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La Residencia Al Mar Hotel/Don Atilano

Located right at the heart of Dumaguete fronting the magnificent ocean views is the stylish La Residencia Al Mar, formerly known as Almar Hotel the oldest hotel of Negros Oriental along the Rizal Boulevard. This is an old house of Spanish architecture that has been converted into a first class hotel. Visitors who stay in this hotel will find themselves just moments away from the commercial district and several different local tourist attractions around the province. La Residencia is a land mark. The original building was built in 1901 and remodeled while maintaining the old Spanish architecture giving it a modern look. The present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Hilado, renovated it in a clever, tasteful manner preserving its charm while providing it with all the necessary modern amenities. The atmosphere is warm. A polished wooden staircase leads from the reception area to the rooms on the upper floors. On the first floor, there is a little drawing room with a warm and congenial atmosphere. It is decorated with engravings on the walls, antique furniture, statues of Thai Buddha’s, and vases with dry flower arrangements. There are guestrooms on either side of this drawing room, the most charming of which have balconies that look out toward the sea. These are cozy, with wrought iron beds, replicas of antique furniture, pretty earthenware lamps and retro coat hangers. The white walls are decorated with nice engravings and the floors are of polished wood. Each room has a tiled bathroom. The standard rooms are not recommended, as they are only slightly cheaper but do not have any windows. The hotel comprises 17 stylish and contemporary rooms and suites with a refined décor and a mixture of Spanish-Modern architecture giving you an overall sense of well being. Guest will be able to enjoy a variety of on-site restaurants that serve Western, Filipino, Japanese and various cuisines.

The owner Mrs. Yolanda Hilado and her best friend Chona Villegas a regular customer of Don Atilano

This place doesn’t only offer hotel accommodations. They also serve food. There is a steakhouse (Don Atilano) and a Japanese resto (Wagaki) in the hotel lobby. Don Atilano is an institution on culinary experienced in Negros Oriental, one of the pioneering institution of the food business in the province. The restaurant is named after Don Atilano Villegas once a Governor of Negros Oriental. The small reception is warm with its well-polished red-tile floors and its Chinese porcelain jars. On either side of the reception are two restaurants, considered among the most elegant in town — the Don Atilano which serves good food in a pleasant Spanish setting, and the other which serves Filipino cuisine. You can also have breakfast here with the view of the sea through the bay windows. After a long day, the bar provides a comfortable place to relax with a cocktail. Business travelers can use the hotels business center with a free WIFI internet access, fax machine, scanner and printer. Discerning business people choose La Residencia Almar Hotel as the place for everything. Whether you’re holding a large conference or a social meeting, you are assured of their renowned seamless service and ideal business setting. So what are you waiting for, include this place in your list when you visit Dumaguete City.

Regular customers of Don Atilano with the owner of the establishment