Travel Diary: Boracay 2011
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On December 15, 2011
This has got to be the shortest Boracay trip for me. It was also the first time that I stayed in the hotel all throughout and didn’t even go out strolling on the beach.
My main theme for the trip was relaxation and I’m glad I got it. I stayed in a wonderful hotel – Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel and was able to dine in one of the Philippines’ best restaurants in 2011, Don Vito Ristorante Italiano. Lastly, I was able to get a facial from the well-known, high-quality establishment – Mandarin Spa.
Last, but definitely not the least, I discovered the newly renovation Boracay/Caticlan airport! It was an awesome experience! A great way to spend a weekend away from the stressful life in the city.
Here’s a rundown of what transpired:
Breakfast Buffet at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
The Awesome Transformation of our Boracay Airport
The Awesome Transformation of our Boracay Airport
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On December 14, 2011
While I rested and relaxed at Boracay Mandarin Hotel a few weekends ago, there was one thing that I couldn’t forget. One major thing that impressed me so much that I can’t help but share the good news with everyone. It’s something that we, Filipinos, will be very proud of. It’s something that we have been wishing our government would do. It’s a wish that has finally come true.
Is this the mental image you have of our Caticlan airport? The jump-off point to our very own Boracay, a world-class holiday destination in the Philippines?
- The Über old airline counters: manual, old-school, inconvenient, unimpressive and chaotic…
- the uber-small and cramped terminal fee counters which we always wondered where our money go to… as the Boracay airport is so damn dirty, old and not maintained well…
- the uber uuurrrgghhhh waiting area that looked like an evacuation center. I’ve always dreaded going to Caticlan airport each time. After spending such a good time in paradise, here we are greeted by an ugly airport just to be able to catch our flight back to Manila…
We don’t have to worry anymore. Because guess what??? Yes! Yes! Yes!! The Caticlan airport is now renovated!! 😀 I was totally blown away when I stepped foot in the new airport. I couldn’t believe that I was actually in the same ugly place that I had in mind before. My gosh, I was like a kid enjoying the sight of the new Boracay airport.
Now, we can now proudly recommend Boracay to our foreign friends! We can now proudly rave about the beautiful paradise of Boracay. Especially now that the jump-off point has been upgraded to match the world-class image of our wonderful Boracay paradise! I’m so happy! I’m so proud! Thank you so much Philippine government for finally listening! This will definitely help our tourism and now we know, that at least, where our terminal fees and taxes went. We saw the result! I’m oh so proud! 😀
The new airport is now fully air-conditioned. You can also feel the holiday season as the place has been decorated oh so beautifully! I also noticed how much happier the security and staff are. You see, when you work in a very pretty and luxurious environment, your mood changes for the better too! I just love it!
The check-in counters have been upgraded big time too! They are now COMPLETELY computerized! I love how you can see the upcoming flights on top of the counter. The lines organized and the beautiful and uniform design of the different airline counters. The transactions being so smooth-sailing too. We don’t feel stressed anymore when lining up! It felt like an international airport already.
The terminal fee counter? Not cramped anymore! And yes, it’s still at Php 20! No increase in fees in spite of the major upgrade, LOVE it!
The best sight I’ve seen in the new Boracay (Caticlan) airport? The waiting area that I had been dreading before!! It’s now something that I look forward hanging out in! My gosh! The seats are much more comfortable to sit on. The view was just so nice! All television units are flat-screen! There’s ample space for all awaiting passengers. I sooooo love it!
The flights list is so pleasing to the eyes too. It’s easy to see the updates! The color scheme and the airline logos are evident. We just need to glance quickly and we can see how much waiting time we have before boarding.
There are more food and souvenir shops too! And yes, they are dressed appropriately! They’re Christmas-y! I do think that the prices are a bit steep though. I bought a can of soda for Php 50. Yaiks!
Since we have transformed our Boracay airport into something world-class, we surely can expect more tourists to come! So even the 2nd floor has been upgraded. I love the artwork on the stairway wall. It’s very Filipino, the creativity of our countrymen shines!
The second floor waiting area mirrors the first floor. Equally spacious and just as cheerfully decorated with the Christmas-y theme. A perfect place to rest if you arrive too early for your flight.
