Visit Davao!: The Royale Compound Along Claveria

In the 80s, The Royale House was a mere ancestral home and a receiving salon for the guests of the Nograleses. Today, it houses not just one but 5 establishments that downtown Davao seems to be thankful for.

For one, The Royale House Travel Inn and Suites just got a facelift. The old, broody inn is now a bright, high-ceiling area, with a cozy restaurant at the side and a classy bar on its second floor. It now houses more than 50 newly renovated rooms, all with television sets, hot and cold showers, and their own intercom phone. You’d be surprised to know that the cheapest room comes with free breakfast and a welcome drink at the bar…and is priced at less than P800.

Sitting beside The Royale House is Tapsi Boy, an all-day-breakfast joint that sells rice topping dishes for P50. With more than 20 choices at their menu, you’ll never get tired of eating rice toppings your entire life. I may be kidding but taste their selection first and you’ll find out I just might not.

Also, as you all know, at the shoulder of The Royale House sits Dormitoryana, a ladies dorm with a comfortable hotel feel. There are rooms for 2, 3, 4 and rooms for 6, and the cheapest bed space goes for P999 a month. They just opened up slots last year and reservations have not faltered. Not a bad deal, especially if you count convenience.

Speaking of convenience, a new convenience store just opened downstairs. It’s Jack En Poy. With a catchy Pinoy name, you can never go wrong with this one. Shoppers say everything is reasonably priced, and the hotel and dormgoers love the idea that they don’t have to travel one or two blocks just to make a run for their toothpaste or favorite softdrink. More good news: they’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Lastly, The Royale House compound starts summer right by adding another vital establishment in their small ecosystem: a laundry shop name La Vada Mi. With more rooms for the hotel (which means more sheets and towels) and more dormers coming in, surely all these guests appreciate a little help in their laundry. Bobby Nograles, the General Manager of The Royale House boasts of dirt cheap deals for hotel service laundry and a commercial rate of P15-18 per kilo for regular customers.

Take a swing by this lively joint along the old Claveria street. You’ll see how it made the place more interesting than the serious banks and financial institutions that dot its periphery.

More pictures:

One10FM, the hotel's bar and music lounge.