My partner and I stayed at The Sphere Residence for about a month, and overall, it was a very comfortable and enjoyable experience. The room was cleaned daily and kept in excellent condition. From the front desk staff and security to the room service team, everyone was friendly, accommodating, and professional.
The room itself included everything we needed for a long stay: a comfortable bed, a fully equipped kitchen, a functional shower (with great water pressure after the heater was switched on upon request), a dining area, and a cozy living space with a sofa. We did buy a few extra kitchen utensils ourselves, such as a peeler, a small knife, and a pair of scissors, as these weren’t initially provided — something to keep in mind if you plan on cooking regularly. One standout team member was Keno from room service, who helped maintain our floor and made our stay even more pleasant with his attention to detail.
During our stay, we accidentally broke a small glass jar that was used for decorative purposes. We were asked to replace it at our own expense. The staff handled the situation politely and professionally, but it's good to note that any accidental damage, even minor, is expected to be compensated by guests.
We were on one of the higher floors, and the view from our window was quite nice, though partially obstructed by neighboring buildings. The windows were a bit dirty on the outside, which affected the clarity of the view, especially if you wanted to take photos with your phone. This didn’t take away from the overall experience, but it’s worth noting if you’re hoping for crystal-clear views.
The building also offers useful amenities, including a covered outdoor swimming pool and a gym. Just a heads-up: gym users are required to wear appropriate footwear (such as sneakers), as slippers and going barefoot are not allowed.
The location of the residence is a major plus. It’s situated near everything you might need — laundry services, local shops, and the Paseo Center supermarket. Just around the corner, you'll find the beautiful Ayala Triangle Gardens, perfect for a relaxing walk or just soaking in the warm weather and lush surroundings.
While our stay was overwhelmingly positive, there were a few minor drawbacks. The air conditioning units, particularly the ones in adjacent rooms, could be noisy at times due to dripping water. The kitchen's extractor hood also made quite a bit of noise. We found that the freezer didn’t quite keep our ice cream frozen, which was a bit of a letdown in the Philippine heat. The Wi-Fi occasionally required reconnection due to security settings, but when connected, it worked well.
The television had a limited channel selection. While we enjoyed the HBO channel, the movies repeated often, and there were few international channels. It also didn’t support any streaming apps, which would have been a great addition for longer stays. Having a Chromecast or similar device available would make it easier to stream content like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+.
In terms of cleanliness, we did spot a couple of bugs in the bathroom, likely coming from the drain under the sink. While not ideal, it's not entirely surprising given the tropical climate. Still, only encountering a few over an entire month is relatively minor.
Price-wise, The Sphere Residence is on the higher end for Makati. However, the comfort, location, and service do justify the cost — we would have stayed even longer if the rates had been a bit more budget-friendly.
We also rented a scooter during our stay (from Renta Motor Manila, located north of the residence), and we were initially concerned about parking. Fortunately, after checking with the front desk and security, parking the bike for a few days was no issue at all.
In summary, our stay at The Sphere Residence was very comfortable, and I’d happily recommend it — especially for first-time visitors to Makati. The convenient location, quality service, and thoughtful amenities make it a solid choice for both short and...
Read moreAbsolutely awesome. Nothing to complain about. Second time I’ve stayed here. First time was for 2 nights and the second was for almost a month. One bedroom suite both times. The views were so pretty and the breakfast from George & Onnie’s was delicious (best pastry - it tastes as good as it looks). Stand out was the staff. Eman at the front desk was always kind, professional and super helpful; the women at the front desk were approachable and full of smiles; the guards at the door always prompt; and the cleaners (one in particular - he cleaned room 2119 often and had a pregnant wife during my October stay - was professional, fast and cleaned throughly. I would like to thank them and wish them all the very best in their future pursuits.
I did not intend to write a long review but I hope the following information helps anyone considering the Sphere for long stays in Makati:
The equipment in the kitchen was limited but you could always ask the front desk for certain extras or just buy the items yourself (Shopee was helpful as you could get items ordered to the lobby).
There is no washing machine or a laundry room for you to wash your own laundry. This was easily solved. Nearby (2 minutes walk from the hotel) there is a laundry service shop called ‘Cubby’s’. You pay with cash at their premises and they deliver to the Sphere at no extra cost.
The gym and pool are very useful, especially when you need to burn off all the pastry calories. Limited machines at the gym but it does the job. Lovely pool.
If you need anything (extra towels, something breaks, something needs extra cleaning or something is not to your liking, do not hesitate to contact the front desk - they will help you as much as they can within reason - as I said, super helpful).
Great location. Paseo center with marketplace nearby for groceries. Many things in walking distance. I didn’t have to spend so much on taxis. Greenbelt mall was quite close too. Approximately 15-20 minutes walk. Harder in the heat but possible.
Don’t let the 3 star rating put you off. It’s worth more. The Expedia rating (9/10 at the time of booking) was closer to my experience. The furniture has clearly been used but that’s what you would expect from a home away from home.
Overall, it was worth the cost. I would definitely stay again and I will be recommending it to...
Read moreI have already written two TripAdvisor reviews about The Sphere praising the service and the amenities. For this reason, I was extremely disappointed within 30min of checking in during my most recent stay. First, the TV remote was not working. After the technician came and fiddled with it and the Digibox, I found that MORE THAN HALF of the non-local cable CHANNELS LISTED BY THE HOTEL as being supposedly available were NOT. Shouldn’t they have ensured that everything was working BEFORE the guest, who is tired from a flight and preparing for meetings, CHECKS IN?
To make matters worse, the two people at the desk whom I called separately were not helpful with their ‘template’ answers of “I understand” and “We will send Engineering” (which was no help at all).
The rude, lazy replies of “Uh-hmm” were particularly off-putting. You’re not talking to a peer, a boyfriend, or younger sibling. Also, when you promise to see what you can do, DO something and keep the guest apprised of updates.. There was absolutely NO FOLLOW-THROUGH of their promise to see if they could move me to a better room.
SUCH LITTLE THINGS to some, perhaps.
But it wasn’t about the TV—- it was the cavalier and lackadaisical response. I am amazed that people in the service industry think “Pasensya” and “I understand” and “Talagang ganyan po kailangan ma-update” are acceptable. I’ve been a world traveller since the mid-70s. It’s never the luxurious facilities or the glitz, but the service and proper communication that puts a hotel a cut above the rest.
Only the bell boys, cleaning personnel, and security guards saved the day—- they’re unerringly helpful, cheerful, and polite.
I still appreciate the clean room, the big bathrobes, firm mattress, soft pillows, one fluffy towel (the other one wasn’t), the fact that there are sockets everywhere, and location. But this latest experience has made The Sphere a...
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