A 5-Star Summer Experience: Must-Try Restaurants and Activities in Cebu
Apr 30, 2026 • Ina Louise Manto
From its rich history to unforgettable outdoor adventures, Cebu is the perfect mix of city and provincial life that keeps tourists coming back for more. While many usually plan to visit destinations away from the city, there’s still plenty of things to do in the heart of the Queen City of the South, especially if you’re only visiting for a couple of days.
We recently went on a summer trip to Cebu, made easier through Grab 5-Star Eats and Grab 5-Star Travel Guide. If you’re planning a trip soon, we’ve got you covered with a list of places you shouldn’t miss that are beyond the usual lechon and canyoneering:
Where to Eat
With Grab 5-Star Eats, you’ll have access to a list of highly-rated restaurants in a destination, based on high scores in safety, quality, and operations. Here are some of Cebu’s top-rated merchants with a minimum 4.5 rating on GrabFood:
Tightrope Coffee
If you’re the type of traveler who enjoys relaxed, slow days of just cafe hopping, start your adventure on a strong note with Tightrope Coffee. Now with three branches across the city, the minimalist cafe features picture-perfect industrial interiors.
Their coffee picks would get you curious, like the best-selling Himalayan Latte, Tightrope’s take on a sea-salt latte. You’d be enticed to visit the cafe for its coffee menu and sleek interiors, but it’s the meals and desserts that will make you stay.
We got to try a hefty serving of their Torikatsu (PHP 400) – chicken-katsu, teriyaki sauce, and tamago. While the cafe also serves breakfast and pasta, we ended our filling meal with a heavenly slice of Burnt Basque Cheesecake (PHP 230). It’s smooth, creamy, and melts in your mouth – totally unforgettable that you’d want to order slices for pasalubong before heading back to Manila.
Tightrope Coffee now has three branches across Cebu City.
Sal’s Kitchen
Location: 24 P. Almendras St., Cebu City
Picture this: an open kitchen in a backyard setting where you and the barkada can dine casually at the end of a hectic week. That’s what Sal’s Kitchen is, and its menu of tacos, burgers, and sausages. It’s like having one big grill out with your friends, paired with beers on tap from their in-house brewery.
Sal’s is known for its smash burgers, and it’s quite the treat. We ordered the Double Smash Cheeseburger (PHP 270) and Shrimp Taco (PHP 250), and paired them with a glass of cold gin and tonic. The unassuming kitchen is the ideal spot for alfresco dining if you’re looking for good food, drinks, and music.
AA BBQ
While Cebu City now has restaurants that offer innovative and fusion dishes, there’s still nothing quite like eating a home-cooked meal. AA BBQ brings exactly that: a restaurant where you’ll find comforting Pinoy dishes.
There’s no wonder why they’ve already grown to nine branches across the city – quality of food and unmatched service, and you’ll have a crowd that will keep coming back for more. Dining at AA BBQ honestly felt like you’re in a Pinoy fiesta – the dishes just keep coming as you share good conversations.
Some of the dishes we got to try are Kare-Kare, Fried Pompano, Sizzling Sisig, Shrimp with Salted Egg, and Baked Scallops.
Tavolata
Chic and modern interiors and an unforgettable menu – that’s what the dining experience at Tavolata is all about. Offering an extensive menu of Italian dishes that you can pair with an assortment of wines and cocktails, Tavolata is the place to be for intimate gatherings.
We were served a feast that night, including pizza, handcrafted pasta, and the most flavorful seabass, cooked to perfection. Dessert was also a treat: an indulgent crème brulee.
Tavolata now has two branches in Cebu City: one at the Design Center of Cebu in Mandaue and another at Ayala Center Cebu.
Unique activities to try
Looking for your next unique adventure wouldn’t be difficult when you refer to the Grab 5-Star Travel Guide. This feature through GrabCar lists highly-rated hangout spots, recreation centers, and destinations.
