I love Cebu, both the island and the city. I could write a book about all the amazing things that you can do here, from tanning on deserted white-sand beaches to swimming with whale sharks.
But today, I will focus on one specific topic: Cebu's nightlife. I will tell you where to party and how to make your stay more fun.
Even though Cebu City is a tourist hub, the number of foreigners remains low compared to Manila or any major cities in Thailand. The most noticeable community is made of Korean students learning English, followed by the usual backpackers, teachers, executives and pensioners. To be fair, many guys I met don't seem to do anything apart from chasing girls all day long.
Cebu nightlife is pretty straight-forward and you'll only need a couple of nights out to be familiar with the best venues. The major nightclubs are almost all located in central Cebu City with a few more in the suburban towns of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
Dating in Cebu
The good news is that Cebu City is one of the best places the Philippines for dating.
Because it is the richest province in the country, it attracts thousands of young, educated Filipinas who come to study or work, usually in one of the numerous call centers near IT Park. As they are far from their families, these girls enjoy a certain level of freedom and you'll meet many of them in bars and clubs every day.
Because it is the richest province in the country, it attracts thousands of young, educated Filipinas who come to study or work, usually in one of the numerous call centers near IT Park. As they are far from their families, these girls enjoy a certain level of freedom and you'll meet many of them in bars and clubs every day.
Girls in clubs generally come with friends and may not always be receptive if you try to approach them. For this reason, I recommend you to meet girls from dating sites and apps instead.
Tinder and Bumble work well and you should get a fairly high number of match if you are young and handsome. That said, many girls may not be interested to meet with you if you are only passing by.
Instead, you could check Filipino Cupid. It is the most popular dating site in the country with thousands of girls online at any time. Among them, almost all are looking for a foreign boyfriend. Even if you are not living in the Philippines, they will still be interested to talk with you. Unlike Tinder, they generally won't mind if you are a bit older than them (10-15 years older is still ok).
If you are planning a trip to the Philippines, I recommend chatting with a few girls on Filipino Cupid before landing in the country.
Another dating website that is growing in popularity is Seeking.com. It is more controversial because the girls on it usually expect mutually-beneficial arrangements.
If you are planning a trip to the Philippines, I recommend chatting with a few girls on Filipino Cupid before landing in the country.
Another dating website that is growing in popularity is Seeking.com. It is more controversial because the girls on it usually expect mutually-beneficial arrangements.
Where to Party in Cebu?
Before COVID-19, the main nightlife area used to be around Fuente Osmena Circle (Mango Square) and Mango Avenue (the other name of General Maxilom Avenue).
Nowadays, it is much more quiet but you can still find a few bars and at least one nightclub. In Mango Square, you can go to Uptown club (packed with a student crowd) and Draft Punk. Outside, on Mango Avenue, there are some expat/sports/hostess bars such as Howling Dogs, 301 Ramos and Philly's Sports Bar, as well as some more basic venues whose names seem to change every couple of years (currently Jane, Sister's, Bamboozer). If you are above 35 and you just want to meet new people in a laid-back atmosphere, this is probably where you should hangout.
Outside Mango Avenue, the nightlife is more upmarket. It spreads between Alaya Mall and Mandaue City, with the highest concentration of quality clubs, bars and malls around IT Park. This is where more upper-class Filipinos will hang out. If you are looking for swanky clubs and you want to hang out with beautiful people, that's where to go.
There are other party areas, for instance the local red-light district of Colon. The latter does not have a very good reputation at night so I advise you to stay clear.
Best Hotels Near Cebu Nightlife
If you've never been to Cebu before, you may be wondering what are the best places to stay near the nightlife.
My first choice would be to sleep between IT Park and the Alaya Mall (a more expensive area). By doing so, you will be within 15 minutes by car from the majority of the clubs listed below, and also from the city's best malls, activities and restaurants.
My first choice would be to sleep between IT Park and the Alaya Mall (a more expensive area). By doing so, you will be within 15 minutes by car from the majority of the clubs listed below, and also from the city's best malls, activities and restaurants.
Another option is to be near Mango Square as it is a rather central area with a handful of expat bars, clubs and restaurants all within walking distance.
