Drink with a view at Midori Clark Hotel and Casino

• Location: C.M. Zone, Angeles 2009, Recto St, Clark Freeport, Angeles, Pampanga

Places to drink: 

• Café Midori – Open 24 hours
• Baci Bar – Soon to open (Pool Bar)
• Toscana Dining –  BREAKFAST BUFFET 6:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.; LUNCH A LA CARTE 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; INNER SEMI-BUFFET 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Baccus Lounge – 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Cigar Maduro – 5:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
• Happy Hour – 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Local beers are at 40% off (Promo period is from November 1 – December 31, 2016)

For those of us who want a bit of a respite from the chaos and hustle and bustle of Metro Manila, Midori Clark Hotel and Casino is a great place to go to rest, relax, and be rejuvenated. It is located in the heart of Clark, Pampanga and is just a stone’s throw away from the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the Clark International Airport. It’s perfect for a quick getaway with your significant other, a special family vacation, or even for some well-deserved “me” time.

The lobby is spacious and well-designed, with high ceilings and tasteful fixtures and Dedon furniture and exceptionally arranged by Taiwan’s renowned interior design company, Shyr-Fong Hu Design Studio. Here, you can find Café Midori, which is open 24 hours, where you can enjoy some coffee, tea, or juice while you wait to be checked in. On the side, there are mounted screens on the wall featuring digital art that ponder on while you sip your coffee. Their coffee is supplied by Gourmet Coffee, but they request a special blend—called Midori’s Blend—which is made of 70 percent Batangas coffee and a 30 percent mix of Robusta and Arabica beans roasted together with coffee oil added to create a distinct brew. Their coffee is strong, but not bitter, full-bodied but not acidic. They will soon be offering a line of fresh fruit and vegetable juice concoctions called Health Buff, which is sure to satisfy those looking for a detox or nutritious beverage.

Just because you’re at the Café doesn’t mean you can’t sneak a tipple or two. You can order their Irish coffee. Served with a heap of whipped cream on top and set on fire, this is a drink that will surely wake you up.

Toscana Dining is the sprawling buffet and dining hall of international cuisines where you can take your time to explore the gourmet selections they have featuring favorites from around the world, be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have a selection of juices, coffee, tea, and local beers you can enjoy with your meals. Guests will also be able to enjoy drinks by the pool at the soon-to-open Baci Bar.

Midori Hotel features various artworks from Taiwan. You can see sculptures, paintings, and other pieces all over the spacious hallways. There are wood and natural elements figured into the design of the hotel that lends an earthy feel to it. The rooms they have are bigger than the usual hotel rooms (the smallest room being 43.4 sqm) and feature an open space design; some even have an outdoor tub with a view of Mt. Arayat. Apart from the usual bells and whistles you can find at a fine hotel, each room has coffee and tea making equipment and complimentary drinks and snacks from the mini bar. The beds are so comfortable; you might have trouble getting yourself out of it in the morning.

The Baccus Lounge, located at the 6^th floor, features a sky lounge and outdoor garden. This executive lounge is the perfect place for afternoon tea to enjoy the sunset. The have an acoustic band playing every weekend.

Cigar Maduro, located at the 2^nd floor, is the hotel’s cigar and wine bar. It features an extensive selection Old and New World wines and a range of whiskies and cognacs. They currently house more than 20 brands of wine and will be further expanding their collection; their cellar will have vintage wines soon as well. “Most of the guests who come know what they want, but of course we can make a recommendation,” says VIP Service Director Teddy Koh. Currently, their house wines are Elegant Frog for red and Arrogant Frog for white. They change their house wines every few months and were the first hotel in the area to introduce Camas wine from France (their former house wine) to the public.

The wine bar is cozy and inviting. There are different seating areas that could comfortably seat a group or a couple on a date. If you’d like to have some alone time, you can sit by the bar and have a chat with the accommodating bar staff. They offer cheese platters and dark chocolates and nuts for you to munch on while you drink wine or spirits.

Their cigar bar is ideal for cigar enthusiasts and beginners alike. “If you’re a newbie of cigars, our staff will be guiding you on what cigars might suit you and what drink you can have with it,” says VIP Service Director Teddy Koh. We were fortunate to have been there for an event that featured a cigar rolling presentation by Tabaqueria, whose cigars they carry. Contrary to popular belief, you can enjoy cigars with wine. “Basically, if you smoke cigars, depending on the cigars you like, you can enjoy it with port, or merlot or cabernet sauvignon,” Mr. Koh remarks. “If you just finished dinner in Toscana Dining and you come up here and want to unwind, I recommend you smoke 1881 Panatela with some port wine. The 1881 Panatela is light, not too heavy and will be good with the port. Perfect for unwinding,” he adds.

Apart from a great selection of wine and spirits, Cigar Maduro also offers cocktails. “Midori means green in Japanese,” says F&B director Daniel Maghinang. “Our general manager Mr. Vic Chan told us to create something fresh and green to be the signature cocktail for the hotel. And I came up with the Midori Mist,” he shares. The Midori Mist is refreshing and citrusy, with a hint of sweetness.

Your stay at the hotel will only be improved by a visit to Chan Spa, where you can avail of one of their luxurious treatments. The ambience is relaxing and feels very private. You are welcomed with a nice rejuvenating cold lemongrass tea; and you can feel your worries just melting away as one of their skilled masseuses works on you.

We’ve shared all the ways you can relax at the hotel, but if you do feel adventurous, you can head over to the casino, where they have the biggest slot machine in Asia right now. Soon, they will be offering a helicopter service to transport those who wish to skip the traffic and hassle of driving from Manila. There are great things to look forward to. The company that owns Midori will be opening Aqua Planet next year, which will be the biggest water park in the country.

There is a lot to rave about at Midori Clark Hotel and Casino. The excellent service, luxurious amenities and facilities, inspired design, and abundant food and beverages will definitely keep guests coming back for more. With their grand opening early next year, the best is yet to come.

Photos and Video by Star Sabroso and Marvin de Guia