Discover Cebu – Blu Bar’s Cocktails & Heavenly Cuisine

Would you love to eat Cebu City’s finest restaurant? Do you love dining under the stars from an amazing rooftop location? Are you looking for the perfect spot in Cebu for a proposal or romantic meal for two? How about discovering a great bar to enjoy cocktails and sweeping views over Cebu? Look no further than the Blu Bar, situated two thousand feet high at the top of the Marco Polo Hotel in Cebu City, Philippines.

While Cebu has a number of rooftop bars and restaurants, you will never find a better place to eat or drink than the Blu Bar & Grill. Situated on the twenty fifth floor in an already elevated hotel, the dramatic views across Cebu are second to none. The superbly trained staff attend to your every need. The menu (changed every six months to maintain excitement for repeat visits) is cooked by their award winning chef. It truly offers something for all tastes : delicious steaks, seafood specials, scrumptious soups and tantalising desserts. And the huge selection of juices, wines, beers and cocktails will quench your thirst and keep you there all night.

SM Makeover

After a long morning at the Temple of Leah and lunch at SM mall, my son Raf and I returned to the Kiwi Lodge to relax. Meanwhile, my wife Mirasol remained at SM, where she spent three hours getting hair and makeup. The makeup artist was determined to transform an island girl into a city chick. He definitely succeeded in doing that, so much so that when she got back to Kiwi we hardly recognised her. Sporting dramatic false eyelashes, heavily blended eye lid makeup and side swept hair, Mirasol looked more tagalog film star than island mother.

To the Blu Bar

Soon after his glamorous mother arrived, Rafael announced he wanted to dress up too. He quickly put on his favourite Hawaiian shirt, jeans and shoes. An hour later, a taxi dropped us at the entrance of the famous Marco Polo Hotel. The concierge gestured towards the security door, so we walked through the metal detector into a beautiful reception area. Rafael loved the miniature building models and we all vowed to return for a night here one day. A few minutes later, we located the lifts and pushed the button for the twenty-fifth floor.

Bon Voyage at the Blu Bar

When the lift door opened, we could hardly believe the incredible rooftop bar in front of us. It was the perfect romantic setting to say goodbye to the Philippines, with sweeping views all the way to the sea. Despite the ailing state of our finances, we decided to go out with a bang. Soup for starters, meat and fish main courses, red wine for me, fresh juices for Miras and Raf. After taking the plates, the exceptional waitress asked us what we were celebrating. We told her about our imminent departure to London. Soon after, she brought us a complimentary bon voyage cake. A final touch, which consolidated our view that we had just enjoyed the best meal ever in the Philippines. Goodbye never felt better.

Follow in our footsteps

– The quickest way to get there to the Blu Bar is by taxi. Expect to pay P100-P200 for a one way trip from uptown Cebu, depending on your exact location.

– The Blu Bar is situated on the 25th floor of the Marco Polo Hotel, Nivel Hills, Cebu Veterans Dr, Cebu City, 6000.

– Make a reservation by calling the Blu Bar & Grill @Marcopolocebu (Call +63 32 253 1111) or contact them via their Facebook page. It is well worth making a reservation, especially at weekends.

– This is not an ideal restaurant for vegetarians, with no main course options and minimal vegetarian salads on offer.

– Blu Bar & Grill is one of the most expensive restaurants in Cebu. Expect to pay P5000 for two courses and a couple of drinks for two people. However, it’s worth every peso for the top notch service and unbelievably delicious food.