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The Night Shift

It didn’t happen overnight. Slowly but surely, Cebu became the capital of fun.

It didn’t happen overnight. Slowly but surely, Cebu became the capital of fun.
Strewn with clubs, pubs, resto bars and lounges that cater to an eclectic, gung-ho crowd, the after hours have never been longer with nightspots that ooze their own definitive flavors. Find your niche and you’re likely to mix with other insomniacs.

The Penthouse

Giving heightened definition to partying is one of the country’s premier clubs—The Penthouse. Located in the part of Cebu that never sleeps (Asiatown IT Park a.k.a. call center jungle), it is a solid authority on hardcore clubbing with five resident DJs, and has hosted a string of events for international bigshots Ministry of Sound, Miss Nine, Junior Sanchez, Rosie Romero and Kaskade, among others. With a capacity to hold four hundred and fifty, you can just picture the mayhem that goes on when heads bob in unison to the blaring beats of House, RnB and Hiphop. (PE)

The Penthouse Cebu

3/F CJRS Point, Asiatown I.T. Park, Cebu City
Business hours: 10:00pm to 5:00am Fridays and Saturdays
Tel: 6332.231 3284, 238 0532
www.thepenthousecebu.com

The Veranda

Restaurant by day, hangout by night. The original Veranda was a house-turned-restaurant which eventually transformed into a club. Now in a mall location and staying true to its roots, Veranda offers Filipino-Spanish comfort food, but doesn’t stop there. By 7:00pm on weeknights, diners can also appreciate live music with their meals. Acoustic pop sessions reign from Sundays to Fridays, whereas Saturdays showcase local band talents Pandora, Purple Helmets, Shades of Blue, Mr. Mustache, Kage and Johnny, who perform mostly 90s and early 2000 covers by the 10:00pm. You need not worry about being overdressed at Veranda; many clubbers like to make it an early night stopover before they brave the rave. (PE)

The Veranda Cebu

Parkmall, Mandaue Reclamation Area, Mandaue City, Cebu
Business hours: 10:00am to 2:00pm daily
5:00pm to 12:00mn Sundays thru Thursdays
5:00pm to 2:00am Fridays and Saturdays
Tel: 6332.505 0007
www.theverandacebu.com

Treff

From the driveway of the Waterfront Hotel, one’s eyes can’t help riveting to a tall glass structure on the second landing. Derived from the German word “Treffen” which means “to experience,” Treff certainly piques the senses. The bar’s contemporary mix of white walls and furniture with dark wood and aluminum accents make it the choice of the chic social butterfly. Not to mention the transparent Philip Starck ghost chairs that mirror the all-glass roofing. Catch Treff’s happy hour everyday—50% off on a premium selection of wines, spirits, cocktail drinks and a hard-to-find picking of imported beer. (PE)

Treff

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
Business hours: 5:00pm to 12:00mn Sundays thru Thursdays
5:00pm to 2:00am Fridays and Saturdays
Tel: 6332.232 6888 local 8628
www.waterfronthotels.com.ph

The Joker’s Arms

A massive wooden bar counter and a framed collection of funny English anecdotes on the brick walls may make The Joker’s Arms look like an English pub, but it’s really the interactive atmosphere that seals the deal. The Joker’s Arms is a melting pot of different nationalities—ex-pats, locals and out-of-towners cheering their teams on during the World Cup, trying their hand at a game of pool, or battling it out for the weekly Trivia Night. Even families go to Joker’s on Sundays and bond over traditional English fare like the hearty Sunday Roast. (PE)

The Joker’s Arms

A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City, Cebu
Business hours: 3:00pm to 12:00mn Sundays
5:00pm to 2:00am Mondays
4:00pm to 3:00am Tuesdays thru Saturdays
Tel: 6332.505 3193
www.jokersarms.com

Z Bar

Z is definitely one of the most unique bar concepts Cebu, perhaps even the world, has seen. The interiors are an original creation by internationally acclaimed and Cebu grown designer Kenneth Cobonpue. By reinforcing bamboo twigs with steel and tying these with rattan to create cocoon-like shapes in the ceiling and over tables, Z Bar exudes an element of whimsy, and the play of mood lights enhance it. A wide selection of wines and spirits is available, best paired with an assortment of cheeses and cold cuts from The Tinder Box deli below. (PE)

