Cebu City was established back in 1565 as the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Today there are a number of historic sites to visit, as well as a variety of museums. Culinary traditions vary a lot throughout the Philippines, so there are a lot of unique Cebuano dishes worth trying that can’t be found in other regions, from the well known Cebu-style lechon and sutukil , to countless other more obscure foods I’ll detail in this blog post. Local food can be found everywhere from local markets to slightly more upscale restaurants, though the best food is almost always found in carinderias . Cebu City does lag behind Manila in some ways and definitely isn’t as modern or cosmopolitan, so if you’re desperate for those first-world bells and whistles, you might be disappointed. That said, a promising cafe and cocktail culture is just starting to emerge, as well as two genuinely excellent breweries.
Cebu has a pretty steady climate all year, so you can visit whenever it fits your schedule. There isn’t a big difference between wet and dry seasons here, which means probably you’re probably safe from major weather disruptions no matter when you come. That said, the months from February to April are generally drier, so assuming you’re also heading out of the city to explore the island’s beaches, waterfalls, and outdoor adventures, this would be your best time to visit without worrying about rain.
Even during the wetter months, the rain is typically short and happens later in the day, so there’s still usually time to explore during daylight hours. Cebu doesn’t get hit by typhoons as often as other parts of the Philippines, so it’s a safe bet year-round.
The Sinulog festival takes place the third Sunday of January, and it’s definitely worth seeing if you can. Be mindful however- on this weekend accommodation fills up super early and getting around the city is nearly impossible due to the crowds. If you’re in town during Sinulog don’t expect to be able to do anything else the same weekend.
My Tips for Visiting Cebu City
1. Avoid restaurants, and look for carenderias. There’s a lot of delicious food in Cebu City, but there’s also at least as much terrible food. Mid-range restaurants and fast food places tend to sell poor imitations of American food, and the quality is lacking. It’s surprisingly easy for a business to thrive here solely on being “instagrammable”, so honestly the more “aesthetic” a restaurant is (especially cafés), the more skeptical I’d be that the food is actually any good. Carenderias , or small local eateries, offer delicious local meals at a fraction of the cost of restaurants, and in many cases the quality is higher. Keep on reading for some my specific food recommendations.
2. Skip the Temple of Leah. The Philippines has several attractions that mimic other parts of the world, like a mall that looks like Venice or a park with a fake Eiffel Tower and Hollywood sign . These kind of spots exist for Instagram photos and while some of them can be fun in a kitschy sort of way, the long drive to the Temple of Leah just isn’t worth it. There’s nothing to see here other than a crumbling concrete tourist trap with a poorly-maintained marble facade. Save your time and money.
3. Get out of the city! – There are so many fantastic places accessible by boat or ferry from Cebu City, not to mention flying. This access to other destinations is ultimately the reason that the city is so popular among tourists. You’ve probably already heard of Moalboal, Oslob, and Bohol, but other slightly more off-the-radar spots to visit from Cebu City include Bantayan , Malapascua, Camotes, Siquijor, Camiguin, and Dumaguete.
Best Cebu City Tourist Spots
1. Tops Lookout
When I lived in Cebu pre-Covid the TOPS lookout was just that – a humble lookout with a spectacular view over Cebu City. Since then it’s reopened as a full-fledged Tourist Attraction with a capital T. They’ve built tons of restaurants, a hostel, and a top floor with a panoramic view that you have to pay extra to get up to. There are also now busses that regularly run from IT Park up to TOPS, making this Cebu City attraction more popular than ever. And fair enough, you just can’t beat these views. Cleverly the building has been designed so that both sunrise and sunset views are maximized. If you have a clear day forecasted during your stay in Cebu City (or even if you don’t), you’ve got to check this view out for yourself.
You can wait for the shuttle up to TOPS from IT Park (200 PHP which includes entrance fee), or hire a habal-habal from JY Square (~300 PHP).
2. Balik Batik
Balik Batik is a small hole-in-the-wall boutique in Liloan, just north of the Cebu City, though their customers come from all around the world. Balik Batik uses indigenous fabrics to create contemporary fashion. Their products include blazers, jackets, and blouses crafted from handwoven textiles sourced from various indigenous groups across the Philippines, including the Yakan of Basilan, the T’boli of Mindanao, and the hablon weavers of Cebu and Iloilo.
3. University of San Carlos Museum
The University of San Carlos Museum is one of the best museums in Cebu, and it’s also one of the least talked about. (Not to mention the cheapest, at only 30 PHP ). The collection of indigenous Filipino artifacts is expansive and impressive, but also super well presented. Highlights include limestone burial jars from the 6th century, two well-preserved boat coffins, and a human skull with gold pins hammered into the teeth, a pre-colonial practice that I hadn’t learned about before. The museum isn’t large enough to cover the wide span of Filipino history but does a really good job of diving deep into the craftsmanship and traditions of just a few of the Philippines’ many ethnic groups. In addition to indigenous artifacts, you’ll also find artifacts from Chinese trade, Spanish ecclesiastical relics, and a large bird and butterfly collection.
