MANILA, Philippines - We hear about it every day and read about it in the business pages, how record highs in our stock market spell green numbers for our country’s economic success. While most people are still at a loss on how or why our economy is hitting such heights, to dispel all doubts, our country’s success finally has a landmark — to offer a view, a taste, and an experience of just how it is to be booming. So opens Solaire Resort & Casino.Guests are greeted at the lobby entrance with Czech-crafted lightscapes that make crystal seem lighter than air, towering foliage décor and Solaire ambassadors. One is quick to note how a billion-dollar property should look and feel like. A trip to the reception area through its Italian marble halls leads to a series of monolithic Matthew James high-gloss abstracts, providing a tasteful diversion for the quick check-in process.
Echoing inspirations both tropical and colonial, Solaire creates a look that is at once familiar and never foreign to the Filipino. From its mother-of-pearl inlaid posts, hardwood beams, trademark lattice lintels, blown-glass and steel dividers, and the botanical-printed carpets that echo Spanish flamenco shawls, the main area offers a glimpse of the country’s finest.
What is most notable with Solaire Resort & Casino’s master plan is its open perspective that makes the 8.3-hectare development embody a light, airy, and sprawling feel, while maintaining access to the other lifestyle options, particularly wining and dining. Lush floral sculptures by resident florist Benjamin Go further define the space and well-lit signage makes finding your way at Solaire effortless.
The Dragon Bar, the centerpiece of the lobby, is the first one to use the EasyBar system in Asia, where premium shots and mixes now come simply with the press of a button. Manning this is assistant manager Sharon Siy, who recently came back from working at the Emirates Palace Hotel, carrying with her the knowledge of fine teas harnessed from Ronnie Feld Tea Academy in Dubai.
The dragon sculpture lording over the bar is made up of 1,500 individual crystal components, matching its infinity-inspired statement chairs of suede and deep red patent crocodile, as well as its generous beverage menu.
Against the stunning Manila Bay view are Solaire’s milepost fine-dining restaurants. “When we we’re still conceptualizing, the first thing Mr. (Enrique) Razon said was that he wanted to have the best cuisine in Manila. I told him it wasn’t going to be cheap, as it would mean importing most of our ingredients abroad. But we really did it!†explains Solaire Resort & Casino chief operating officer Michael French, who, after his long stint in Las Vegas and Macau, finally has the Philippines to call home.
The Japanese sushi and robotayaki restaurant, Yakumi, is a statement in minimalism and balance, found in its black and white graphic walls, modernist dining chairs and vibrant selection of sushi and sashimi mostly imported from Japan’s Tsukiji Fish Market. Its master chef Norimasa Kosaka goes by the mantra “Always cook with a happy heart,†hence the result — Hokkaido King Crab and giant abalones included — food that delights.
Traditional Cantonese restaurant Red Lantern’s interiors are nothing but conventional. It presents a graphic interplay of colors, calligraphy and commanding art. Large-scale chinoiserie portraits by husband-and-wife painters Bojo and Carmel Lim-Torres, as well as ambient photos by Tom Epperson scale the walls of the Red Lantern, offering an unconventional complementary view to executive chefs Chan Yui So and Lo Ka Cheung Sam’s creations. Finestra, on the other hand, is Solaire’s Italian restaurant, where pastas are hand-made fresh daily, and tomatoes, cheeses, and spices are flown in from Italy. Its décor also captivates with color-blocked Louis XVI-inspired dining chairs and cascading crystals covering a wall leading to the open-view kitchen orchestrated by chef Salvatore de Vincentis.
And rounding up the four fine-dining outlets is Strip house. Its black marble granite flooring and zebrano wood wall panels set the mood for a rather serious affair with meat. Punctuated by a psychedelic tufted carpet reminiscent of either cowhide or military-issue camouflage, well-stocked cellar walls, black lacquer tub chairs fitted in fine black leather, your choice of especially-crafted French steak knives by Lagliole, and remarkable pewter servers, Strip doesn’t cut corners in meeting the cravings of the carnivore.
And yes, the highlight, 200-gram Wagyu steak by chef Trevor Macleod and sides and sauces that easily create the hashtag #beststeakever.
At the refreshingly designed buffet restaurant, Fresh, you will find Kenneth Cobonpue’s “Little People†metal sculpture, modernist ’60s lounge chairs, op-art carpets and ingeniously textured walls, Fresh offers a youthful vibe to your usual hotel buffet.
While Solaire Resort & Casino was designed by distinguished architect Paul Steelman, who has done some of the world’s finest hotels and casinos, there is a silent force that inspired and further innovated its interiors.
“Most of what you see and experience here in Solaire has the personal approval of Enrique Razon. From the art on the walls, to the choice and design of the light pieces, to the selections on the menu and the restaurants, everything is guided by Razon’s focused direction,†reveals Solaire director for communications and public relations Joy Wassmer.
What Razon, the country’s third richest man, built is a destination resort and casino on a league of its own, and it is largely due to his preference for the finest things in life, his desire to uplift Filipino lifestyle and standards, and his keen attention to detail.
During our brief stay at the resort, Katrina, Enrique’s 21-year-old daughter, was busy supervising the pre-opening preparations for Solaire, moving about in all its dining and gaming establishments to ensure perfection.
“I had to take a semester off from school to personally overlook Solaire’s launch. It’s exciting,†reveals the University of Northeastern College student.
Among Solaire’s 4,600 employees, 400 of them are returning migrants from hotels worldwide. “The Filipinos are such a hospitable people and we try to bring that out. The wonderful thing coming here is we don’t have to teach our employees how to smile, or how to be friendly, so all we really needed to do is work on the style, the poise, and that’s what we have done. Our service will certainly set us apart,†explains Adrian Ort, Solaire Resort & Casino vice president and general manager for hotel and food & beverage operations.
Indeed, among the amenities, the gastronomic options, the stunning design and architecture, it is Solaire’s seamless and personalized service that easily becomes its most valuable asset.
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Solaire Resort & Casinos is at 1 Solaire Boulevard, Entertainment City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Its Deluxe City View Rooms are offered at P12,000 per night, Deluxe Bay View Rooms at P14,000 per night, Grand Deluxe City View Rooms are offered at P16,000 per night, Grand Deluxe City View Rooms at P18,000 per night. Solaire’s two-Bay Suite could be had at P25,000 per night, three-Bay Suite at P45,000 per night, and Deluxe three-Bay Suite is available for P55,000 per night. The Solaire Resort & Casino’s Bayside Villas are available at 150,000 per night, and the legendary Chairman’s Villa could be had for P300,000 per night.
For information, call 888-8888 or visit www.solaireresort.com.