Looking for good massage in Manila?
If you got 2 grand and half a day to spend, this place is for you.
Of course it’s not like Bangkok where one can find good and cheap massage almost everywhere. Massage in Manila can be really cheap, at about 450 Pesos (12USD or 15SGD plus 2USD for tip) on the average but it’s hard to find a clean and decent place.
Wensha used to be my go-to place, only that it’s a little out of the way (Pasay and Timog). It’s this huge massage centre, similar to Bangkok’s Healthland and Jakarta’s Bersi Sehat, usually frequented by groups of friends or families. A thousand pesos (20USD/30SGD) avails of you of a decent massage, use of its facilities and access to its buffet. I find the place a bit too rundown now and the food can be really bad and the place can get really crowded with the rowdy crowd too.
And so a much better alternative comes along.
Situated along Makati Avenue, near the whore houses of P. Burgos and the hipster enclave of Poblacion, I’m Onsen provides a convenient retreat in the middle of the congested business district. The entry-level package costs 1800 Php (approx 35 USD) and this avails you of a one-hour massage, access to their buffet lunch/dinner, tea and relaxation lounge, the pool area (with a bar) and other spa facilities (steam room/sauna/onsen/shower rooms/lockers).
The massage.
The attending staff are professional, and the therapists wear clean uniforms. Seems that they’re quite mindful of the proper decorum at all times.
I’ve been to the place thrice and it seems that all the therapists are well-trained, I have nothing to complain about. But a place like this makes you excited about a lot of things, apart from the massage, so once you’re in the place, you’ll be looking forward to all the other things as well.
The food
They won’t usually let you eat an hour or two after stuffing your face with the buffet food, so you can either do your massage before eating — or three hours after. You can stay in the place for a total of 6 hours anyway.
The food can be great, although I figured the quality isn’t consistent. One time the meat and salads seemed great, the next everything tasted either too bland or salty. They have an assortment of Asian dishes (curry, laksah, chicken noodle soup, I think I saw some dimsum too; they also have Japanese but it’s a bit crappy i.e. tempura was a bit soggy), lechon, roast beef, soups (e.g. tinola or tomato soup), pasta, and dessert (cakes, ice cream, fresh fruits, halo-halo).
But overall, it was a still enjoyable experience. A few dishes may turn out to be a disappointment but there’s absolutely something to enjoy when you visit.
The spa facilities
I’ve done a great deal of Googling about onsens and this one’s a bit of a marketing ploy. It’s just a tiny jacuzzi, that’s about it.
And there’s steam room and a sauna — and plenty of shower rooms. That’s it. But the place is fully functional, always well-maintained and clean.
BUT. I often find myself distracted by the horrible traffic noise of the metro while inside the ‘onsen’, this one’s a bit of a major glitch I think.
The poolside bar
This one’s in the same floor as the locker rooms and onsen/steam room/sauna; it’s got an al fresco bar where you can lounge all day with your beer. There’s a smoking area too. They don’t sell swimming trunks so make sure you bring one if you fancy taking a dip in the pool (which is quite cool I think because it lets you see through below).
The tea room
You’d be asked to wait here for your massage — or I simply go here after everything if I want to chill, spend some quiet time working on a report or something. It’s got comfortable recliners and unlimited servings of tea — like all sorts of tea.
Overall, I’d say this is still one of your quick getaways if you want to spend half a day relaxing and just chilling. I’m glad to have found this ‘refuge’ right in the middle of Makati.
