Review of Hotels in Payakumbuh - Just Menong

In June 2024, I had the opportunity to visit Payakumbuh, West Sumatra. We stayed at a hotel in Payakumbuh for a few days while enjoying the beauty of the city.

Payakumbuh

Payakumbuh is a district surrounded by Fifty Cities Regency and bordered by Tanah Datar Regency. The city is also located on the expanse of Mount Sago, Bukit Barisan. Payakumbuh is almost 130 km from Padang City through Malalak, Agam Regency, because the nearest path through the Anai Valley is still unpaved.

For almost 6 hours, we adventured through the streets of the steep hills before setting foot in the city known as the best rendang producer in West Sumatra. Our eyes are spoiled by the beautiful scenery of the valley, Mount Marapi, Mount Sigantang, and Jam Gadang that we passed on the way. 

We arrived at 6 p.m. and went straight to the hotel to rest. How did we have to stay at a hotel in Payakumbuh? Come on, check it out!

Shafira Hotel, Payakumbuh

This hotel is located on Jl. General Sudirman No. 264, Nan Kodok, Kec. North Payakumbuh. The location is a bit far from the city center, so it seems quiet. This two-story hotel looks new. The smell of paint was still smelled when we entered the room.

This hotel has the lowest price rate of RP. 395,000 for a deluxe room without breakfast. Rooms in this hotel have a room area of at least 20 m2, including a spacious area for the size of the hotel room.

Related: Where are the tours in the city of Bandung?

I deliberately chose a room on the 1st floor because the condition of the hand has not been able to lift the goods while going up and down the stairs (there is no elevator in this hotel). The room I chose was adjacent to the reception and right in front of the dining room.

It seems that this hotel is often used by government agency employees because we see guests in uniform during a one-night stay here. Although the reception area is small and cannot accommodate the queue of guests who will check in or check out, this hotel has a fairly large parking lot.

Related: Culinary Payakumbuh Sumbar

Looks simple; Shafira has quite complete facilities. A neat room with a 24 m toilet area, a sizable wardrobe and work desk, a TV with a local and overseas channel, and a set of tables and chairs used to store electric teapots, mineral water, sugar, and coffee, and wifi are quite tight.

The space on the left and right of the bed is also quite spacious. It’s just that the bathroom looks quite narrow, so it makes it difficult for Menong’s friends who intend to bathe their children. The hot springs function properly, so there is no need to hesitate to clean the body more.

Breakfast is served at 7.00 WIB (hmm, usually too late for us who have to arrive at the place of activity at 7.30 WIB). The simple menu is quite appetizing.

Another shortcoming is that the place that is on the outskirts of the city makes it difficult for Menong’s friends to forage or wait for an online taxi. Gutters seem to be flowing from the top floor through the bathroom so that it sometimes sounds hard. The room I choose also has a window overlooking the parking lot so that the curtains must be closed every time.

I gave a rate of 4/5 for the Shafira Hotel.

Related: Travel To Harau Sumbar Valley

Hotel Mangkuto Syariah, Payakumbuh

The hotel is located on Jl. General Sudirman, Koto Was Renewed, Kec. North Payakumbuh, and is a sharia hotel. This hotel is not far from Hotel Shafira. Hotel Mangkuto is the largest and best hotel in Payakumbuh. 

From the front, Menong’s friends may only see a simple hotel, especially since the reception area is very minimalist. But make no mistake, in terms of design, I give a thumbs up for this hotel. The minimalist design looks beautiful and makes the lobby area look bright and comfortable.

We got a super spacious room, a 40 m² cube. All VIP rooms are on the ground floor so that the room door faces the back garden. Each room comes with a double bed (queen size), a set of chairs and a guest table, an ornamental table, a refrigerator, a TV, a wardrobe, a sink, and a bathroom. On the porch of the room, there is a set of wooden chairs.

Initially I was offered a uniquely designed VIP room, equipped with a high table as a mini bar, with a front door and a back door, but I refused because I had no guts to sleep alone.

Related: Review of Mupu Jeruk Bandung Restaurant

Hotel Mangkuto has a backyard as wide as a ball field facing directly Bukit Barisan... Yes, Bukit Barisan, which I usually only read in school textbooks. This grass court is near VIP rooms and a small mosque in the middle of the park that we passed when heading to the restaurant.

A quiet atmosphere; the view of the hill that stretches from a distance makes me amazed and gives me goosebumps with the silence that accompanies us.

The hotel resto has a semi-outdoor concept because it is close to the grass field and multipurpose buildings. A simple design does not diminish its beauty. Moreover, the menu in this hotel is fairly champion because everything tastes good.

Every day we are treated to typical West Sumatran food that is all spicy. Something that makes it difficult for me, who is undergoing GERD therapy. Spicy fried rice, spicy noodles, lontong field, glutinous buttocks, and village porridge (my favorite) are always present to accompany. Don’t forget the crab crackers are super tasty.

Unlike other restaurants, Hotel Mangkuto provides herbal packages such as honey, chia seeds, rosella, himsalt, olive oil, herbal powder, habbatusuda, and dates as a complement to breakfast. 

Uniquely, I finally ‘met’ also with fried instant noodle seasoning, which turns out to be different from what we used to meet on the island of Java because it does not serve sauce as part of the seasoning.

Unfortunately, Menong’s friends cannot wash clothes through laundry because the hotel does not provide this service. Menong friends can take advantage of the shuttle laundry service that is entrusted to the reception.

Despite being in the middle of the expanse of the mountain, for us (Bandung people), the weather in Payakumbuh is fairly hot. Even so, we remain excited for the streets around the city, including tasting the culinary variety of Payakumbuh and setting foot in Harau Valley. In my review of hotels in Payakumbuh, I gave a rating of 5/5 for Hotel Mangkuto Syariah.