TRAVEL, FOOD, & CULTURE
The Best Places to Eat in Cebu While You’re Out on a Date
Cebu, Philippines
When it comes to food, Filipinos are well known for having a good appetite. They hardly say no to all-you-can-eat buffets, boodle fights, or even tasting food from other countries.
In Cebu, there are hundreds of restaurants to choose from. There’s a wide variety of family-friendly restaurants and some that are great for romantic occasions. The only question is, which restaurant has the best food and ambiance?
If you and your date share a love of food, and you’re looking for some ideas on where to wine and dine, then look no further. We’ve gathered a bunch of restaurants around Cebu and judged them by their overall rating and the experience they have to offer.
Here are some of the best romantic restaurants we think you and your date might enjoy:
Acacia Steakhouse
Do you and your date love steaks? Then consider heading over to Acacia Steakhouse, located inside Green Valley Subdivision, Acacia Street, Capitol, Cebu City. This place is considered a hidden gem and can be found along a narrow road in Acacia Street. It even has its own parking lot.
Acacia Steakhouse offers a unique fine dining experience for both locals and tourists, serving good-quality prime beef and an impressive wine selection. They also offer other meats, such as ostrich, chicken, and salmon.
With a seating capacity of at least 50 people, the restaurant has a great cozy interior. You won’t need to worry about the place being overcrowded. They accept walk-ins, but we recommend making a reservation ahead of time so you can have a table by dinner time.
Price range: ₱₱ — ₱₱₱
Kugita Seafood and Charcoal Grill
If you don’t mind traveling far from the city and want to try fresh seafood, then consider bringing your date to Kugita Seafood and Charcoal Grill. Located in the southern part of Cebu, the restaurant is in Panagsama Road, along the main strip of Basdiot Moalboal, surrounded by hostels, cafes, and bars.
Heavily inspired by Asian fusion cuisine, the place is a Filipino family-owned restaurant spearheaded by Chef Jay Garife. They’re popularly known to serve Asian Style Barbecue and Sushi. They are also eco-friendly, using only bamboo and metal straws, and they do not offer plastic water bottles. If you bring your own containers, they can refill them with water for free upon request.
They offer two types of menu. One is their static menu for their local wagyu and imported Angus meat, while the second menu is their seafood selection, which changes daily. This ensures the seafood is at its freshest when cooked.
Price range: ₱₱ — ₱₱₱
Abaca Restaurant Mactan
Do you fancy spending your date at the beach while eating delicious Mediterranean food? Abaca Resort Mactan may just be the romantic place you’re looking for. Located in Punta Engaño Road, Lapu-Lapu City, the restaurant is found on the ground floor of the resort.
The restaurant’s interior is designed with open space and natural lighting in mind. But of course, the best time for a romantic date is at night. With dim lighting and the faint smell of the sea breeze, it’ll give off a refreshing, cozy ambiance that you and your date will surely enjoy.
Their menu offers a wide assortment of appetizers, salads, pasta, main courses, sides, and of course, desserts. You should also try their famous flatbread pizzas and steaks.
For the best romantic experience, we recommend staying overnight at the resort so you can enjoy the rest of the amenities and maybe even watch the morning sunrise on the beachfront.
Price range: ₱₱ — ₱₱₱
Ibiza Beach Club
Here’s another steakhouse you might want to try out with your date. The Ibiza Beach Club is a great place for special occasions or romantic scenes. You can find this restaurant in Mövenpick Beach Hotel in Mactan Island, Cebu.
It has an outdoor seating option that offers you and your date a fantastic view of the sunset. Alongside the scenic view, it has an outdoor open bar where you can order beer and other drinks. It also offers entertaining live music and dance performances at night.
If you don’t prefer à la carte menus, you can also try their Balearic-inspired signature 15-course grill that features generous servings of filet mignon, Angus rib-eye steak, baby back ribs, lamb, buttery rock lobsters, and tiger prawns.
They also offer light meals such as house-prepared charcuterie, bruschetta, salads, cheeses, starters, desserts, premium steaks, the Manny O. Signature Wagyu Burger, and more.
If you’re looking for a great beach fine dining experience, then Ibiza Beach Club is the best choice.
Price range: ₱₱₱ — ₱₱₱₱
Circa 1900
If you don’t want to travel far and prefer to take your date within Metro Cebu, then consider Circa 1900. It is a popular restaurant that offers a quiet and serene ambiance. One of its main highlights is the colonial house decor, which represents Cebuanos’ historical heritage. Circa 1900 is located on Sanjercasvil Road, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug Cebu City.
The restaurant serves International, European, and Filipino fusion dishes. After your meal, you can take your drinks and go to the back of the house where you can relax by the pool and bask in the evening ambiance, with some light music.
Circa also has their own wine selection and pastry desserts, which is a great addition to their fusion meals. The staff is also very friendly and attentive, adding to an overall great fine dining experience.
Price range: ₱₱ — ₱₱₱
Final Thoughts
These are our top picks of romantic places, so if you haven’t tried some of them yet, now would be the best time to check them out.
As the saying goes, the easiest way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, and for Filipinos, this might be true.
Because who wouldn’t be thrilled to go to a place with good food and a great ambiance, all while being able to spend time with interesting people? If there’s one thing Filipinos love more than good food, it’s the people whom they share it with that makes the experience more special.
If you want to impress your date, try bringing them to one of our top picks. They just might also enjoy the fine dining experience with you.
