I’M Hotel Unveils Exciting New Additions to its Home in Makati Avenue

A Poblacion destination since their inauguration in 2017, I’M Hotel is something of a landmark in Makati. Located at the heart of the city, right along the city’s namesake thoroughfare, I’M Hotel toes the line between the central business district and the city’s party central.
Eye-catching with bright warm lights, I’M Hotel has attracted a variety of guests throughout time: families on a staycation, businesspeople on work trips, and travellers seeking leisure. As they continue to pull a diverse range of clientele, I’M Hotel simultaneously stays on its toes and looks to expand with a strategic plan that aims to take their boutique experience nationwide.
This year, the property unveils big surprises that include a dual facility upgrade, a community-focused LGBTQ+ bar, a delightful new Italian restaurant, and even an authentic Onsen experience.
A Sustainable Dual Property with Oakwood Makati Avenue

For one, I’M Hotel has recently announced a new dual property facility: Oakwood Makati Avenue. Oakwood will occupy the top floors of the hotel building and will also offer guests a balcony in each room. Available in spaces that range from 44 sqm (the Studio Premier) to 100 sqm (the Two Bedroom Executive Suite), Oakwood offers a pet-friendly floor that is also open to longer stays. Rooms include mobile kitchenettes, voice-activated smart TVs, and bathtubs to boot.
The best part? Oakwood has also done their research to ensure that the room is as eco-friendly as possible.
“We’re very conscious about what we do,” shared Melissa Lim, General Manager of Oakwood Makati Avenue. “We’ve done our due diligence because we don’t want [sustainability] to just be a marketing spiel. We’re very conscious not to fall prey to greenwashing.”
Their purchasing decisions reflect this philosophy, and Oakwood has already started to phase out single-use plastics with bathroom amenities, focusing on bracketed soaps and toiletries instead.
“We’re [also] using a local brand of soap that uses lemongrass essential oils farmed by a community in Negros Occidental. It’s completely local and that already minimizes carbon footprint when it comes to the logistics.” Oakwood’s support for the brand also enables their supplier to support the farming communities in Visayas.
New Dining and Drinking Experience

What is Poblacion without a party? I’M Hotel and Oakwood hop in on the fun with a new community-focused bar called Barangay. Pronounced “bar-n-gay”, this new hotspot with cater towards providing the LGBTQ+ community with a safe space to let loose.
“Poblacion is in dire need of an official LBGTQ+ drinking hole,” commented Lim. “So, we’re very excited to provide that for the community.”
The bar promises artisanal cocktails and delightful food offerings, perfect to be enjoyed by the backdrop of their acrylic-bottom infinity pool. “My team and I are rather contrarian,” noted Lim on the whimsical decisions of their new bar. “We like to explore things that are different. People may question us on our decisions, but the results will show for themselves.”

Aside from the new bar, the property also launched Osteria M, a premier pizza hangout that also offers Italian bread and desserts, plus fresh handmade pasta. It is helmed by Chef Melissa Lim, a finalist of Singapore MasterChef Season 2, who also helms her own patisserie at Ayala Triangle, Melc. Using fresh, local ingredients, Osteria M aims to bring Italian flavors that cater to the local palate.
With so many concepts under one roof, Lim, the General Manager, had this to say: “We take the inherent limitations of the geography into account. It’s a reality that traffic is a big headache for a lot of guests so that’s why we have a lot of concepts for our guests under one roof. We want to be a multi-concept facility. Each day’s experience could be different."
Unwind at the Largest Spa in Manila
Taking the best elements of international spa experiences, I’M Hotel is relaunching Onsen Spa with new facilities that aim to please. Establishing itself as the largest in Metro Manila, Onsen Spa spans 3,800 sqm across six storeys. Its mainstay is, of course, its namesake, the onsen. Housing the pioneering Japanese thermal bath in the Philippines, Onsen Spa features state-of-the-art technology that mimics the chemical composition of hot springs in Japan. With temperatures ranging from 38 to 40 degrees Celsius, each onsen aims to provide both relaxation and health benefits.
Aside from the onsen, other services are available that include jet lag recovery massage – perfect for international travellers – and lymphatic drainage massage. The traditional Philippine hilot is available, as are aromatherapy massage treatments and body wraps and exfoliations. Equipped with Finnish sauna and steam rooms, plus rooms for couples and even parties of up to 15 people, Onsen Spa operates on convenience and affordability.
Each package with a minimum duration of 60 minutes may also come with a 3-course meal to be served at The Common Good Restaurant.
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