The Midas Touch

Midas (King Midas) is a popular Greek mythology character known for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold, thus the "Midas touch" phrase. In the Philippines, Midas Hotel and Casino is a newly established hotel in Manila, an exceptional luxury rising from a landmark building (formerly Hyatt Hotel) along Roxas Boulevard. I visited the 227-room hotel for an ocular for an event and I was impressed with what I saw.

Midas Hotel and Casino

Although Midas is out to make a name for itself in the field of hospitality, certain details of the original structure were kept and integrated with the new interiors that can be described as modern glam and luxury. The lobby boasts of a high ceiling fully emphasized by the fiber optic chandeliers and towering chrome shelves that contain dozens of orange boxes (which, I was told, were Hermes boxes from the owner's Hermes collection). Modern Italian designer furniture complete the luxe look.

Fiber optic chandeliers all throughout the hotel

Modern luxe Italian designer furniture

Orange Hermes boxes filled the chrome shelves

Want to have cocktails after a long day at work? Head to the 2702 Lobby Lounge where they serve a variety of cocktails, beverages, wines and spirits. The "Weekend Lounge Nights" every Friday and Saturday treats guests to a relaxing piano music from 6-8 pm, followed by a lady singer from 8:30 pm onwards.

Lounge Nights at Midas

Spacious and high-ceiling lobby lounge

Midas also offers sumptuous food at the Cafe Midas where they have several buffet stations to serve a variety of dishes to their guests. The cafe is spacious and has that garden feel because of the green leaves motif and comfy seats.

Yummy bread spread for starters

Several buffet stations for a gastronomic feast

Relaxed and comfy dining seats

Spacious dining area

The hotel has several function rooms for events and celebrations. I noticed that the garden theme extends there as well as seen on the design of the carpet, wood cut-outs on walls and ceiling, which were made more dramatic by the color-changing lights.

Garden-motif function rooms for various events

Vine cut-outs and changing lights adorned the ceiling

Our event set-up, round tables to seat 100 pax

Midas has great prospects for the future as several facilities are expected to open soon -- a Japanese restaurant, a Chinese noodle house, and the casino. But as it is now, Midas is a breathe of fresh air, a break from the traditional hotel. Even Manny Pacquiao, the People's champ, has made Midas his official hotel residence this year. That surely is a sign that indeed, the hotel has that magical "Midas touch."

Filed under SIGHTS