4. Pungko Pungko sa Fuente
Pungko-pungko is a quintessential Cebuano street food experience that refers more to the way of eating than the food itself. The term pungko , which means squat in Cebuano, refers to the practice of sitting on low communal benches while enjoying from a pile of deep fried goodies. There’s a bit of an honour system here – keep track of what you eat for when it’s time to pay. Typical pungko-pungko spread includes ginabot , ngohiong , lumpia , crab and plenty others all paired with puso , or rice in handwoven coconut leaves.
One of the cleanest and friendliest places to try pungko-pungko is Pungko-Pungko sa Fuente, near Fuente Osmeña Circle. There are a bunch of different vendors who will try to wave you over, so take your pick.
5. Yap-San Diego Ancestral House
The Yap-San Diego Ancestral House in Cebu’s historic Parian district, is one of several heritage houses all within walking distance of each other. Constructed between 1675 and 1700, this Balay nga bato ug kahoy (house of stone and wood) was originally owned by Don Juan Yap, a Chinese merchant, and his wife, Doña Maria Florido. The house showcases a blend of Spanish and Chinese architectural influences, featuring coral stone walls, molave hardwood floors, and a traditional “tisa” clay tile roof. Unlike some of the other heritage buildings in the area, this one feels less like a museum and more like a cramped antique store, with antique furniture, china, and art stashed in every available space. If you’re just walking around by yourself then a lot of context is missing – fortunately the guides are very friendly and charismatic. Entrance to the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House is 50 PHP .
6. Casa Gorordo Museum
If you’re going to visit only one heritage house in Cebu City’s Parian district, then this the one. While the other restored houses on this list feel as though they’ve been lovingly taken care of by their owners, the Casa Gorordo Museum is the only one that really feels like it’s been professionally restored. This really is a world-class historic site, and I was incredibly impressed. This balay nga Tisa (house with tiled roof) combines native, Spanish, and Chinese architectural influences, featuring coral stone foundations, hardwood floors, and a traditional tile roof. It’s furnished beautifully, and as you wander around you’ll genuinely feel like you’ve been taken back in time. Entrance is 100 PHP , or 150 PHP including a guided tour, which I highly recommend.
7. 1730 Jesuit House
Constructed in 1730, this heritage house originally served as the residence for Jesuit priests during the Spanish colonial era. What makes it really unique from the other heritage houses in Parian is the fact that it’s literally enclosed within a furniture warehouse, and it’s really refreshing to see the effort the owners of the property have put into preserving it. It’s pretty cool to see from the outside, though the lack of sunlight or breeze inside the house feels kind of eerie. The furnishings have been chosen seemingly incoherently – the house contains a 1950s TV set next to antique Spanish furniture next to faded photos from the 80s – it doesn’t seem like there’s been an attempt to recreate one specific period of time in the house’s history, but instead to just fill it with old stuff that might have been there at any point in time in the last three hundred years. Entrance is 100 PHP , which includes a guided tour.
8. Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu
The Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu is located in a beautiful 19th century convento , and is located only a short walk from Cebu’s other major Catholic tourist sites – The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and Magellan’s Cross. In my opinion it’s the most interesting of the three spots. Like many church museums, it features a bunch of ecclesiastical artifacts dating back to the Spanish period. The real attraction is the building itself though, as it’s been restored beautifully. It’s also worth walking out to the garden in the back, where the old church bells have been retired. Entrance fee is 100 PHP.
9. Basilica del Santo Niño
Founded in 1565, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu was built on the spot where Spanish explorers discovered a preserved statue of the Santo Niño (Holy Child) in a burned wooden box – a relic believed to have been left by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. The current stone building, completed in the 18th century, showcases a blend of Muslim, Romanesque, and neo-classical architectural styles and today is an important hub of the Catholic faith in Cebu. Filipinos come to the church for mass, to light candles and pray, and to glimpse the Santo Niño, which is still enshrined within. Foreign tourists tend not to het as much out of this tourist spot as much as Filipinos do though – and all visitors should be aware that the area does have a reputation for pickpockets.
10. Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross is supposedly the original cross erected on April 21, 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan and his Spanish expedition. It represents the introduction of Christianity to the Philippines, and the start of colonization. You can’t technically see the cross, as it’s been encased within another cross for its protection. (Devotees used to chip off pieces of the original cross). The small structure that houses the cross is typically surrounded by street vendors, and the area does have a reputation for pickpockets. While this is a popular spot for Filipino tourists, foreigners are less likely to find it as compelling, much like next-door Santo Niño Basilica.
11. National Museum of the Philippines
The Cebu branch of the National Museum of the Philippines is without a doubt one of the best museums in Cebu. Plus it’s free. Located near Fort San Pedro in the historic Aduana building, the museum houses a variety of pre-colonial artifacts as well as contemporary art pieces, and does a great job of exploring the history of the Philippines with a special focus on Visayan culture. Highlights include artifacts like indigenous burial jars, Chinese pottery, and a surprisingly good exhibit on the plant and animal life of the Philippines.
12. Carbon Market
The Carbon Market is Cebu’s largest and busiest market, and during the day it’s where locals come to buy their meat and produce for dinner. In the evening, The Barracks comes alive. This open-air food hub within Carbon is my favourite food park in Cebu. Unlike other pricier options that cater more to tourists with international fare, this place is very much for Filipinos. If you want to walk around with a vlogging camera and get extra special attention just for being white, this is the place. Or just come for the delicious and well-priced food. You can find all the classics like lechon , tuslob buwa , pater , inihaw , and of course plenty of fresh seafood.
