warm and inviting, arresting your eyes with an explosion of colors from its paintings by Gina Bocar.  Every one of its 30 rooms (5 suites and 25 deluxe rooms) is distinct, boasting of unique signature Bocar hand-painted walls, ornate and sometimes whimsical furnishings, and, boy oh boy! —- glorious bathrooms with L’Occitane toiletries and freestanding bathtubs (suites only).  I just couldn’t wait to jump into the luxurious bed with my own hand-picked pillow and fluffy comforter!  All the conveniences of a 5-star hotel can be found here including an I-Pod dock and free WiFi connection.  The suites have a receiving area and a 4-seater breakfast table adjacent to the bar area complete with a microwave, perfect for small families.

Service.  Hotel Céleste, provides guests with their own personal ‘Chamberlain’ who will attend to the guests’ every whim, thus accentuating a boutique’s X-factor –, personalized service. Moreover, the 24-hour room service, turn-down service with pillow menu, business center, valet parking, in-room massage service, and the roof-deck Jacuzzi are amenities that give this small hotel an advantage over other same-sized hotels that offer limited services.

Experience.  The overall experience with Hotel Céleste was highlighted by the property’s unique value proposition and outstanding orientation to detail; proven by the luxurious feel guests get from their accommodations.  However, our first hand experience showed some service flaws:  no one ever answered at housekeeping after 3 separate attempts; our personal Chamberlain (a man) was never introduced to us, so we had no idea what he was there for; our room seemed unready for occupancy…minibar contents were warm, the I-Pod station unplugged, the ‘Pillow Menu’ was unavailable and the WiFi connection was faulty.  The restaurant service was also sluggish and inconsistent, even though there were only a few tables occupied. 

BUT, as any new property, these are just a few kinks they still need to iron out, and for sure will overcome quickly at the helm of the very capable Resident Manager, Sally Bongalonta (previously at Manila Hotel) and hotel owner Cely Sarabia.

 Verdict:  PHRS gives this hotel 3.5 Apples (out of 5) for its ingenuity, service offerings and amenities.  We believe that Hotel Céleste is poised to becoming one of the hippest and most sought after hotels in 2009.

 Hotel Céleste is located at 02 San Lorenzo Drive corner A. Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City.  For inquiries and reservations, please call PHRS at 02-812-7477 or visit our website at www.philippinehotelreservations.com

*PHRS is composed of hotel experts who offer unique insights and reviews of hotels through their impartial ‘Mystery Hotel Shopper’ service using their official Apple Ratings.