Must-see restaurants in Cebu

  • Cafe Laguna

    Cebu City

    The cosmopolitan Ayala Center does not have many options for good local food, but highly popular Cafe Laguna is an exception. Excellent, relatively…

  • Rico's Lechon

    Cebu City

    Cebu is the place to eat that signature Filipino delicacy, lechón (spit-roasted suckling pig), and Rico's has the best in town. It's cooked every morning…

  • Angelina

    Malapascua Island

    The eponymous chef at Angelina cooks up heavenly creations that will have you craving Italian food for weeks. The homemade tagliatelle asparagi is al…

  • Maya

    Cebu City

    Enter through heavy carved wooden doors to this classy, candlelit restaurant with arguably the best Mexican food in the country. Authentic dishes include…

  • Anzani

    Cebu City

    One of the best fine-dining restaurants in the Visayas, classy Anzani is the perfect location for a special meal with sweeping views of the city from its…

  • Healthy U

    Cebu City

    This quirky, inexpensive little place is a haven for vegetarians, with tasty tofu and vegan dishes (most costing P30 to P40). For really cheap eats you…

  • Bantayan Burrito Company

    Bantayan Island

    What's this? A British-owned Tex-Mex restaurant on a remote Visayan island? Works for us. Satisfy all your burrito and taco cravings at this simple place…

  • MJ Square

    Bantayan Island

    This open-air food bazaar is lined with restaurants, mainly serving inexpensive Filipino food, but there are some surprises including a fine Mexican joint…

  • Abaca

    Cebu City

    Superstylish cafe where you can dine overlooking the Terraces or in the air-con interior. Great for breakfast with healthy and not-so-healthy options –…

  • Caffe del Mar

    Bantayan Island

    For a taste of the Italian motherland look no further, Caffe del Mar serves up fine imported antipasto, gnocchi, seafood and grilled meats, homemade pasta…

  • La Vie Parisienne

    Cebu City

    This bakery and cafe-bar offers light bites (baguettes start at P160) in a stunning garden setting, with cool sofas, oversized bean bags and hip lighting…

  • Last Filling Station

    Moalboal

    An enjoyable little restaurant with efficient service (though with street views rather than ocean vistas). Famous for its energy-boosting breakfasts,…

  • STK ta Bay! Sa Paolito's Seafood House

    Cebu City

    Ask a Cebuano where to dine and many will point you to this large ancestral-home-turned-restaurant chock full of family heirlooms. Jerry's crab curry is a…

  • Arano's

    Cebu City

    An authentic Basque–Spanish restaurant where the cosy front room is all gingham tablecloths and Spanish memorabilia (check out those pistols on the wall)…

  • Tsim Sha Tsui

    Cebu City

    This modish Chinese joint is justifiably popular for its dim-sum deal (P399, all-you-can-eat from the conveyor belt) but there are other tempting choices…

  • Lunhaw

    Cebu City

    A smart modern vegan place with a short menu that includes salads, soups, pasta (try the pumpkin spinach lasagna) and Asian fusion dishes such as sisag …

  • Golden Cowie

    Cebu City

    Something of a local institution, Golden Cowie serves authentic Filipino flavours at pretty modest prices. It has mouthwatering fish and seafood – try the…

  • Ven'z Kitchen

    Moalboal

    Everything is prepared with love and attention at this simple place run by two friendly local women; there's always a daily special and vegans and…

  • Sugbo Mercado

    Cebu City

    Patrons flock to this fantastic food park in Cebu IT Park to gnaw on a dizzying array of Filipino and Southeast Asian specialties to the sound of live…

  • Amihan

    Malapascua Island

    In an elevated position overlooking Logon Beach, Amihan is a very classy restaurant, with beautiful contemporary furnishings and stunning bay vistas. It's…

  • La Maison Rose

    Cebu City

    A little slice of France in the middle of Cebu, La Maison offers fine dining in a pale-pink, colonial-style building reminiscent of a French Indochine…

  • La Buona

    Cebu City

    Occupying a leafy compound just blocks from the Ayala Center, La Buona is for those looking to enjoy la dolce vita in Cebu. The likes of Italian-style…

  • Mercado

    Malapascua Island

    Head to this wet market just inland from Bounty Beach for affordable, fresh seafood including squid, shrimp, mussels and fish ranging from red snapper to…

  • Handuraw Pizza

    Cebu City

    This Cebu institution is famous for its thin-crust pizzas – try the mildly spicy Pizza Cebuana topped with the local chorizo. Pasta, chilli wings, salads…

  • Zubuchon

    Cebu City

    A popular pick for a lechón fix, with several branches around the city. This place in the heart of town offers a platter of classic or boneless lechón for…

  • Blue Ice

    Bantayan Island

    Lively spot on a corner plot that's deservedly popular for its food – a mixture of Asian dishes and Scandinavian specialities: try the Swedish meatballs …

  • French Coffee Shop

    Moalboal

    It does what it says on the sign – French coffee – well, it serves Italian-style coffee too…plus shakes, crêpes, baguettes, breakfasts and salads. There's…

  • Pleasure Principle Resto-Bar

    Moalboal

    Named after an obscure Gary Numan album, this enjoyable, efficiently run place on the main drag offers an eclectic (too long) menu including French, local…

  • Kiwi Bakhaw

    Malapascua Island

    This place is well worth sniffing out for its gorgeous cordon bleu and curries. Quality food takes time to prepare: expect to wait up to an hour. Bring…

  • Original AA BBQ

    Cebu City

    Vegetarians have nowhere to hide at this popular open-sided barbecue place where you choose your own meat or seafood and have it charcoal-grilled on the…

  • Taco Bar

    Moalboal

    This unassuming open-air cottage about 500m east of the Panagsama strip has a case for the best tacos in all of Cebu. Nachos, burritos and even a taco…

  • Cafe Cebuano

    Moalboal

    Boasts a great shoreside deck perfect for quaffing a glass of red or sipping on a cappuccino and soaking up the ocean views. There's a full food menu too,…

  • Barbecue Boss

    Cebu City

    A lively open-sided place where groups of students and young office workers come to eat, drink and socialise. Grab one of the large wooden tables and tuck…

  • Yakski Barbecue

    Cebu City

    This casual open-sided place with a happy pig on its sign peddles meat on a stick (pork belly, chorizo, chicken) to the fawning masses.

  • La Isla Bonita

    Malapascua Island

    A great find for budget eats, this courtyard restaurant is run by a jolly family who prepare a selection of fresh local dishes every day, including vegie…

  • Cou Cou's

    Bantayan Island

    Popular Belgian-owned restaurant serving good breakfast, Filipino fare (adobo, Bicol exprés) and Western dishes. There's a good wine list (or if you're…

  • Persian Palate

    Cebu City

    Tucked away behind National Bookstore in Mango Sq, this Middle-Eastern-cum-Indian place has mains including baba ganoush (eggplant with yoghurt and tahini…

  • CnT Lechon

    Cebu City

    CnT serves a fine version of lechón (spit-roasted pork), a real Cebu delicacy. The crackling (skin) is authentically crispy on the outside but soft on the…

  • Cockonuts

    Moalboal

    Right in the heart of the action in Panagsama but relatively sealed off from the noise so you can really enjoy that sea view. On the menu is tasty…

  • Chinese Ngohiong

    Cebu City

    A true Cebu legend, this hole-in-the-wall is beloved for its mini stuffed crabs and ngohiong (Cebuano spring rolls) – they are tasty, if on the greasy…

More destinations you need to see