Professionals and families fatigued by the hustle and bustle of the city may find reprieve in the hidden gem that is Nuvali. The country’s first and largest eco-city development, it straddles three cities in Laguna and is home to business centers, prestigious schools, Ayala Malls Solenad, and a 150-room Seda Hotel.
The serene Seda Nuvali is an hour away from Manila, peppered with diverse amenities for both leisure and business travelers. The suites of the newly opened Tower 2 are spacious and crisp; while I did have to do some work during my stay, I had the luxury of a windowsill couch with a gorgeous pool view.
Family Suites are also available for bigger groups. It features a master’s bedroom, a separate children’s room with bunk beds, and generous living areas.
Seda offers a “work from paradise” feeling. I had Misto restaurant’s hearty Filipino Bundle for lunch, with a curated menu of Filipino food favorites (available for P3,200 for a party of five). For quick breaks, I took a liking to the game room stocked with board games, updated consoles and computer stations. Right across it is a colorful, expanded children’s playroom.
Another of my work-break stops was Misto’s café counterpart, strategically situated before the elevators. It offers beverages and sweet treats on the go — and the largest slice of red velvet cake I have ever been served.
I planned to try out the co-working space on Tower 1 but figured I had a productive enough Friday afternoon. I headed straight to the pool bar, surrounded by lush greenery and right by the hotel’s child-friendly swimming pools. I capped off the night with a barbecue dinner, Seda’s specialty mocktail (followed by a cocktail; when in Nuvali, I guess), and my remaining red velvet cake.
It delighted me to experience such purposeful hospitality; the hotel is an entire vacation in itself. The morning after, a five-minute hotel shuttle ride took me to Ayala Malls Solenad, where a new array of day activities awaited. Most memorable, and perhaps something everyone ends up trying, is the lake boat ride, costing only P300 and you can feed koi fish while you wait.
Seda Nuvali general manager Armand Angeles says they are eager to build “a space where every guest can seamlessly transition from work to play and back again.” The opening of Tower 2 amplifies their mission to offer avenues for “bleisure,” or business and leisure. Angeles adds, “Our aim is to offer a sanctuary where tranquility, productivity and the local charm converge.”
As we close out the year, Seda is offering lively dining experiences for the New Year. Reach Seda Nuvali at (049) 255 8888 or at nuvali.sedahotels.com.