There’s a new premium lifestyle mall in the thriving port area of General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City.
Robinsons Galleria Cebu officially opened on Dec. 10, 2015. The 4.7-hectare property was developed by Robinsons Land Corp. to answer Filipinos’ growing preference for convenient, comprehensive and stylish urban commercial centers.
The interiors of the new mall are decidedly posh; warm colors, clean lines, and high ceilings are the dominant design cues. The mall’s design is similar to the chain’s other premium lifestyle mall, Robinsons Magnolia in New Manila, Quezon City.
“Robinsons Galleria Cebu aims to become the premier lifestyle and leisure gateway in Cebu,” says Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick Go. “We want this mall to become the urban center of Cebuanos. We are near the port where people from the nearby islands enter Cebu, and the mall is accessible by most of the public utility vehicles in the city. It also has a Traveler’s Lounge where locals and tourists can access efficient and convenient shuttle services to and from the Port of Cebu every half hour.”
The mall is likewise an excellent place to sample the best and uniquely southern food the Queen City of the South offers. Here are five delicious reasons to visit Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
Chocolate Chamber Boutique
The Philippines has a rich chocolate history. Cacao plants were brought to the country through the Acapulco-Manila galleon trade from 1565 to 1815, making the Philippines the first country in Asia to cultivate cacao.
Raquel Choa, proprietress of the Chocolate Chamber Boutique in Cebu City, has chocolate flowing through her veins; she was taught the intricate art of chocolate drink making by her grandmother.
Her tablea and chocolate creations are already renowned in Cebu. Chocolate Chamber Boutique is fast becoming the go-to place for quality chocolate products—from delicious handcrafted pralines and truffles, to chocolate spreads and expertly prepared hot cocoa drinks.
“My grandmother would prepare my chocolate drink every day before I went to school,” she recalls. “I needed to cross seven rivers before I reached school, so my grandmother would always give me this drink to give me stamina. A glass of tablea can go a long way.”
Choa’s passion encompasses the entire cycle of chocolate making. She sources the cacao beans, dries them, roasts, grinds, blends, and molds the raw tablea into various shapes herself. The tablea is then used by confectionaires or chocolatiers to whip up various chocolate creations.
“Opening my first mall branch is a leap of faith for me,” she says. “It’s very exciting. I expect more exposure for our brand, and being here will definitely make my products more accessible to my loyal buyers and patrons.”
Fat Cow Burgers and Malts
“We serve the best burger at an affordable price,” says Enzo Nable of Fat Cow Burger and Malts. “We create honest-to-goodness burgers, meats without additives and any other ingredients that substitute or mask the true flavor of beef.”
Juicy and scrumptious sirloin patty burgers cost around P130 each—a lot cheaper than those available in Manila. The beef used by Fat Cow Burgers and Malts are sourced in Cebu; the owners choose and grind their meats daily.
“We differentiate ourselves from other burger establishments in Cebu by the quality of our products,” says Nable. “We don’t overspice our burger patties. We’re confident that the quality of our meats is enough to carry the flavor of our burgers. You can even eat our burgers without ketchup.”
Fat Cow Burgers and Malts takes pride in their “Burger of the Month” creations. “A few months ago, we came out with a burger called Beef Overload, sirloin patty with rosemary and garlic sauce,” Nable notes. “And then we had the Smokehouse Burger, or smoked ham on a sirloin beef patty. Customers have already asked us to make some of the “Burger of the Month” items permanent items on our menu. It’s fun how customers interact with us. It makes running the business much more enjoyable.”
Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries
Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries is a household name in Dumaguete, and its two most popular desserts are silvanas and, of course, sans rival.
But the shop and its sweets are just as popular in Cebu, judging from the long line I saw at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu branch.
The silvanas are an absolute must-try—irresistible frozen buttercream sandwiched between two cashew-meringue wafers. Chocolate and other variants are also available.
Bohol Bee Farm
Bohol Bee Farm is known for its natural, raw, hard honeys, various delicious breads, spreads and dips. Its ice cream products, sweetened by honey from its farms, are a must-try as well.
A restaurant from the Abaca Group
“Robinsons Galleria Cebu will be an absolute hit. And we want to be at the center of it,” says Jason Hyatt of the Abaca Group. The company is responsible for many of the hip and popular hotels and restaurants in Cebu. Abaca Boutique Resort, its most well-known property, is one of the top tourist destinations in Cebu.
A restaurant in the mall will open this year.
“I’m very happy with our spot here in Robinsons. They really did an amazing job with the mall. The place looks gorgeous. Even the bathrooms are sexy,” says Hyatt.