Dining, Journal

Pet-Friendly Places in Cebu

Warning: Major floof and cuteness ahead

As 1,197 people on Facebook and 1,260 people on Instagram know, I have a new man in my life. His Royal Floofiness, Gryffin the Chow, is an adorable red-coated chow chow who looks like a little lion, resembling the emblematic animal of the great House of Gryffindor he was named after. His appearance also makes him look like half of a griffin, the majestic part-lion part-eagle creature in mythology.

Despite how cute they look, most people are wary of owning chow chows because they tend to be aggressive—loyal to their masters, yet mean to strangers. They can also get quite aloof, which is the total opposite of most dogs who are people-pleasers. As someone who was debating getting a cat, I can’t say I mind the haughty nature; I was, however, concerned about the hostility.

I read that, in order to tame down the aggression, chows should be socialized early on. Get them used to unfamiliar people while young, and they’ll be friendly doggos. With that, I’ve taken to bringing Gryffin with me on playdates and letting him meet my friends and their dogs.

Cebu isn’t really a park city, and the few parks we do have tend to attract a lot of stray dogs. Not to discriminate against all of them, but I’m concerned about safety. I’m wary of having to break up a dog fight if it comes to that, and most of these stray dogs haven’t had their shots.

So, Gryffin and I have been on the hunt for pet-friendly places in the city, and we’ve found enough to warrant a list!

UPDATED: July 6, 2018.

 

2018 Pet Friendly

As a general rule of thumb, most restaurants and cafés with al fresco seating usually allow pets outside the establishment, so they’re fair game enough to be excluded from the list. This will focus on places that will actually let your furry loved ones in and enjoy the facilities.

PLACES ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY

ANIKA ISLAND RESORT

2018 Pet Friendly - Anika Island Resort

It’s always been a goal of mine to bring Gryffin to the beach, see if he takes to the water as much as I love it. The closest he’s ever been was on a boat when we went island hopping with the entire family, but since he just had his shots then, he wasn’t allowed to go swimming.

That said, I’ve been looking for pet-friendly accommodations every now and then, in an attempt to turn this ambition into reality. The thing is, not a lot of hotels and resorts allow pets to maintain safety and cleanliness standards. It was a thrill to discover that Anika Island Resort in Bantayan Island welcomes furbabies, as long as you clean up after them. Howl the Chow, who recently made Who’s Your Pupper, Senpai? headlines for his extreme makeover, was able to laze away by the sea with his forever family.

F. Roska Street, Santa Fe, Bantayan Island | Facebook

BANILAD TOWN CENTRE

2018 Pet Friendly - Banilad Town Centre

It took me a while to remember that Banilad Town Centre is actually pet-friendly. My first visit there with Gryffin was when I had dinner in Royal Krua Thai, and I just made sure to take an outside table to accommodate him. The next time we were back, it was to rush him to Cebu Veterinary Doctors because he was lethargic and running a fever, and it was the nearest clinic to where we were at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One week later, we were back for a check-up, and a much-better Gryffin was finally able to enjoy most of the facilities. Most notably, Bo’s Coffee was very welcoming and let him stay inside while we had our frappuccinos, as long as we take him out when he gets noisy.

Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City | Facebook

CEBU YACHT CLUB

2018 Pet Friendly - Cebu Yacht Club

The Cebu Yacht Club is mostly outdoors, so it’s hard for the place to not be pet-friendly. There’s a wide stretch of grass right before you go down to the harbor, making it the perfect place for your dogs to run around while you daydream about sailing off into the sunset aboard one of these yachts.

 

 

 

 

Establishments within the Cebu Yacht Club are also mainly al fresco, so both hooman and doggo can enjoy a quick escape to Mactan Island on weekends.

ML Quezon National Highway, Lapu-Lapu City | Facebook

COFFEE PRINCE CEBU

2018 Pet Friendly - Coffee Prince Cebu

Gryffin’s mummy loves her caffeine, so it’s always a pleasure to discover cafés that are pet-friendly. A homegrown coffee shop in midtown Cebu, Coffee Prince takes pride on having various types of events, including a dog’s birthday party that Gryffin was invited to last year. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to make it, but it was good to know that they’re welcoming in that aspect.

0246 Capitol Site (across Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital), Cebu City | Facebook

THE GREENERY

2018 Pet Friendly - The Greenery Cebu

One of the newest commercial complexes in Cebu, The Greenery is home to a 24-hour coffee shop (yay for Tom N Toms!), a yoga studio, salons, clinics, and several restaurants. Its biggest selling point for Gryffin is the huge open area at the back of the building, where he can run around on the grass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The restaurants and cafés there individually have their own rules for letting pets in. Most notably, Weekend and Ilaputi are pet-accommodating (as well as Ilaputi in Axis Entertainment Center, Escario). Their outdoor areas within The Greenery easily make up for the other places who may be stricter with their rules.

