Premiere Suite, Food & Staycation
We stayed in the Premiere Suite, a 60-square-meter, one-bedroom suite, for two nights, at Vivere Hotel in Alabang.
It was a family stay with my wife and our toddler daughter.
I don’t usually research other people’s reviews before staying somewhere. I prefer to experience the place first and form my own opinion before seeing what everyone else has to say. That gives me a better sense of what actually stands out — and what doesn’t.
Getting to Vivere Hotel from San Mateo
We drove from San Mateo, Rizal, taking the Skyway from Quezon Avenue toward Alabang.
On a weekend, the drive took a little over an hour each way. The Skyway toll was ₱428 one way during our trip.
One thing I liked immediately about the location is how close Vivere is to the Alabang exit. It’s just a few meters away, so there’s very little additional driving once you’re off the expressway.
I did, however, make a small mistake when we arrived. I missed the guest parking entrance and initially headed toward the parking intended for unit owners.
Silly me.
If you’re driving an SUV or another larger vehicle, I’d also take note of the parking. Some of the curves are tight. I didn’t scratch the car, but you definitely want to take the turns with care. The parking space itself is adequate.
For big cars, some curves going to the parking area may be a bit tight, but manageable. Parking area itself is adequate
First Impression
Vivere is hard to miss from the road. From a distance, the building towers over many of the surrounding buildings and is particularly visible as you approach from the Alabang exit.
It is not one of the newest-looking hotels in the area, and the building does show some of its age.
But that’s different from saying it is poorly maintained.
Vivere Hotel Lobby
The lobby is relatively small compared with some of the larger Metro Manila hotels I’ve stayed in, but it has the essentials and doesn’t feel like it’s missing anything important.
Our daughter, meanwhile, was perfectly happy looking at the fish and koi while we waited.
The lobby could also make for a nice photoshoot area if you’re looking for a clean hotel backdrop.
The Premiere Suite Feels Like a Temporary Living Space
The spaciousness of the Premiere Suite was one of the things that made the stay work for us.
At 60 square meters, you get a separate bedroom, living room, dining area, and work area. There’s also a kitchen area with glasses, cups, a kettle, and a refrigerator, although there are no cooking appliances.
There’s a four-seat dining table, separate air-conditioning units for the bedroom and shared area, and a small vault.
I also noticed two safety helmets in the room for emergencies, which is something I don’t usually see in hotels.
There are four landline phones — one at the work area, one in the bedroom, one in the bathroom, and one beside the living-room couch.
There are also two TVs: a Smart TV in the living room and a cable TV in the bedroom.
The suite is designed more like a temporary living space than simply a large hotel bedroom.
And that matters when you’re travelling with a toddler.
My daughter had room to run around. My wife could relax in the living area. We could eat at the dining table. And I could sit down at the work desk and finish some things I needed to get done.
For a professional who still needs to work during a stay, that’s a useful setup.
For a family, it’s simply nice not to feel like the entire family is confined to one room.
Our Family Staycation at Vivere Hotel, Alabang
YouTube
The Bed
The bed was very comfortable, with soft comforters that made it easy to settle in at night.
We had good sleep during the stay, which is ultimately what I want from a hotel bed.
No complicated story here. It was simply comfortable.
Soft, comfy bed. Had two nights of good rests here
A Work Table I Actually Used
The work table was just great.
I was able to finish some of the things I needed to work on during our stay, and that made a difference because I wasn’t trying to work from a random corner of the room.
There were also electrical outlets in almost every area and corner of the suite.
If you’re a professional who needs to plug in several devices — or simply one of those people who instinctively looks for the nearest outlet — you’ll appreciate that.
Yep! This was my work area – the desk with the outlets beside it. Remote workers book on this frame.
Perfect for most work, even with multiple screens, if needed.
Bathroom
The bathroom had hot and cold water, a bathtub, shower, hair dryer, basic toiletries, towels, and extra pillows.
The overall setup was practical and clean, and the marble finish continued into the room’s overall design.
Just all you need in a T&B — bathroom with the toilet, shower head, bathtub and heater
The View
Our room overlooked the Alabang business district, the expressway, and Laguna de Bay.
I genuinely found the view relaxing.
There’s something about being high enough to see the surrounding area without being completely removed from it. During the stay, I found myself looking out from the room simply because the view was there.
Zoomed in on Laguna de Bay, view from the room.
Internet
The internet was stable during our stay.
It wasn’t the fastest hotel internet I’ve experienced, but it was reliable enough for what I needed to do.
I even tried playing a mobile MOBA game during the stay, and the connection remained stable.
I wouldn’t describe it as exceptionally fast without a proper speed test, but from my actual use, it was dependable.
Swimming With a Toddler
I swam twice during our stay — once around 4–5 PM and again around 9–10 AM.
The pool was around four feet deep across the area, and both the pool and surrounding area were clean.
What stood out to me more was how uncrowded it was during both visits.
You can also order snacks and drinks at the pool.
And if you know what having a toddler feels like, you know why having some breathing room around the pool matters.
