First date ideas in Cebu

For a heritage walk: downtown Cebu

Start at Magellan's Cross and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, walk to Fort San Pedro, and end in the Parian district at the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House and the Heritage of Cebu Monument. Colon Street, often called the oldest street in the country, is nearby. Go in the late afternoon, keep it to two or three stops, and finish with something cold to drink.

For food: IT Park and Larsian

The food stalls around Cebu IT Park in Lahug are made for sharing. Pick a few dishes each and compare. Sugbo Mercado, the night food market there, is a favourite; check which nights it is open before you go. For something more classic, grab barbecue at Larsian near Fuente Osmeña, a Cebu institution where you choose your skewers and eat with your hands. It is cheap, lively and impossible to take too seriously.

For the obvious one: lechon

Cebu's lechon has its own reputation, and sharing a plate of it is a very Cebuano first date. Pick a well-known lechon restaurant, go at lunch, and order puso, the rice cooked in woven coconut leaves, on the side.

For a view: the hills of Busay

The mountain barangays above the city have the best views of Metro Cebu. Tops Lookout, the Temple of Leah and the Sirao flower garden are all up there. They are better for a second or third date: you need a car or a hired ride, the road is winding, and it is a longer outing. If you go, go together for the sunset, with transport you control.

For the sea: South Road Properties and Mactan

The seaside malls and promenades at the South Road Properties are easy for a casual sunset walk followed by dinner. On Mactan, many beaches are inside resorts that sell day passes, which works well for a later date when you are ready to spend a whole afternoon together.

For an easy, low-pressure first meeting

• Coffee at Ayala Center Cebu, with the open-air terraces to walk around after.
• A milk tea and a stroll around a mall, which in Cebu's afternoon heat is not a compromise.
• A dessert place in Lahug or Banilad, close to the IT Park crowd.

Getting around

Traffic between Cebu City, Mandaue and Mactan can be slow, especially on the bridges at rush hour. Grab and taxis are easy to find. Arrange your own ride, and keep the first date close to where you both are.

Save these for later

Day trips south to Moalboal, Oslob or Osmeña Peak in Dalaguete are unforgettable, but they are long days on the road. Keep them for when you already know you enjoy each other's company.