While a trip to Cebu will let you immerse yourself in outdoor adventures such as canyoneering, swimming with whale sharks, or going on a sardine run, there are new and unique activities to try within the city. Trying them is ideal for vacation days where you don’t want to travel far. Nestled in Downtown Cebu, Making Space is the city’s first co-working space where makers, artists, and art enthusiasts meet. During our visit, we got to try two classes:
Puso-Making
For foodies, you might’ve already seen this Cebuano meal staple, especially when indulging in street food. You would find the banana leaf-wrapped rice that’s just the palm of your hand, hanging at food stalls, and usually eaten with your hands. These affordable treats are made with woven palm leaves and make eating meals on the go easier. But have you ever wondered how it’s made? Making Space offers a specific class that teaches you how to make these heart or diamond-shaped pouches, sans actual rice cooking.
Instead, you will receive a kit that includes everything you need to weave your puso into adorable keychains. The one-hour class will test your weaving skills, and if you’re up for a challenge, the kit also includes another set for “hard mode.” While the usual puso-making set features two colors for easier weaving, the other just comes in plain white. Will you take on the challenge?
Cyanotype Printing
If you love film photography and the process of developing film, Cyanotype Printing might be right up your alley. This type of printing captures normal objects without the need of a camera – you lay out random objects and textures you want to capture on treated paper (with ammonium citrate solution), cover it with glass, and let it soak in sunlight for seven minutes, and develop the image by giving it a water bath. It’s a unique, artsy activity you wouldn’t usually do while traveling.
It’s such a delightful experience to curate your image, since you can pretty much use any object to print: from your favorite necklace to pressed flowers.
Making Space
Location: 3F Mango Square Mall, General Maxilom Ave, Cebu City
For the artsy folk, Making Space is the hub that will let you try your hand at different crafty activities, or pursue them, especially when you don’t have a space of your own. As its name suggests, it’s the space where you can let your imagination run free, as they have different spaces for different artistic pursuits, from painting and woodworking to even 3D printing. It is the perfect space for budding artists or hobbyists who don’t want to commit to or invest in their own tools yet, at prices that won’t break the bank.
Making Space hosts workshops, and the venue also transforms into an event space you can rent by the hour.
If you’re looking for a new cafe to try, Making Space also has its own: The Tea & Gallery. Stay to see artists showcase their work while you sip a refreshing cup of iced tea.
Mat Pilates
Location: Montebello Villa Hotel, Apas, Cebu City
For the travelers who still want to be consistent with working out, or you’re looking for a relaxing physical activity in the morning before you explore the city, Movement with Sof’s mat pilates class is the way to go. Sure, your hotel may already have a gym, but nothing beats the relaxation you get from a quick workout class in a garden, where you can soak in the sun and breathe in fresh air.
It was a rainy morning during our visit, but that didn’t stop us from trying mat pilates. The class is beginner-friendly, as most of the group were first-timers. Yoga mats and water are already provided, and the lovely instructor, Sof, will make sure you are well guided throughout the class.
Planning a 5-Star Summer with Grab 5-Star Eats and Grab 5-Star Travel Guide
Getting to know a travel destination is best when you know what the locals love and trust, and that’s the best thing about Grab 5-Star Eats and Grab 5-Star Travel Guide. These online tools are powered by real reviews from millions of users, so take this as a sign to be adventurous and try new spots and destinations.
You can easily access the lists through the Grab app. To discover new restaurants to try, simply click on GrabFood and find the Grab 5-Star Eats tab.
Meanwhile, you can access unique activities by clicking GrabCar and finding the Grab 5-Star Travel Guide. The best thing is that getting to these destinations is also easy with GrabCar.
But beyond the excellent reviews and ratings, Grab 5-Star Eats and Grab 5-Star Travel Guide highlight and uplift smaller merchants. Especially during this time, they need our support more than ever. With every new restaurant or experience you try, remember you also help local merchants thrive.
Whether you’re traveling in a new city or simply want to support a smaller merchant’s passion and dream, discover your next favorite restaurant or memorable activity by downloading the Grab app on iOS or Android.
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