13. Fort San Pedro
If you’re spending time in Cebu City, you have to make time for Fort San Pedro. The oldest Spanish fort in the Philippines, it’s located beside Plaza Independencia near Cebu’s old port. Originally built looking out towards the ocean, the fort has since been landlocked by reclamation projects. Construction began on May 8, 1565, shortly after the arrival of Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi, who named the fort after his flagship. Initially built of wood, it was later reconstructed in stone, with the current structure likely dating to 1738. Over the centuries, it has seen multiple uses: from Spanish military outpost to American barracks, Japanese stronghold, wartime hospital, public school, city zoo, and government office. Today the small historical park is really enjoyable to walk around and it really only takes around 20 minutes max – just be warned that there is little shade. When I visited the fort in the past there was a small museum, though it was closed on my most recent visit. I’d love to see more of an effort to tell the story of the place – at the moment it’s really just a few signs at the entrance that most people don’t even notice. Entrance is 30 PHP .
14. Budlaan Falls
Budlaan Falls is a hidden gem located in the highlands above Cebu City. It’s definitely not the most impressive waterfall in all of Cebu, but it makes for a very nice break if you’re spending a longer period of time in the city. Surprisingly the local barangay haven’t really done much to commercialize the waterfall despite a growing number of visitors. The best way to get to Budlaan is by negotiating a fare with a habal-halal driver at JY Square.
15. Bagacay Point Lighthouse
Bagacay Point Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse situated in Liloan, approximately 18 kilometers north of Cebu City. The octagonal masonry tower was constructed in 1904 under the administration of American Governor-General William Howard Taft. Just a short walk from the lighthouse and you’ll reach the ruins of the original watchtower built during the Spanish colonial period to look out for pirate raiders. Like many similar watchtowers dotting Cebu’s coast, it’s been neglected and forgotten. The plus side is you’re certain to have it all to yourself.
16. Olango Island Hopping
Island hopping from Mactan means toward Olango Island, a flat, reef-fringed island about 5km offshore. Olango is best known for its wildlife sanctuary, but its surrounding waters are dotted with smaller low-lying islands and white sand sandbars that make for easy day trips by boat. Each boat tour only goes to a few of the half a dozen or so islands, so choose carefully based on whether your priorities are snorkeling, bird-watching, lounging on the beach, or enjoying fresh seafood.
17. Mactan Guitar Factories
Mactan Island’s guitar workshops have recently started to receive some increased attention – but still most people don’t know about this local industry. The area’s tradition of handcrafted guitar-making extends back to the Spanish colonial area, and the workshops that today line Pajac-Maribago Road have been passed down through multiple generations. In addition to guitars made out of local woods like mango, jackfruit, and narra, you’ll also find ukukeles and bandurrias , an instrument used in Filipino folkloric songs. Walking around the workshops you can see the process of guitar-making firsthand, or maybe even buy an instrument from one of the showrooms.
18. Chorizo de Cebu
Often skewered and grilled over charcoal, Cebu’s local-style chorizo is easy to spot at nearly any inihawan (bbq spot) with its short, plump links stained bright red with achuete (annatto), and shiny with caramelized sugar and pork fat. There are a number of regional variations of chorizo found throughout the Philippines, though Cebu’s is renowned for being fresh, soft, sweet, and garlicky, with a sticky exterior that chars and crisps up over the coals. The best way to eat it is straight off the grill with a side of puso (rice in woven coconut leaves) and dipped in vinegar. If you want to see it being made first-hand, Taboan Public Market is home to a small chorizo factory, as well as many stalls overflowing with the sweet sausage.
19. The Kabilin Center
The Kabilin Center is a small contemporary exhibition space run by the same owners as the Casa Gorordo Museum, which is also its nextdoor neighbour in Cebu’s historic Parian district. The Kabilin Center (Kabilin means inheritance in Cebuano) focuses on making Cebuano heritage accessible to the public, with exhibitions highlighting local history, language, and cultural preservation. When I visited the current exhibition was highlighting local craftsmen and products, and I was very impressed with how well it was displayed. Exploring the small museum (which really is just one large room) only takes about ten minutes, though I suppose that depends on how much reading material is involved in whatever the current exhibition is.
Regular tickets are 150 PHP but I paid 200 PHP at the Kabilin Center for a ticket that included entry for here as well as to the Casa Gorordo Museum next door. Strangely the staff insisted on walking me next door for “safety”, which was a perk of my 2-in-one ticket I guess. I asked what they were keeping me safe from on the ten second walk and they didn’t seem to know.
20. Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum
Chinese presence in Cebu dates back to pre-colonial times when traders from Southern Fujian engaged in commerce with local communities. During the Spanish colonial period, the Chinese community in Cebu expanded significantly, and their influence has played a role in the city though to today. Visitors to the Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum can explore displays featuring Chinese trade pottery from the Tang and Song dynasties, traditional attire, and a replica of a Chinese junk ship. Unfortunately I was left disappointed by my visit to the museum – it seems that most of the museum is closed, so at least until it fully reopens in October 2025 paying the 200 PHP to visit only one of the three floors is pretty steep.
