Going on a Cebu road trip? Check out these countryside outdoor cafe-restos

At the beginning of the pandemic, travelers and backpackers had to stay put while under community quarantine.

This was bad news for Cebu’s “mountain cafes” in Busay, the hillside of Balamban, and other mountainous parts of the province. 

However, as restrictions slowly eased, Cebu’s tourism sector is slowly coming back to life, and countryside cafes and restos are getting more customers each day. After all, Cebu is home to dozens of homegrown food and cafe concepts.

While every Cebuano traveler/backpacker/adventurer is excited to head on out, it’s always best to take precautions and to prioritize one’s health and safety. Fortunately, several establishments are instilling strict health protocols to ensure the safety of their staff and new customers. 

Here are some of Cebu’s best countryside outdoor cafes that offer both coffee and the best views while ensuring your safety:

Serenity Mountain Cafe

In the quiet of Busay, this hidden gem puts comfortability and affordability in the same sentence each and every time.

This cafe is open daily from around 11:30 am to 9:00 pm and is located in the Serenity Farm and Resort in Sitio Tiguib, Brgy. Malubog, Busay, Cebu City, approximately 30 minutes away from the city.

More than just gorgeous views, they also offer meals and treats like an American breakfast set at around P400. The latest addition to their selection is the Basque Burnt Cheesecake and the Glutinous Mango Roll.

To get there, you must take the road to Busay from JY Square Mall. Then, continue straight on until you pass by the road going up to Tops. Look for the Malubog barangay hall then after the short bridge, turn left going up. Continue until you find Serenity Farm and Resort on the right-hand side.

If you’re interested to know more about their meals and services, you can check out Serenity Mountain Cafe here. 

Charlie’s Cup

Along the cliff-side of Balamban, Charlie’s Cup is a treehouse-like R&R spot for many motorcycle riders and backpackers who want a taste of the best mountain brew paired with the best mountain view.

This roadside cafe just opened in late 2020 and has gotten quite the following from Cebuano netizens who just want some space away from the city life, and feel the fresh breeze.

It is open from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm and is located in Brgy. Tabunan, Cebu City. You may find it along the highway going to Balamban and just a few meters from “21 Kilometers Coffee.”

The best part? It’s also a place where pet owners can bring their “fur babies” and enjoy the sunset with them too. The place is actually named after the precious pet of the cafe’s owner. 

Of course, like all cafes, this place offers coffee and tea and even all-day breakfast. You could even buy suman with latik and sikwate for only P130 or a rainbow cake at P140.

Parking space is free and you can contact them through the phone at 0917-328-1777. Check out their facebook page for additional info.

Cabanas

Just want to hang out and not hurt the wallet too much? Cabanas is the best casual tambayan for you!

This outdoor hangout is designed with swing sets and a pool table to ensure that Cebuanos have a place to relax and play.

The establishment is open daily and can be found near 1711 Tops road, located beside Balay sa Busay, along the road on the way to the popular Tops Lookout. The walk-in fee starts at P150 per head.

They offer cheeseburgers at P60, pork sisig at P150, and silog meals for only P50. Do note that prices are subject to change without prior notice.

For more information, you may contact the establishment at 0927-150-4286 / 0917-174-6694.

Liel’s Kitchen

Situated about 20-25 minutes away from the Cebu City proper and within the compound of Serenity Farm and Resort, the biggest add on about this mountainside resto is that it mainly offers Japanese dishes.

Open from 12 nn to 9 pm daily, customers can enjoy modern Japanese dishes with a beautiful panoramic view of the mountains of Busay. The entry fee (consumable, for both food and drinks) is P100 per head.

The establishment is designed with “hanging beds,” which give both thrill and relaxation a new meaning. You can even enjoy it with their tempura ice cream, which goes for P160.

The establishment opened late December 2020 and serves customers the best maki rolls. For more information, contact them at 0956-031-4799 or check their official Facebook page here. 

The Grove by Serenity

Here’s another hot chill spot made by Serenity Busay, also in Serenity Farm and Resort. This establishment started out as a vacation house in Busay but was eventually transformed into an enchanting bamboo grove park owned by the Tan family.

Decorated with colorful lights, this bamboo grove park becomes a beautiful attraction for your Instagram photoshoots with your significant other. In fact, a number of couples have made this place their “go-to spot” for proposals.

From Mondays to Wednesdays, guests can chill out during the screenings of the best classic movies. In the mood for music? They’ve got bands from Thursday to Friday and on special occasions, they even have a light show.

The entrance fee starts at P200 per head (P100 is consumable for food and drinks), while movie night admissions start at P250 per person, with buttered popcorn. Acoustic nights are at P100 per person.

For more details about The Grove, check out their official Facebook page here.

Terrazas de Flores

Want to see more flowers and greeneries? Well, then Terrazas de Flores is the place for you!

Terrazas de Flores is the only flower terrace in the Philippines and is located in Malubog, Cebu City, 15 minutes away from JY Square and approximately 1km from the La Tegola-Busay road.

Their café offers a selection of coffees, refreshments, pastries, and simple but delicious meals. Guests can walk and dine surrounded by nature, thanks to the 127 species of plants and flowers, beautiful art, and fascinating poetry surrounding the terrace.

Many poets and artists come to visit this place to bask in the sun and take beautiful pictures. The cozy cabanas have become the perfect spot to relax, unwind, and listen to nice music.

For some, the guest favorite is their triple-decker mousse cake which is available for P135. They even have a mango creamy cheesecake for P135.

Looking to get there today? Contact them at 0908-894-7825 or give them a message on their official Facebook page. 

Crate Cafe

Along Veteran’s drive in Lower Busay, you can find Crate Cafe, a quaint little coffee shop that offers guests a great cup of coffee and an amazing view of Cebu City.

As the name suggests, Crate Cafe’s main shop is shaped like a crate and guests are able to sit down outside with a scenic view of the mountains.

Open from 11 am to 7 pm, Mondays to Saturdays, their outside seating area had been designed for social distancing even before the pandemic. They’ve since implemented extra safety measures to better serve and secure customers and staff.

Adventure Cafe

Adventure Cafe prides itself as the first “resto-adventure” spot in the Philippines and is easily accessible via a 30-45 min drive from JY square or Marco Polo via Cebu’s Transcentral highway.

What’s cool about this cafe is that it offers guests not just coffee and a view of the mountains, but also fun activities like zip lines and stress walls.

For P150, you can enjoy a thrilling ride through a 256m long zipline. If that’s not enough, you can release some stress by throwing plates against a “stress wall” for P50. 

You can check them out and send them a message on their official Facebook page here. – Rappler.com