Best of Cebu 2020! And the Winners Are...
Three more days before 2021! This year is one for the books. It is safe to assume that leisure travel plans for this year were all canceled due to the pandemic that rocked our world (literally and figuratively)
A year ago, Erik the Hungry Traveller introduced the ENDORSED concept. . The thrust was to showcase hotels and restaurants that meet the website’s standard of QUALITY in all aspects. It was to be a global recommendation, and we already had a few establishments and hotels all across the globe that were ready for our reviews.
Well, you know what happened next!
Alas, there is always a silver lining in every dark cloud, and since I was not able to travel this year- except in Palawan last February. I will be focusing and handing out recognitions for the Best of Cebu instead!
These deserving ETHT Blues Star Citation winners are the hotels, establishments, restaurants, and businesses visited by Erik and the Hungry Travellers this year. They are all part of the Erik the Hungry Traveller (ETHT) Endorsed list.
From the list of ETHT Endorsed throughout 2020, I, along with the rest of the Hungry Travellers, handpicked the best of the best to come up with the Best Of Cebu 2020 Blue Star Citation Awardees!
So folks, without further ado! Here is the full list of Erik the Hungry Travellers Best of Cebu 2020 Blue Star Citation Awardees!
Not a sponsored post. None of The Best of Cebu 2020 Blue Star Citation Awardees paid the website to be part of the list. These are purely based on the experience, reviews of Erik the Hungry Traveller, and the rest of the Hungry Travellers Team.
Complete List of ETHT Blue Star Citation WINNERS!
Best Hotel
Best of Cebu 2020
I had a hard time deciding which hotel deserves the distinction to be the 1st Blue Star Awardee for the Best Hotel in Cebu Category. Each hotel has its strengths and weaknesses. It is but fair to call a triple tie in this category.
has the charm and the spark of a new hotel. It boasts of class and elegance. Amethyst Boutique hotel is ideal for transit travelers who want to stay in a non-sense hotel that is affordable, clean, and easily accessible.
The hotel has spacious rooms that exude professionalism. The hotel is between 2 major business hubs in Cebu city. Ideal for professionals who seek to stay in a hotel that is away from the hustle and bustle but conveniently located if you decide to head to the food-tech-shopping districts of Cebu City.
For travelers who wants a little more than sleeping in the hotel. They have a pool and a gym to loosen the stress away after a long day and ideal for people who wish to hang out and chill poolside.
Best Restaurant
Best of Cebu 2020
They have reinvented themselves this 2020. The restaurant was one of the 1st restaurants I dined at when Cebu city allowed dine-in in restaurants. I was not a fan of the restaurant way back. However, with the new protocols in place to ensure their dining guests still get the same quality service and dining experience, that is when they won me over.
Ten years in the industry is rare nowadays. They wouldn’t last ten years if the Cebuano market did not like the service and the quality of food at Lemon Grass!
Best Breakfast Buffet
Best of Cebu 2020
H Café was one of the 1st restaurants that opened its doors and incorporated the new-normal buffet experience in Cebu city. Aside from being significantly cheaper than other known breakfast buffets. H Café’s breakfast buffet has similar quality compared to the more popular and pricier breakfast buffets in Cebu city.
Best Dessert (cake Category)
Best of Cebu 2020
One of the hardest categories, being that I enjoy eating cake!
Nevertheless, the team finally came up with the best of Cebu cakes for 2020. These cafes/ home bakers are underrated and are overshadowed by more commercially made, overly sweet cakes and more popular cakes in the Cebu market. I am a bit hesitant to share this list as I want these cakes all to myself! (LOL)
Best Cheese Cake
MonaLisa Bakes
Unique and out of the box experience. That is how I describe the Queso de Bola cheesecake of Monalisa Bakes.
Having tasted this decadent and sinful dessert, I can say that it is by far miles ahead of the more popular blueberry cheesecakes offered in the market.
A seasonal dessert perfect for your Christmas and New Year gatherings! For my household, the Queso de Bola cheesecake will now be a staple dessert during the holiday season!
Best Pistachio Cake
Best Red Velvet Cake:
Best Mango Cake:
Pink Heaven’s cakes are one of the best, and those three cakes stood out for me when I visited their store in SM Seaside. Plus, I asked some of my Hungry Travellers to try out their Mango cake, and it was a unanimous YES in terms of the quality and the taste of their mango cake.
Pink Heaven is one to watch in the Cebu Dessert scene for 2021!
Best Carrot Cake
Best Chocolate Cake
Best Fruit Infused Cake:
Best Dessert (Non-cake Category)
Best of Cebu 2020
A unique Filipino dessert that combines 2 of your favorite Filipino desserts: the Biko and Ube Halaya. Check out our review (and how to order) of this unique Filipino fusion dessert through the link below.
Best Health and Lifestyle Meal
Best of Cebu 2020
Keeping it honest, I usually do not gravitate towards healthy meals. First, they are a tad bit expensive and second, most of which (at least for me) is not value for money.
This is why Gorilla Bowlz is the ETHT Blue Star Awardee for the Best Health and Lifestyle Meal for 2020. They made me a believer that healthy meals can be delicious and affordable at the same time.
Best Sauce
Best of Cebu 2020
I remember when the spicy noodle challenge became so popular yet it made no sense at all to me. And yes I was able to try the spicy noodle that everyone was raving about a few years back.