21. HoliCOW Gallery / Store
Tucked into a quiet corner of Atúa Midtown, HoliCOW is a small gallery-store run by a Cebuano-led collective of designers, artisans, and manufacturers. The group partners with rural craft communities across the Philippines, drawing on existing traditional skills to produce contemporary pieces that go far beyond souvenirs. Materials range from reclaimed wood and bamboo to piña fiber, rattan, and upcycled textiles, transformed into furniture, lighting, jewelry, towels, and more. Production is deliberately small-scale—some partner communities don’t even have electricity—so every piece is limited, and designs aren’t repeated. Each visit offers something new.
22. Atúa Midtown
Located in a former hotel that was only just last year renovated to fit the space, Atúa Midtown is a creative hub that brings together a mix of artists, designers, and small-scale entrepreneurs. The space houses a diverse lineup of local shops, including art studios, galleries, craft stores, and cafes. Half the appeal is in wandering through and seeing what’s there. Visitors can browse locally made goods, meet artists and makers, and get a sense of Cebu’s growing creative scene, all under one roof.
23. Lost Books
Lost Books is one of the smallest bookshops you’re ever likely to visit. How small you ask? Small enough to fit inside a renovated ATM kiosk – but it’s also one of the most thoughtfully curated. This independent bookshop stocks a wide selection of titles, with the highlight being the collection of works by local authors. Whether you’re a local Cebuano or a foreign visitor, reading something local is a great way to learn about and feel more connected to the place you are. The owner Donald is super passionate about what he does, and is full of recommendations. One of my favourite things to do while travelling is to pick up a local book so I’m not spending all my time on my phone while waiting around at airports, and if you’re in Cebu City there’s no better place to find one than at Lost Books.
24. Anthill Fabric Gallery
ANTHILL (that’s “Alternative Nest and Trading/Training Hub for Indigenous or Ingenious Little Livelihood Seekers,” works with weaving communities across the Philippines to turn handwoven fabric into contemporary clothing and home goods. The shop is full of apparel and accessories as well as rolls of the handwoven fabric. ANTHILL also trains weavers in financial literacy, focuses on design partnerships that actually pay fairly, and adapting techniques to work with modern materials – like their zero-waste weaving program, which turns textile offcuts into brand-new weaves.
25. Silogan ni Gian
Okay, Filipinos feel free to skip ahead because you’ll know all about this already. This is one for the foreigners.
If you want to eat breakfast like a Filipino, you’re going to have to try silog. It’s not a dish so much as a formula: [Something]-silog, where the “-silog” part comes from sinangag (garlic fried rice) and itlog (egg). The first part is usually meat—tapsilog for tapa (beef jerky-ish), longsilog for longganisa (sausage), tosilog for tocino (sweet cured pork), and so on. There’s bacsilog (bacon), chicksilog (fried chicken), bagnetsilog (bagnet), and about a hundred more. It’s the classic Filipino breakfast meal.
Silogan ni Gian is my personal recommendation for silog in Cebu City. Make sure to try the porksilog and sisigsilog.
26. Sinulog
Sinulog is either the most exhilarating or most overwhelming thing you can do in Cebu City. It’s a religious festival slash Cebu’s biggest fiesta, held every January to honor the Santo Niño , whose image was handed over to Rajah Humabon and his wife by Magellan in 1521, and today sits in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
It’s also an excuse for an entire city to lose its mind in a blitz of dancing, street parades, and absolutely abysmal crowd control. Roads close and dance performers compete as marching bands drown out speaker towers and tipsy crowds scream “Pit Señor! ” (short for “Sangpit sa Señor ,” meaning “Call to the Lord.”)
If you hate crowds, maybe sit this one out. But if you want to see Cebu in City full technicolor, this is it.
27. Saturday Farmer’s Market
If you’re craving the atmosphere of a proper western-style farmers market, fear not. Every Saturday from 7:00-2:00, the parking lot outside Marco Polo Plaza transforms into the Cebu City Saturday Farmers Market. It’s not massive, maybe two dozen stalls on a good day, but it’s got all the staples of any good farmers market. Local produce from nearby farms, hot food and cold drinks, and a variety of handmade local products. And friendly people of course.
28. Local Craft Beer
Cebu City is not a craft beer city. Hey, the Philippines is not a craft beer country. So you can imagine my pleasant surprise when I first sampled beer from Cebu’s two craft breweries and found them genuinely superb. And not superb “for the Philippines”, or anything like that. Actually really good.
If you know me you know I like my breweries casual and unpretentious, and Turning Wheels Craft Brewery , whose taproom is a converted shipping container, does just the trick. Owner and brewer Michael Nikkel tends to focus on the hoppier side of things, with the Modern Geometry West Coast IPA being a particular highlight.
Bauhinia Brewery is much newer on the scene, and the focus seems to be much more on lagers, which provides a nice counterpoint to Turning Wheels’ IPAs. Somewhat ironically then, their IPL was my favourite that I tried, with their Pilsner coming in a close second. Bauhinia doesn’t have a taproom, but their beers are available at Drip & Draft , as well as several other spots around town.
