Close to the famous Mactan Shrine where Magellan reportedly met his demise is the former fishing village of Maribago. These days, it’s a  busy community of resorts and diving shops. In one of the discreet streets the gate of Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort beckons guests who are in the know. Once you pass its assuredly Filipino-designed pavilion, it’s a short golf cart ride to the resort’s beachside seafood restaurant, The Cove.

Photography PABLO QUIZA

When it first opened in 1997, Pier 7, as The Cove was then called, was a pioneer of its kind. It was the first dining spot that served fresh seafood on the island of Mactan. The restaurant rose to popularity among its corporate clients, foreign and local tourists, as well as balikbayans and guests who came for its showcase of fresh seafood served in a clean and well-designed setting. The restaurant has since grown to its present size with the addition of the Oyster Bar where pre-dinner drinks are served and, of course, fresh oysters.

The Cove continues its unique “Aquaria-to-Table” dining initiative where only the freshest catch from the sea is served. Guests may choose from a menu of live seafood which includes talaba (local oysters), tahong (mussels), shrimps, crabs, lobsters, fish, and guso (fresh seaweed) and have them cooked to their liking. The cuisine is classic Filipino fused with Southeast Asian flavors, and highly influenced by the simple cooking practices of local fishermen. This traditional cooking method brings out the natural flavors of seafood and subsequently became the inspiration for other restaurants to follow including the now classic Cebuano-style STK (short for Sugba, Tuwa, Kilaw) where freshly caught seafood is prepared in three different ways: sugba (charcoal grilled), tuwa (boiled in broth), and kinilaw (ceviche-style).

The Cove is also your best option for seafood cravings of grilled lobster and the seasonal steamed mud crab in crab fat sauce. Or tinap-anan na pugita which translates to smoked octopus, served with grilled pineapple for that added local flavor. 

Open: Daily | 11:00am-3:00pm; 6:00pm-10:00pm

Tel. No. (032) 263.4410 

Address: Maribago Bluewaters Resort, Buyong,  Maribago, Lapulapu City, Cebu

www.bluewater.com.ph  FB: /Bluewater Maribago    IG: @bluewater.maribago