Another summer is here to conquer! Beach trips are on the horizon, bikinis and shorts are accustomed, and sunscreen is everyone’s best friend. With the heat index looming over us, threats of heat exhaustion and dehydration are on the rise. And what better way to quench your thirst than treating yourself to a sweet treat while you hustle and bustle through this season’s activities with healthy and vibrant drinks and desserts? Here are the standout spots that are not only accessible around Cebu City but are also a delightful summer escapade in itself.
Mini Mono
Our first stop is one of the trending places in Cebu that offers delicacies straight from the heart of Japan. Mini Mono is Cebu’s first mochi cafe and has a variety of modern and fresh mochi flavors that will satisfy your cravings for chewy and mild sweets. A crowd favorite and one the cafe is most proud of is the matcha ice cream wrapped in flattened mochi and topped off with kinako powder.
Mini Mono also appeals to nostalgic and simple tastes such as mango cream, taro, strawberry, and Hokkaido milk. As for their summer exclusive, the cafe launches an ube–flavored mochi dessert to further their love for authentic mochi that caters to familiar Filipino taste buds.
Beyond mochi ice cream, Mini Mono’s menu also provides Masi, a traditional Cebuano dessert but with a twist. You can help yourself with a serving of kinako powder, almonds, cashews, or brown sugar syrup to complement its chewiness with stimulating textures. The price range can go as far as P120 to P150 in Mini Mono, which makes it an affordable and worthwhile thrill while savoring the unique goodies from Japan at a spot near you. Mini Mono is located in J Block Building, Apitong Street, Kamputhaw, Cebu City. For more mochi madness, read more about Your First Stop This Summer: Mini Mono Modern Japanese Cafe.
Cloud Nine Creamery
Beyond its charming establishment and Instagrammable ambiance, Cloud Nine Creamery started off with its high-quality ice cream selection but has now broadened its menu to beverages and comfort meals. A cult classic deemed worthy of a try is the Mango Panda, an ice cream flavor derived from a Mango and Graham concoction, creamy and tangy reminiscent of their mom’s favorite mango float. The creamery also offers premium flavors such as Cookie Butter, Dark Belgian Chocolate, Coffee Chip Almond, and one I’ve tasted myself is the matcha ice cream served on a warm waffle cone.
Needless to say, the creamery is definitely their expertise. The ice cream scoops and pints don’t melt as quickly as the corner-street sundaes you see around. Surely, this sweet treat will last under the sun and sit at the top spot for the finest ice cream in Cebu. As you peruse through Cloud Nine’s menu, baked goods are offered like an apple crumble, molten lava cake, and a strawberry croissant topped off with powdered sugar and strawberry bits if you’re a pastry lover.
For the savory crowd, they serve a delectable plate of Chicken Truffle Pasta and aromatic Clubhouse sandwiches brimmed with roasted tomatoes if you’re needing the fill after a long day of tennis with friends. Cloud Nine Creamery takes the cake when it comes to a colorful range of ice cream and a hearty selection of food that will take you to cloud nine this summer. Take yourself to heaven by visiting their location on the Upper Ground Floor of Baseline Center, Juana Osmena Street, Cebu City, or read how Your Taste Buds Will Be Floating on Cloud Nine at This Ice Cream Parlor.
Prutasan ni Adan
If you’re fiending for something refreshing and cutting back on the sugar, Prutasan ni Adan might just satisfy that need. With only P99 per cup, you can enjoy a serving of strawberries, kiwi, oranges, apples, pineapples, melons, and pomelo without breaking a sweat. They offer the convenience of prioritizing freshness in their produce as well as making sure every product from them is assured of excellent quality.
It is hard to rummage through the city for a nutritious and inexpensive option when fast food is at every corner, but Prutasan ni Adan offers fresh salads packed with crisp vegetables and their signature dip for P169, a totally cost-effective measure to be mindful of your health and take pleasure in food that doesn’t have to cost its taste for you to feel guilt-free. Revel in their bountiful fruits, smoothies, yogurt, and veggies at their main branch in Tancor 1 Residences, Gen. Lim Street, Villa Aurora, Kasambagan, Cebu City. You can also visit their Banilad Town Center (BTC) branch. Even better, read about how Prutasan ni Adan Makes Healthy Eating a Breeze For Cebuanos.
Capu Coffee
Another option for the go-getters with a penchant for that extra dosage of energy for the day is a coffee shop located in Barangay Camputhaw, Acacia St, Cebu City, named Capu Coffee, no less one of the most competitive establishments in the local cafe scene. They have everything you’ve dreamed of in a cafe–its rich helping of caffeinated drinks, quaint cakes, and a fine minimalist interior that exudes coziness.
What makes Capu Coffee stand out is its carefulness and focus on delivering quality service and food, noting that it is managed by a group of siblings. Learn why you should Have a ‘Cupa Coffee’ at the Newest Sibling-Ran Hangout Spot on the Block. Its sentimentality and refinement of homemaking bleeds into how Capu Coffee perches itself as a chill spot where you can hang with your friends and family alike. Their dedication is evident in how they craft their signature drinks, making The Spanish Latte and Matcha Latte the ultimate crowd-pleasers of the joint.
More than just a coffee shop, Capu Coffee intends to solidify itself as a neighborhood-friendly cafe by nurturing its community of coffee lovers. By incorporating local coffee beans in its brews, developing elaborate meals for its new menu, and opening up its doors for events–Capu Coffee is the definition of a no-fuss, melting pot of what Cebu City is, its culture of hospitality.
Crosswalk Bakery & Cafe
Last but definitely not least, Crosswalk Bakery & Cafe is a surefire spot with a hefty menu you just cannot resist. Out of all the places aforementioned, this one is a foodie go-to if you enjoy delicious and filling meals. Starting off strong, the stars of the menu are the Kimchi Carbonara and the Miso Mushroom Salisbury Steak. Although intriguing and unusual, they pride themselves on these particular dishes for combining contemporary and zesty flavors that will not leave you second guessing on it being appetizing.
However if you want something familiar to sink your teeth into, they still offer the cafe staples such as sandwiches, cakes, pasta, coffee, and other thirst quenchers. Speaking of, one of the unique drinks they make exclusively here is an Espresso Fizz. Both the owner and customers alike conclude it to be a captivating but puzzling drink– an acquired taste only you can find in Crosswalk. A little overwhelmed? Read why Crosswalk’s Culinary Delights Will Make You Question ‘Em, Then Love ‘Em.
Drop by Crosswalk Bakery & Cafe to experience these delicacies yourself in Don Jose Avilla corner Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City. If you’ve been meaning to beat the summer heat at home, Crosswalk Bakery & Cafe also has a large tray option for when you want to order their cakes and food for events and home gatherings through GrabFood. This way, having mouthwatering treats right at your doorstep without having to trudge through traffic in this scorching heat, makes your summer hassle-free and fun-focused.