For those who stayed at Boracay Shangri-La Resort & Spa and Discovery Shores, their lounge area are located at the second floor. I didn’t take a peek inside anymore as I stayed in a different hotel 🙂
That’s my good news for the day! Now, book your flights to Boracay! 😀
Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On December 13, 2011
As soon as I received an invite for a weekend getaway at Boracay courtesy of Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, I got immediately excited. It was a pleasant surprise. Every bit of a chance for me to go to our so-called Boracay paradise, is something I wouldn’t wanna miss. I was giddily planning in my mind what I’d do during those 2 days. However, when the time was near, I became sick 🙁
Since everything had been booked, I decided to go ahead. I said to myself, my plans may not be followed but at least I’d get my much-needed rest. Even if I had to skip most of the activities, I’d still get to enjoy the facilities of the hotel. I was looking forward for a relaxing and restful weekend at the beautiful place called Boracay.
As soon as we touched down at the airport, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel staff were on hand to welcome us with placards and everything! Despite being under the weather, I immediately felt like a VIP. We were escorted to the hotel on a boat and, afterwards, on a van. It was great service and an awesome first impression!
When we arrived at the hotel, I remembered that I used to hang there. Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel has the best exteriors and tourists always stop at the front to have their pictures taken. That weekend, their theme was Christmas! There was a cute snowman greeting guests with a big smile, and there were reindeers running across the roof of the resort. What an astounding sight!
I always had the impression that all great hotels in Boracay were located in Station 1: clearly, I was wrong. There’s a gem of a hotel in Station 2 and that is Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel. Even better, since all the fun happens in Station 2 anyway, everything is uber accessible!
Starting with welcome drinks that greet guests upon their arrival, the pampering goes on and on, giving you a taste of what it feels to be treated like royalty! Very nice indeed.
The swimming pool in the hotel is oh, so nice too! I wish I was able to plunge in but since I couldn’t, I made a mental note to remind myself that a dip in the cool blue waters would be an indispensable part of my next visit.
Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel didn’t fail to impress me. They have the best rooms, great vistas, excellent food, and their massage services are top-notch. All of that coupled with friendly and efficient service practically guarantees that all guests will enjoy they’re stay at the hotel.
Rooms
I spent 80% of my time in Boracay in my room. I had the most relaxing sleep ever. It didn’t take much time preparing for sleep as the place was so comfortable to stay at. My room had the nicest view too.
Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel has 49 bedrooms that are inspired by modern comforts. I appreciate that even inside the bedroom, you can feel that you’re in a beach. I love the tropical island setting in each of the rooms! You can choose which type of bedroom to get as each has its own unique features. Let me show you around 🙂
By the way, guest rooms are equipped with private bathrooms, split air-conditioning system, flat-screen television with cable connections, complimentary internet access, IDD/NDD telephone, complimentary coffee & tea, mini-bar, beauty and bath amenities and a digital in-room safety deposit box.
- Deluxe (Php 8,800)
Deluxe rooms include queen-size and twin-size beds. Best for group of friends who want to have a nice time together in Boracay. There are 8 deluxe rooms in Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel overall. Each room is at 25.46 sq. meters.
It was awesome how the room was so artfully decorated – can you imagine sand and shells on the desk? – that it truly made you feel you were still on the beach even while relaxing in air-conditioned comfort.
- Deluxe Family (Php 12,500)
For a much bigger group of unto five people, the Deluxe Family room is a good choice. It has two queen beds and one twin bed. Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel has a total of 2 Deluxe Family rooms, each room has an area of 34.3 sq. meters.
Since the room is located on the first floor, it will just take a few steps to go to the swimming pools in the hotel! For those who love to swim, then this is the room for you and your friends.
- Premiere Sea View (Php 8,900)
I stayed in the Premiere Sea View room. This was the perfect room for me considering the beautiful view from the balcony. Also, the size is more than enough for me. The usual arrangement of a Premiere Sea View room in Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel is a queen size-bed and twin-size bed.
However, you can choose to have a king-sized canopy bed instead of the usual queen-size/twin-size bed combination (which my room had). There are a total of 20 Premiere Sea view rooms in the hotel and each room has an area of 30.45 sq. meters.
- Premiere Deluxe Sea View (Php 10,200)
The room is quite similar to Premiere Sea view room. The only difference is that there’s a tatami bed. It can serve as an additional bed or might be a place to have your in-room massage treatments from Mandarin Spa.
The tatami bed is so cute! I had to take a picture sitting in it when we had our tour.
The balcony is just awesome! We can have a view of the pool and the beach from the room. Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel has a total of 6 Premiere Deluxe Sea View. Each room has an area of 25.46 sq. meters.
