HOW would you like to wake up in a new environment for a change? Since traveling is still prohibited, why not explore and discover local spots, but following safety measures, of course?
There are lots of exquisite places in Cebu waiting to be visited, from themed cafés and restaurants to hangouts and hostels. With the high number of travelers coming in and out of Cebu pre-pandemic, the hostels scene was also flourishing.
Among the line-up of hostels that opened in Cebu was the well-known Dumaguete City hostel brand The Flying Fish Hostel, located in a safe neighborhood a few meters away from the El Dorado Subdivision.
What were once residences on 8-10 Adelfa St., Cebu City, the two bungalow-type houses which go back to the ‘70s, were lovingly restored and redefined. The project is now a two-storey boutique hostel with 18 private rooms and six dorm rooms with a total capacity of 103 beds—all fully air-conditioned.
The Flying Fish Hostel is not only aesthetically pleasing and spacious but it also carries a cultural value. The old preserved structure is injected with new life to welcome the new generation of travelers.
Its founders chose The Flying Fish Hotel to have a balanced mix of vintage and modern amenities to suit the needs of Gen Y travelers. The architecture features a “bahay na bato” style, where the ground floor consists of stones and masonry material while the upper floor is dominated with wooden materials. “It replicates the aesthetic of how Asia is represented,” said the hostel’s Malaysian co-founder Adrian Tan.
“The properties that we wished to establish were all preexisting, so we didn’t need to demolish from ground zero. The goal was to rebuild what they already have on the property, with sustainably less new materials,” he said.
On the first floor is where the front desk, common area with billiard table, mini bar, rooms and lounge area filled with antiques and paintings from local artists are. On the right side is where the wooden stairs are that lead to the second floor. The second floor is where more rooms, the chill-out roof deck, co-working space and lounging net are located. Each room is named after the country’s islands.
In between the two houses is where the dip pool is located. It is surrounded by plants, lounge tables and chairs, and is beside the restaurant, Pukot Kitchen.
The hostel also organizes a monthly bazaar called The Flying Fish Market that aims to draw in people with a taste for unique goods and handcrafted items. It aims to provide Cebuanos with interesting, farmers-market-type finds as well, and aims to promote local artistry and boost local businesses as the founders believe in pushing small businesses to grow, especially at a time like this.
The items sold in the market are not easily found in supermarkets or malls. So far, each run of the market has had at least 15 vendors—all selling items that are unique to each other. These range from exercise equipment and home decor down to dried flowers and healthy grocery alternatives.
One may follow its social media account: @theflyingfishmarket for schedule and updates.