The Tinder Box

Archbishop Reyes Road cor. Bauhinia Drive, Banilad, Cebu City
Tel: 6332.234 1681-85
www.thetinderbox.com.ph

Cowrie Cove

Part of luxurious Shangri-La Mactan, Cowrie Cove is the perfect balance between urban living and nature. Indulge in fresh seafood in a trendy setting overlooking the vast sea. The adjacent Chill Out bar is a favorite among professionals and couples looking for a rendezvous to share the day’s experiences over early evening cocktails. Try the kilawin tangigue (Filipino-style ceviche) and the seafood platter, which is heaped with lobster, prawns, mussels, clams and crabs, for dipping in Cowrie Cove’s signature sauce. (PE)

Cowrie Cove

Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa, Punta Engano Road
Business hours: 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Tel: 6332.231 8224
www.shangri-la.com

VUDU

VUDU continues to keep the magic alive under one roof. Their dance club, Luxx, sports two floors playing either House or R&B. On weekdays, there’s a slew of other entertainment style options including a rock band night and “VUDU-oke.” They’ve also recently opened Gilt, the first single malt whiskey lounge in Cebu that also serves a bevy of everyone’s favorite European beers, best paired with their baked oysters or potato fries. For company events, Luxx can accommodate 300 persons while Gilt can take up to 60, comfortably. (IB)

VUDU

Crossroads Mall, Banilad, Cebu City
Business Hours: 9:00pm till late Wednesdays thru Sundays
Tel: 6332.234 0836
www.vudu.com.ph

FORMO Restaurant and Lounge

The most loved mojitos and homemade potato chips in town can be found at FORMO Restaurant and Lounge. They boast of the longest happy hour in Cebu from 6:00pm to 10:00pm all week long, on cocktails and below-zero beers. Each night of the week is also dedicated to a different music genre including Fridays being House, Saturdays being Disco, and Sundays being Chillout. FORMO is also available for group functions accommodating 180 persons comfortably in their al fresco and non-smoking areas combined. (IB)

FORMO Restaurant and Lounge

Banilad Town Center, Banilad, Cebu City
Business Hours: 6:00pm to 3:00am daily
Tel: 6332.416 1990
www.facebook.com/FORMO.Lounge

MAYA Taqueria and Tequila Bar

Maya Taqueria and Tequila Bar mixes ancient Aztec charm with modern sophistication. They offer indoor and al fresco seating with soft reverberating beats for a subdued Latin ambiance. Tuesdays and Thursdays are “buy one, take one” on their famous tacos. Enjoy their happy hour on a wide selection of local and imported beers. And what’s a tequila bar without a few cocktails? Maya takes it to the next level with gourmet Mexican dishes like queso fundido with tortillas to complement your margarita. (IB)

Maya Taqueria and Tequila Bar

Crossroads Mall, Banilad, Cebu City
Business Hours: 5:00pm till late
Tel: 6332.238 9552 (Call 416 2442 for deliveries.)
www.theabacagroup.com

Level Ei8ht

If you love the nightlife and love to boogie, then this is the place for you. Whether it’s a sumptuous serving of calamares, salpicao or tandoori chicken that you crave, it will go perfectly with the stunning view of the city as you dine al fresco in the terrace, or inside as you get serenaded by the live band for the night. Reminisce the night away to the nostalgic tunes of the 70s and 80s while sipping their quirky drink, “Dancing Queen”—a must-try for curious cocktail cats out there along with many others that you might want to gulp down before hitting the dance floor. (PM)

Level Ei8ht

8/F Adnama Building, Larrazabal Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City
Business hours: 6:00pm to 2:00am Mondays thru Saturdays
Tel: 6332.236 0027-28

Bellini Champagne Bar

What could be more exquisite than sipping champagne from an alfresco lounge overlooking the city? From the Dedon furniture to the oversized, illuminated planters, Bellini basks in what would be a modern interpretation of old world European charm. Help yourself to their bestselling bufala cheese mozzarella, and make your choice from six different bubblies to accompany it. Bellini is also the first in Cebu to introduce a variety of champagne cocktails such as mimosa’s, bellini’s, kir royale and szazerac. With a bottomless special-blend bellini for the dames on Wednesday nights, Ladies Night has never looked so good. (PE)

Bellini Champagne Bar

Panorama Heights, Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City
Business hours: 6:00pm to 2:00am Mondays thru Saturdays
Tel: 6332.232 7375, 236 0097
www.anzani.com.ph

