Coffee Travel Series: Best Coffee Shops in Cebu City
Photo by Bei Ayson on Unsplash
The Queen City of the South is a no stranger when it comes to being dubbed as one of the best destinations in the Philippines. Cebu City rests in the heart of the Visayas region and this place houses a long heritage of Spanish culture. Through its urbanization, Cebu has transformed its industry by welcoming a lot of entrepreneurs and tourists all over the world. As a major harbour in the Philippines, Cebu’s hospitality has allowed them to embrace other cultures too and embed them in their everyday lives. It is no wonder, you’ll get to experience a lot of meals with a twist – Cebuanos are very experimental!
And for the coffee lovers who are seekers of new taste, I think you will find it here in this island. Listed below is our personal coffee crawl and we narrowed it down only within the city for your convenience. So go ahead, check out these best cafes we found and don’t forget to add them in your itinerary when you visit Cebu.
Abaca Baking Company
Photo from Sunstar
Patrons often describe this place as “quirky” and “artsy” because of its display of paintings on the wall. A feel at home vibe is what will welcome its first time customers and it is a great venue for catching up with your friends and brunch meetings. We don’t want to brag but foreigners are very fond of their coffee and they say it’s definitely the best they tasted from Asia. They recommend from their menu the Americano with hot milk and a plate of bagel as one of their most ordered dishes. Aside from that, the cafe also offers a variety of pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and breakfast meals. Lastly, don’t forget to try their American Breakfast Skillet composed of eggs, meat, and toast – definitely a day and mood booster!
Location: Crossroads, Banilad Road, Cebu City
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM DAILY
Cafe is open for Dine In and Take Out
Tom n Toms Coffee Shop
Photo from Wazzup Pilipinas
Originally a franchise from Korea, this coffee shop has made its way to the bustling roads of Cebu. Actually, Tom n Toms hasn’t established its first location in Manila but hopefully soon since Hallyu Wave has a massive fan base here in the Philippines and this might be a good opportunity for the brand. Their menu is widely diverse when it comes to beverages. They have smoothies, frappes, cold drinks, and coffees. For the snacks, they offer pretzels in different sizes and flavors. Tom n Tom is definitely a go place if you just want to enjoy your afternoon and gaze around your surroundings or it can also be the right nook for students and workers who want to study or work while enjoying a delicious cup of coffee!
Location: The Greenery, Pope John Paul Avenue, Kasambagan, Mabolo, Cebu City
Opening Hours: 24 Hours Open
Cafe is open for Dine In and Take Out
Crate Cafe
Photo from ZeroThreeTwo
If you’re looking for a secluded and a quaint place to relax while having coffee, then may we suggest Crate Cafe. This overlooking wonder and al fresco dining will make you closer to nature. Crate Cafe is located at the mountainside of Transcentral Highway and it can be a quick stopover to tourists who are visiting the Temple of Leah or Sirao Garden. They have 15 different beverages and 3 Italian inspired soda concoctions in their menu. Bestsellers for this cafe are their Cafe Racer and Big Bold Banana smoothie!
Location: Veteran’s Drive (before Maria Luisa Busay exit), Lower Busay 6000 Cebu City
Opening Hours: 1:00 PM TO 10:00 PM Tuesdays to Saturdays
Cafe is open for Dine In and Take Out
Charlie’s Cup
Photo from Spot PH
Another al-fresco dining in our list is the softly launched Charlie’s Cup. This establishment also sits in the mountainside of the Transcentral Highway and you can have a magnificent view of the rolling hillside of cebu city. It’s dining area is a spacious terrace wherein you can take your food here and enjoy nature’s tranquility. It’s also a perfect instagram spot so be sure to bring your camera here for a mini photo-shoot with your buddies or family. What’s more exciting about this place is that pets are allowed to come here and there’s also a mini playground for the kiddos. Charlie’s Cup serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and they also have specialty coffees such as espresso, flat white, americano, white rabbit flavor, and doppio! This is a friendly budget dining experience and it will cost you P120 per meal!
Location: Transcentral Hi-way Sitio Inaad, Barangay, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM TO 6:30 PM DAILY
Cafe is open for Dine In and Take Out
Top of Cebu
Photo from Lamikaayo
Do you want to have a dining experience wherein you are floating in the air and you are enjoying a delectable meal? Of course we know you want it, and did you know that it is possible to experience it here in Cebu? Yes and definitely! This restaurant slash cafe Top of Cebu is literally located at the top of the mountains! Such ambience will give you romantic vibes and an awe-feeling will settle in as your eyes eat the panoramic view of the cityscape and the beautiful mountain range of Cebu. The highlight of this restaurant is offering traditional Filipino dishes with a twist. Their deserts are also must-trys because most of them are our favorite Filipino delicacies! Top of Cebu accepts scheduled reservations for individuals who want to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, engagements, and baptism reception at the restaurant.
Location: Transcentral Highway Busay 6000 Busay
Opening Hours: 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 9pm from Mondays to Fridays; 11am to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday
Cafe is open for Dine In and Take Out
Drip and Draft
For beverage lovers of all kinds, there’s Drip and Draft – they serve coffee and beer in a quaint, cool space. Aside from the clean, minimalist cafe look that you might find in Australia or San Francisco, they also sell their merch online.
Location: Streetscape, Paseo Saturnino, Ma. Luisa Road, Banilad, 6000 Cebu City
Opening Hours: (032) 564 9375 or +63 932 113 2820 for take out orders