29. The Chocolate Chamber
If you’re only familiar with hot chocolate as the sweet, milky stuff that comes from a packet, then the sikwate ( aka tsokolate) at The Chocolate Chamber might be a bit of a surprise. Cacao came here in the 1600s on the galleon trade from Mexico, and while Spain brought the beans, it didn’t bring the sugar-and-cream version Europeans were sipping by then. Filipinos made something much closer to what the Maya and Aztecs were drinking—roasted cacao pounded into paste, formed into discs, and whisked into hot water with a batirol .
Sadly the tradition is dying out, especially in the cities. The Chocolate Chamber is trying to change that. Come here for their delicious sikwate as well as a variety of other decadent chocolate treats to nibble on while you sip.
The Chocolate Chamber’s founder learned the process of making sikwate from her grandmother in Balamban, and I love that the tradition is being passed on. Unfortunately, the small cafe feels more like my grandma’s house than somewhere I’d actually like to hang out for long. My table was so cluttered with charger plates, candles, a vase, and rocks that when my food and drink came there wasn’t anywhere to actually put it.
30. Sugbo Mercado
Located in IT Park, this open-air food park features a wide variety food stalls, providing a diverse array of cuisines—from Cebu’s famous lechon to pad thai, kebabs, ramen, burgers, crepes, and tacos. To call the atmosphere lively would almost be an understatement, as it tends to get absolutely packed late in the evening.
Good things first: this is Cebu’s cleanest and best organized food park, and as mentioned there’s a wide range of international fare (if that’s what you’re after).
Bad stuff: the wide range of international options and the higher prices clearly reflect how popular this place is with tourists. It’s not that the food here is bad – it’s just that if you came looking for unfiltered, street-level Filipino flavor, this isn’t the place.
31. Kultura Filipino
If you’re looking for a pasalubong (souvenir) from your time in the Philippines, I can’t think of many better places to shop than at Kultura Filipina. Unlike most souvenir shops which specialize in mass-produced Chinese garbage with a filipino flag sticker slapped on top, these are genuine Filipino products made by Filipinos.
Kultura Filipina stocks everything from handwoven bags and piña barongs to locally distilled traditional spirits, small-batch food products, handmade jewelry, native home décor, and books by Filipino authors. Highlights for me include chocolates by Filipino bean-to-bar producers Auro and Theo & Philo, as well as tuba (wine from fermented coconut palm sap) by Vini Isla.
32. Qube Gallery
Cebu is not a city with a huge art scene, let’s get that out of the way. But when it comes to the small but strong arts community in the city, Qube Gallery in Banilad does a lot of the heavy lifting. Qube showcases a wide range of Filipino artists, from emerging locals to established names who’ve already made it into international art fairs. They also work with foreign artists who have ties to the Philippines, and the small space features new exhibitions every couple of months. While you’re there check out their neighbour Commonly Uncommon Coffee, one of the city’s best cafés.
33. Sutukil
You’ve come all the way to Cebu, so you’d better be eating seafood. Sutukil is a portmanteau of three classic Filipino seafood cooking methods: sugba (grilled), tuwa (simmered in broth), and kilaw (raw or lightly cured, think Filipino ceviche). The concept is simple – choose your seafood, then decide how each part will be prepared. One whole fish might be divided and cooked all three ways, or you can mix and match different seafoods for separate dishes. Everyone in Cebu has a different opinion on where to find the best sutukil . Parr’t Ebelle Tinola is one local favourite that can get pretty busy and chaotic (in a fun way) where you’ll have to point at what fresh fish you want from three different stations before sitting down. If that sounds a bit much for you, then Paolito’s STK ta Bai makes things simple with a standard menu you can order from.
34. Balbacua
Balbacua is a thick, gelatin-rich stew made from oxtail, skin, joints, and other collagen-heavy cuts that are simmered for hours until they practically dissolve into the sticky savoury broth. It’s somewhere between a soup and a gravy, with hints of ginger, garlic, star anise, and fermented black beans. It’s a staple of carinderias all around Cebu City, but two of my favourites can be found at Yancy’s Balbacuahan and Matias BBQ.
35. Lechon
You knew it was going to be on this list somewhere – lechon is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Cebu, and maybe one of the most well-known Filipino dishes ever.
Unlike in Luzon where lechon is typically served with liver sauce, Cebu-style is served as is, relying entirely on the flavor of the pig and the stuffing. A whole suckling pig is slow-roasted over charcoal for hours, constantly turned to get that perfect crispy bronze skin. The drippings baste the meat as it cooks, and the lemongrass, green onions, and crushed garlic in the belly infuse every bite with flavour. Everyone in Cebu claims to know the place to get the best lechon. The most popular spot for tourists is House of Lechon , a very nice sit-down restaurant that offers a variety of other yummy dishes in addition to lechon. Ayer’s Lechon is a local favourite, and if you arrive at 2:30 when they open you’ll already find Cebuanos eagerly lined up outside the small lechon stall.
36. Lamaw
Lamaw is a Cebuano street food that you’ll find commonly outside public schools and markets. It’s a humble rice bowl (with a name that translates to slop, or animal feed) that starts with a scoop of rice in a plastic cup or bowl, topped with siomai , a hard-boiled egg, then is doused in sweet garlic soy sauce and topped with crushed chicharon for crunch. There’s a decent amount of variation in what you can add. It’s not exactly mind-blowing stuff, but it’s a common budget lunch that usually lands under 50 PHP. I know not everyone is comfortable eating from street vendors, so I tried unsuccessfully to find any slightly fancier places in Cebu City that offered a version of lamaw . This is one Cebuano food where you’ll just have to eat like the locals.