Recently, The Greenery also started Bark in the Park, a gathering of dog-lovers and their pets every first Sunday of the month. It’s the closest to a dog park we’ll ever get in Cebu for now.

Pope John II Avenue, Kasambagan, Cebu City | Facebook

LES MAISONS D’ITAC

2018 Pet Friendly - Les Maisons d'Itac

When an establishment is owned by a dog, it’s kind of hard not to be pet-friendly. Such is the case with Les Maisons d’Itac, a boutique beach resort tucked into one of Ronda’s fishing communities. Literally ‘the house of Itac’, the man of the hour is Itac, A Very Good Boy who keeps things in the resort running alongside sister Stacy.

 

 

 

A chat with the hooman General Manager of Les Maisons confirms that, yes, guests are allowed to bring pets as long as they clean up after them. Both Itac and Stacy go potty in designated areas, so it’ll be fairly easy to tell who’s had an accident. No puppy dog eyes will work here.

Santa Cruz, Ronda, Cebu | Facebook

LOKAL BREW

2018 Pet Friendly - Lokal Brew

When it comes to good coffee, no drive is too far away. Gryffin embarked on his first ever road trip and hightailed to the City of Carcar, two hours south of Cebu, to visit Lokal Brew. This café, which opened recently, is the perfect stopover for travelers who need to stretch their legs for a while, and get a caffeine fix before going back on the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lokal Brew staff are very accommodating to pets, even giving Gryffin a tub of cold water so he won’t get too thirsty. For the hoomans, a must-try is the Kabkad Latte, which is concocted out of beans from Linear Coffee Roasters.

Poblacion III, Awayan (behind Petron Gas Station), Carcar City | Facebook

PARKMALL

 

2018 Pet Friendly - Parkmall

This list wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Parkmall, Cebu’s de facto pet-friendly mall. Besides pets being able to get in and roam all over, the mall hosts several pet-centered activities such as fashion shows, fairs, competitions, and the like. It was home to the Pet Festival Philippines, which is the biggest gathering of pets and pet lovers from all over the country.

 

 

 

 

 

Parkmall requires a Pet Pass ID, which you can apply for at the concierge. Don’t forget to bring your pet’s vaccination booklet updated with all his or her shots.

Ouano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City | Facebook

ROBINSONS GALLERIA CEBU

2018 Pet Friendly - Robinsons Galleria Cebu

A mall that’s much closer to the city! It’s definitely Gryffin’s favorite mall, for sure. He just loves the cool marble tiles on his paws, and even decided to invite some people over for his barkday pawty when he turned one earlier this year.

 

Robinsons Galleria Cebu issues pet passes for when you visit with your pet, but to make things easier, enroll your doggo to the Happy Pets Club instead so you don’t have to do this every time. Enter by the door near The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, fill up an application form at the concierge, and show your dog or cat’s updated vaccination records. Don’t forget to bring two copies of a 1×1 photo (of your dog, not you). Dogs must be in diapers, or carried, or brought around in a stroller. There are also height and weight limitations, so owners of large-breed dogs, take note.

General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City | Facebook

SM MALLS

2018 Pet Friendly - SM Seaside City Cebu

We’ve always known pets were allowed in SM Malls, but since they didn’t really advertise it, we held off going. Recently, however, they’ve been more active in promoting their pet-friendliness, hence they’ve made the list. Their guidelines are even more relaxed than Parkmall’s and Galleria’s, especially in that diapers aren’t necessary. Just clean up after your pets!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gryffin is keen on the chance to finally go to SM Seaside City Cebu one of these days. It’s the mall that’s closest to home, and there are a lot of places to explore.

South Road Properties | Facebook

SUGBO MERCADO

2018 Pet Friendly - Sugbo Mercado

Cebu’s favorite food market at the Cebu I.T. Park is a popular destination on weekends. It showcases a lot of homegrown food establishments, some already well known and most up and coming. You can eat whatever you wind up getting at any of the numerous picnic tables scattered throughout the place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This weekend food market is Gryffin’s favorite place so far, because he gets a lot of girls #GryffinGotGame. People watching is his favorite past time, and this place allows him to do just that.

