Backpacking in your own city — it’s not a new concept but it’s neither something that most people do. Recently, I tried being a backpacker in Makati, where I am a resident for almost a decade, as I stayed overnight in this new chic place that has been creating a buzz online. MNL Boutique Hostel is a backpacker’s haven in the Philippines that brings together fun and friendship into your travel equation.
True enough, our curiosity got the better of us as my colleague, Eunice, and I decided to check out this new hostel then ended up gaining new friends. We scheduled a weekend to experience what it would be like to stay and play at MNL, as they suggest in their website. The hostel has opened earlier this year and had a soft launch, an event that we sorely missed. But we were surprised that it is making waves in HostelBookers and TripAdvisor.
It was a sunny afternoon when we arrived at the colorful façade of MNL. It wasn’t hard to locate because it is right next to A. Venue Mall. Celina, one of the proprietors of the place, was the one who literally opened MNL’s doors for us and gave us a warm welcome, including a familiarization tour of the place and a brochure with map to help us get around the hostel’s vicinity. Several guests were hanging out at the common area when we arrived, some were reading, others were chatting, and another was busy with the computer.
After we checked the amenities we decided to take a nap and enjoy the comfort of our room, which we paid for only P1,350 (or around USD 32) for a night. It’s very affordable given that there’s free wi-fi, free breakfast of toast, jam, tea and/or coffee, free towel, air-conditioned rooms, and other facilities that they provide their guests. The bathrooms and toilets are clean and well-maintained. Not only that, the rooms have 8-inch spring mattresses, hotel grade linen and pillows, duvet for all private rooms, and a personal console per bed, which includes a lamp, book & gadget ledge, and socket. The noise from the street can sometimes become a bother but you can always request for an earplug from their “Cool-cierge” so you can enjoy your sleep.
Dinner wasn’t much of a problem as we decided to eat nearby. With so many restaurants in the vicinity, it wasn’t hard to scour for the best place to eat. We were contemplating on Pino Restaurant along Jupiter St. but later on decided to go for Soms near Rockwell Powerplant Mall. As we were walking towards Kalayaan Ave. we passed by the parking lot at A. Venue and got curious with the bazaar that was going on inside. Upon seeing the stalls selling food, Mercato-style, we opted to dine at the open-air food court set-up.
There were several stalls selling chicken and pork barbecue, shawarma, Mongolian barbecue and other local delicacies. There were also fruits and desserts. The atmosphere was very casual and many foreigners were eating there as well. Musical instruments were set up at a small stage indicating that a live band would be playing later that night.
Since MNL is known for its BYOB (bring your own beer/booze), we stopped by at the grocery store to buy some beers. We also brought a bottle of Adams Bugnay Wine, which is made from a local wild berry. Tents and tables were being readied at the street when we got back at the hostel.
I also met some travelers who were staying at the hostel and talked about places we’ve been to and those that we plan to visit. I made some recommendations. It was a good thing that MNL has also been helping coordinate day trips like a Manila City Tour (e.g., Intramuros walking tour with Carlos Celdran), Taal Volcano trip, Mount Pinatubo trekking, Corregidor day tour, and Pagsanjan Falls trip.
We were invited to the gathering of social media specialists at the side street of MNL. They came prepared with cases of beer, bottles of tequila and even raffle prizes. Clutching our bottle of local wine and cans of beers, we joined their group. As we shared stories and drinks with our new acquaintances, the night stretched into merry-making as we sang songs, exchanged cards, connected online through social media, and had some late night snacks of noodles and balut, a popular Filipino food of fertilized duck embryo. In fact, eating balut is one of MNL’s daily fun activities. They have: Love for Lambanog Mondays, Tambay Tuesdays, We Dare You Wednesdays, Tune In Thursdays, Freedom Fridays, and Somewhere Out There Saturdays.
We ended late and had a restful sleep. Not surprisingly, we woke up late that we missed breakfast. But it was a great stay. With our awesome MNL experience, I’m pretty sure that travelers coming to Manila would also have a great stay and play in this boutique hostel.
For more info, visit http://www.mnlboutiquehostel.com.
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