Soleste Suites

Soleste is a small independent hotel with a friendly, laid-back vibe and a contemporary style throughout. The lobby is bright and pleasant, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a dark front desk, and a couple of red couches around a coffee table. Directly adjacent is the cafe, which features a handful of tables and a furnished terrace overlooking Rajah Matanda Street. A color palette of red, orange, cream, and different hues of brown makes for a generic yet attractive space. This decor style extends to rooms, which feature a similar choice of colors, and equally contemporary furniture. It may not be the cheapest hotel in town, but it does offer great freebies and fairly stylish rooms for a budget hotel.

The hotel is located on the corner of quiet Rajah Matanda Street and busy Katipunan Avenue, one of Quezon’s largest thoroughfares. There are a few cheap restaurants and bars nearby, but there is more to be found about a mile away, closer to the student area. Directly north of the property are two of the top universities in the Philippines, Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila. Cubao, one of Quezon’s most famous shopping areas, is a short drive away. Central Manila, however, is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Makati business district is a little closer, but main roads are generally congested and travel time can be longer than expected. The international airport is a 40-minute drive away.

The hotel offers 34 rooms, including Standard, Deluxe, Junior Suites, and a Penthouse. Decor is contemporary in all units, with a few stylish details such as cylindrical lamps, large padded headboards, and wooden furniture in two shades of brown. Amenities are surprisingly modern for a hotel in this price range, and include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, minibars (empty mini-fridges in some), and electric kettles with free coffee and tea. A few rooms have a small balcony, and the penthouse features a large furnished terrace complete with a hot tub. Standard rooms are small, with just about enough space for a twin bed and a small table with two chairs. Bathrooms are clean but generally tight; Junior Suites and the Penthouse have slightly larger bathrooms with tubs, but the rest of the rooms have basic showers.

Despite being a small budget hotel, Soleste Suites offers a good array of amenities. The cafe serves free a la carte breakfast, snacks, and a few entrees in a bright, contemporary space right off the lobby. The fitness center is a single room with large windows and basic equipment, including cardio machines and weights.Those looking to get some work done can use the computers available in the small business center, or organize a meeting in one of the hotel’s four board rooms. Great freebies such as Wi-Fi, a la carte breakfast, and on-site parking are all available.