37. Entoy’s Bakasihan
Entoy’s Bakasihan sits right on the shoreline in Cordova, about a 30-minute drive from Cebu City if there’s no traffic (there’s always traffic). The signature dish here is the linarang na bakasi . Linarang is a sour and spicy fish soup commonly eaten in Cebu, and bakasi – less commonly eaten – are reef eels, freshly harvested each morning. There are tons of other delicious seafood dishes here too – I had the saang (spider conch), lato (sea grapes – I highly recommend if you’ve never tried), and kinilaw na bangsi (raw flying fish cured in vinegar). All were very delicious. The humble local eatery was featured in a 2019 Netflix documentary, but despite increased attention since then the place definitely hasn’t turned into a tourist attraction, and it’s still really only Filipinos who come here.
If you try the linarang na bakasi , ask someone to show you the method of removing the guts, which have a bitter flavour.
38. Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos and Delicacies
When visiting Cebu City, trying local delicacies is a must, and bringing home pasalubong (souvenirs) is for many Filipinos an obligation. One of Cebu’s most famous pasalubong stops is Titay’s, which has been around since 1907, when Margarita “Titay” Frasco started baking simple ring-shaped butter cookies named rosquillos out of her home. Today Titay’s is still well known for their rosquillos , but you can also pick up otap , an oval-shaped puff pastry known for its flaky texture and sugary coating. The shop also stocks a variety of other local products like dried Cebu mangoes, and fresh treats like ensaymada and torta .
39. Conching Native Chicken
In the Philippines, when people say “native chicken,” they mean manok bisaya —a slow-growing, free-range breed raised in backyards and small farms prized for their leaner meat and richer taste compared to commercially raised poultry. At Conching’s Native Chicken, a Cebu City staple since 1968, the birds are marinated and grilled over charcoal, then eaten with rice and sawsawan. If ordering a whole chicken just for yourself sounds like a lot of food don’t worry, they’re pretty skinny compared to the chickens you’re used to and one person could definitely finish one. In addition to their signature chicken, the popular eatery also serves a number of other Cebuano carinderia staples like balbacua , kinilaw , and linarang .
40. Liloan Masi
Head north of Cebu City to Liloan, and if you find yourself stuck in traffic (and you will), keep an eye out for masi sellers along the side of the road. Most of the time they’re older women with plastic tubs full of individually plastic-wrapped masi ; balls of glutinous rice flour filled with a sweet and sticky peanut filling. You’ll spot them everywhere in Liloan, but nowhere else. The filling in these mochi-like treats usually starts to harden within a few hours.
41. Pochero
Cebuano pochero is a clear beef soup built around the leg shank of a cow, slow-simmered and served bone-in with the marrow. The broth is light and flavored with ginger, garlic, onions, and lemongrass. Unlike other regional variants in the Philippines, Cebu’s pochero isn’t tomato-based and isn’t thick. Depending on where you go, it can include bamboo shoots, corn on the cob, cabbage, and saba banana. Most pocherohans serve giant portions intended to be shared – so if it’s just you make sure to bring an appetite.
42. Tabléa Chocolate Cafe
Tablea Chocolate Cafe is my preferred place to enjoy a cup of sikwate in Cebu City. This bright and clean cafe offers a modern but unpretentious take on the classic Filipino hot chocolate. It’s named for tablea —pure cacao tablets that are melted to make the sikwate. Beyond beverages, they offer puto maya with ripe mango as well as champorado ; two classic Filipino chocolatey breakfasts. You’ll also find Chocolate con Churros , Tablea Ensaymada , Tablea Layer Cake, Silvanas and take-home chocolate treats include chocolate-covered cacao beans and bar chocolate.
43. Filipino Coffee
The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world that grows all four main commercial coffee varieties: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. And yet, at home most Filipinos just stir 3-in-1 powder sachets into water, while malls are packed with people holding Starbucks cups as status symbols. Foreign brands are lifestyle statements here in the Philippines.
Despite a long history as a coffee-producing country, the local industry has been underdeveloped for decades. But that’s slowly changing. In recent years there’s been renewed investment into infrastructure, consistency, and marketing, and a steady trickle of young Filipinos are getting into coffee seriously. There’s still a long way to go, but the result is that you can now find cafes in Cebu City that not only make good coffee, but good Filipino coffee. My favourite cafes in Cebu City that typically have local beans are The Good Cup Coffee Co , Risk Coffee , Commonly Uncommon Coffee , and Tightrope Coffee .
44. Larangan sa Pasil
Linarang , or larang , is a sour, savory Cebuano fish stew made with green mango or batuan as the souring agent, plus garlic, onion, ginger, tomatoes, chili, and tausi (fermented black beans). The broth is oily and rich, salty and a little sour.
To try it, head to Larangan sa Pasil, a small eatery in Cebu City’s old port district, best known for its bustling fish market. It’s those same fish – fresh from the stalls just a few steps away – that end up simmering in the steaming pots out front. There’s no menu and no sign; just look for the three bubbling woks over smoking wood fires.
