Tambayan Capsule Hostel - Malate, Manila

I forgot the last time when the group was complete. Maybe 6 months ago or more than that. But time is not an issue; if you’re with the company of genuine friends then you’d feel that it was just a week before when you last converged. And this time, TeamRH raided Malate in Manila for our first ever staycation for the year. The walls and ceilings of Tambayan Capsule Hostel probably know by now how crazy we are when we’re together.

The mid noon of almost summer heat welcomed us as we dismount from the LRT. We traversed the busy street of Pedro Gil that felt like a street in Amsterdam where fresh cut flowers bloomed in season, third world version. Tacky heart-shaped cut-outs bombarded some shops that screamed of one of the most celebrated cutesy celebrations in the country. Valentine’s Day coincided that weekend, I almost forgot about that. Me and my buddy sought the refuge of a seemingly packed eatery and had a wonderful meal of our all-time fave carinderia meals. We then set off to meet our friends at Robinson’s Place Malate before we head out to our rendezvous for the weekend (check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Metro Manila).

Strong in nine, the group did a few cartwheels from the mall to reach the corner of J. Bocobo Street and immediately spotted our lovely home for the weekend.

Tambayan Capsule Hostel is one of those emerging luxury hostels in the metro. The facade may look intimidating at first especially if you’re used to that grungy feel of some hostels.

We entered the glass doors and were stunned on its interiors. An old, restored mansion with all its grandness stood right before us. Donned in a traditional Baro’t Saya, the lady receptionist welcomed us with pleasure. I still couldn’t take my eyes off the grand chandelier that felt floating on the ceiling.

We were handed our individual keycards and keys to our individual lockers and were ushered to our room for two days.

Assigned on a 14-mixed dorm room, we strolled to the almost grand staircase that glowed with a stained glass art that served as the focal point. Photos of Old Manila adorned its walls as we climbed up the hardwood planks steps to the second level.

We converged on the common area and scanned the whole space. Traces of the once grand mansion can be spotted; the unassuming windows, the mezzanine that holds the chandelier and the wooden floor. It was accentuated with unique pieces of lounge chairs and some books that rested on a shelf.

Kill boredom

We passed by an alley of pure wooden marvel and tapped a keycard on its wooden door. We shrieked as we saw our base camp for the weekend.

Capsule Hotel. I’ve heard a hotel in Metro Manila that offers the same accommodation but not on a large scale like this.

Tambayan Capsule Hostel combines the comfort of a mid-range hotel with the affordable rates of a hostel. All rooms have air-conditioning units and options on private and shared dorm rooms are available (check room types and rates here). The hostel is barely two months old and on its soft opening phase. The location is perfect as it sat in the middle of Malate’s most happening spots. It was the perfect place for the group.

Our room is the biggest in the hostel. It houses 7 double-decker Japanese-inspired capsule bunk beds that can accommodate 14 individuals, think about backpackers that will either make or break each other’s itinerary.

Base camp for the weekend

Everyone scrambled as we looked for our spots. I settled on the farthest side, away from the AC, on the lower capsule bank. Nobody wanted to settle on the upper bunks for fear of tumbling over. I immediately checked it out and was quite satisfied with its features.

All bunk beds were equipped with keycard-powered mini fan, electric socket with usb port, lamp, blinders (we need to have privacy, right?), blanket sheet and a pillow. I wanna have some me time and feel the comfort of my own space but the others started raiding other capsules.

What was supposedly a nap time aftie ended on endless chats of catching up and travel plans. Others (graveyard shift guys) effortlessly snoozed as most of us broke the silence of Tambayan Capsule Hostel.

Tambayan Gastrobar was strategically located on the veranda on the second level. The 24-hour in-house bar of the hostel is open for guests and non-guests as well. We tried a few cocktails (Brown Luna is the bomb!) and headed out for an all-nighter drinking spree in Malate.

Tambayan Gastrobar

Please do try Brown Luna (coffee-based cocktail)

We spent almost 8 hours of non-stop chat and booze at Silya along Nakpil Street. It’s V-day and I’m with my best buddies in the world.

It was ten in the morning when my body stirred to wake. Our dorm room was filled with snores and hums. I put the blinders up, got up and checked on my buddies. Nobody seemed to be waking up any moment so I went downstairs for some coffee.

Shared toilet and bath

Tambayan Capsule Hostel offers a basic brekkie for their guests, usually toasts and spreads. I checked out the pantry and got thrilled on the Malunggay pandesal on a tray with some spreads surrounding it. I toasted a bunch and made myself some coffee and went to the lounging area cum cafe. The rustic feel of the old mansion was made to life by the glass walls around it. I grabbed a newspaper and enjoyed my simple brekkie as my hangover lingered on.

One by one, my buddies surfaced from nowhere. I acted out as a gracious homeowner and fixed some breakfast for them. We went back to our room and lounged some more until lunch time where we had a proper meal on the nearby mall and then slumbered some more.

Simple brekkie

It started out with Kirk; he suggested for a harmless card game with a 1-peso bet that ended into an ultimate, almost casino-like, 100-peso play on “in between”. Loud shrieks and regrets echoed inside as we battle it out for our last money home.

We ended up still friends after that crazy game. If it weren’t for our great love with each other we might have went home on separate ways. We left Tambayan Capsule Hostel’s premises with a promise to be back soon and combed the streets of Malate for a dinner place which ended up, again, on an all-nighter with the gang. It was THE best V-Day ever!