SPECIAL MENTION: MARCO POLO PLAZA CEBU

2018 Pet Friendly - Marco Polo Cebu

While it’s somewhat understandable why high end hotels and resorts don’t allow pets, we have to give it to them when they make concessions for our furry friends.

 

 

In April, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu held its annual Run for ERUF, a fun run for the benefit of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and a celebration of the hotel’s anniversary. This year, they changed things up a little and made the run pet-friendly! Gryffin took part in the 1K category, and was able to hang out at the hotel’s grounds for one morning. It was a fun effort appreciated by pets and pet-lovers alike, and here’s hoping they continue being pet-inclusive in some events, one way or another.

Cebu Veteran’s Drive, Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City | Facebook


What are other pet-friendly places in Cebu that we missed? Let us know in the comments, and maybe we’ll see you and your doggos around?

For more of Gryffin, like his Facebook page and follow his Instagram.

All photos, unless otherwise stated, have been retrieved from the Facebook pages of these places. Also, thanks to Gryffin’s Uncle Antonio Java of Rider’s Block for taking all his photos! <3

 

18 thoughts on “Pet-Friendly Places in Cebu”

  1. Gail says:

    Thanks a lot for posting this list. Unfortunately in Robinsons Galleria, there is a weight limit so in a way it’s restrictive to large breed dogs. I do own a rottweiler and I feel sad that I couldn’t bring him there. I do hope you could add more places to this list. God bless you and Gryffin.

    1. Patty says:

      Hi, Gail! Unfortunately, that is true. It won’t be long until I myself won’t be able to bring Gryffin inside Robinsons Galleria, which is a shame because he enjoyed his first Halloween joining ARCHCon last weekend! We’re always on the lookout for more spots, and will update this list as we go along. Thank you for the feedback!

  2. Kristina Sy says:

    Hello, thank you so much for posting this article. Do you happen to know if there are pet friendly resorts in cebu as well?

    1. Patty says:

      Hi, Kristina!

      My apologies for the super late reply. I haven’t been back on here for a while. I haven’t brought Gryffin to resorts yet, but I’ve asked around and Les Maisons d’Itac in Ronda, Cebu is the only pet-friendly resort I could find so far. And, less of a resort, but if you just want to bring your dog swimming, Mactan Newtown is a good destination.

  3. Michaella says:

    HI Gail,
    Thank you for the information,its really new to me ,I have new puppy and i want to spent time with her in the mall<With the information that you post I am aware now,And am Glad that you make it more easier to us .
    thnks

  4. Kris says:

    Thanks for posting this

  5. Gryffin is sooo photogenic <3
    How about IT Park? and Talamban Times Square.

    1. Patty says:

      Hi Marie! He soooo is!

      I didn’t include Cebu IT Park because it’s mostly outdoors anyway and is pet-friendly by default. If you know of certain establishments within IT Park that are specifically pet-friendly, let me know! As for Talamban Times Square, I’ve never actually been there yet. Will check it out one of these days.

  6. Hi, thans for the nice article. I used Les Maisons D’ltac many times with my dog. It is very nice place for weekend gateaway. I also use Plantation Bay Resort in Mactan. They allow dogs for guest who stays overnight as long as you bring carrier in case for an emergency. (No pet allowed for day use guest.)

    1. Patty says:

      Oh, wow. Thank you for the valuable information, that’s good to know! Will include Plantation Bay in my next update of this post, hopefully with photos.

      1. When you make a reservation at Playtation Bay Resort, you need to inform them that you will bring your dog. They will email you a pet waiver form to fill out and send it back to them. I am not sure if there’s size/breed limitations or not. My dog is Havaese (small breed) FYI,

  7. Liz says:

    OMG! Thanks for this article! You made me so happy and excited! i’ve been walking my dog at ayala park for a few weeks now coz that’s the only place i know where we can bring pets without getting kicked out. but after reading your blog it makes me excited to make more laag with my furr-baby. this is really helpful. and Hey! Gryffin is such a cutie!

    1. Patty says:

      Glad to help! I’ve been seeing so many dogs in SM City and SM Seaside City these days, hope one of them was yours!

  8. joyc tan says:
  9. Bodo´s Parrot Paradise Resort Alcoy Cebu is a lovely place where Pets are anytime welcome without any kind of charge. If the owner desires we also offer some lessons to understand your dog a bit better.for free.

    1. Patty says:

      Oh wow, thank you so much. This is great news!

  10. Hi there! Just got redirected from your old website. Again, thank you for all these info. ❤️ We are collecting a list of pet-friendly places in Cebu as well and hoping we could share photos of Gryffin on our website, https://petfriendlycebu.com/. 🐶

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