The linarang is cooked based on whatever’s available that day – sometimes isda sa bato (parrotfish), sometimes pakol (triggerfish) – but the house specialty is linarang na tagotongan , made with porcupinefish. Tagotongan has firm, gelatinous meat that holds up well in the sour, savory broth, and is a favourite among locals.
45. Cyria’s Kandingan
While not unheard of in the Philippines, kanding , or goat, is definitely not typical carinderia fare. At Cyria’s, it’s the specialty. Try the kalderetang kanding ; goat stew with liver spread, carrots, sometimes a spoonful of pork and beans mixed in. They also do kilawing kanding , made from boiled or roasted goat meat marinated in spiced vinegar, plus paklay (goat innards sautéed with ginger and turmeric), and, if you’re lucky, the braised goat head—dark, rich, gelatinous, and worth the effort it takes to pry the meat off the skull. On the off chance that goat isn’t your thing, there are also a variety of other typical carinderia dishes available.
46. Ginabot sa Pardo
Ginabot is one of my favourite foods in the Philippines; deep-fried pork intestine. It’s fried until it puffs up and blooms into golden curls of crunchy, fatty goodness, and is eaten with puso (rice in woven coconut leaves) and sawsawan . As far as I’m concerned it has to be eaten fresh when it’s at maximum crispiness. Locals call this kind of food putok batok – literally neck explosion – a joke about how eating it might blow out your arteries. It’s shorthand for food that’s so greasy, salty, and delicious it feels like a minor medical emergency.
To find it at its best, head to Ginabot sa Pardo, a low-key roadside stall in Cebu City’s southern district of Pardo. There’s no sign, but you’ll know it when you see it. There’s usually a small crowd of locals munching on ginabot as well as the various other pork parts on offer.
47. Cocktail Bars
To most Filipinos, “cocktails” still mean whatever’s being poured behind the bar at a club – sub-bottom shelf liquor mixed with juice concentrate. When it comes to actual cocktails made with intention, quality ingredients, and a focus on flavour, Cebu’s scene is still small enough that you can count the serious bars on one hand. The city doesn’t have the critical mass of drinkers to support a full-blown craft cocktail boom yet, but the scene is growing, helped along by cross-pollination with the much more developed bar industry in Manila.
The best cocktails I’ve had in Cebu were from Lost Unicorn , The Vault Room , The Dizzy Company , and Tightrope Coffee . Just be warned: speakeasies are in. Most of these bars keep it deliberately low-key, so finding the actual entrance might involve wandering through a coffee shop, past a fake wall, or behind an unmarked door.
Cebu is home to some skilled bartenders coming up with well-made and balanced drinks – but the scene still lacks a deeper connection to local ingredients and spirits. I’d love to see more cocktails featuring Filipino products like tuba (fermented coconut sap wine), tapuey (fermented rice wine), basi (sugarcane wine), or lambanog (a high-proof distillate made from tuba ). There’s no reason these can’t hold their own against imported liqueurs or global trends—it just hasn’t caught on yet.
48. The Pig and Palm
My goal is to focus on Filipino flavors in Cebu City, but I have to make an exception for The Pig & Palm, which is owned by Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton and Ira Atherton. While it doesn’t serve Filipino cuisine, it’s indisputably the best restaurant in the city, serving up modern Spanish tapas with an emphasis on pork. This is the only proper restaurant I’ll highlight, and it deserves the spotlight. If you’re in Cebu and want to have one nice dinner out, this is it.
49. Tuslob Buwa
Tuslob buwa, literally “to dip in bubbles”, is a typically communal meal in which puso (rice in woven coconut leaves) is dipped in a sort of pig bran gravy. It started in Cebu City’s working-class barangays, but today can be found at dedicated eateries throughout the city.
First garlic, onions, and oil are added to a wok, sometimes with liver paste or ground pork to boost the umami. Once that’s sautéed, the utak (pig’s brain) goes in. It’s mashed and stirred until it emulsifies into a thick gray sludge. Seasonings vary by cook, but soy sauce, fish sauce, black pepper, and MSG are common. The mixture thickens and froths as it cooks—hence the buwa —and the whole thing is meant to stay bubbling as you eat as you crowd around the pan with friends or strangers, grab a chunk of puso , and dip directly into the wok. Tuslob Buwa is rich, umami, delicious, and definitely a little putok batok – a local slang term for dangerously rich, artery-clogging food (literally “neck explosion”).
50. Sinugba
In Cebu City, sinugba – the Cebuano word for grilled food – is everywhere once the sun goes down, from roadside stalls to packed night markets and dedicated open-air barbecue joints. You’ll find sinugba all over the city, but a local favorite worth seeking out is Matias BBQ in Mandaue. You line up, point to the skewers you want (and there are a lot), and wait while they’re grilled low and slow over charcoal until smoky, blistered, and dripping fat. It’s eaten with puso (rice wrapped in coconut leaves) and dipped in your own mix of sawsawan (soy sauce, vinegar, calamansi, chili).
A proper Cebuano barbecue spread includes the basics like liempo (pork belly), paa (chicken thigh and leg), pecho (breast), and pako (wing), but that’s just the start. You’ll also see baticolon (gizzard), kasing-kasing (heart), isaw (intestine—and a must-try), dugo-dugo or betamax (coagulated blood cubes), panit (tail), and sweet, red chorizo de Cebu . There’s usually seafood too, depending on the stall – squid, bangus , even scallops if you’re lucky.