- Grand Poolside (Php 12,200)
I was totally astounded when I saw the Grand Poolside room. It shouted romance! I can safely say this room is perfect for couples and honey-mooners vacationing in Boracay.
There are a total of 10 Grand Poolside rooms in Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel and each room has a size of 26.28 sq. meters.
- Grand Deluxe Poolside (Php 14,000)
Remember the tatami bed I mentioned earlier? That’s pretty much the additional item in Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel’s Grand Deluxe Poolside rooms. It has the same awesome bathroom and has the same king canopy bed inside.
The pool is also just a few steps away as all Poolside rooms are located at the first floor. There are a total of 3 Grand Deluxe poolside rooms in Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel and each room has an area of 35.7 sq. meters.
Suites
And of course, if luxury is your thing – and why not? – then the three suites of the Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel are for you. On our last day, we were taken on a tour of the luxury suites and I must say, it exceed even my expectations. Although a stay at these suites will definitely not be for the budget traveler like me, the simple privilege of viewing them did make me feel more posh than usual.
With a flat-screen LCD satellite cable television, a DVD/CD player and iPod dock, and a surround-sound system, the suites were clearly designed for the vacationer who understands and appreciates the finest things in life. It even has an outdoor lounging area for those times when you just might want to sit around and revel in the fact that you’re in an island paradise, in the lap of luxury. Nothing says “I’ve arrived” quite as much as a stay at a Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel Suite. Unless of course it’s a stay at the Penthouse Suite.
- Penthouse Suite (Php 17,000)
Located on the top floor of the hotel. Suite area is at 67.33 sq. meters.
One of the things that really caught my attention in all the rooms at the Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel was that they featured towels folded to look like two kissing doves. I admit, it was an effort to undo that little bit of art to use the towels, but in end, wrapped in the soft pillowy whiteness of the towels, I thought “this must be what it feels like to be caught in the wings of doves.”
Needless to say, the cute little notes the attentive staff leave to remind me of breakfast and any other activities lined up for the day, were greatly appreciated.
- Ambassador Suite (Php 23,000)
The Ambassador Suite was my favorite of all the luxury rooms of the Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel. A two-room suite with a spacious 89.78 sq. meters, it features an indoor pool where you can luxuriate in complete privacy. It’s like having your own secluded island, as perfect for the discerning diplomat as it is for people who simply must get away from the maddening crowds.
- Mandarin Grand Suite (Php 25,000)
2-rooms, balcony, private pool, spacious lounging area are things you can expect in the largest suite of Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel. It has an area of 127.87 sq. meters.
The Mandarin Grand Suite is best for people who are celebrating special occasions. You can even hold your own party in the suite!
Mandarin Spa
I shared my experience with you regarding the facial spa I took in Mandarin Spa. I highly recommend you try their hilot or hot stone massages. I saw my travel companions’ blog entries about it and I’m so envious! Try it out when you visit Mandarin Spa. All spa therapists in Mandarin Spa are fully trained and their aura is so nice! Service is definitely superb!
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano
You all know that I’m a foodie by heart. Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel’s dining services went way above my expectations. Their in-house restaurant, Don Vito Ristorante Italiano, serves the yummiest food in Boracay. A must-visit for all Boracay travelers, really. I know I’ll be back there surely.
Events
Boracay is a place that everyone loves to go to. Whether we want to relax, unwind or party, Boracay always comes to mind. Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel knows that, that’s why they offer the facilities and services we’ll need. We can expect a smooth and easy planning process with their help 🙂
- Weddings
I once dreamed to have a beach wedding. However, since I’m still single, I don’t have that in mind anymore, haha! Anyhow, I know tons of couples would love to have their big day in Boracay. You can let Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel help plan for you. Intimate weddings are always the best especially if you’re overlooking the beautiful white sand beaches of Boracay. Oh, how heavenly!
- Corporate
Offsite Teambuilding is a pretty popular activity among companies. In my case, we do it annually and we usually hold it at a popular beach resort. I remember 2 years ago, we had our team building at Boracay. I hope we discovered Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel then because the hotel has great amenities. Their function rooms are great for work meetings too!
I know people might say why do we need excellent amenities in a hotel when we spend most of the time on the beach? If we can have the best of both worlds, why not, right? We get to enjoy the beautiful beach of Boracay and the activities available, as well as, get the same satisfaction when we go back to our hotel room and hotel restaurant. Then, we can say that our vacation is more than perfect.
