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7 Best Places to Unwind in Cebu
Take a breather from work and break free from stress at these places to chill and relax in Cebu!
By: Peter Parcon | January 01, 2024
Cebu has several great places where you can relax and unwind after work.
Images: Anzani Restaurant (L); Vue by Delice (R) Facebook pages
Living in the city may give us many opportunities you cannot find in rural areas. But sometimes you need to unwind and break from the hectic city life. While a vacation on another island may be ideal, you may not want to avoid filing a leave of absence and planning your trip well. And if you’re in the Queen of the South, you don’t have to worry because there are many of the best places to unwind in Cebu!
So the next time you need to decompress, consider the following list of places to chill in Cebu:
1. Top of Cebu
Best For: A fantastic view of the Queen City of the South
Location: Transcentral Highway, Busay, Cebu City
An impressive view of Cebu awaits guests at the Top of Cebu.
Image: Top of Cebu Facebook page
First, in our list of best places to unwind in Cebu has the best panoramic view! Located beside the famous Tops Lookout in Busay, a great place to chill in Cebu, Top of Cebu restaurant offers various local and international dishes. These include the salted egg Calamares, sizzling bangus (milkfish), and USDA Beef Short Plate. But the main selling point of this chill spot in Cebu is its fantastic view of the Queen City of the South. That being said, as the first best place to unwind in Cebu, you can even lounge at the restaurant with a cold brew in one hand while taking in the view.
The restaurant operates daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Tip: If you go up to the Top of Cebu before sundown, you will have a breathtaking view of the sun setting over the horizon.
How to get there: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney to JY Square Discovery Mall in Lahug. You can get on a motorcycle-for-hire at the mall going to Top of Cebu.
2. Anzani Restaurant
Best For: Private underground wine cellar for intimate dining
Location: Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Lahug Cebu City
The homey atmosphere enhances the feeling of relaxation at Anzani Restaurant.
Images: Anzani Restaurant Facebook page
Consider visiting Anzani Restaurant, another of the best places to unwind in Cebu, a homey spot to hang out at the end of the day. The restaurant is on Nivel Hills before you reach the Marco Polo Hotel. Fun fact: It was also nominated for the Southeast Asia Michelin in 2013. The intricate decoration gives it a unique yet cozy ambiance, a great place to chill in Cebu after a stressful day. The restaurant also serves authentic Mediterranean dishes made using local and international ingredients. It is not just the best place to unwind in Cebu; their food is a must-try! Among the more notable dishes at the restaurant are the salt-crusted sea bass, Moroccan spiced organic chicken breast fillet, and Angus beef T-bone steak.
The restaurant operates from Monday to Saturday from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM and Sunday from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Tip: If you want to enjoy an intimate evening with close family and friends at the best place to unwind in Cebu, you may wish to reserve the wine cellar, which offers a bit of exclusivity and privacy at the best chill spot in Cebu’s Anzani Restaurant.
How to get there: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get in a taxi and tell the driver to take you to Anzani Restaurant, Nivel Hills. It is on the left side of the road before you reach the Marco Polo Hotel.
3. La Vie Parisienne
Best For: Wine cellar nook
Location: 371 Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City
The relaxing ambiance only gets better after the lights glow at La Vie Parisienne.
Images: La Parisienne CEBU Facebook page
Next on our list of best places to unwind in Cebu will give you a Parisian vibe; aside from offering French pastries, deli products, and wines, La Vie Parisienne also gives guests a place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life without actually leaving the city. It is one of the great places to chill in Cebu because La Vie Parisienne is located along a busy thoroughfare, and the garden area provides a cozy ambiance. In addition to this best place to unwind in Cebu, they also have a wide selection of local and international wines in their wine cellar. The restaurant offers a good variety of pasta, pizza, and pastries.
The restaurant operates Monday to Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and Friday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Tip: You should book at this best place to unwind in Cebu early if you want to stay at the wine cellar since this Instagram-worthy nook is one of the more popular places to stay at La Vie Parisienne.
How to get there: You can get on a jeepney for Lahug from Ayala Center Cebu. Tell the driver to let you off at La Vie Parisienne.
4. Delice Recipes
Best For: Impressive view of the Cebu skyline
Location: The Top Property, Busay, Cebu City
Delice Recipes is another restaurant that can be found in Busay.
