The Picasso Makati Hotel: Artsy Hotel in a Great Location

Are you an art enthusiast who enjoys visiting galleries and really viewing painted works, but don’t really want to travel to the Hermitage or Louvre to do that?  Consider yourself lucky because now there’s The Picasso Makati Hotel to answer to your need for art appreciation, as well as a totally relaxing, staycation.

Also known as The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, this artsy hotel aims to please foreign travelers and staycationers with an inclination for the arts and satisfies their cravings for aesthetic beauty and stress-free solace amidst the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

The Picasso has 136 rooms (two which are lofts), all spacious and full of the aura and ambiance that is inspired by the great artist Pablo Picasso.  The hotel has the usual amenities you’d expect to find in any luxury hotel, like the gym, spa, salon, gift shop, function room, and themed restaurant.  The Picasso Makati reviews and blogs from former guests have been quite positive.

But that’s where the similarities end, for the Picasso also has its in-house art gallery managed by Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea. And even if you’re not really into art, you will still find the Picasso Hotel quite a unique and totally exhilarating staycation experience.

1. The Picasso Hotel is located in Makati City, a primary metropolis known for progress, entertainment, and friendliness towards tourists and locals.  The hotel is right in the heart of upcoming Salcedo Village, home to professional offices as well as swanky condominiums, very well-lit and secure compared to most places in Metro Manila. You can even book a weekend at Picasso so that you can unwind after a stressful workweek, and just walk to your office on Monday after checking out.

2. Though focusing on art, the hotel’s rooms and suites are equipped with modern amenities, such as high-speed WiFi, centralized air-conditioning, iPod docking station, direct dial phone with voicemail, LCD TV with cable, refrigerator, hairdryer, a full-service kitchenette with complete cooking appliances, ironing board, DVD player, and even silverware and utensils.  So you won’t miss your favorite Korean telenovela connect to loved ones through Facebook or Viber, and play your favorite online games.

3. Rooms and suites of this hotel are decorated and colored with places that reflect different parts in the life of the great artist Pablo Picasso.  Studio rooms are named after places in his life, like the Malaga Studio (after the city he was born) and the Madrid Studio (named after where he first studied art).  Studio rooms are like mini condo units, complete with beds (queen or twin beds), rain shower bathrooms, dining areas, balcony, mini bars, and kitchenettes.  The Barcelona Suites on the second to fifth floors reflect the city deemed by Picasso as his spiritual home, and the dark-hued Montparnasse Suites on the sixth to ninth floors are reminiscent of his favorite city.

4. As a salute to the world of Picasso’s art, the art gallery of Picasso features works by contemporary Filipino artists in various media.  Exhibits vary every two to three months, just in case you want to be a regular guest at this hotel. It was closed though when we visited so here’s the only photo.

5. Pablo, one of the restaurants in the ground floor of the hotel, serves the breakfast included in your booking and also offers a fine selection of European cuisine from steaks to pizzetas to tickle your palate.

6. And in case you also want to try other dining places, Salcedo Village is chockful of other excellent restaurants and cafes to suit your individual taste.  For health-conscious gourmets, there’s The Wholesome Table which serves all-day breakfast and other meals made from clean, healthy food products such as grass-fed beef and organic veggies.

There’s also The Flying Pan which is in Valero Street, a few blocks away from the Picasso Makati. We love their pizza and pasta.

7. The Picasso Hotel is only a stone’s throw away from the lively Salcedo Saturday Market, which features both traditional and unusual food items.  Just from the market’s entrance, you can already smell tantalizing odors wafting from the different food stalls. At the market, you can also buy plants and handicrafts. On Sundays, you can also make your way to the Legazpi Market where you can try equally yummy cuisines at reasonable prices. This place also has a wider selection of dry goods, souvenir items, and crafts than the Salcedo Market.

8. To burn all those food from the weekend market, guests have access to their fully-equipped gym. Now, you won’t have any excuse to miss out on your training schedule while on your staycation.

9. With a short jeep or taxi ride, you can easily reach the Makati Commercial Center, home to Greenbelt and Glorietta Malls, where you can shop, dine, watch movies, or simply hang out.  The nice thing is that you have no hassle trying to get back to the hotel after a full day of exploring these malls.

10. For a truly relaxing staycation, there’s a QiWellness spa, within the hotel, which you can get a massage to relieve your tired muscles.

***Thank you Ohsie Austria for some of the photos!

(I received a complimentary accoommodation from The Picasso Boutique Residences. Thank you The Picasso Makati for hosting me and for your hospitality! My opinions, as always, are solely my own.)