Citadines Cebu: Cebu’s First Apart’Hotel Showcases Comfort and Culture

Citadines Cebu City

Cebu: home to some of the best lechon in the country; to gorgeous beaches and diving sites; and emerging business hubs. Aiming to be in the midst of it all is the newly opened Citadines Cebu City—the first Ascott-managed property and Citadines brand outside Manila. Strategically located at the Base Line Center, Citadines Cebu provides easy access to the city’s tourist spots, historical attractions, major business hubs, and entertainment areas, making it an ideal choice for leisure and business travelers alike.

Citadines Cebu City
Like its sister Citadines apart’hotels, this Cebu pioneer features both the warmth of a modern home and the conveniences of a hotel. It has the same laid-back yet professional vibe while exuding a local feel—utilizing art pieces made by Cebuano artists such as the famed Kenneth Cobonpue. Everywhere you look, you will see a touch of Cebu. Read on to find out more about Citadines Cebu City.

Citadines Cebu City


Arrival—and a Detour!

Citadines Cebu City
My arrival in Cebu was at 7:30AM so my room was not ready yet. Incidentally, I was planning to check out a local restaurant called Entoy’s Bakasihan, which was featured in Netflix’s Street Food Asia. It’s in Cordova, closer to the airport and 2 hours away from the city, so I wanted to go there first. Good thing Citadines offers car services—a personal driver fetched me from the airport and took me to Entoy’s, and by the time we got to the city, my room was ready. Thank you, Kuya Peter!

Citadines Cebu City


The Apartments

Citadines Cebu has 180 modern serviced apartments, configured as either Studio-type, One-Bedroom, or Two-Bedroom. The rooms are designed with both form and function in mind—a place for cozy living in the Queen City of the South.

Citadines Cebu City
I stayed in a Studio Executive Room (check rates here), which is fitted with a Queen-size bed, an en suite bathroom, a fully-equipped kitchenette, a workstation, and a sitting area. As with other Citadines properties, I love the pops of blue, gray, and green amidst an elegant and simple white-and-tan scheme. So while the apartment is designed more for function than aesthetics, it still exhibits an artsy vibe, demonstrated even by little pieces such as lamps and paintings.

Citadines Cebu City
At 34 sqm., there’s enough space to leave your luggage around—I personally never unpack when I travel unless there are clothing pieces I absolutely need to hang and be careful with. Leisure and business travelers will both find that it’s a very relaxing and livable space, but for those seeking ultimate comfort, I highly recommend going for the One-Bedroom unit.

Citadines Cebu City

When I arrived, a plate—wait, no … SHELF—of treats were waiting for me. Cebu specialties like dried mangoes, cacao nibs, and coconut thins were handpicked from homegrown sellers (the cacao nibs are my favorite), as well as local pastries.

Citadines Cebu City
Like other Ascott properties, the beds and linens are of high quality. The compact bathroom is equipped with fresh towels and toiletries—it has a walk-in shower, a toilet with bidet, and Crabtree and Evelyn products. Most importantly, for a long-staying visitor, the kitchenette comes with all the essentials: utensils, cooking equipment, plates, glasses, coffee and tea making tools, cutlery, everything! If you want your own washing machine and dryer, upgrade to a One-Bedroom for a small price difference.

Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City

-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------


Dining

Citadines Cebu City
True to its aim of giving guests a taste of local life while in Cebu, Citadines has chosen Abaca Baking Company as the provider of its all-day dining outlet. Abaca is practically an institution in Cebu when it comes to breads and pastries baked daily from scratch, so I couldn’t think of a better choice. Expect delicious croissants and cakes paired with good coffee for breakfast—and much more.

Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
The morning buffet is compact and straightforward—perfect for the business traveler who is on-the-go. There are varieties of croissant and Danish (both Abaca specialties) as well as other breads, a make-your-own-salad section, cereals, soup, a small selection of viands and local dishes, and fresh fruits. So for those who like their breakfast simple and unfussy, a quick scan through the spread will leave you satisfied and ready for that early meeting. However, for staycationers who would like to sit down and relish their mealtime, don’t fret as the restaurant also offers plated sets for breakfast.

Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City

Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
I spent two days at Citadines so I was able to try two different sets—both were in generous portions. I loved the Omu Rice which is a delicious omelet filled with kimchi rice and spam—one of my favorite combinations. This is comfort food at its finest right upon waking up! The other dish was the humongous Eggs on Toast, and the reason I ordered it is that it comes with Abaca’s sourdough bread. I can’t tell you enough how much I love their sourdough—the scrambled eggs, mushrooms, ham, and bell peppers on top basically faded in the background, LOL.

Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
The breakfast area, which is the main dining hall that serves an all-day international and Filipino menu, is separate from the coffee shop, which is just next door. The café is somewhat cozier and it’s perfect if you’re meeting friends or colleagues over coffee and snacks. They serve delicious cookies such as the plain chocolate chip and oatmeal. I’m a big coffee drinker, but I must mention that their Red Orange tea is the bomb—a blend of orange peel, hibiscus flowers, rosehip, and apples. Lovely.


Other Amenities and Services

Citadines Cebu City
Breathtaking views, fresh air, drinks by the water—who doesn’t love a rooftop pool? The one at Citadines Cebu boasts of a gorgeous city view, the perfect spot to unwind and wait for sundown. It’s a lap infinity pool with an accompanying kiddie pool, so the whole family can still enjoy. On the sun deck, there are especially designed lounge chairs that rock back when you sit on them, putting you in a relaxing position as you admire the view.

Citadines Cebu City
The Fitness Centre is just adjacent, with its full glass walls offering the same gorgeous vistas. There are cardio machines, resistance machines, as well as free weights, so those who love staying fit will find that they can still continue their routines while on a trip.

Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
Right across the main reception area is the Residents’ Lounge where guests can socialize, entertain visitors, or even do some work. A short walk away is the Launderette especially built for the convenience of long-staying travelers, and those staying in the Studio apartments (where there’s no washing machine).

Citadines Cebu City
After a day out in the city, make sure to book an in-room massage. I spent the whole day meeting friends and visiting restaurants I’ve been dying to try in Cebu, and by evening I was spent and exhausted. Good thing you can simply call front desk and request for a massage from Japanese Haven Spa. I had a 60-minute Swedish Massage and it was the best 60 minutes of my life. The therapist was incredible (but I forgot her name, shame on me!) that I was just sleeping the entire hour.

Citadines Cebu City


What’s in the Area—Ask the Ascott Host!

Whether you’re in Cebu for business or leisure, you will definitely want to roam around and see what the city has to offer. I usually do a lot of research beforehand, but for times when you simply didn’t read enough, or if you’re looking for a resident’s recommendation, the Ascott Host is your go-to!

Citadines Cebu City
The concept of the Ascott Host is that there’s a person—typically, a local—who will help out checked-in guests with personal knowledge and recommendations. The assigned host to me was Ares (the one in the middle in the above photo), and she was AWESOME. I’m sure you know how big a foodie I am, so all I ever asked her was food, food, food. She gave me a list of must-tries in the city, but when I asked her if there are places that are not touristy and popular more with locals than travelers, she provided another list. These are things you can’t Google—and I love how the Ascott Host gives recommendations that suit your preferences.

Citadines Cebu City
Ares even picked the turndown treats. I love macarons, and she bought these luscious ones made by a Cebu-based seller. I love how it’s not a branded, generic product everybody knows about. On my second night, Abaca cookies and milk were waiting for me by the bed. While Abaca is incredibly popular, I haven’t tried their cookies before and I was surprised at how good they were. It’s a local touch—and the milk is such a simple but nice idea, really.

Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
I have been to Cebu multiple times so I wasn’t interested to see tourist attractions, but in case you’re wondering, here are some of them that are within the vicinity of Citadines Cebu:

Fuente Osmena Circle (6 minute walk)
Provincial Capitol (9 minute walk)
Sky Experience Adventure (9 minute walk)

Sights accessible via a short drive:

Magellan’s Cross (16 minute drive)
Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino (16 minute drive)
Fort San Pedro (17 minute drive)
Taoist Temple (13 minute drive)

Dining and drinking hubs:

Mango Square (5 minute walk)
Escario Central (7 minute walk)
Ayala Center Cebu (10 minute drive)
Cebu IT Park (18 minute drive)

Read also my personal recommendations for food in Cebu: Cebu Food Trip: 24 Restaurants Worth Traveling For


Citadines: Comfort and Culture

Citadines Cebu City
When in Cebu, let the modern and fresh Citadines Cebu offer you a chance to discover the city’s culture and flavors while enjoying the familiar comforts of home. There’s no better way to explore and enjoy the Queen City than staying in a hotel that values comfortable living and authentic experiences.


~*~
Citadines Cebu
Base Line Center, Juana Osmeña St, Cebu City, Cebu
+6332.260.9588
enquiry.philippines@the-ascott.com


Have you stayed at Citadines Cebu? What about in other Citadines and Ascott properties? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

My stay was sponsored by Citadines Cebu. All opinions, however, are entirely my own.

Read also: Cebu Food Trip: 24 Restaurants Worth Traveling For



If you like my posts and would love regular updates on travel photos, food finds, restaurant reviews, dance articles, and drunken tales, follow Pepe Samson on Facebook!

pepe samson

About Pepe Samson

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.
    Disqus Comment
    Facebook Comment

0 comments :

Post a Comment

Let me know what you think!