Our daughter was able to enjoy the experience without us dealing with a crowded pool.
Swimming pool has a depth 4-feet across.
Dinner at The Nest
The Nest is on the 31st floor, and the experience changes quite a bit depending on the time of day.
During the day, you get the views.
At night, though, the romantic vibe hits high when it is nighttime at The Nest.
There’s the view over Alabang, candlelight, and mostly jazz from the live band in the background.
We even witnessed a proposal during dinner, which is just fabulous.
Definitely worth the time to date here. Reserving your spot is the best option.
Wouldn’t that be romantic?
If you’re looking for somewhere for a special occasion — particularly a romantic one — this is the part of Vivere I’d point you toward.
The portions we tried were good for sharing, which also worked well for us as a couple.
The Nest at night, from the 31st floor
Our Instant Favorites at The Nest
While all the food we tried was great, we ended up with four instant favorites:
- Crispy Pork Binagoongan — ₱810
- Beef Salpicao — ₱680
- Herbed Crusted Salmon — ₱870
- Chocolate Molten Lava Cake — ₱400
These are the four I’d specifically order again.
Here is the full list of the dishes and drinks we tried:
- Chicken Fingers — ₱400
- Asian Noodle Soup — ₱510
- Beef Salpicao — ₱680
- Rigatoni Bolognese – ₱550
- Herbed Crusted Salmon — ₱870
- Tablea Chocolate S’mores — ₱400
- Smoked Bacon Carbonara — ₱560
- Fish & Chips — ₱850
- Crispy Pork Binagoongan — ₱810
- Chocolate Molten Lava Cake — ₱400
- Iced Tea — ₱200
Prices above are from our August 2026 stay and were the prices applicable to our order during that visit. Restaurant prices can change.
The food is also one of the reasons I’d come back even if I weren’t staying at the hotel.
We found enough favorites that The Nest works as a dinner destination for us on its own.
Breakfast at The Nest
The Nest serves breakfast from 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM during our stay.
That’s particularly useful if you’re staying for business and need an early start.
Breakfast at The Nest. Different mood compared to dinner.
Breakfast at The Nest was another highlight because of the view.
The sky was clear during our breakfast, and I remember taking pictures while the wind was literally stroking my face and hands.
Thankfully, the weather cooperated with the stay.
The breakfast spread had the usual staples — pancakes, eggs, and other familiar breakfast options — but what I appreciated was that the entire selection didn’t simply repeat itself on consecutive mornings.
The basics remained, but other selections changed between our two mornings.
For a two-night stay, that was enough to keep breakfast from feeling like I was eating exactly the same buffet twice.
Breakfast hours are time-sensitive and reflect our August 2026 stay.
The Playroom
The playroom wasn’t quite what I expected.
It’s well air-conditioned, and the main attractions, including the slide, worked fine.
Some of the toys and books, however, could use better maintenance.
For most toddlers, I think the playroom is adequate. But I wouldn’t choose Vivere specifically because of the playroom.
Our daughter had more fun simply having the space to run around in the suite.
Playroom is adequate. Not the strongest for a business hotel, primarily.
Fitness Center and Sauna
I didn’t personally use the fitness center during this stay.
I was coming from an injury a few weeks earlier, and trying the equipment just for the sake of reviewing it might not have been doing myself a favor.
What I did do was look around the facility, and I’m familiar enough with the equipment brands used by some of the bigger gyms in the country to recognize what was there.
Too bad I can’t workout. Fitness Center looks good.
From what I observed, the equipment looked top-notch and comparable to what you’d find in larger popular gyms.
That’s an observation, not a personal training assessment. I didn’t actually put the equipment through a workout.
I also didn’t use the sauna.
Maybe next time when I stay there again.
Service
The staff were helpful and accommodating throughout our stay.
That wasn’t based on one dramatic service recovery story or a particularly memorable interaction. It was more about the way we were treated as a family and the way I observed staff interacting with other guests in common areas, including The Nest.
There wasn’t a standout service incident to tell you about, but there also wasn’t anything during our stay that made me question the service.
Who Should Stay Here
I’d look at Vivere if you’re:
- In Alabang for business and want to stay close to the business district.
- A professional who needs actual room to work during a hotel stay.
- A couple looking for a spacious room and a romantic dinner option at The Nest.
- A small family who wants more space than a conventional hotel room provides.
- Someone who values location, space, good food, and views more than having the newest hotel interiors.
Who Should Skip It
I’d look elsewhere if your priority is:
- A newer, more modern architectural or interior experience.
- A hotel where a casino is part of the experience you’re looking for.
- A particularly impressive children’s playroom.
Final Verdict
For me, the combination worked particularly well because the hotel served two very different purposes during the same stay.
I could work.
My daughter could run around.
My wife and I could have a proper dinner together.
We could swim as a family.
And we had enough space to actually enjoy being there rather than simply sleeping in the same room.
But beyond all those practical reasons, the stay gave us something I value more.
It gave us good memories as a family.
That’s probably the most personal part of this review, but it’s also why I’d come back.
I’d stay here again — even if I have to pay for it.
