Azumi Boutique Hotel, Alabang Manila — Hotel in Muntinlupa

I stayed at Azumi for a two week period in May and June. I will begin with the highlight of the stay. Each floor of the hotel appears to have a dedicated staff member for housekeeping who is generally on the floor for approximately 5 hours a day. Phillip was my attendant on the 8th floor. He is very good at his job and went above and beyond with his service offering assistance where frontdesk staff failed to measure up. He always made sure that my water was resupplied and fitted my bed with an extra topsheet. He was engaging and easy to talk to. When I had questions about finding things in the local area he was very helpful. Phillip has been working in the hotel industry for approximately 5 years. He has a college degree in hotel management. It was quite surprising and disappointing to see that Azumi does not see his management potential and has relegated him to housekeeping. He was far more customer service oriented and definitely more knowledgeable about hotel policy and the local area than some members of the frontdesk staff. As for the rest of my experience at the hotel, it was a mixed bag. The hotel is very pretty with lots of locals using the venue for wedding photos and events. I never tried the restaurant but it always smelled very good. The staff are very kind and courteous and they seem genuine. The room. I stayed on the 8th floor in a queen room which came with a kitchenette equipped with a large refrigerator, microwave, sink and eating utensils but no knife. The bed was comfortable and the shower had hot water. There is a FREE washer dryer unit on the premises and a communal kitchen for cooking which is great. Unfortunately, that is where my compliments end. The walls and ceiling are thin so I could hear the other occupants well into the wee hours of the night. The front door did little to keep out the noise in the hall. For some reason multiple families thought it was appropriate to allow their small children to run up and down the halls disturbing the other guests. Late in the evening and in the early morning hours I could hear drunk people outside on the street below. The AC unit in the hotel room was woefully underpowered for the space so at the hottest times of the day the room was not comfortable. The lack of a knife for eating became an issue for me because one evening when I requested a one so that I could eat my steak dinner in my room, a male frontdesk staff member (whose name escapes me) stated it was against hotel policy to allow knives in the room. The next day, cue Phillip to the rescue. I recounted my encounter from the previous night to him and he explained that it was in fact a policy however, one should have been furnished upon request. And true to form, within minutes Phillip had a knife in my room with my promise that I would not use it to stab anyone. The elevators are horrible! They have two but they are interminably slow. I spent several occasions waiting for 5 minutes after pushing the call button. And every day at checkout time I opted to take the stairs because the wait times could be much longer. The gym. I selected this hotel for price and unique look, but primarily for the gym. First, the gym is on a converted parking level and open to the elements so there is no AC. On the occasion that I ventured down, there was a smell of exhaust fumes. I should have paid more attention to the pictures because this was more like a home gym for someone who doesn't really exercise. Most of the equipment is very lightweight and flimsy. The pullup/dip bar felt as though it would tip over when I attempted to use it. the sit-up benches had rubber bands attached that offered very little resistance. I've never seen a treadmill as small as the one they had. I actually confused it for a scale. It reminded me of the large scales veterinarians have in their offices for weighing dogs. All their cycles are the kind for spin classes with the hard seats. It was all a very poor mix of equipment. Overall my stay was disappointing but Phillip definitely made is more bearable. He...

