Modern travelers who hate feeling like they’re staying in a cookie cutter room beside and atop other identical ones might like The Henry Hotel in Cebu City.
Each of the 38 rooms is different from the last and features vintage furnishings, quirky touches, and unique murals by Filipino artists.
With a focus on mid-century pieces that are the personal collection of the owner, the rooms also have varnished concrete floors, modern comfy beds, and lots of amenities — like the free slippers that say “right” and “wrong,” instead of the more expected “right” and “left.”
Reviewers rave about the large room sizes — which range from the room type called “Big” at 36 square meters to one called “XX-Large” at 108 square meters.
They also like the hotel’s location near the CBD and airport and posing for photos in the ‘60s-era Volkswagen Bug that is part of the hotel’s decor.
On check in, visitors are greeted by staff decked out in old-school bowties and nerdy glasses. The front desk has vintage skeleton keys hanging on the wall behind as if they’ve accidentally stepped into a Wes Anderson movie.
Guests don’t need to worry though. They’re just for looks and you’ll get a modern keycard for your own accommodation.
The hotel’s social media shows a pool that looks perfect for passing an afternoon beside when the heat of Cebu gets to be too much.
Or chill in their library — with the inspiring saying on the wall: “Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax” — and common area with vintage board games, plush toys, and other things to play with.
Their in-house restaurant “Rica” has a vintage comic book theme with artwork and accents that look like they could have been lifted directly from Roy Lichtenstein.
Their menu offers items like the cleverly named Spam Burger (PHP320/US$6), which isn’t Spam at all, but rather a warm spinach and ham sandwich. The Forty Chicken (PHP380/US$7.2) is actually a recipe popular decades ago in the States, which features a whole roasted chicken with forty cloves of garlic.
For those looking to go local, the Lengua (PHP350/US$6.7) is ox tongue with demi-glaze, and the Beef Tapa (PHP380/US$7.2) is a smoky-sweet delight with egg.
Finish off your meal with Brazo Montecado (PHP185/US$3.5), a traditional layered frozen dessert, or Monkey Business (PHP185/US$3.5), an ice cream sundae topped with banana, Nutella, and chocolate that’s sure to be a hit with kids.
The Henry also has a sister property in Manila, another boutique stay by the same name designed by Eric Paras. That 34-room spot is housed in a historic home, but those who prefer the Cebu location seem to do so due to lower prices and a more relaxed vibe.
FIND IT:
Henry Hotel Cebu
Paseo Saturnino
Cebu City
Rooms from PHP3,450 (US$66)