Funny, as it seems, I was completely sick during my short trip in Boracay. The plane tickets has been bought and hotel reservations had been made so I decided to push through. It might not have been the trip that I was imagining but I surely had enough rest as I was staying in one of the most beautiful hotel in Boracay. Thanks Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel!
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Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Beach Front Station 2, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
63 (36) 288-3444
http://www.boracaymandarin.com
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On December 13, 2011
When I go to Boracay, I usually try out as many restaurants as I can. However, during my short weekend trip recently, I stayed at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel all throughout. Being sick was the main reason why I didn’t go around and another was, we were invited by Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel to try out their hotel and experience what it’s like to stay there.
Due to those reasons, all my meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) were held at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel’s in-house restaurant, Don Vito Ristorante Italiano.
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano is famous for their freshly baked breads, seafoods, pasta, wood-fire brick-oven pizza and their gelato. It’s an Italian restaurant that serves a fusion of Western, Asian and Filipino dishes.
We were able to try out almost all the specialties in the restaurant, sampling them during different times of the day. I wouldn’t wanna miss the chance of sharing with you what those sumptuous dishes are. Once you step foot in Boracay, do not forget to give Don Vito Ristorante Italiano a try. Their dishes are just so good.
I must admit, I wasn’t able to eat much in spite of the mouth-watering dishes ready to be eaten by me. Seeing my travel companions happily finishing the food and my longing to eat more after tasting the dishes, I knew I missed a whole bunch of culinary paradise. I had to choose my health over my love of food that time. I excused myself most of the time during meals to have a rest at my hotel room in Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel.
As I write this, I’m so dying with envy. I was wishing I was well and I could bring back the time that I was there. I’m taking this post as a reminder that once I go back to Boracay, I’ll give Don Vito Restaurant a visit and order my favorites so I can fully appreciate the yummy goodness of their dishes.
Appetizers
- Homemade Bread and Butter
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano’s ensaymadas are a must-try. You’ll also get a surprise when you take a bite as they have a special ingredient inside those super yummingly fresh-to-goodness pastry. While sampling the bread, we were actually suggesting to the owner that they must make more of those and offer it outside Don Vito too!
- Papaya Shrimp Boat (Php 350)
This was the first dish that I saw in Don Vito and boy, was I impressed! Look at the presentation! It was so nice! We were all staring at the dish and were all shy to plunge in, haha! Anyhow, we still had to try out the dish so we did! Well, the presentation matched the taste! It was a refreshing shrimp salad dish. I had eaten a similar dish before but it was garnished with cream. Don Vito gave it a twist by putting fresh papaya, how neat & healthy!
- Shrimp Cocktail (Php 250)
Love shrimps? Then this appetizer is for you. Don Vito’s shrimp cocktail has shrimps served cold and crisp with a crispy cocktail sauce and lemon. Perfect to order at night time 😛
- Rock Oyster Supremo (Php 250)
12 pieces of baked fresh oyster topped with mozzarella cheese & herbs. baked to perfection.
This is one dish that I will keep raving over and over! This has got to be the tastiest baked oyster I have tasted so far! I will definitely go back to Don Vito for this. Their Rock Oyster Supremo will be the first dish I will tell the server when I order in the future. Supremo as the title says – yes, indeed!
- Mozzarella Cheese Sticks (Php 180)
This is the first time that I saw mozzarella cheese sticks being served on a bed of salad greens. It looked healthy doesn’t it? hahaha! Not sure? However, it worked! Imagine my surprise when I saw how much it was priced! You’re getting more than what you paid for. The dish was drizzled with pesto sauce for flavoring. I really love the uniqueness of Don Vito Ristorante Italiano’s dishes.
Salad
All salads are served with Italian foccacia bread.
I wasn’t able to taste any of the salads but I was completely full just by taking pictures of them. So here’s a photo essay of the 2 salad dishes that were served during our stay there.
- Chef Salad (Php 275)
Medley of select garden greens, topped with swiss cheese, ham and boiled eggs. choice of dressing.
- Exotic Mandarin Salad (Php 300)
Soup
- Boracay Island Harvest Chowder (Php 100)
This chowder was full of flavors. It was too rich for my taste! Wow! I felt like I’d be full already just by finishing this one cup 🙂 Don Vito’s Boracay Island Harvest Chowder consists of mixed seafoods and sweet corn.