Image: Vue by Delice Facebook page
Another best place to unwind in Cebu, where you can have an impressive view of the Cebu skyline at night, is Delice Recipes. Located close to Tops Lookout in Busay, being known as the place to chill in Cebu, it offers a remarkable view of Cebu, which only gets better when the city light comes on. Their menu features a variety of Mediterranean dishes that can tickle your taste buds in all the right ways. Some notable dishes at this best place to unwind in Cebu include filet mignon, tenderloin steak, and roasted salmon.
The restaurant operates from Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Saturday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Tip: It is advisable to call ahead of time if you are planning to visit the best chill spot in Cebu on weekends to get the best seats in the house.
How to get there: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney to JY Square Discovery Mall in Lahug. You can get on a motorcycle-for-hire at the mall going to Delice Recipes.
5. Circa 1900 Casa Uno
Best For: Old Cebu charm
Location: Sanjercas Ville Road, Lahug, Cebu City
The classic feel adds to the Old Cebu charm of the Circa 1900.
Image: Circa 1900
If you are looking for the best place to unwind in Cebu with an old Cebu charm to spend some chill-out time after work, you should include Circa 1900 Casa Uno as one option of a place to chill in Cebu. This old colonial home, the ancestral house of the Castillo family, features a restaurant, piano bar, and a function area. Located in the middle of uptown Cebu, the restaurant offers a good selection of international dishes that use local ingredients. Some of the notable menu items at the best place to unwind in Cebu include the Ube Ravioli filled with shredded pork lechon (roasted suckling pig) & apple, Cocodobo cream sauce, and Fresh Squid Ink Pasta with Shrimp Scampi, Lemon Juicem Basil, Cherry Tomato, and Olive Oil.
The restaurant operates daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Tip: A late afternoon walk heading to the place to chill in Cebu may be an excellent way to work up an appetite.
How to get there: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney headed for Lahug and off at JY Square Discovery Mall. You can walk along Sanjercasvil Road or get on a motorcycle-for-hire to Circa 1900 Casa Uno.
6. Mr. A Bar and Restaurant
Best For: A remarkable view of Cebu
Location: Lower Busay Heights, Cebu City
The view at Mr. A Bar and Restaurant is impressive at sunrise and sundown.
Image: Mr. A Bar & Restaurant
On this list, Mr. A Bar and Restaurant is the fourth best place to unwind in Cebu, where you can enjoy a remarkable view of Cebu at night. This chill spot in Cebu is in Lower Busay Heights; the restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant is not just a place to chill in Cebu but also provides a wide array of Filipino and international dishes, including the Mr. A sisig (a sizzling dish made of chopped, boiled, and grilled pig head parts), crispy pata (deep-fried pork trotters or knuckles), and a tenderloin steak.
The restaurant operates daily from 11:30 AM to 12:00 MN.
Tip: It’s best to visit Mr. A Bar and Restaurant when the weather is clear so you can hang out in the Alfresco restaurant area and experience the best place to unwind in Cebu.
How to get there: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney to JY Square Discovery Mall in Lahug. You can get on a motorcycle-for-hire at the mall going to Mr. A’s Bar and Restaurant.
7. Scape Skydeck
Best For: Roofdeck view
Location: Roof Deck, Azon Residences, M.L. Quezon National Highway, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City
The chic décor adds to the comforting atmosphere at Scape Skydeck.
Image: Scape Skydeck
Aside from Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City also has the best places to unwind in Cebu, where you can take a break after a long day at work. One of these places to chill in Cebu is Scape Skydeck. Located on the roof deck of Azon Residences, the place offers a marvelous view of the Mactan Channel and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. The chic décor and posh furniture service enhance the whole dining experience. This best place to unwind in Cebu doesn’t offer a pleasant atmosphere, but its menu features a fusion of international and local flavors inspired by the love of travel and food by its owners. Some noteworthy dishes on their menu at this best chill spot in Cebu are their five-spice pizza, sliders (cheeseburger with pork and roast beef), and smoked baby back ribs.
The restaurant operates from Monday to Thursday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Friday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM to 12:00 PM, and Sunday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Tip: A good time to visit the best place to unwind in Cebu is just before sundown, as the lights on the Marcelo Fernan Bridge start to glow.
How to get there: From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a taxi to Scape Skydeck.
Which spots in Metro Cebu have you visited to unwind after a hectic day at work?
Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more places to relax and visit in Cebu City!
This article was initially published in Yoorekka on June 13, 2019.
About Peter Parcon
After leaving spending 16 years of his professional life in the academe, Peter decided to try his luck in the world of online freelancing. For the past eight years, he has been creating content for clients all around the world. He can work on just about any topic - from tattoos to technology and food to finance. He dreams of visiting every island in the archipelago some day.
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