Staying in Quezon City: Luxent Hotel Stands Out with Classy Service and Affordable Rates

Luxent Hotel's Garden Cafe is a dining destination

Once a quiet neighborhood, the area of Tomas Morato and Timog avenues in the barangay of South Triangle, Quezon City, has become a dynamic night strip peppered with interesting food joints and a burgeoning business hub punctuated by two giant television networks. The sprouting of hotels, ranging from budget to four-star, is not surprising.

Aside from the bars and restaurants encrusting the area, these hotels offer easy access to several government offices; malls such as TriNoma and SM City North Edsa; the UP Techno Hub; sites such as the La Mesa Eco Park and La Mesa Nature Reserve, the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center and the Quezon Memorial Circle; and major schools such as the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University.

Among the hotels such as Tune Hotel, Sequoia Hotel, Imperial Palace Suites, Hotel Rembrandt, La Breza Hotel, Palm Plaza Hotel, Torre Venezia and Cocoon Hotel that dot the area, the 16-story Luxent Hotel, along Timog Avenue, near the 11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial, stand out with an elegant and modern façade. At night, it sparkles like a jewel. The hotel opened in July 2012 and is fast becoming a favored place not only for events, but to stay, dine and relax.

Comfy Stay

For a hotel of its kind, Luxent has 117 well-appointed guestrooms that are refreshingly spacious with bathrooms that are equally roomy. The Deluxe King (with one king bed) and Superior Queen (with two queen beds) rooms have a floor space of about 39 square meters each. A host of amenities — LCD flat-screen television with cable and DVD player, Wi-Fi Internet connection, in-room safety deposit box, mini bar, complimentary coffee or tea, complimentary bottled water, complimentary daily newspaper, individual climate control air-conditioner, hair dryer and vanity mirror — assure a pleasant stay.

Additionally, Luxent has seven Executive Suites. With 50 square meters, each has a separate living room and pantry, and provided with an espresso machine. For a luxurious stay, the hotel proffers the Luxent Suite with a total floor space of 161 square meters, boasting of a complete dining space, two master’s bedrooms and a Jacuzzi, among others. At the topmost floor, the suite is luxurious with a panoramic view of the city, according to general manager Melanie Siy-Pagkalinawan.

Luxent Hotel's room

 

Business and leisure

Luxent Hotel has a range of business and recreational facilities, making it advantageous for business travelers. A newly-opened business center caters to numerous needs. Two conference rooms are available for meetings and small seminars. The bigger Seasons Ballroom, which is high-ceilinged and pillar-less, can be divided into four function rooms. Actually, the hotel is a favorite venue for wedding receptions and other big celebrations, which make use of the ballroom that can accommodate about 300 to 400 people.

Aside from business people, Pagkalinawan reveals that they also get families, especially during the weekends. Most relax and bond at the hotel’s infinity and kiddie pool at the sixth level, which has a beautiful view of the city.

Additionally, near the pool is the AquaTrim Fitness Center for the fitness needs of guests. On the other hand, Reluxe Spa, a concessionaire, at the second floor has an array of pampering services. Luxent sales and marketing director Mayette Sagales-Delfin says that the hotel does not limit itself to serving a corporate clientele, but also to a market seeking a place for leisure and relaxation. With the proximity of hospitals and beauty centers, the hotel is also tapping the medical tourism market.

Sagales-Delfin adds that the hotel enjoys robust business all year round, with 70 percent occupancy being their lowest mark. Half of their clientele is foreign, while the other half is domestic.

 

Infinity pool at the sixth floor

AquaTrim Fitness Center

A Dining Destination

Despite the number of good restaurants in the area, Luxent Hotel’s dining outlets are gearing to be stiff competitions. At the high-ceilinged lobby, one is greeted by the Lush Bar and Lobby Lounge, where a satisfying array of snacks and pastries, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are being offered. Bread lovers will be delighted by the Bread Indulgence corner, open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., where freshly baked breads are made available everyday. At night, the lounge, which can seat about 30 people, turns into a bar with a live band during weekends, where one can unwind after a busy day.

Next to be lobby lounge is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Garden Café, under the helm of executive chef Christian Martinez. The restaurant, which can accommodate 94 people, offers Continental and Asian comfort food, with ample choices of salads, soups, sandwiches, flatbreads, entrees, desserts and beverages. Steaks, ribs, chicken, lamb and fish are freshly prepared.

According Sagales-Delfin, the bestsellers are the pancit palabok and the kurobuta belly. But numerous items in the menu are worth a try. The flatbreads are delectable, as well as the pasta dishes. Must-tries are the Filipino dishes, given sophisticated twists but retaining the flavors that we love.

Luxent’s buffet, which is competitively priced, presents a good spread of international fare. Pagkalinawan admits that the lunch buffet is not as comprehensive as other hotels’, but it is well selected, keeping in mind the quality of the foods. The breakfast buffet, however, is rather sumptuous, priced at P999, but they are always on promo offering half that price. The other buffets are priced at about P799. 

Pagkalinawan reveals the restaurant attracts a lot of diners from around the area. The place is usually bustling during weekends. Sagales-Delfin says they receive a lot of positive feedback, others comparing their food with those in five-star hotels.

Aside from the main dining area, Garden Café has two private rooms for meetings and small gatherings—the VIP 1, which can accommodate 20 people, and the VIP 2, which can hold 50 people.

Ambiance, the quality of the food and the service, according to Pagkalinawan, are what set them apart of other dining places and accommodations in Quezon City.

Minestrone

Kilawin

Bagoong rice

Sinigang ang bulalo

Flatbread

Kurobuta pork belly

Luxent Hotel's Garden Cafe

Luxent Hotel staff with sales and marketing director Mayette Sagales-Delfin, executive chef Christian Martinez and

general manager Melanie Siy-Pagkalinawan.

 

The Luxent Hotel is located at 51 Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. For more information or reservations, call (632) 922-8888, fax at (632) 411-3030, e-mail sales@luxenthotel.com or visit http://www.luxenthotel.com.