Love at First Bite: Sabor Bar de Vinos

Novotel Manila Araneta Center has been known as a hotel of choice by many locals and travelers alike. Situated in the bustling part of Quezon City, this hotel is just a few steps away from malls like Gateway Mall and entertainment centers like Kia Theater and Smart Araneta Coliseum. It also serves as a great place for staycations with its impressive amenities. And just recently, Novotel came up with another reason why it is a hotel worth visiting. 

Hello, Sabor Bar de Vinos.

Sabor is Novotel's newest food concept that will delight any food enthusiast. It is a tapas bar that offers ample selection of small Spanish savory dishes perfect to be enjoyed with a glass or two of your favorite wine. 

I had a chance to visit Sabor before its grand launch this month and got to savor some of its mouthwatering bites. 

We started off with Beetroot Aracini (PHP350). It was our host N's favorite tapas and we were all excited to try it ourselves. Though I'm not a big fan of beetroot as it always make me remember of juice cleanse, this dish sure was good! I love how it was perfectly fried giving each bite that light crunch. The combination of cheese, risotto and beetroot flavors blended harmoniously giving this rich yet not cloying taste. 

Gambas Al Ajillo (PHP350) would go very well with a glass of white wine or champagne. Expect fresh and plump prawns sautéed in delectable butter garlic with white wine 

A favorite of mine was Mushroom Croquette (PHP350). I think I had 3 or 4 pieces of this. Make sure to enjoy this with its fragrant truffle dip. 

If you prefer something heavier which could double as dinner, do consider Galician Empanada (PHP350) or Dinakdakan (PHP250).

Galician empanada is considered as the original empanada, the basis of all empanadas. Sabor's version is stuffed with marinated chicken, herbs and aromatics. Dip it in the tomato based sauce for extra flavor. 

Dinakdakan is a lovely addition to the menu as it gives those who are new to tapas bar something familiar. But what I love best about this dish is that despite its local flavors, it was not a forced item in the menu. The popular Ilocano delicacy served as a great pair with Sabor's wide selection of drinks. 

Bitterballen (PHP350) is yet another dish worth trying. This Dutch bar snack is basically croquettes stuffed with minced meat. Usually enjoyed with beer, this dish is also great with wine or any liquor of your choice. 

And speaking of meat, I loved Sabor's Kielbasa Sausage (PHP350). Topped with thick tomato-based sauce, this Polish favorite was incredibly tender and nothing short of pure bliss. 

Seafood lovers would enjoy Smoked Salmon Roulade (PHP350). The blend of smoked salmon and cream cheese made me grab another serving (or maybe a few more than that). 

There's also the perfect tapas for those who are watching their calorie intake. Sabor's Greek Salad Skewer (PHP250) is a fantastic option. 

And if you are with friends, you might want to consider getting Selection of Cheese (PHP650). The only downside of this dish is that there is the lack of hard cheese. Then again, the different crackers and biscuits will give you that much needed crunch. 

For this visit, we tried Fortress Sangria (PHP360), Sangria Blanco (PHP360) and Codorniu (PHP490/glass). 

I really enjoyed Fortress Sangria which was the sweetest among the three sangrias Sabor offers. And if you love sangrias too, you can get two glasses for the price of one during happy hour. You can also get a complimentary tapas for every order of a bottle of wine. 

And for those who are in the mood for more than two glasses of sangria or wine, do avail of Sabor's Unlimited Sangria or Wine for just PHP700 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.! 

We were also in for a treat during our visit as we got to try making our own sangria! I do hope that they push with the idea of D-I-Y Sangria Bar. 

Don't forget to make space for desserts as Sabor's Cannolli Venetia (PHP250) is worth checking out!

P.S. Sabor is also a great place for work and play! The outdoor area has several charging stations and you can connect to Novotel's high speed internet. 

Sabor is located at Ground Floor, Novotel Manila Araneta Center, General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.