Main Dishes
As I’ve mentioned, I wasn’t able to fully enjoy Don Vito Ristorante Italiano due to me being sick that time. I took pictures and took a bite on some of Don Vito’s specialties. Among all the main dishes listed below, I was only able to taste the Osso Bucco… So please forgive me as I share with you another photo essay of Don Vito Ristorante Italiano’s main dishes.
- Grilled Island Herb Chicken (Php 295)
A juicy boneless half chicken, special marinated with a hint of thyme, basil and tarragon, served with mushroom gravy sauce, rice and vegetables.
- Osso Bucco (Php 420)
Beef shanks braised in tomato, roasted garlic and red wine, meltingly tender, flavorful combination of beef and vegetables.
A must-order!! I love beef shanks and sometimes, other restaurants overcook it. I love that Don Vito has perfected this. If I recall, I was the one who finished this dish on our side of the table 🙂 So tender, so tasty and oh so delicious!
- 1L Wahoo Lemon (Php 295)
Fresh grilled tanigue fish served with lemon butter sauce.
- Parmesan-Crusted Swordfish (Php 295)
Grilled fresh swordfish fillet topped with parmesan crusted.
- Pepper Steak (Php 1,400/12 oz)
New York steak grilled to perfection with peppercorn mushroom.
- Jumbo Prawns Neptune (Php 450)
Prawns meat sautéed in butter, shallot and young coconut shredded, and herb pernod wine.
Pizza
Oh, yes! Don Vito prides itself for having authentic, hand-tossed pizza baked in the traditional brick oven. You even see a chef statue outside the restaurant ushering us to try out their popular pizza! 😀
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano’s pizza is available in 2 sizes: family (14″) and large (11″). They have several kinds of pizza but you can also order additional toppings depending on your liking.
We tried three of their pizza bestsellers during our first meal at Don Vito. They were so good! That also adds to the fact that I prefer thin-crust pizza 😀 I’ll rank the three based on my liking… so wanna see my verdict? Read below 🙂
- Giardinera Pizza (family-Php410, large-Php 330)
Roch’s # 3 choice.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, grilled eggplant, asparagus, bell pepper, zucchini, onions, tomato and fresh basil.
- Islander’s Pizza (family-Php 435, large-Php 350)
Roch’s # 2 choice.
Hawaiian style pizza, topped with pineapples, ham, shrimp, tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, grated romano cheese, chopped basil leaves and sprinkled with oregano, red pepper flakes and olive oil. served on thin crust.
- Don Vito’s Special (family-Php 430, large-Php 350)
Roch’s # 1 choice: Don Vito Restaurant called this their godfather of all pizza. I mean hello? It was the same for me. Among the three pizzas we tried out, this was a clear winner 🙂
The godfather of all pizza, topped with tomato sauce, diced ham, sliced fresh tomatoes, pepperoni, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. served on Don Vito’s very own homemade thin crust.
Pasta
all pasta served with foccacia bread.
Here’s another photo essay but I must say, the linguine carbonara is still lingering in my hearty food mind 😛
- Fettucine Don Vito (Php 330)
Fettuccini noodles tossed with sun dried tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, topped with grilled breast chicken, finished with aromatic herbs and spices.
- Linguine Carbonara (Php 320)
Egg noodle pasta cooked to perfection, tossed in a creme of garlic and shallots, double smoked bacon and green onions, topped with parmesan cheese.
- Classic Spaghetti with Meatballs (Php 360)
Spaghetti in tomato sauce, served with meatballs made from ground beef meat, mixed with sautéed onions, parsley, garlic and egg.
Dessert
A meal will never ever be complete without dessert. In Don Vito Ristorante Italiano, their Gelato is the one that people always come back for. Even without having a meal, people drop by Don Vito to have their fix of authentic Italian Ice cream. It’s something you can have anytime of the day, anytime you want…
But you know they also have other desserts and I was able to try them too! Check it out.
- Tiramisu ala Don Vito (Php 150)
I love how Don Vito presented their Tiramisu. The lady finger cookies were a nice touch, making the dessert more playful. If I remember it right, I was eating it one by one while also spooning the rich mix of brandy, creme and mascarpone cheese, garnished with chocolate and coco powder.