Blu Bar & Grill

You can never go wrong with a scenic elevator that shoots straight up to a hotel roofdeck, revealing a cityscape view from every vantage point at 1,000 feet high. At Blu, you can chill and dine with friends and colleagues, or set the right mood for a romantic date. Their continental cuisine is best paired with their signature cocktails—Blu frozen margarita, wild fantasy and déjà vu. Those coming from dinner at the other Marco Polo Plaza outlets can opt to munch on sumptuous pica pica or appetizers, like the slightly spicy gambas (shrimp in garlic sauce), beef tenderloin and sautéed garlic mushrooms. The best part is that you need not drive far to reach this trendy nightspot.

Blu Bar & Grill

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Nivel Hills, Apas, Cebu City
Business hours: 4:30pm to 12:00mn Tuesdays thru Sundays
Tel: 6332.253 1111
www.marcopoloplazacebu.com

The Outpost

Great music doesn’t necessarily have to come at a price. If you dig a bohemian vibe and support the local music industry, then check out The Outpost. Because it used to be a house, The Outpost makes you feel as though you’re just walking into your friend’s place for a jamming session. True artistry comes to life from painting-adorned walls and originals (mostly alternative) performed by local bands. You have the option to stay inside for the performances, or grab a cold beer in the al fresco area while rubbing shoulders with the free-spirited lot that frequent the place. (PM)

The Outpost

976-A Veteran’s Drive, Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City
Business hours: 6:00pm to 2:00am Tuesdays thru Sundays
Tel: 6332.417 2929

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Butch Carungay’s 50th in Neverland

By Emmanuel Hamoy

Cebu’s glitterati came out in full force for Butch Carungay’s 50th birthday bash at EdenClub. It was a fun-filled night overflowing with Pol Roger, trivia games whilst traipsing the light fantastic.

Butch Carungay and Janice Lin.

Gerry Laperal and Lotte Delima-Edwards

Romero Vergara and Oj Hofer

Mary Anne Aboitiz, Christine Pelaez, Tamsin Booth, Frances Siao and June Alegrado

Maris Holopainen and Carlo Cordaro

Janine Taylor and Mary Anne Aboitiz

Fashion

Lucky Colors of 2025: Harness the Energies of Emerald Green & Carmine Red for Success

Thom Browne Cropped tweed jacket

by Oj Hofer

With the Year of the Wood Snake underway, understanding the significance of lucky colors can help align us with its energetic flow. Rooted in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, the year’s fortifying shades—emerald green and carmine red—offer mindfulness and good intention attracting luck, and fostering personal growth.

Emerald green, associated with the Wood element, symbolizes renewal, clarity, and inner peace. In the year of the wood snake, its dynamic energies will empower and inspire you, fostering growth, renewal and wise transformations. The hue is ideal for moments of self-reflection, study, or creativity. Wearing or incorporating this shade into your space enhances balance and mental focus.

Carmine red, linked to the Fire element, embodies passion, confidence, and vitality. This year, which according to the Bazi Four Pillars Chart, has a lack of metal, earth and fire elements, it will bring balance and the propitious energies. It’s perfect for professional meetings, decision-making, and moments requiring assertiveness as a splash of red can energize and embolden you throughout the day.

Stella Macartney vegan Leather tote

Stefano Ricci silk tie with paisley print

To fully harness their benefits, use these colors in a contemporary, mobile context; through clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories. Alternate between these two potent tints based on your needs. For example, wear green for calmness and clarity when you are going into stressful and mind challenging meetings or appointments. Choose red when you are going into places or situations where you need courage and motivation such as fashion galas, elite socials, prestige affairs, VIP gatherings and so forth.

Saint Laurent crepe de chine mules

Optionally, you can also choose to wear these colors inconspicuously in small details, such as a garnet or jade bracelet, or a ruby or emerald pendant and earrings set. Men can wear a burgundy or forest green tie or pocket square, or casual polo shirts with poppies or with botanical prints, or jade and garnet jewelry. Doing so can subtly align your energy with the year’s vibrational flow.

