Hotel Review: Living the Work and "lyf" Balance in Cebu City

Lyf Cebu City
Tower 3, Baseline Center, Brgy. Capitol Site, Cebu City
Rates start at P3,000

At a Glance
Room: Just right. It has everything you need within reach, all clad in hip, minimal designs.
Food and drink: There’s a fully-equipped social kitchen where guests can store their groceries and cook meals throughout their stay. Plus, there are convenience stores and restaurants nearby.
Staff: They have Ambassadors of Buzz, community managers assigned to make a buzz with fun activities and games
Why you should stay: If you ever decide to stay in Cebu, this property was built with the active and well-balanced lifestyle we should all be aiming for. 

(SPOT.ph) Cebu has the best of both worlds. If you need a break from the city's daily grind, you can easily drive to nearby crystal clear waters and picturesque mountain views. But that doesn't mean the city is no fun at all—there's a ton of things to see, historical sites to visit, loads to do (the Sinulog Festival, one of the Philippines' grandest festivals, for example). Want the capability to choose? Well, everything can be within your reach if you’re staying at lyf Cebu City.

Lyf Cebu City has a Metro Manila counterpart, lyf Malate Manila, which offers the same straightforward and dynamic accommodations and experience-led services perfect for young professionals and jet-setters wanting to spend time—whether for work, leisure, or both (because we all should have a work-and-life balance)—in the Queen City of the South. Lyf Cebu also serves as a great launchpad for travelers of all walks of life passing time in the city before moving to explore the islands the Visayan region has to offer.

Much like lyf Malate, lyf Cebu has another option for those who want the more traditional hotel setup in the Citadines Cebu City. Both are located within the Baseline Center on Juana Osmeña Street, with just a swimming pool dividing the two. 

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Everything you need to know about lyf Cebu City

Think Bahay ni Kuya from Pinoy Big Brother. It’s the kind of vibe and arrangement lyf Cebu City has. There are no confession rooms (though there is a conference room you could book for meetings and other business-related agendas) and “tasks” to do every once in a while (if having fun is considered a challenge, then we say it counts). Instead of everyone staying in the same room, however, there are private rooms for guests to enjoy their alone time, or hang out in peace with close friends.

The One Of A Kind is a studio bedroom that can fit up to two people, which we got to try out for two nights. It has its bathroom (with soap and shampoo dispensers), a writing desk with an office chair, a flat-screen television on the wall at the end of the comfy bed, and, more importantly for people who always have to juice up their devices within reach, a convenient outlet just beside your bed. Our favorite feature has to be the functional racks and shelves that add a touch to the interiors. The 13 sqm/140sqft is just right for the no-frills travelers.

Their largest room has to be the All Together, perfect for a big group of friends who want to get a taste of living together in a shared apartment. The All Together is an apartment-type option, so you can choose between a two-bedroom unit (can fit up to four people), or a four-bedroom one (for up to six people). Your group gets a full kitchen and dining table. Each floor has its pantry and telephone you can use for your perusal. 

What to do at Lyf Cebu

If you’re up for some socializing, head on over to their communal spaces located on the fifth floor. They have the Stadium, a lounge area where you can relax and mingle. Then there’s also the Dip and Unwind, the pool area and rooftop clubhouse, respectively, that will give you a chance to soak in a stunning city view while lounging in the pool.

If work is still life, don't worry as their co-working spaces are top-tier. Heck, they might even entice you to actually do the job. You can choose from the different nooks they have. Our fave has to be the table with swinging chairs and the booths in the color of the stop light. There are card games you can play with your friends (or strangers). The property is equipped with high-speed internet as well as plenty of power outlets, so no, you don’t have to fight to the death to charge your dying laptop or phone. You can just settle inside a space and work away. There are shared tables as well as hidden spaces you could choose to do work on.

Lyf Cebu also has a 24-hour fully-equipped social gym called “Burn” complete with treadmills, and weights, and, if you’re tired from all that working out, just go through the indoor slide that can take you instantly to the outdoor area of “Bond,” the communal cooking and dining area.

Got dirty clothes you need to wash? There’s the “Wash and Hang” station where you can do your laundry. It has vending machines as well as hammocks, chairs, and tables inside where you can chill while you wait for the wash. All the amenities, sans the swimming pool (open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), are available 24/7 and are all on the fifth floor of the property.

“lyf Cebu City is not merely a space; it's a dynamic, vibrant lifestyle that we're bringing to Cebu for the very first time. We are thrilled to bridge the gap between local warmth and international co-living innovation here in Visayas and Mindanao as the first international co-living serviced residence,” said Rey Vergel Mulat, lyf Champion a.k.a their Residence Manager.

“The expansion of our lyf property into Cebu marks an exciting milestone not only for lyf but also for The Ascott Limited as a whole. lyf Cebu City is only the beginning as we are determined to bring our innovative and community-focused properties to new locations.”

Lyf Cebu also offers IG-worthy spots in every nook and cranny of the property. They have fun life quotes scattered around the area. Even their comfort rooms are a place you'd want to get that mirror shot in. All Ascott properties are pet-friendly.

Lyf Cebu City is located at Tower 3, Baseline Center, Brgy. Capitol Site, Cebu City. Introductory rates start at P3,000. For more information, check out the lyf Cebu City website.

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