Manila has long been sculpted by the tides of empire, commerce, and culture—a capital where centuries-old churches cast shadows over glass towers, and where the nation’s restless energy pulses through every district. Beneath its dynamism lies a storied past: once a thriving port of the galleon trade, later a crossroads of East and West, and, today, a metropolis reclaiming its place on the global stage. Within this storied mosaic that is Metro Manila, Parañaque has emerged as one of its most ambitious frontiers. At the heart of the city lies Entertainment City, where exquisite architecture meets world-class indulgence, enlivened by the warmth of Filipino culture. It’s within this enclave where its pioneering star continues to outshine.
Enter Solaire.
The first luxury development to rise in the district, Solaire signalled Parañaque’s confident stride into Asia’s high-end hospitality arena. Located 15 minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, its twin towers stand as a lodestar against the horizon, their reflective façade alluding to a world of seclusion and spectacle. Designed by American architect Paul Steelman, whose portfolio spans Sands Macau and Resorts World Las Vegas, the resort is a study in elevated maximalism. Here, Art Deco geometry meets Gilded Age opulence, with contemporary Filipino artworks and a floral-infused design language creating a refined syzygy of nature, glamour, and heritage. This aesthetic extends seamlessly through the hotel, and up into its 793 rooms, suites, and villas across the Bay and Sky Towers.
From elegant rooms to luxurious suites and villas—culminating in the palatial 936 sq m Chairman’s Villa overlooking Manila Bay—Solaire articulates comfort with precision. Warm, intuitive hospitality defines the experience, from cloud-soft beds to a memorable in-room dining experience. Picture this: the rising sun over Manila Bay waking you up and filling the room with a warm, amber hue. As if on cue, the door knocks and in rolls a glorious spread of airy pan de sal and ensaymada, paired with classic American breakfast fare, luring you out of your morning stupor. It is the embodiment of luxury comfort.
This is in part due to the resort’s layered culinary landscape. Across 19 restaurants and bars, Solaire presents global flavours with unmistakable finesse—but perhaps its greatest strength is attentiveness. “I called the F&B director, telling them that Suren doesn’t eat chicken or chicken powder,” shared Joy Wassmer, director of PR and communications. And just like that, dishes were adjusted, and even menus reprinted to reflect the change—a small, perhaps needless gesture, but one that clearly spoke a message: “We listen.”
Solaire’s three signature restaurants—each helmed by world-renowned chefs—anchor its dining prestige. At Finestra, executive chef Andrea Spagoni serves modern renditions of Italian classics paired with sommelier-chosen wines, as jazzy tunes liven the opulent space. Over at Yakumi, executive chef Jin Suzuki showcases the freshest seafood, flown in twice weekly from Tokyo’s famed Toyosu Market, in elaborate Japanese dishes. And at Red Lantern, Cantonese classics—from steamed cod to wok-fried prawns—arrive elevated yet comfortingly familiar to my Malaysian palette.
Pleasure, of course, extends well beyond the plate. Hosting thousands of gaming machines and hundreds of gaming tables, the 30,200 sq m casino is perhaps where Solaire’s biggest draw lies, raising the resort as a world-class entertainment complex that draws local players and global high-rollers alike. The gaming facility spans two floors, with the opulent chandelier-filled upper level reserved for elite players seeking privacy and polish. For more predictable thrills, however, The Shoppes offers a refined retail arcade, with a promenade of luxury houses that turn a casual meander into an immersion in luxury. Also renowned is the 14,000 sq ft spa, a sanctuary of jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, and treatment suites, while the fitness and sports centres provide everything from Pilates and CrossFit studios to pickleball courts and golf simulators.
There is, undeniably, much to experience at Solaire. Whether you prefer tightly packed itineraries or the unhurried rhythms of slow luxury, the resort delivers with ease. Yet, what distinguishes Solaire is not the exuberance of it all, but the care that underpins it all. It is the warm Filipino hospitality and the attention to your comfort, as a guest of Solaire, that truly set the resort as a standout in the arena of luxury travel.
