El Nido, Philippines
The Funny Lion
Brutalist safari lodge
El Nido, Philippines
Opened
2022
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Social LocalOutside the door
The house
The Funny LionBrutalist safari lodge
Raw concrete walls enclose an East African safari aesthetic, gathering guests around an open-air courtyard swimming pool.
What it’s good at
Notable
Raw concrete corridors meet rippling bamboo screens and earth-toned safari lodge interiors.
Listed
Courtyard pool cocktails flow onto Hunt Restaurant terrace for Friday night seafood grills.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The 50 rooms are smartly laid out, with locally sourced materials, clever lighting, and breezy balconies overlooking the pool and plenty of little comforts for downtime between adventures.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The town beach and island-hopping boats sit a short walk away, alongside the neighborhood's casual seafood grills.
1 of 4
The rooms
Private verandas look directly over the central courtyard pool. Inside, bedrooms carry earthy khaki tones and locally woven textures.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A shallow jetted basin borders the lap pool, and beanbag loungers line the deck under evening lights.
The spa
Sea Tree Spa draws on traditional Filipino massage for its signature Raja Massage, with ceramic basins for foot reflexology.
Hunt Restaurant
Tables sit behind floor-to-ceiling glass and out on the pool terrace, serving Filipino classics and Asian dishes.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.