Makati Diamond Residences

Makati Diamond Residences is built for travellers who prefer a city address with room to spread out rather than a small room with nowhere to put yesterday’s clothes. The property has 410 rooms across 29 floors, and English-speaking staff make the practical conversations straightforward from arrival onwards.

You get the useful parts of a full-service hotel without having to turn every evening into an organised event. There is a restaurant, a café, a whisky bar, a pool bar, an indoor lap pool, a spa and a fitness centre. In other words, you can eat, swim, recover and go to bed without making another expedition into Makati.

The address is 118 Legazpi Street, in Legazpi Village, Makati City, Philippines. This is a central city location, surrounded by the working rhythm of Makati rather than beaches or open countryside. The city is the backdrop here: useful when you want restaurants, shops and urban life within reach, less so if your idea of a holiday requires sand under your feet.

The building gives you a high-rise base in the middle of Makati, with the city visible from the rooms. That makes it a sensible choice for a stopover, a city break or a diving trip that needs a comfortable place to land between excursions.

For two people, the one-bedroom suites offer the most comfortable version of the stay: a separate bedroom and more living space than a standard city room. The double studios are the simpler choice when you mainly need somewhere cool, quiet and practical to sleep, with a kitchen and microwave in the equipped studio category. Twin studios give two divers separate beds, which can be a useful arrangement when romance is not on the itinerary.

If you are travelling as a family or with friends, look at the two-bedroom suites and the lofts rather than trying to make a compact room do the work of a small flat. Selected larger accommodation includes a kitchen, dining area, desk, television, wardrobe and soundproofing. The larger layouts give you somewhere to sit and sort yourselves out properly instead of leaving bags, masks and chargers to compete for the only available chair.

Air conditioning, a refrigerator or minibar, tea and coffee facilities, a private bathroom, towels and toiletries cover the basics after a long day out. Some categories add blackout blinds, bathrobes, slippers and a hairdryer. The 24-hour room service is particularly handy when your energy has finished for the day but your appetite has not.

Breakfast starts at 6:00 am and is served as a buffet, which suits an early start better than a leisurely debate about where to find coffee. Alfred handles breakfast, lunch and dinner, with New American cooking shaped by French and Asian influences. The restaurant runs through until 2:00 am, giving you room for an unhurried dinner or a late return.

Baked covers the lighter end of the day from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. You can pick up coffee, cakes, pastries, homemade cookies, speciality ice cream, salads and sandwiches there. It is the sensible stop when you want food without committing to a full restaurant meal.

There is one Pool Bar for tropical smoothies, cocktails and San Miguel beer. Later, the Whisky Bar takes over the evening with whisky, bourbon, scotch and rye, alongside Cuban cigars. Room service runs around the clock, and the Dining Card lets you use the different dining venues for breakfast, lunch or dinner rather than tying the whole stay to one table.

The 25-metre Indoor Lap Pool is the clear choice when you want movement without negotiating with the weather. It is roofed and shaded, so you can swim lengths in the middle of a hot or rainy day. Pool towels and pool equipment are available, and the solarium terrace offers the slower alternative when all you want is a chair and a bit of quiet time.

The Wellness Center offers massage and reflexology, with a wider menu of modern and traditional treatments. A sauna, steam room, beauty treatments and spa facilities add a few more ways to loosen shoulders that have spent too long carrying bags, cameras and the general consequences of travel.

For a more active session, the Fitness Center has cardio machines, Keiser bikes, VersaClimbers, free weights and climbing equipment. Karaoke is available when the evening calls for something less disciplined. It is not compulsory, which is probably best for everyone.

Reception is open around the clock. Check-in runs from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with check-out by 12:00 noon. Airport transfers are available through the hotel, as are taxi bookings, shuttle services and vehicle hire. Arrange the airport transfer with the hotel before travelling so your arrival does not begin with a negotiation beside the luggage carousel.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Lifts serve the upper floors, and wheelchair access is available, including access to the restaurant. A nearby car park is available, with a height restriction, so drivers should check that their vehicle fits before relying on it. The hotel also offers concierge assistance, luggage storage, laundry, dry cleaning, ironing and a wake-up service.

A deposit is required during the stay. Only registered guests may access the rooms, and connecting or adjacent rooms can be requested for suitable stays. Up to two children aged five or under can share a room with their parents or guardians using the existing bedding. Pets, including assistance animals, are not accepted.