THE BAYLEAF’s VIEW AND VISION
THE BAYLEAF INTRAMUROS MAY BE A BOUTIQUE HOTEL among the city’s big hotel chains, but it boasts of something no other hotel has – the best vantage point of Manila within the walls of the historic Intramuros, and the hotel surely takes full advantage of its best asset.
The hotel’s latest venture, Raffaele, specializes in woodbrick oven pizzas and other authentic Italian fare. Though it is not very high up, on the third floor, the view of Intramuros, through its glass walls, is priceless.
The Sky Deck, an al fresco lounge on the roof deck, offers diners a 360-degree unobstructed view of Manila, where they can enjoy live music under the stars.
9 Spoons, the hotel’s allday dining restaurant and events place, is known for its heritage selection of Filipino food which perfectly complement the view of the walled city, a testament to the country’s own heritage.
While enjoying the panoramic view of the Intramuros golf course greens and the Manila skyline, diners are treated to a buffet of Filipino favorites including the popular, almost legendary, to-die-for bagnet, a pinakbet even a true-blue Ilocano raved about, kare-kare and callos.
The restaurant’s signature dessert is a play on bread pudding, with a Filipino twist – ensaimada. The pastry gives the pudding a light, airy texture, which elevates it from the usual dense bread pudding, served with a dollop (or more) of sweet custard.
General manager Ed Vitug explains that they came up with the name, 9 Spoons, for several reasons – first, he wanted to emphasize that the restaurant is located at the hotel’s penthouse, on the ninth floor. From a cooking standpoint, he adds, there are nine spoon measurements. Finally, what sealed the deal for the restaurant’s name was the happy coincidence that Sotero and Lorna, the patriarch and matriarch of the Laurel clan that manages the hotel, have nine children.
The view, and undoubtedly the service, of The Bayleaf Intramuros has prompted guests to give it high ratings on travel websites like Agoda and TripAdvisor, garnering for the hotel the coveted TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award for three consecutive years. In 2013, only two years after the hotel started operations, The Bayleaf also received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, placing the hotel in the top-performing 10 percent of all listed businesses, not only in the Philippines, but worldwide.
Vitug, who has been with the hotel since its inception, is proud of its rapid and consistent growth. In fact, The Bayleaf is now ready to branch out. Many properties are being considered, in Tagaytay, Laguna even Davao. Vitug is currently focused on The Bayleaf branch in General Trias, Cavite which is slated to open in January next year, while designs are already being developed for The Bayleaf Baguio.
At the same time, Vitug continues to develop Bayleaf Intramuros. “There are so many things that we can do,” he says.
The Bayleaf currently serves as the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)’s research and teaching hotel, with students comprising some 40 percent of their employees. While students successfully get their handson training here, Vitug says he and his team continue to develop ideas for more synergy of the LPU’s culinary institute and the hotel itself. With a learning facility such as Bayleaf, the university has become well-known for its culinary program.
“Travelers are getting younger and younger,” Vitug observes. He sees the tie-up with LPU as an asset as the hotel is able to integrate the students’ enthusiasm into their service.
Vitug’s vision for The Bayleaf is for it to continue being the leader in proudly Filipino-- and owned boutique hotels. He also looks forward to bringing The Bayleaf brand to many other destinations around the country. As it gets easier and easier to travel to Cavite, Baguio and other destinations, The Bayleaf prepares to receive its new guests. The general manager says, “When they’re ready, we’ll be there.”