This was so we could...
Recharge
By sleeping at Hotel Nicanor.
On the first night, we stayed in the Family Room (Php 2100) which had two single beds and one king size bed. The room was spacious, the toilet and bath just right. On the way back to Cebu, we stayed in their Executive Deluxe Room (Php 2200). It had two king size beds. The Executive Deluxe Room was smaller than the Family Room, but the toilet and bath was huge (and it had a tub).
Hotel Nicanor was a good choice for recharging ourselves. Clean and quiet. The room air conditioning freezing, but the blankets were thick enough to keep warm. The curtains, when drawn, kept the room dark making us want to sleep all day...which one of our friends almost did—he slept for 15 hours straight! Plus Hotel Nicanor was just walking distance from the places where we could refresh and refuel.
Hotel NicanorSan Jose Street(035) 421 0787Rooms from Php 1050 to Php 2600
Refresh
By walking along Rizal Boulevard.
A stroll along the boulevard at the start of the day (with an awesome view of the sunrise!) or on a breezy late afternoon or on a cool moonlit night is a good way to reset the mind (and get a bit of exercise too).
I admit I did not do any of these because I was too comfortable under the blanket in the cold and dark hotel room that I missed the sunrise or I was too busy eating that I became too lazy to take a stroll along the boulevard.
Refuel
By going on a food trip. A visit to Dumaguete City is not complete without having some good grub!
Kri Restaurant53 Silliman Avenue(035) 421 2392Daily 8AM to 930PM
Kri Restaurant was full when we went for dinner and we had to wait for a few minutes to get a table. It took me quite a bit of time to decide on what to eat: everything on the menu sounds so good.
Each of us chose a different dish and we tried each other's food. Everything was superb! I especially liked General Tso's Chicken, Thai Basil Chicken, and Burschettas de Gambas (not in photo). Heads up though: the price on the menu does not include the 12% VAT.
Sans Rival BistroSan Jose Street corner Rizal Boulevard(035) 421 0338Breakfast Daily 7AM to 10AMSunday to Thursday 10AM to 11PMFriday and Saturday 10AM to 12MN
3 San Jose Street(035) 225 4440 / 422 9482Daily 9AM to 7PM
Ground Floor Robinsons MallLamberto Macias Road corner Calindagan Road(035) 421 1524
We had breakfast at the al fresco area of Sans Rival Bistro along Rizal Boulevard (breakfast is served from 7AM to 10AM). My friends chose this place because of the ambiance and because of the unlimited coffee that comes with their breakfast meals. I wanted cake for breakfast but they don't serve cakes and pastries until 10AM.
Their original branch, just behind the Bistro, opens at 9AM. While I was having breakfast at Cafe Mamia, I spied a bunch of people waiting outside Sans Rival. This is how famous they have become that people line up even before they open just to buy silvanas (Php 140 per box) for pasalubong.
Gabby's BistroPaseo Perdices, Rizal Boulevard(035) 522 3219Daily 8AM to 10PM
Florentina Homes, Rovira Road, Brgy Bantayan(035) 422 0827Daily 7AM to 11PM
Another place I like to eat at when in Dumaguete is Gabby's Bistro. They recently opened a second branch in Paseo Perdices along Rizal Boulevard, just next to Sans Rival Bistro—good for me because this is way closer to Hotel Nicanor than their original branch in Florentina Homes.
Gabby's Bistro at Paseo Perdices was packed on a Saturday night and we had to wait a bit before we could get a table and before I could get my hands on Pollo ala Marsala (chicken). My mouth was watering while waiting for my dinner. And when it finally came, my eyes watered in disappointment—I found it overly fried and the sauce too little. I should have gotten the Pork Marsala which my friend swears is really good.
Cafe Mamia14 San Jose Street corner Sta Catalina Street(035) 422 2664Daily 630AM to 11PM
Another place we had breakfast at was Cafe Mamia, a simple cafe just a stone's throw from Hotel Nicanor. We loved Cafe Mamia's huge bowl of Arroz Caldo and size-just-right Spanish Chorizo meal (but if you have a big appetite the spanish chorizo meal might not be enough). Cafe Mamia is affordable and cheaper than Sans Rival Bistro.
I heard their sisig is really good too. I shall try that next time I find myself having lunch or dinner in Dumaguete (I think sisig for breakfast would be too weird).
I had no time to go to City Burger or CB Grill and no space in the stomach for their chicken inasal. Yeah, I can get chicken inasal just about anywhere, but I miss City Burger's finger lickin' chicken inasal! Oh well. Next time.
Thank you Dumaguete City for being our recharging and refueling station! Now time to resume our journey...