- Don Vito Gelato (Php 100)
Don Vito’s very own authentic Italian ice cream. Everyone’s favorite in Boracay! 🙂
- Spiced Pineapple
What a beautiful looking dessert. I could see, based on the dish how creative the chef was. Having one main ingredient into a dessert that looked like a million dollars. The pineapple dessert was presented 2 ways: (1) sweet cinnamon, pineapple topped with creme brûlée and (2) a scoop of Don Vito gelato placed on a cookie. Eating that dessert was pure blissfulness.
- Season’s Platter (Php 300)
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano didn’t just give us a generous serving of freshly sliced fruits but they presented it in style. How lovely 🙂 If you love to eat fruits before or after your meal, then don’t miss out on Don Vito’s Season platter.
Wow! That’s so much food in one post! hahaha! I think I’ve been writing this for several hours now and my stomach isn’t happy! My mind longed for Boracay and Don Vito Ristorante Italiano. Their food is just one of the best in the beautiful paradise of Boracay.
In fact, Asia Tatler Dining gave Don Vito Ristorante Italiano a great recognition as one of Philippine’s Best Restaurants of 2011. Isn’t that enough proof that they serve the yummiest food?
I’ll be back Don Vito, I promise 😉
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Don Vito Ristorante Italiano
Ground Floor, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Beachfront, Station 2, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
63 (36) 288-5999
http://www.boracaymandarin.com/dining.php
Breakfast Buffet at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On December 12, 2011
My Boracay trip last November 26-27 must be the shortest trip I’ve ever had there. In spite of spending such a short time, we made good use of the time. The itinerary was jam-packed but it was made with pure fun in mind.
The most important meal in anyone’s day is breakfast. One thing that I really love when staying in a hotel is that it always includes free breakfast (buffet type for most establishments). Since we were staying at one of the best hotels in Boracay, the Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, I already knew that we would have great food to start the day. Not to mention that the buffet would be served in Don Vito Ristorante Italiano (Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel‘s in-house restaurant), an award-winning restaurant in the country.
When I entered the place after a restful sleep, I was greeted with holiday decorations of Don Vito Ristorante Italiano. You can really feel Christmas all over the restaurant. They didn’t just add holiday decorations but they also changed some of the accessories on the table. It really felt so much like Christmas, you really didn’t need to wait for the 25th anymore. Eating your first meal at such a happy place is already equivalent to celebrating Christmas breakfast.
Breakfast buffet at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel is served daily from 6AM to 10AM. The meal is included in the published rates of the hotel. However, if you’re already checked in at another hotel but would want to have your breakfast at Don Vito Ristorante Italiano, then the rate is at Php350++ per head.
Here’s what you can expect and I must say, it’s worth the price:
- Salad Bar
- Soup & Arroz Caldo (Pinoy congee)
- Cereal & Oatmeal
Servers are more than happy to prepare the oatmeal for us so you don’t have to worry if you don’t know how to make one (like me :P).
- Don Vito’s freshly made bread and pastries
Do not miss their ensaymada. It’s made of pure yumminess!
- Different kinds of Cheeses
- Fruits in Season
- Fusion of Western, Filipino and Asian dishes
Pasta salad, pickled papaya, danggit, plain rice, morisqueta fried rice, pineapple pancake, pommes au gratin, sotanghon guisado, embotido, chicken teriyaki, bacon, ham, corned beef and more. With those selections, it’s more than enough to fill our empty stomach. As a bonus, they tasted delicious too!
- Drinks
Coffee & tea are also available by request. As for me, after having experienced the facial at Mandarin Spa, I had to specially request for the salabat (ginger tea). Everyone was already laughing at me as even early in the morning, it was still the salabat that I had in mind 😛
- Omelette
My favorite part of every hotel buffet is that we can have chefs cook fresh omelettes for us. I was so happy to see that customers are treated with so much good service. We can request for chefs to cook our oatmeal, our omelettes, eggs, etc. We were pretty spoiled that morning.. 🙂
I feel that if you’re in Boracay, I highly suggest you take your breakfast at Don Vito Ristorante Italiano (Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel). For just Php350++, you can have unlimited servings of numerous dishes PLUS you get to eat in a well-designed and award-winning restaurant. Come to think of it, when we order ala carte in restaurants, it’ll also cost around Php200-300 per order. Then why not just spend Php 350++ and eat tons of yummy food 😀
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Breakfast Buffet at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Php 350++, 6-10 a.m.
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano, G/F, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Beachfront, Station 2, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
63 (36) 288-5999
http://www.boracaymandarin.com/dining.php