Marco Polo Plaza Cebu : A Classic That Still Holds Its Own…read more
This was once the iconic Cebu Plaza Hotel, and you can still feel the grandeur in its bones. The lobby alone sets the tone, spacious, elegant, and rare for Cebu. It's perched up on the hills of Nivel, and while the mountain view could've been spectacular, the sightline is unfortunately dotted with informal settlements. If I were management, I'd invest in reclaiming or screening that side, it's the only visual detail that breaks the illusion.
The rooms, though, are beautifully maintained. Ours had a great layout, a soft bed with dreamy pillows, and a spacious bathroom with excellent water pressure and consistent hot water. It's the kind of setup where you can actually rest. Room service at night? Surprisingly excellent. And the front desk and bell staff were sharp, polite, and fast. everything you'd hope for from a hotel of this caliber.
Food-wise, Café Marco still delivers a solid buffet. Breakfast had good variety without going overboard. Dinner was also well curated. Their Chinese restaurant, Hai Shin Lou, brings an upscale option to in-house dining, and the Lobby Lounge is a great spot to unwind with drinks or dessert. The service across F&B outlets was consistently attentive.
A couple of downsides: the road leading up is currently under repair, which means getting to the hotel takes patience. The traffic's real. But that's a temporary issue, nothing to hold against the hotel long-term.
Would I stay again? Absolutely. It's one of the few hotels in Cebu that feels truly grand, without trying too hard. Fix the road and tweak the view, and Marco Polo can easily reclaim the top spot as Cebu's flagship luxury stay.