This Malabon girl heads south for a staycation filled with good food, a few deadlines, and some much-needed rest.
I live far north. Going to Makati already feels like luwas to me. Alabang? I’m treating that as a legit trip.
So when The Bellevue Manila invited my friend and me for a media stay, I welcomed the excuse to head south. I’ve stayed at The B Hotel in Quezon City in the past because I love its interiors and location in the Tomas Morato area. Alabang was a change from the places I usually go, and that was part of the appeal.
I was also juggling deadlines, so this wasn’t a completely laptop-free getaway. I squeezed in writing and research between meals, even getting some work done by the pool. Still, a different setting, time with a friend, and some very restful sleep made it feel like a break.
Then there was the food. The hotel arranged visits to five dining spots, each connected to a word in its new dining philosophy: inherited for Qsina, celebrated for Phoenix Court, savored for Pastry Corner, unwind for Vue Bar, and earned for Johnny’s Steak & Grill. By the end, we were very full, and I had several reasons to consider another trip south.
Qsina’s sisig with balut deserves your attention
Qsina became our breakfast spot throughout the stay. We returned for lunch, and the Killer Sisig quickly became a favorite. It has balut in it and I really enjoyed it. It was one of the dishes I kept going back to while working through the spread.
I especially loved the Crispy Chicken Kare-Kare. Together with the sisig, it made for a hearty, homey lunch. I was away from my usual surroundings, but the food gave me that familiar satisfaction of eating a Filipino meal I really wanted.
Qsina’s word is inherited, paired with “Ang Kusina ng Pamilya.” The restaurant serves buffet and à la carte meals, with Filipino and Asian dishes on the menu. For me, its strongest draw was straightforward—comforting food that made it easy to settle in.
Vue Bar had me asking for rice
Our first dinner was at Vue Bar, where nachos, onion rings, calamari, and other bar bites filled the table. I’ll admit that I felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of fried food at first. I enjoy those things, but having so many together as dinner was a lot. The Beef Salpicao was my favorite. I ended up asking for rice because that was how I wanted to eat it. No shame on my end because it was good!
Vue Bar gets the word unwind, and that part came easily once we settled in. We had cocktails and wine, took photos, and spent time talking. After a day that still involved checking on work, it was good to finally sit back. We only had to head upstairs afterward, which is one of the small pleasures of having dinner where you’re staying. I went to bed and had one of the most restful sleeps I’d had in a while. That alone felt worth making time for.
Johnny’s Steak & Grill was my reward for closing the laptop
By our second evening, I had spent part of the stay moving between writing, research, and meals. Working by the pool gave me a nicer view than usual, but deadlines were still deadlines. I was ready to put the laptop away when dinner came around.
Johnny’s Steak & Grill’s word is earned, with the phrase “The reward, well earned.” I could relate. Getting through my work was enough of an occasion for me to appreciate a steak dinner. The truffle macaroni and cheese was a highlight, especially paired with the steak. It was a rich combination, and I enjoyed it so much that it remains one of the first things I remember about the meal. We were very full by the end.
I liked the atmosphere at Johnny’s, too. Located at Cellar XXII, it has a pool table, giving you something else to do while spending the evening there. My friend and I also had a mini photo session. After working through part of the day, it felt good to have time for dinner and a little fun.
Phoenix Court’s Peking duck kept me reaching for more
Phoenix Court was my favorite of the five. We ate there on our last day, and the Roasted Peking Duck wrapped with cucumber had me asking for more. There were plenty of other dishes to try, but I kept coming back to it.
The Adlai Salted Fish Fried Rice was another standout. I usually expect yang chow or another familiar fried rice order at a Chinese restaurant, so I appreciated having adlai instead. It was a different take on something I’d normally order, and I enjoyed it with the duck, salted egg prawn balls, and seafood.
Then I spotted char kway teow on our table. I’d eaten a version with duck egg in Penang, Malaysia, that I loved, and having the dish here brought back that memory. Phoenix Court focuses on Cantonese cuisine, so finding this Malaysian-Singaporean favorite was a welcome surprise.
Phoenix Court’s word is celebrated, which fits a meal built around sharing dishes. It also appears in the Tatler Dining Guide. After our lunch, I understood why people make time for a meal here. This is the restaurant I’d most want to return to, preferably hungry enough for another helping of duck.
Pastry Corner sent me home with ube cheese pandesal
We wrapped up with afternoon coffee at Pastry Corner. I’m a coffee girl, so I was happy to find Tobey’s Estate beans during our visit. After several full meals, coffee and a little time to sit around felt like a good way to finish.
Pastry Corner’s word is savored, paired with “A small joy, made properly.” I’m always happy to make room for a coffee break, especially before the trip home.
While the ensaymadas are known here, the ube cheese pandesal won me over. I brought some home, which meant I still had something from the stay to enjoy after getting back to Malabon.
A little trip south, with plenty of reasons to eat
Alabang gave me enough distance from my everyday routine to feel away. I still had work to do, but I also got to spend time with my friend, eat well, and sleep properly. For someone who considers Makati a luwas, this counted as a welcome change of scenery.
The hosted itinerary let us try all five spots, and each gave me something to remember. There was the comforting lunch at Qsina, gambas and drinks at Vue Bar, steak after deadlines at Johnny’s, and a final coffee at Pastry Corner. Phoenix Court, though, was my personal favorite.
If you’re planning a stay at The Bellevue Manila, the restaurants give you plenty to build your meals around. You don’t have to try everything in one visit. I’m glad we had the chance to explore, but I’d happily spend another lunch just revisiting my favorites.
