lobby lounge - diamond hotel

i tried some of their pasta but it was just okay. i am expecting a little twist or some specialtasteto it since it's a bit pricey. i only took a photo of the dessert since its good. the chocolate cake is moist and the macarons are well created. i wish they have more dessert choices too.

in the location you have two option either drink the cheapest possible sachet coffee and sit on the curve or sit comfortably inside the lounge and order a frappe coffee. i choose the latter which i dreadfully regret. let me paint you a picture, a tall clear glass dark coffee and whip cream with a side of sweet syrup. thetastewell it was ok, i mean nothing special. the price? double the price of a coffee from a well known coffee hang out here in the philippines. i mean we are not talking about illy or civet cat coffee we are talking about a brewed coffee in an 8 ounce clear glass with ice and whip. i cant find any excuse for a coffee that would cost so much. next time i will be better off on the curve. partly it was my fault. i have some relative staying in their hotel and i waited for them in the most unfortunate place and before i asked for the menu i already said that i will be ordering some drink. since i dont want to waste her energy and i dont want to embarrass myself by taking back what i said i was kinda curious what an $8 coffeetastelike. yes i am a cheapskate! but then again if it is worth it and i want to splurge, why not. but this is definitely not worth it.

no visit at diamond hotel is ever complete without buying their ube emsaymada at the lobby lounge. this has to be the most expensive piece of ensaymada in the market unless i haven't seen anything go beyond their 175pesos prices given the size of their ensaymada. good thing they offer 50 percent off on other pastries (with the exception of the ensaymada) once the clock strikes at 8pm. got a couple of macarons, a small sugar free cheesecake and a chocolate mousse cake. i enjoyed the cakes the most, the cheesecake was dense and had that distinct cheesetastewithout being overly sweet. the chocolate mousse was a cut above the rest in the market. it had 3 or four layers each with a different firmness. the mousse was smooth without being too creamy. the thin cake base was fudgy with a toasted crunch followed by a thin ganache. i love every bite. for the ensaymada, you can get it per piece or by box of 6 for a more elegant presentation. the ensaymada was filled with cheese and butter cream on top and the freshly ground ube inside was generous. evident by the ube on each slice of the sticky bread. recommended.

the lobby lounge in diamond hotel offers a cozy and inviting ambiance coupled by a delectable selection of light snacks and hearty meals as well.

start off your meal with a plate of lobby lounge's signature truffle fries (p200). it's so crispy and i just love the truffle aroma that filled the air.

don't miss out on these salty-sweet luxurious foie gras macaron (p150) by chef nick stoyanov. a one-of-a-kind creation and take on the famous french confection. it's not your usual sweet macaron as this one has a savorytastemore like an appetizer.

a favorite of mine from lobby lounge is their smoked salmon ceasar (p620). not only is it pleasing to the eye but also to the palate as well. generous serving of smoked salmon slices, prosciutto, soft boiled egg and grano padana cheese is tossed with crunchy croutons, cherry tomatoes and fresh greens in creamy caesar dressing.

for a more filling meal, try the lobby lounge's lamb burger which is made of morrocan spiced lamb patty, feta, parmesan cheese and harissa yogurt with onions, tomatoes and lettuce with a side of crispy fries. serving size was huge and i love that there's no strong gameytasteof lamb to it.

for dessert, a must try is their macaron-based cakes. my favorite is their vanessa (p250) which is made with pistacchio and fresh strawberries.

i also love guia (p250) which is a dense and rich maple-walnut flavored cheesecake. another must try!

its was not my first time, nor my second and third, but it has been countless times already when diamond hotel was able to surpass my expectations. in more ways than one, they have continued to upgrade their equipments as well as their interior design, the ambiance gives you such a distinguished state that resonates not just physically but psychologically as well. in addition to which it gives you a relaxing sensation you could almost sleep given the right position. this place is perfect for those coffee and cake, and those little late night cocktails. sweet for those small dates for coffee, and yet great as well for those business meetings as well. but enough of the ambiance and interior design, lets talk about the food and drinks that are served here.

first that i ordered here was iced sumibi, a drink that would be great at any given time of the day. a refreshing drink which is like iced coffee topped with whipped cream, with a spike of charcoal roasted sumibi coffee taste, having a rich and yet bold flavor whichtasteamazing served cold. on the other hand, if your not much of a cold drinker another great drink to order is the hot mocha, simply amazes mytastebuds, as ordered, skimmed milk with brewed coffee, spiking with a shot of cocoa syrup and whipped cream on the top twirled and designed to captivate your senses. in which, goes well with desserts, such as cake or ice cream with jello. i would suggest kohi jelly, cubes of dark jelly with your ice cream served in a bowl, it could be either vanilla or chocolate and may i add, the ice cream is diamond hotel's homemade ice cream. as we all know, another great dessert to go with your drinks is cake. in which walnut cheesecake named guia is best suited for such occasions. it was not to sweet for my taste, but was just perfect for mytastebuds.

this very beautiful and elegant lobby lounge can be located at the main lobby of diamond hotel philippines, which is along roxas blvd.

overall 9/10