the charm that is radisson

     Nestled right beside Cebu’s premiere shopping center , SM shopping mall, Radisson Blu Hotel had it’s soft opening on September 27, 2010. So out of curiosity me and my friends decided to explore the hotel which was just a stone's throw away where we were having belgians and tea.

     I hadn’t really taken a picture of the façade as some of its parts were still under construction. So I borrowed a pic from an SM blogspot just to give you the idea.

http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com

   

     As we were walking towards the other smaller entrance steps, I remembered when I was nearing eighteen years old, I told my mom I wanted to have my birthday party held right at at the steps of this hotel. It was just dramatic  with a flair of Roman architecture. That might sound exaggerated. :)  And for some who knows me well, I have a penchant for drama. LOL.  It was still under construction when I was dreamily planning my debut. And now, when Radisson Blu opened, I hurriedly took a pic of the stairway I was so fond of imagining then. Love!

  

going up!

tiny, tj and xiuli at the foot of the steps.. ^_^

 

    But before you go to the steps I so famously introduced you to, once you enter, the lobby will greet you with its interior of understated elegance where cold food and drinks are served all day.

at the farthest end is the bar where they serve vodka, rum,wine, etc. 

Daylight was just everywhere. Much of the colors were earth colors, a play between gold, brown, red, green, blue.

shabby chic furnitures against grey tones

the place is full of pieces with intricate designs and metalwork.

then there's this infinity- pool- like nook beside the bar.

the staff was really nice. there are chefs on standby ready to prepare cold cuts for you.

cute pieces near the resto area and the frontdesk.

the frontdesk

there are what look like mini ponds around the staircases. must be the feng-shui.

going to the function rooms.

Ms. Olive from the sales department toured us around. The floor was carpeted with red floral design which was a perfect contrast with the chandeliers.

the hallway. very oriental also

i just love these chandeliers.

 i actually think if you hold an event here you wouldn't need much of a backdrop. these perfectly laser cut floral designs on the wall are just right to set the mood for any occasion.

blurred shot but this is the whole look if you add the lights and the other elements..hehehe

then you go downstairs again. there's another mini-pond.

so you go down the famous steps i told you about earlier, then you'll see the poolside. It's like a secret place amidst the bustling city outside the walls.

mini bridges..classic and charming

of course! photo-op.. :)

there's another bar near the pool where they serve cocktails and grilled dishes. really cozy.

one can actually see on the left side the spirals leading towards the shopping mall parking area. the boulders on the right are actually manmade waterfalls giving you the feeling of being in the tropics right in the middle of the metropolis.

sorry teej! blurred.

xiuli and tiny...the divider behind them makes you think of dividers you set up in your bedroom where you get dressed. very chic.

weeee....mango charlotte with buko crisps and homemade icecream with cinnamon doughnuts

then the magnificent fountain which turns into different colors...i loved it when it turns into blue. Maybe that's why they call it Radisson Blu..haha trip lang! why not!

we just couldn't resist the fountain. ^_^

     The whole place is elegance minus the intimidation.  It must be the place or the intrigue after the completion was postponed for how many years, the staff or the pool or the famous steps. But whatever that is, I am sure it' ll be the next happening place in Cebu.  And once you get pass the doors and it'll be time for you to leave, you'll realize that you were smitten by the charm that is Radisson.