Jan Leslie emerald bracelet

Daily Mood Cuff Links with red tiger’s eye tubes

The use of colors is more than just aesthetic choices or preferential picks. Colors can serve as energetic tools, reminding you of your good intentions and keeping you mindful of you daily motions. Effecting an optimistic mental state in the wearer, they can effectively shield you from negativity while fostering prosperity and emotional balance. Thoughtfully incorporating them into your wardrobe and surroundings ensures that you move through 2025 with confidence and the right intentions.

Embracing emerald green for tranquility and carmine red for strength are intentional, mindful choices that have the power to transform your energy and shape your path forward. May you have the best of luck in navigating through Year of the Snake with harmony, energy, and the power to attract good fortune.

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The Java Jive

by Janine Taylor

“Coffee is more than just a drink; it’s something happening. Not as hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup.” — Gertrude Stein, American novelist and poet

Coffee, that magic potion in a cup, is our morning savior and the fuel that helps us get through the day. Whether you’re a stickler for the classics and prefer an espresso or need to start your day with some café au lait or a cappuccino, and yes, we live in the tropics, so iced coffee is good too, we all need our caffeine fix!

The interiors of Eddie’s Log Cabin

Eddie Woolbright with the original waiters of Eddie’s Log Cabin

Growing up in Cebu decades ago, our earliest memories of coffee were the aroma wafting from the percolator at Eddie’s Log Cabin as soon as you opened the doors. You then stepped in for a cup of Joe and a slice of pie. For our parents’ generation, the ultimate sophistication was a cup of “brewed coffee” because, at home, it was freeze-dried instant coffee with powdered creamer and sugar. Folgers was the coffee of choice. Hyperacidity in a cup when you think about it!

Starbucks descended on our shores in December 1997, and our vocabulary suddenly expanded with venti, grande, and Frappuccino. People were willing to pay exorbitant amounts for a cup of coffee. But more than that, it was an experience. It was, all of a sudden, the place to be seen. It was trendy to have coffee at all hours of the day and not just for breakfast.

Cafes have now become the place to meet up with friends, a venue for meetings, and even a space to work from, and you don’t have to be a digital nomad. You can get caffeinated in air-conditioned comfort with WIFI and a snack.

“Seattle has unleashed this weird phenomenon called the coffee shop on the world. And the coffee shop, thanks to Starbucks, is the place where socially isolated, lonely, needy people gather together to ignore one another.”

— Mark Driscoll, American author

Armed with the adage that you can never have too much caffeine, we spent an afternoon visiting three great joints in the city.

The Spring creates the perfect escape for relaxation and comfort.

Matcha latte

The first stop was The Spring, with Scandinavian-inspired interiors and a super chill vibe. A hands-on young owner, Ange Delas Penas, knows her beans well. She was behind the counter, expertly brewing using filters I had never seen before, which she said she purchased in Taiwan. Her team of trained baristas can also whip up some tasty brews, from a cortado to a matcha latte, my latest addiction.

The inviting café interiors of Commonly Uncommon

Latte and espresso

Taking a different route to avoid a flash flood, we dashed out of the car into the warmth of Commonly Uncommon at Crossroads. Don’t let this non-descript, industrial vibe fool you; this java joint knows its craft. Commonly Uncommon uses single-origin beans and, like most cafes these days, also offers coffee alternatives. They are unpretentious and bent on giving the customers the specialty coffee they want, sans judgment. If you prefer oak milk or sugar or enjoy iced drinks, you get what you want. Hence, you will see diverse patronage, from those armed with laptops and headphones to office peeps grabbing a quick caffeine fix to ladies who have lunch and everyone in between.

Plus, they are the only café that thinks of customers battling hyperacidity by offering antacid sachets, which we availed before contemplating our orders.

Tightrope’s laid-back interiors, designed for comfort and creativity

Our caffeine-fueled afternoon’s final stop was Tightrope in the former Henry Hotel. Tightrope is the largest of the three we visited, with the same industrial vibe that is very common these days, and tattooed baristas. Large windows ensure that it is always bright, and this is where you will certainly run into someone you know.

A bold and aromatic espresso shot, ready to awaken the senses.

As this was our third stop, and yes, we were ready to run a marathon after, as we were so pumped, we decided to stick to the classics and have an espresso because you can always taste the quality of a coffee in an espresso. Tightrope has a delicious burnt Basque cheesecake that can be shared, so you can also share the calories. Winding up a well-spent rainy afternoon with great coffee and gossip, we liked all three coffee shops, but Uncommonly Common really stood out.