Dining Alfresco at Radisson Blu Cebu

If you want to book an upscale hotel stay in Cebu City, Radisson Blu is the place to be.

Ranked 13th in the Top 25 Hotels in the Philippines in the 2014 Travellers’ Choice Awards by Trip Advisor, this exceptional 5-star hotel exudes an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere that is perfect for a pleasure or business trip.

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Welcoming every hotel guest is a vast contemporary atrium lobby which serves as the focal point of the hotel. 

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As someone who has never been in a ritzy hotel before (promdi represent!), I was in sheer awe as my eyes scanned the glamorous expansive space. The lobby is so spacious you can drive a car inside (but obviously this is not permissible).

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Outside the hotel is a terrace which offers a view of the city attractions and leads out to the Pool Bar.

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The Pool Bar is an ideal venue for alfresco dining. They offer a fantastic selection of cocktails, beverages and mouth-watering dishes. 

My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to get an invitation to indulge in a lavish feast of local and international dishes. 

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I didn’t know where to start digging in… Everything was utterly divine!

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Salads

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Fresh Seafood

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Desserts

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Japanese

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Chinese

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Look at those siopaos! Too cute to eat!

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Local

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International

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As we dined, we listened to a live band, watched a pyro show and soaked with the city’s atmosphere. It was an experience like no other. 

I can’t wait for us to go back to Radisson Blu… But next time, we better stay for a night or two.

Radisson Blu Cebu is located at Serging Osmena Boulevard, Corner Juan Luna Avenue, Cebu City. You may call them at +63 32 402 9900.

M Citi Suites – Budget Hotel in Cebu

When traveling to Cebu on a budget, I recommend staying at M Citi Suites.

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Strategically located at J. Llorente Street, Capitol Site (near the intersection with Don Gil Garcia Street), it is only a stone’s throw away from Robinsons Cybergate, Fuente Osmeña Circle, Chong Hua hospital and among other shops and restaurants. 

On top of that, it is only about 30 to 45 minutes away from the Mactan Airport.

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Rates are reasonable and the staff are friendly and helpful.

When we entered our room…

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I was surprised to see two hats already sitting on the bed…

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Upon closer inspection, attached on one of the hats was a hand-written note from M Citi Suite’s management and staff. Very sweet and thoughtful!

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Just my sister and I trying the hats on.  

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I’m not of a TV person… But if that’s your thing, they do have cable TV with number of channels to choose from. 

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Apart from air-conditioning, there are two main amenities that I look for when staying in a hotel: Hot and Cold shower and WiFi.

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Thankfully, they got that covered. There’s me trying to fit in one of their cabinets (because I can and might have been cat in my past life) whilst trying to type in their WiFi password so I can be connected through my phone.

It is also worth noting that their housekeeping service is very discreet, reliable… 

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And artistic too! 

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Look at how cute and glorious the fresh towels look! We couldn’t resist taking photos of it.

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They also have their very own restaurant called Mmm Cafe which operates around the clock.

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Complimentary breakfast is served from 6AM to 10AM (please forgive my fugly I-just-woke-up face). And of course they serve lunch and dinner as well. 

Clean, modern and comfortable are three words that would describe M Citi Suites best. I would definitely stay there again when in Cebu. It’s like home away from home.

Thank you M Citi Suites for making our stay a memorable one! For more information about their rates and amenities, you can check on their website or click here

Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites

Last year (this is another backlog entry apparently), my boyfriend and I were invited to a wedding party in Cagayan de Oro and since it was going to start late in the afternoon (and would most likely continue late into the night) we looked for a place to stay…

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After spending some time on research and much deliberation, we finally decided to stay at Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites. As obviously implied by its name, It’s not only a hotel but it’s also a restaurant that serves seafood. And because I really love seafood, it’s a double win for me!

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The best part is, it’s only a walking distance from SM City! And for those of you who want to know, it’s only just a few minutes away from the Lumbia airport too.

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There’s my boyfriend checking out their menu… Food prices range between 200 to 300 pesos.

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Yes, they have aquariums that contain live sea creatures just like in Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant.

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And then there’s my boyfriend again, enjoying his fresh buko juice, or as Americans would like to call it, coco water.

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Forgot what this is called but it definitely looks like steak. I remember to have enjoyed it. The gravy went really nicely with it and so did the vegetables on the side.

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Sizzling sisig. One of my favorite Filipino food of all time. Pairs perfectly with ice-cold beer. 

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Of course, no Prawn House trip is ever complete without having to try any of their seafood, especially their prawns! Their Prawn Thermidore is a definite must-try! 

And here’s a preview of the room we got…

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This is the Standard Room. Can you believe that this only costed us 850 for the night? It’s neat, tidy and cozy. The linens and towels were fresh. And they provided complimentary bathroom products too! Believe me, not all budget hotels here in the Philippines do that. And with this note, I am impressed!

So for those who want to experience quality service but are on a budget, I highly recommend this place!

For more information about Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites, please click on this link.

Lunch at Hellenic Tavern Hotel

Emmanouel Sapountzakis, owner of Hellenic Tavern Hotel, brings a piece of his birth place to Tagaytay with his Grecian-inspired hotel and restaurant which he manages with his Filipino wife.

Hellenic Tavern Hotel is fairly easy to spot as it is located just along Aquinaldo Highway, opposite of Lourdes Church.  

Now, before I carry on, let me just ask you… 

How would you feel sitting on a balcony (away from all the hustles and bustles of a metro city) facing a ridiculous breathtaking view of Taal Lake surrounded by pristine mountains and several clusters of mist? 

Well, let me answer that question for you…

Awestruck. That’s it. You’d be just completely awestruck and lost for words like I was. Photos don’t do justice to this God-made beauty.

I never thought that I’d fall in love at first sight but there I was… totally captivated by such refreshing scenery.

Who knew having lunch with my boyfriend while overlooking at lush green pastures in broad daylight could be quite romantic?

Speaking of lunch…

We had delicious Elleniki Salata (Greek Salad) as our appetizer. Let me just say, I never had salad that good! Everything was absolutely fresh! Not to mention that most of the ingredients are home-grown! Cucumber, onions, lettuce, tomatoes… 

I loved the tomatoes! I never had tomatoes like their tomatoes. If I remember it correctly, they were more sweet than sour. And would you believe me if I say that they actually made their own feta cheese?

Now I’m starting to miss the salad all over again…

We also had Shawarma. A Mediterranean take on a Middle Eastern cuisine. Toppings include lamb shavings, tomatoes, onion, cucumber, potatoes and a dollop of tzatziki. All of that wrapped in home-made pita bread. 

For our main course, we couldn’t resist trying out one of their best-sellers, Moussaka. It’s basically an eggplant casserole topped with Bechamel sauce. It’s a tasty mix of eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, minced beef and Parmesan cheese. If only I could have this everyday, I totally would even if it means having to clog my arteries! 

And lastly, for our dessert, we had Baklava. Basically, it’s made of filo pastry layers filled with chopped nuts and then bathed in (again, home-made) honey.

Dining at Hellenic Tavern Hotel is definitely one of the best dining experiences I’ve had ever. You can check out more of their food and prices here.

And in case you’re looking for a place to stay there, they also have rooms with scenic views at reasonable rates! 

With Mr. Sapountzakis himself. Yup, he’s 100% Greek. LOL at the hover hand!

Anyway, when in Tagaytay, don’t ever miss to drop by at Hellenic Tavern Hotel! Truly a magical piece of Greece in the boondocks!