Experience new flavors at the sophisticated 1Nito Tower Food Lounge.
Food trips have become a staple of Cebu’s nightlife scene. The rise of food parks and high-end restaurants has turned the culinary industry into a cut-throat competition between well-known favorites and several hidden gems.
Food enthusiasts are always looking for the next best food trip spot in the city, and there is one that recently opened in a high-rise building right in the heart of Cebu.
1Nito Tower Food Lounge is a new food park-style eatery located along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, behind the Parklane Hotel.
The food lounge offers a relaxing ambiance that will complement any meal.
AN INTERESTING LOCATION
While most food parks are located outdoors or on top of a building with a breathtaking view, this one-of-a-kind hidden gem is nestled in the basement.
The location gives it a sense of privacy and wonder, but the overall design and ambiance make it ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy good food and good company.
The management of 1Nito Tower first intended to make the food lounge a canteen for those living or working inside the building. However, since the building is unfinished, they decided to open the place for the public to try out.
The food lounge is similar to most food parks in the city, with a selection of delicious food and beverages, including a live band performance to serenade you during dinner time.
The indoor setting can keep you safe from the heat or rain, and it’s a great place to work, as it has free wifi.
There are a few local and international cuisine favorites offered by a few startups.
WHAT TO TRY AT THE FOOD LOUNGE
1Nito Tower Food Lounge houses several startup businesses serving different dishes. These range from sweet drinks to hefty meals and even light bites. There may not be a lot of tenants yet, but each shop has something different to offer its customers.
- Royal Milktea
Royal Milktea is perfect for those obsessed with the famous bubble tea drink. You can try a variety of flavors, with their signature drink being the Royal Tea, which has coconut jelly as a substitute for pearls.
They also serve sausages and popcorn as snacks to pair with your drinks.
- MAT’s Diner
MAT’s Diner caters more to the Filipino palate. This local food startup serves several Filipino dishes, their most popular being pochero. For ₱280, you can get a bowl of this mouthwatering treat.
Aside from that, they also serve sisig, baby back ribs, and batchoy. Their meals come in hefty servings that are sure to please your appetite.
- Q-Cafe
Next up is Q-Cafe, which sells burgers, wraps, and a bunch of appetizers. Their Facebook page claims to offer meals that are perfect for you and your colleagues when you’re out for lunch or want to take a break after a busy day at work.
Their signature (and biggest) dish is The Giant – a multi-layered burger that includes a patty, topped with bacon and two pieces of chicken. The stall owners will treat anyone who can finish the burger to some dessert.
- Lemonest
Craving some lemonade? Lemonest might just be your next go-to drink stall at the 1Nito Food Lounge. Many reviewers have raved about these sweet drinks as a great way to beat the heat.
Their drinks come in different flavors that are both tasty and satisfying. You can also order these drinks through online delivery apps like Foodpanda and Grab.
- Kitchen Delights
Food trips are so much better when you’re with a group of friends. For shareable platters, drop by Kitchen Delights, a local food stall that specializes in homemade Filipino meals.
These are also known as lutong-bahay dishes that you can share with friends and family. Their most popular serving is the seafood platter, which has calamari, shrimp tempura, and fish filet.
- Tsui-Wah and Malatang
Tsui-Wah and Malatang serve authentic Asian dishes. Tsui-Wah focuses on dimsum dishes that are popular in Hong Kong, while the latter offers a street food dish called malatang, a famous Chinese delicacy.
The dishes in Tsui-Wah, like their siomai or rice cakes, are cooked and stored in bamboo steamers. Many of these dishes are popular favorites in Chinese restaurants in Cebu. Malatang also offers a few Chinese delicacies that you can try.
Malatang is a soup dish that originated in Sichuan, China. It’s a combination of mala sauce with Sichuan and chili pepper, giving it a delicious, spicy flavor.
Aside from the local food, there is a variety of international dishes for you to try out.
- Green Pantry
Of course, you would not want to leave out the vegans. For a selection of plant-based meals, drop by the Green Pantry.
The establishment offers veggie burgers, cauliflower chicken, and vegetable-based fries. One of their more popular offerings is their sisig that is made of tofu.
- Bulgogi
Another spot that specializes in Asian cuisine, Bulgogi serves some of the most popular authentic Korean dishes. These include well-known favorites like Tokboki (tteokbokki), Kimbab (kimbap), and fried chicken doused in Korean sauce.
Korean cuisine has become a favorite among Cebuanos, especially with the rise of Sampgyupsal restaurants that are very popular on social media.
- Delish Deli
Soul food is the term used to describe the culinary offerings of African-Americans in Southern America. One popular dish in this culinary genre is chicken and waffles.
This Pennsylvanian dish is a bestseller at Delish Deli, a stall in the food lounge that serves chicken wings and waffle slices. A signature sweet sauce is glazed over the chicken, while blueberries and whipped cream are added on top of the waffles.
- Indian Fusion
Another Asian food stall is Indian Fusion, whose top offerings are large bowls of chicken biryani. This mixed rice meal is topped with a piece of chicken to give it some much-needed flavor.
They use a delicious bright red sauce to glaze the chicken, and it has just the right amount of spice. You will surely want to try it when you see the chefs cooking the meal right in front of you.
Complete your Cebu nightlife experience with a tasty drink in hand in this fancy lounge.
- Safe and Sound Lounge
Finally, the food lounge is a perfect place to spend Happy Hour, thanks to this stall that serves as a bar. They serve alcoholic drinks like beers and cocktails as well as non-alcoholic beverages like soft drinks and smoothies.
The Safe and Sound Lounge has a promo where they give you a free beer if you avail their sisha (also known as shisha), which costs ₱450.
1Nito Food Lounge is the newest addition to the ever-growing number of fantastic food parks in Cebu, offering a great ambiance and a more sophisticated set of delectable dishes.
Since food trips are some of the most popular activities in Cebu, a new food park like this will surely get food enthusiasts itching to visit. So if you’re out for lunch or looking for a quick bite to eat, drop by this new, exciting food lounge. Don’t forget to invite your friends!
HOW TO GET THERE
Exact Location:
Basement, 1Nito Tower, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City
Operating Hours:
9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Daily
- Jeepney
If you wish to commute to the food lounge, you can take a jeepney en route to IT Park or Talamban. Get off when you reach the flyover near the Parklane Hotel on North Escario Street. 1Nito is on the left side of the flyover.
