The Bellevue, one of the first premium business hotels to open in booming Alabang, recently gave people living and working in the area more reasons to stay put and revel within the community with the opening of Cellar 22.
Although it’s still technically part of the hotel’s Vue Bar on the 22nd floor of the Tower Wing, Cellar 22 offers guests a different “concept,” says John Patrick Chan, managing director of The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts.
“Cellar 22, which used to be an alfresco area of the Vue Bar, now exudes a more quiet, intimate and cozy atmosphere,” he adds. “We have a special drink menu, including a list of craft beers, specialty gins and whiskeys that aren’t available at the Vue Bar.”
The place also offers clients special liquors not readily found in other bars and nightspots within the area. Made by both local and international brewers, the commercial and craft beers aren’t exclusive to Cellar 22, but the wide range of choices the place offers guests is something John Patrick is proud of.
John Patrick, who comes from a family of hoteliers (he and his family also own and manage B Hotel in Alabang and Quezon City as well Bellevue Bohol), envisions Cellar 22, his brainchild, as an ideal place for people to chill, drink and listen to jazz and other genres of soothing music.
“We might introduce an acoustic jazz band soon, but, for sure, we won’t be subjecting guests to loud, noisy music,” he says. “And the music won’t be every day.”
Cellar 22 has also lined up a list of signature cocktails and mocktails, including such entrees as The Store Keeper, Delivery Grey, For the Record, Daiquiri, Caipirinha, Fast Moving and Pin Down Lagoon. Even its menu consists of “upmarket bar chow pica-pica,” John Patrick adds.
Developed by Chef Stephan Oppenhagen, the Danish group executive chef of The Bellevue Hotels & Resorts, Cellar 22’s menu is also exclusive to the outlet. But patrons need not step out of Cellar 22 to avail themselves of items available to Vue Bar’s guests.
And in keeping with its name, Cellar 22 has adopted decidedly masculine-looking but tastefully curated interiors, complete with actual cases of beer and other drinks, especially on the mezzanine loft, as part of the décor as well as the outlet’s inventory.
“It doubles as a storeroom on the 22nd floor,” says John Patrick of Cellar 22. “All the stocks you see inside Cellar 22 are actual stocks.”
When Bellevue Hotel first opened 15 years ago in 2003, John Patrick led in the opening of 2020, the first hotel music lounge of its kind in Alabang. Back then the hotel only had one building dubbed as the Main Wing.
Upon its completion in 2009, the Tower Wing, which is adjacent to the original, effectively became the hotel’s second building. It now also houses The Bellevue’s main lobby. Soon after this development, John Patrick and his collaborators decided to move the hotel’s entertainment bar and lounge as well as the main lobby to the Tower Wing.
From 2020, the new place was dubbed as Vue Bar. Nearly 10 years later, John Patrick felt that it was time to introduce a new development to serve and keep Alabang and its environs’ evolving market happy. This led to the construction and formal opening of Cellar 22 less than a month ago.—Alex Y. Vergara
