Crown Regency Hotel Makati

Housed in a three-story building with large windows, the Crown Regency Hotel stands out for its small size in an area known for its massive, gleaming glass towers. With a small front desk with mirrored surfaces, a couples of chairs with tired upholstering, and dated floors with brown and orange stripes, the lobby is in need of a facelift -- as is the majority of the property. Located off the lobby, the small, bright restaurant is the most appealing part of the hotel. It has a cute diner theme, with booths, exposed beams, a green mosaic tiled bar, and red stools. Rooms, however, are small and overall bland, with tired furniture, chipped paint and drab bathrooms -- most of which have mildew around the tub. Guests here are either business travelers or couples on a budget, but some rooms can sleep up to four guests, making it a convenient option for families as well. 

The Crown Regency is located on a busy avenue off Epifanio de los Santos, one of Manila’s longest thoroughfares. The surrounding blocks are a shopper’s paradise, with several renowned malls within minutes of the hotel, and dozens of smaller stores nearby. This location is also convenient for business travelers, as many of Makati’s corporate offices are just blocks from the property. There are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby, and the area is known for its hopping (but expensive) nightlife. There aren’t any major attractions within walking distance, though. Intramuros, Quiapo neighborhood, and the University of Santo Tomas are all a 20-minute drive away. The airport can also be reached in about 20 minutes in normal driving conditions.

The hotel has 61 rooms ranging from Standard units to Suites, all featuring flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, air-conditioning, and safes. Dark laminate floors are a contemporary touch, but decor is overall bland and dated, with tired basic wooden furniture, orange bed runners and matching curtains, black swiveling chairs, and peach accent walls. Suites have brown couches and a couple of additional wooden chairs in each, as well as separate showers and tubs. Some rooms have large windows overlooking the street, but others have views of an air shaft and are dark. Bathrooms are particularly unappealing, with mildew around the edge of the bathtub in many and plastic shower curtains. With a good scrub and fresh coats of paint rooms could be nicer, but the property is overall in need of renovations and rooms look a little drab.

Lobby Lounge is a casual diner-style eatery serving a short Filipino menu throughout the day. Breakfast is served here every morning, and while most options are traditional Filipino breakfast items, the chef makes fresh omelets and scrambled eggs upon request. The fitness center has a handful of cardio and strength-training machines, as well as natural light and a TV. The ballroom is the only events space available, but it can be divided into three boardrooms for smaller corporate meetings. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and airport transfer service can be requested at the front desk for an extra fee.