Two pre-colonial houses form Circa 1900, a restaurant offering international cuisine cooked using local techniques and ingredients.
Ancestral houses are pretty rare nowadays, and when we do see one, we can’t help but feel nostalgic.
At Circa 1900, you will find a combination of vintage yet modern aesthetics, giving you a sense of elegance as you indulge in their exquisite meals.
First time visitors will be surprised to know that this fine restaurant is located within the city. With modernized architecture in almost every corner, dining in an establishment such as this is a breath of fresh air — literally and figuratively.
The restaurant serves international dishes fused with Filipino techniques and ingredients to make it more familiar to the residents of Cebu City.
THE TWO STRUCTURES IN CIRCA 1900
The restaurant’s ancestral house design gives a hint of nostalgia to its customers.
Located in Barangay Lahug, this fine dining restaurant is a popular spot for wedding receptions, events, and social gatherings. It has a wide open space ideal for outdoor activities, while its vintage interiors make for a soothing dining experience.
Circa 1900 is divided into two, Casa Uno and Casa Dos. The former is located at the right from the entrance, while the latter, more recently opened, is right across from it.
CASA UNO
Casa Uno is known for being a fine dining restaurant.
Casa Uno is a popular choice for outdoor wedding venues in Cebu City, thanks to its spacious garden. The chairs, tables, and benches are enveloped by large green trees, giving the place a more natural outdoorsy look.
The house itself, however, retains its aesthetics from the pre-colonial period. You will normally see houses like this in provincial areas, with families preserving the indoor and outdoor features of their homes from generation to generation. Most of Casa Uno’s structure is made from wood, which also adds to the Filipino nostalgia.
Casa Uno’s garden is perfect for al fresco dining
CASA DOS
If you want to try their take on Filipino cuisine, head over to Casa Dos. This is where you will find the establishment’s function rooms as well as Cicada, Circa 1900’s very own bar.
Aside from the restaurant and outdoor garden, Circa 1900 also has a bar that serves alcoholic drinks.
Among their offerings, they serve famous meat and seafood dishes from around the world, transformed to cater to Cebuanos’ taste palate.
One notable dish is their Calamari, which is a staple in many seafood restaurants. As the dish is usually served with a dipping sauce, Circa 1900 fuses their aioli with calamansi, the local lime of the Philippines.
This fine dining restaurant has a selection of fusion recipes from Filipino food staples to international favorites.
Their all-day breakfast meals include a Filipino Breakfast, consisting of garlic rice, beef tapa, tocino, and two eggs, and a Big Aussie Breakfast, consisting of sausage, bacon, ham, grilled tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, and toasty Noshery bread.
Their selection of beverages include fruit juices, shakes, coffee, and beer.
Another attraction in Casa Dos is their swimming pool. This adds to the ambiance of the place, especially since there aren’t a lot of outdoor restaurants that have their own swimming pool.
After enjoying a scrumptious meal, you can relax and unwind by the pool and enjoy the breeze. If you want to take a dip, make sure to bring proper swimwear attire.
Casa Dos is among the few restaurants with a swimming pool in Cebu.
HOW TO GET THERE
To get to Circa 1900, you can ride any jeepney that will pass by JY Square in Lahug.
If you’re coming from Gorordo Avenue, get off at a street corner a few meters before JY Square. The MIT Building will be your landmark. If you’re passing through Salinas Drive, the street corner will be a few meters ahead of JY Square, with the same landmark.
The restaurant is just a walking distance from the street corner. It will take you around 5 to 6 minutes to get there.
You can also bring a private vehicle since they have a parking lot available. Most taxi drivers will be familiar with this spot, but there is a sign from the main road (at the street corner landmark) in case they don’t know where it is.
Circa 1900 offers a culinary experience that rivals many of Cebu’s best restaurants. Not only is the place ambient and nostalgic, but their menu is also filled with gastronomic dishes that will satisfy your cravings.
