Last August, we had no classes for 6 days. If I had known it sooner and if only we had a budget, I would've planned a whole different birthday celebration! But you know what? A home staycation and a little food trip aren’t so bad.
Since I was celebrating my birthday on a budget, I wanted to make the day special without going overboard on expenses. So, I started looking for good dining deals and promotions, and I found a few options that I want to try.
Some of the promos I found required a minimum of 4 guests, but we’re just a family of three, so I was glad to discover that The Café at Hyatt Regency only required a minimum of 2 guests. Their discount was 30% off, which may not be the biggest, but it worked for us. A week before my birthday, my husband called the hotel to reserve a table.
The Cafe Hyatt Regency Regular Buffet Rate
Breakfast (6:30 AM to 11:00 AM) – PHP 1,400
Lunch (12:00 NN to 3:00 PM) – PHP 1,950
Dinner (5:30 PM to 11:00 PM) – PHP 3,150
The Cafe
How time flies! After ten years, we finally revisited
City of Dreams. The last time we were here was also for my birthday. We visited
DreamPlay back then, parang anak ko yung may birthday! Hehehe!
We arrived at The Café just five minutes before 12NN, and there was already a long line. But they let guests in right on time.
All seats were already pre-reserved, so even if you arrive early, you can’t change tables. The Café can accommodate 315 guests, and during our visit, the place was almost full. Because of that, I only managed to take a few photos of the buffet spread.
The Cafe has different stations such as Italian Kitchen, Carving Station, Flame and Skewer, Mexican Fiesta, Maki Bar, Fresh Catch on Ice, Asian Noodle Bar, Taste of India, Crispy & Crunchy, and Sweet Endings. They also have live cooking stations, which make the experience more interactive.
I explored the different stations, and I was a little bit disappointed because they don’t have steak and ebi tempura. Ito kasi yung favorite ko sa mga buffet and hindi avaialable.
After our food trip, I looked up more information and found this on the City of Dreams website: “Chef’s Carving Station - a daily highlight from our rotating selection of one premium meat or one fresh seafood”. Waah!
Meat: Roasted Pork Loin, Roasted Whole Chicken, Lechon Belly Roll, Slow-Roasted Brisket.
Seafood: Shrimp, Fish
One meat or one seafood lang so I can’t help but compare it to
Cucina by Marco Polo na marami choices sa Carving Station. But I’m happy with the Lechon Belly Roll, masarap ito.
Among the stations, I focused on Carving Stations, Flame & Skewer, and Fresh Catch on Ice. These had the most satisfying selections for me.
To top it all off, the staff surprised all birthday celebrants with a birthday cake, complete with a candle and a birthday song. Now I understand, bakit hindi pwedeng magpalipat ng table. hehehe! Kasi per section yung kanta nila so nung turn ko, 3 kaming sabay-sabay na binigyan ng cake and kinantahan.
When the staff brought us the bill, she mentioned that we could stay until 3:00 PM, but since we were already full, we left before 2:00 PM.
As always, I kept my birthday simple and intimate; just me and my little family of three. I didn’t need a crowd or a big party to celebrate, just great food, a cozy setting, and each other.
This birthday reminded me that luxury is not always about how much you spend, it’s about how you feel. And on that day, I felt happy, content, and loved. Here’s to more joyful celebrations, smart spending, and memories that last way beyond the bill!
The Cafe Hyatt Regency
Ground Floor, Hyatt Regency Manila, City of Dreams
Aseana Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard,
Entertainment City Parañaque, Manila 1701
Tel:+63 2 8691 1234 ext. 1163
Email: HyattTheCafe@cod-manila.com