Apologies for this long overdue review. First time my fam of 3 stayed here was January 2016. My American husband and my young child then felt very at home with the regular bedroom-with-daybed. The layout and simple clean design was perfect. Fast forward summer 2024, my now teen and I ended up booking at Azumi for a month-long stay. Here's what we’ve appreciated from Azumi: |1. Staff took care of my booking personally from day 1 through the day we left, including shuttle to airport. She was thoughtful, considerate and efficient in checking on us regularly, and following through whatever we asked and needed. (thanks so much, Karla) |2. We were given the best deal for our one-month stay! We're able to stay without breaking the bank so to speak. 3. Room housekeeping was hands-down the BEST too from all my hotel experiences, due to RJ (please recognize and promote him!) being very thorough, very clean, very efficient and 100% on top of what we needed in our room daily - he always asked what else we needed and took note of them. There were no wastes too because he knew exactly what hotel stuff we used and did not overstuff us with anything unnecessary. My teen loved the extra bed care RJ did every time he cleaned our room as seen in photo (thanks so much RJ!). |4. All other hotel staff, from Romulo Cafe waiters, hotel movie staff for kids/families, parking attendants/security, to front door security have always been warm, welcoming and helpful which esp. helped my daughter feel at home and at ease staying in a foreign country. Sir Efren (Cafe) was always very personal and went above and beyond serving us at the dining area or sending room service. |5. Front staff were very professional, courteous and reliable. I did notice a few of them still needing MORE training in customer service – offering help, recommendations, etc that make tenants’ stay, esp those that are not from Manila or the Philippines, more comfortable. Like for example informing/warning me and my daughter 1. critical parking scheds (i wasnt prepared for several days when hotel ran out of parking space during our first weeks even just past 7PM and making us walk in the rain and in the dark while carrying heavy personal bags and groceries from back of building), 2. that there was available laundry and dryer for tenants (i only learned this from another hotel guest on our 3rd week!), even if on a 1st come 1st served basis it still would have helped organize our stay better early on. |6. RECOMMENDATION/SUGGESTION to a problem: it can get really loud in the hallway with all the guests going in and out their rooms, esp when there are families assigned to multiple rooms on the same floor. Doesnt matter what time. Most concerning was one night they were FIGHTing and language was graphic. Granted cant do anything about the thickness of the walls/sound insulation, but can MASK it somehow. PLEASE PLAY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC - jazz or classical, no vocals - in the hallway daily. Why? Even if music is loud, it’s soothing vs noise, and doesnt distract or drown out conversations between those who are close. It is effective in masking the talking and noise a bit. Again, thank you, keep it up (don’t get sloppy and deteriorate in reputation, remain excellent!), and hope to stay...

Review of Azumi Boutique Hotel – 4 Stars

We had an amazing 3D2N stay at Azumi Boutique Hotel to celebrate my mom’s birthday. Although this was a last-minute booking—after our initial reservation at another hotel was bumped off—we were pleasantly surprised by the overall experience.

Birthday Request Upon check-in, we politely asked the receptionist if they offered a complimentary cupcake or dessert to celebrate my mom’s birthday. Unfortunately, they do not provide such amenities. However, they did give us a personalized birthday greeting card, which was still a thoughtful gesture.

Room We booked a Queen Room with Sofa, approximately 25 sqm. Although it was the only available room at the time, it had everything we needed. The room had a condotel-style layout and came equipped with: *A hot and cold shower *Microwave oven *Refrigerator *Kettle *Utensils, plates, cups, mugs, and a sink *Towels, slippers, and a laundry bag

The space was practical and ideal for short stays, especially if you plan to heat or prepare simple meals.

Rooftop Pool The rooftop infinity pool, though small, is one of the hotel’s highlights. Located on the penthouse level, it offers a breathtaking view of Laguna de Bay, the city skyline, and nearby areas. During the daytime, the sight is calming and scenic. Come sunset, the city transforms into shades of orange and red—a perfect moment to unwind. A big plus: the pool is open until 12 midnight, allowing late-night dips with a view.

Public Areas The reception, buffet, waiting, and parking areas are quite compact. During peak hours, it can feel crowded and noisy as conversations easily echo through the limited space. There's also an outdoor waiting area, but due to extreme weather conditions during our stay, staying indoors was preferable.

Areas for Improvement Shower Privacy -The bathroom has a glass wall, which might be uncomfortable for some guests. While there is a roll-up shade for modesty, I think using frosted glass or a more permanent privacy solution would be more appropriate.

Electrical Safety (Room 1006) -We noticed that the wire casing under the bathroom sink near the toilet was slightly open, possibly due to a makeshift electrical connection. This raises safety concerns, especially if water splashes in the area. I suggest the hotel address this immediately to avoid potential hazards.

Parking -Parking is tight and limited. We recommend that the hotel prioritize guest vehicles and consider setting a limit on the number of cars per room. Otherwise, guests may be forced to park in a nearby paid facility, which can be quite costly. Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) Value for Money: 4.5/5 Location: 5/5 Room: 3/5 Hotel Amenities: 3.5/5 Despite a few concerns, our experience at Azumi Hotel was memorable and enjoyable. It's a great option for short getaways, especially for those looking for a relaxing ambiance with great views. We'd consider staying again—with a few improvements, it could easily be a...