And I Hated it. So when Gana Eat Chili Garlic in oil introduced themselves, my first impression was yikes is this product going to burn my lips and hurt my tummy. Do not get me wrong I love spicy food but when you are not able to taste the food and instead only feel the burning sensation then no not for me!
This is why is the Best Sauce for 2020 since the product does not overpower your food, it compliments it. It is a simple yet well-thought-of product.
As a Food Blogger and Reviewer, I highly appreciate a product that is unassuming yet is of Quality! Yes, it has some kick to it which is just enough to keep you wanting to eat more. I tried it with siomai, fried fish and even with rice and it was perfect.
Gana Eat’s INFERNO which is their spiciest product had more kick to it but not to the point that it would burn your lips. It’s a perfect pair for any meal and it is true to its name. A unique appetizer to make any dish stand out-that is if you are a fan of spicy food.
Hungry Travellers Choice: Best Resort
Best of Cebu 2020
with 38% of combined website and Hungry Travellers group members votes
Hungry Travellers Choice: Best Burgers
Best of Cebu 2020
with 72% of combined website and Hungry Travellers group members votes
E.T.H.T BLUE STAR CITATION
Congratulations to all the ETHT BLUE STAR CITATION WINNERS for 2020.
All of you deserve the recognition and the distinction to be part of the 1st Awardees for the site!
I look forward to seeing the list expand in the coming years. On behalf of the Hungry Travellers all over the world! I, Erik the Hungry Traveller wish every a Happy- Healthy, and Blessed 2021!
38 thoughts on “E.T.H.T Blue Star Citation Awardees! Best of cebu 2020”
I can see how these places are the best of the best in the area. They all look excellent. The highlighted food looks yummy.
Thank you so much . Hope you had a splendid holidays!
I’d love to visit Cebu and make a trip out of just going to all the places that got voted best of the best. They sound great.
Thanks man! I appreciate the support. Do let me know if ever the Cebu trip materializes. Stay safe and Happy New YEar!
I would love to stay at Mezzo and just eat at all those restaurants every day! This is a great list.
Their Fried Tofu is just arghh! the Best. Happy New Year !
I absolutely love Cebu so much! It is such a wonderful place to visit and to explore. All of this food and these hotels look so amazing!
Cebu is excited to have you again! Take care and Happy New year!
Congrats to all of the award winners. Those cakes look super yummy!
Hahaha yes they are! My personal fave is the Ube-Langka (Jackfruit) cheesecake. YUMMMMYYY!
What a great list of hotels in the area. This is a great list of award winners.
Thank you Alexis! Yeahup they deserve the recognition!
Thanks for putting such a comprehensive list! I miss Cebu so much! This list will help me next time I’m in Cebu!
I soo feel you! I miss traveling too. I hope we can get to travel again soon. Happy New Year Hazel!
Thank you for sharing the best of the best for us this year! Ironically, my husband and I were looking for a great getaway and were eyeing the Amethyst Boutique Hotel! We will have to try this for next year!
Oh wow! Glad I am able to help with my blog post. feel free to shoot me an email in case you need more information and or options. Happy New Year to you!
wow love this list ! and all these places deserve to be crowned best! kind regards Pati robins at style squeeze blog
Thank you. There were some tough choices that were made to come up with the best of Cebu!
Congratulations to the winners! Can’t wait to go back to Cebu and these cakes you mentioned but by the looks of it — the queso de bola cheesecake definitely looks like a winner.
We had the Queso de Bola cheesecake for Christmas! It was extremely rich! The whole cake can feed 20 people because of how deliciously heavy the dessert is!
Thanks for these awesome tips! Now I got ideas which places to visit when in Cebu and you save my time looking.
Do send us a DM if you ever visit Cebu! Hope you had an eventful New Year! Take care
I want to try them all! Ubeko of Genris looks so interesting. Have to try!
That Filipino desert looks absolutely amazing. I want to try it.
All of these pictures in this best of Cebu 2020 roundup is making me hungry! Especially the Ubeko of Genris. What a beautiful dish and I’m not at all jealous. Yum!
Oh my goodness the food looks so delicious. Would love to try some of these one day.
That all looks great. I’m glad you at least got to travel some.
So many delicious options and lovely hotels! I’m not surprised these were your faves. Thank you for sharing with us 🙂
What an exciting list! It is fun to see what made the list, and it would be neat to check these out in person. These look wonderful!
I can see why they won. Every place you’ve showcased here just sounds amazing. They really go above and beyond to deliver great experiences.
Wow! I haven’t been in Cebu for few years now. I think it’s time to comeback! Great review!
Thank you for sharing this information, it’s definitely something that’s been interesting to read! The more you know, the better!
Sounds like Cebu has tons of amazing places and dishes to check out. Congratulations to the winners and they really deserve it.
It’s a big Wow! Loved every content you’ve shown us. From the amazing accommodation to the food, it’s like heaven especially all the desserts. It makes me hungry.
I also live in Cebu. I am curious with the cakes you mentioned here. I’d love to check them out! Thanks for the list. ❤
I must say that Cebu has tons of amazing places and dishes to check out. Every place you have showed here just sounds amazing.
Yes, I know Amethyst Boutique Hotel and I only can recommend!
Thanks for sharing this roundup of recommendations! I would love to visit Cebu some day. Whenever I do I will reference this post!