Ponce Suites Art Hotel

Top choice in Davao


Practically every inch of this mother-and-son-run hotel, inside and out, is covered with art – sculptures, poetry, photographs and paintings – all of it by the incredibly prolific Kublai Millan, who has transformed an otherwise ordinary building into a funky vision of hospitality. Rooms are ordinary motel quality, but the Gaudi–esque rooftop is the whimsical highlight of the Ponce Suites.

The lobby and bathrooms have been renovated and a half-day 'Kublai Art Tour' is offered. It's on a quiet block next door to a tennis club.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Davao attractions

1. People’s Park

0.88 MILES

A family-friendly expanse of more concrete than green space with larger-than-life-sized sculptures of native peoples of Mindanao, all designed by artist…

2. Bankerohan Public Market

1.16 MILES

Vibrant, chaotic, claustrophobic, smelly and resembling a sprawling shanty town, Bankerohan provides a taste of local flavour. Everything that appears in…

3. Kublai's Gallery

1.17 MILES

An unconventional setting for a fine-art gallery, paintings by artist Kublai Millan fill the walls of this large space. Take an elevator to the 4th or 5th…

4. Davao Crocodile Park

1.31 MILES

Around 5km north of the city centre is this large complex spread out along the Davao River. A combination conservation centre and zoo, there are croc …

5. San Pedro Cathedral

1.33 MILES

This centrally located cathedral on the site of the city's oldest church has an interesting design meant to resemble an ark. Daily mass in English at 6am…

6. Museo Dabawenyo

1.45 MILES

An excellent museum with two floors of well-designed galleries exploring the complex patchwork of indigenous tribal groups, religions and ethnicities of…

7. Dabaw Museum

3.04 MILES

This museum, next to the Waterfront Insular Hotel northeast of downtown, has a good collection of tribal weaving and artefacts from most of the Mindanao…

8. Philippine Eagle Center

14.61 MILES

To view one of the largest eagles in the world (in terms of wing span), head to the Philippine Eagle Center, which is dedicated to conserving these…