51. Humba
Think of humba as adobo ’s less well-known cousin. It’s fatty pork belly, braised for hours until it collapses into something soft, sticky, and deeply savory-sweet. The flavor comes from soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black peppercorns, and bay leaf, but what makes humba different adobo is the addition of brown sugar or muscovado, tausi (fermented black beans), and sometimes banana blossoms. Humba is especially common in the Visayas and Mindanao, and in Cebu City you’ll find it all over.
52. Freediving
Freediving is the art of diving deep underwater on a single breath. Cebu City might not be known for postcard beaches, but it does have a surprisingly active freediving scene. The main training site is Kontiki Marina in Lapu-Lapu, just across the bridge from Cebu City proper. If you’re curious to try, several freediving schools around Cebu offer beginner courses, typically over a weekend. Freedive HQ and Ocean Freedivers are two of the more established ones. They’ll teach you breathing techniques, safety procedures, equalization, and how to relax when your brain is very loudly suggesting you go back to the surface. It’s all done with strict buddy protocols and safety lines, and you don’t need to be an athlete to start.
53. Bam-i
Bam-i is a Cebuano noodle dish made by stir-frying two types of noodles together: sotanghon (glass noodles made from mung bean starch) and canton (egg noodles), along with a medley of meats, seafood, and vegetables. It’s a common sight at birthdays, fiestas, or Christmas, cooked in big aluminum trays and always enough to feed a barangay. The mix of noodles gives it a unique texture – slippery and chewy at the same time – and it’s bulked up with whatever’s available: strips of pork, shrimp, squid, chicken liver, and a mix of vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and wood ear mushrooms.
54. Saang
In Cebu City, particularly around the bustling Carbon Market, saang (spider conch) skewers have become a popular street food. Unlike what I’ve seen elsewhere in the Philippines where it’s sold in the shell, vendors here offer saang already extracted and skewered. And also green. I forgot to ask why it’s green, but if you know please get in touch!
Patrons dip their skewers in a tangy, vinegar-based sauce with onions and chili, then enjoy the saang , which has a chewy, squid-like texture. It’s a perfect light appetizer before you head into The Barracks for a much more filling meal.
55. Delfa’s Tungolan
If you’re the kind of eater who isn’t scared of laman loob (organ meats), then Delfa’s Tungolan in Mandaue City is your kind of place. The bestseller here is the tungol sa baboy (pig stomach) cleaned meticulously, boiled until tender, then fried to a golden crisp. But don’t forget the tumbong (rectum), bituka (intestines), bato (kidneys), kasing-kasing (heart), and ginabot (ruffle fat), all served hot and ready to dip into sawsawan with a side of puso . What could be more Cebuano than that?
Oh also, they do a really yummy dinuguan . If you don’t know what is it’s best to just try it before finding out.
56. Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary
The Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is one of Cebu City’s most overlooked – and most meaningful – attractions. Tucked inside a quiet family compound in Basak, it’s part butterfly garden, part conservation project, and part private museum. It was founded by Julian Jumalon, a Cebuano artist and lepidopterist, and is still maintained by his descendants today.
There’s no giant mesh dome here. The butterflies roam freely, drawn instead by a carefully cultivated collection of larval host plants – species chosen specifically to attract and sustain Cebu’s native butterflies. Many of these butterflies only feed or lay eggs on a single plant species, and as those plants disappear, so do the butterflies. Over the decades, the sanctuary has already seen the local extinction of multiple species and is working to protect the ones that remain.
Guided tours walk visitors through the garden and introduce them to the butterflies they encounter along the way. It’s a thoughtful, educational experience that is so much better than the typical butterfly sanctuary experience of snap-a-photo-and-go. Conservation is a thankless job in the Philippines, so the sanctuary survives largely thanks to financial support from the extended Jumalon family.
57. Ngohiong
Ngohiong is a deep-fried roll that looks like your typical spring roll, but it’s a Cebuano original with Chinese roots. The name comes from the Hokkien word for “five spice”. The filling is typically made of ground pork, singkamas (jicama), ubod (heart of palm), garlic, onions, and that signature five-spice powder. It’s wrapped in a lumpia wrapper (thicker than the usual), then deep-fried until golden and perfectly crunchy. Everyone has a different opinion on where to get the best ngohiong , and while there’s definitely variation in the fillings, the biggest difference is in the various dipping sauces – sometimes garlicky, sometimes spicy, sometimes sweet.
58. Ukay ta Bai!
Ukay-ukay is what Filipinos call secondhand clothing, usually sold at street markets or hole-in-the-wall shops with piles of used garments imported from abroad—mostly imported from South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. The name comes from the Filipino word hukay , which means to dig, and that’s exactly what you do: dig through bins or racks of used clothes hoping to score something rare, vintage, or just cheap.
Ukay Ta Bai! is Cebu’s community ukay-ukay popup market, launched in 2024 and now regularly appearing in venues around the city. All the fashionable Gen Z Cebuanos come to peruse the line of booths with curated ukay finds: vintage Levi’s, Y2K tops, Carhartt jackets, secondhand cameras, upcycled bags, and even handmade accessories. There are also almost as many food vendors too, so you can snack in between digging through the wares.