The following hotels are the most recommended for party-goers:
Budget (under 30$ per night): S Hotel and Residences, ABC Hotel, Pillows Hotel, Red Planet
3-star (50$): Cuarto Hotel
4-star (60$): Harolds Hotel
5-star (120$): Marriott Cebu City
This is a Berlin-style nightclub with techno and trance music in a very basic concrete setting. Probably the best place if you are mainly interested in hearing good DJs. The crowd is relaxed and easy to chat with. There are always a few foreigners.
It is in the same building as another bar called G-spot.
The Distillery is a happening bar located in the lifestyle center Crossroads, near IT Park. It is part of a larger chain that has branches in Makati, Bonifacio Global City and Quezon City.
It is a good place to go after dinner for a few drinks. The music is generally good, the crowd is fun and there is a really large choice of imported beers. On weekends, don't go there too late as it gets packed very fast. Happy hours from 6pm to 10pm with all cocktails at PHP75.
More information:
It is a good place to go after dinner for a few drinks. The music is generally good, the crowd is fun and there is a really large choice of imported beers. On weekends, don't go there too late as it gets packed very fast. Happy hours from 6pm to 10pm with all cocktails at PHP75.
More information:
Club Icon
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Club Icon is in the center of Cebu City but a bit isolated from the rest of the nightlife. It is just a few hundred meters from Castle Peak Hotel. It used to be called Roof Hyper Club but was renamed Icon in 2016.
The majority of the customers are Filipinos and the rest Korean. It looks like a high-end venue but the prices are quite affordable actually. Beautiful crowd, Pinay and Korean, but as usual in this kind of club, hard to talk to.
It is open every day of the week until 6am, with Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays the busiest. The music changes every day depending on the DJ but most expect your usual trap or EDM songs. The entrance costs PHP100.
You can read my full review here for more information: Club Icon Cebu.
The majority of the customers are Filipinos and the rest Korean. It looks like a high-end venue but the prices are quite affordable actually. Beautiful crowd, Pinay and Korean, but as usual in this kind of club, hard to talk to.
It is open every day of the week until 6am, with Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays the busiest. The music changes every day depending on the DJ but most expect your usual trap or EDM songs. The entrance costs PHP100.
You can read my full review here for more information: Club Icon Cebu.
Instagram: @cebuicon
This club, located in City Time Square Mall in Mandaue, is one of the largest and most modern in the city. Open from Thursday to Sunday, it can welcome up to 900 pax until 6am. The music is mostly commercial EDM but it can change depending on the events. Entrance fee is around USD 2 on regular days and USD 4 when there is an event. For now, it attracts few foreigners.
Small club on two levels in Waterfront Hotel. Young student crowd. DJs play mostly famous songs. Entrance USD 4 on weekends.
Sentral - Hip Hop Bar and Club
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I'm normally not a fan of hip-hop, trap and Rn'B but I had great fun in Sentral. It was opened in August 2016 as a small NY-style bar/club with a different themed hip hop night every day. Weekdays are still quiet but Friday and Saturday are fully packed. Lots of stylish girls who love to dance. The set up of the bar makes it easy to talk to them as well. Few foreigners. Free entrance.
The only problem is the location as it is about 20 minutes from Mango Avenue (in Norkis Cyberpark).
The only problem is the location as it is about 20 minutes from Mango Avenue (in Norkis Cyberpark).
Hip hop nightclub with affordable prices and a fun local crowd. It has some food (tacos) and monthly drag queen shows monthly.
Located in Streetscape Mall in the northeast of the city, it is a simple bar but quite busy on weekends. Not really worth it unless you live in that area.
Small, elite club that targets an older crowd (over 30).
I didn't go there but it exists in Lapu-Lapu City (Mactan island).
Japanese or Korean Karaoke
I didn't visit any Japanese or Korean KTV but I know there are quite many on A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City. They follow a similar concept: There are private karaoke rooms but also a main lounge with 10-20 pretty Filipinas in sexy outfits that dance or sing. To stay in the lounge, you pay a fixed price and you get to drink as much as you want for a certain period of time. In Komachi KTV, for instance, the all-you-can drink buffet costs PHP600 per hour. You may request a girl to accompany you and she will get a commission on your drinks + on the ones you buy for her (ladies drinks are generally a bit more expensive, around PHP200 per glass).