Cebu’s annual celebration of excellence is here!
SunStar Cebu rolls out the 2024 Best of Cebu list of awardees, featuring the city’s notable establishments, services and experiences.
From Aug. 3 to 10, 2025, the SunStar Lifestyle section will feature the awardees across all categories.
Want to know who made the cut? See the 2024 Best of Cebu list below!
Resort of the Year: Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort
Address: Punta Engaño Road, Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City
Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort is a modern tropical getaway on Mactan Island, set along a white‑sand beachfront overlooking the Hilutungan Channel. Its spacious, newly built facilities offer exceptional service, a serene infinity pool, a signature spa, multiple dining venues and family‑friendly amenities like a kids’ club and meeting spaces.
Best Thai Restaurant: Benjarong
Address: Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, Punta Engaño Road, Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City
Benjarong brings authentic Thai cuisine to Cebu with finesse. Named after the traditional five-color Thai porcelain, it honors the five signature flavors of Thai cooking — sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami — through dishes made with high-quality ingredients. Favorites include the aromatic Pad Thai, creamy Tom Kha Gai and Mango Sticky Rice.
Best Buffet: 5 Cien
Address: Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, Punta Engaño Road, Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City
5 Cien at Sheraton Cebu Mactan delivers a world-class buffet experience, featuring an extensive spread of Filipino, Asian and Western favorites. Highlights include premium seafood and expertly grilled meats, complemented by a wide selection of cold cuts, salads and desserts. With its upscale setting and attentive staff, 5 Cien strikes the perfect balance between quality and variety.
Best Merienda Buffet: Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino
Address: 1 Mactan Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City
Waterfront’s daily merienda buffet is a celebration of Filipino afternoon fare. Featuring classics like kakanin, banana fritters, kwek-kwek, fishballs and crispy chicken skin, the buffet captures the essence of local snacking culture. The cozy setting, attentive service and nostalgic food offerings make it a favorite among both locals and travelers looking for a comforting afternoon treat.
Best Ensaymada: Savoy Cafe
Address: The Mactan Newtown, Newtown Blvd., Lapu-Lapu City
Savoy Cafe serves rich, buttery ensaymada topped with just the right amount of cheese and sweetness. The texture hits that ideal soft and fluffy mark without being overly dense. This recognition highlights the restaurant’s command of a Filipino favorite. It’s the kind of snack that feels both nostalgic and satisfying. A great choice for merienda or gift-giving.
Best Group Meal: Karakoa, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino
Address: 1 Mactan Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City
Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino’s Karakoa will take you straight on a culinary voyage with its offerings fit for a group of four to five people, perfect for sharing a gastronomic adventure consisting of staple Filipino heirloom recipes. This group meal pays homage to the rich and captivating flavors of the Philippines.
Best Venue for Meetings and Conferences: bai Hotel Cebu
Address: Ouano Ave., corner C.D. Seno St., Mandaue City
From intimate board meetings to large-scale conventions, bai Hotel Cebu offers some of the city’s most versatile event spaces. Its expansive ballrooms and conference rooms are fully equipped with high-speed internet and modern audiovisual systems. The hotel combines accessibility with contemporary design, making it a top choice for professional gatherings of any scale.
Best Sports Bar: First 5 Sports Lounge & Cafe
Address: Go Home Bldg, 341 F. Cabahug St., Cebu City
First 5 Sports Lounge & Cafe is where the spirit of victory, camaraderie and sportsmanship meets good food and cold beer. Designed as a haven for sports enthusiasts, the café offers a variety of hearty dishes in a warm, inviting setting. Adorned with striking murals of some of the greatest athletes of all time, First 5 creates a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates “the game” in all its glory.
Best Burger Steak: Dong Juan
Address: Lightsite Parc, A.S. Fortuna, Mandaue City
Dong Juan makes its burger steak hearty, satisfying and flavorful without overcomplicating it. The brand has stood the test of time by combining value, quality and strong local appeal. Its version brings together tender patties, savory sauces and generous rice servings. It’s perfect for those craving comfort food that delivers on taste and volume.
Best Steak: The Vault Room
Address: Oakridge Business Park, Banilad, Mandaue City
The Vault has made its mark as one of Cebu’s finest speakeasy bars. Known for its well-crafted signature cocktails, it also earned the title of Best Steak in the 2024 Best of Cebu awards — proving that it’s more than just a destination for late-night drinks. The steaks are prepared with expert restraint, avoiding heavy sauces to let the quality of the meat and the precision of the grill work shine.
Best Specialty Cake: Chef’s Table
Address: A.S Fortuna St., Mandaue City
Chef’s Table redefines indulgence with its Green Tea Mango Avocado cake — a dessert that’s as stunning as it is inventive. Layers of earthy matcha sponge, silky avocado cream and sweet-tart mango come together in perfect harmony, creating a cake that’s refreshing yet decadent.
Best Ramen: Hamakaze
Address: AYS Bldg., A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City
Ramen has steadily gained popularity in Cebu, with locals embracing its rich, umami-packed flavors. Hamakaze emerged as the standout, earning the title of Best Ramen in the 2024 Best of Cebu awards. Located along A.S. Fortuna, just across A Space, this quiet ramen spot is known for its meticulous preparation and comforting flavors. A must-try is its signature Chicken Collagen Soup.
Best Japanese Restaurant: Soba Kamakura
Address: EC Bldg., Greenhills Road, Mandaue City
Soba Kamakura stands out for its handmade soba noodles crafted using premium, buckwheat flour from Hokkaido. But the experience doesn’t stop at soba. Guests dine on a curated selection of dishes that highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients. Each course is timed, plated with exacting detail. Reservations are required, but what awaits is an encounter with Japanese culinary tradition.
Best Local Tocino: Belcris Foods Inc.
Belcris Foods Inc., a highly regarded homegrown manufacturer, made a name for itself for its standout offerings of processed meat products, especially its tocino. It is recognized as the best in Cebu for its premium quality and exceptional taste, blending a perfect union between sweet and savory flavors that is the ultimate hallmark of the Filipino breakfast staple.
Best Lechon Manok: Joule’s Lechon Manok
Address: Multiple locations across Cebu
Cebuanos are particular about their lechon manok — and rightly so. Joule’s Lechon Manok wins us over with its intense seasoning and unmistakable grilled aroma that lures you in from afar. Charred at the edges and always served hot off the grill, this lechon manok sets the standard. The chicken here is ultra savory, perfect with a spoonful of rice.