Morals & Malice Brings A Dose Of Nice And Naughty To Cebu’s Dining Scene

With a progressive city like Cebu, one can only imagine how competitive it can be when it comes to luxury hotels and world-class restaurants. But beyond its famous Cebu lechon and other local delicacies, the Queen City of the South is fast becoming a haven for some serious gastronomic (and alcoholic) delight.

Torn between deciding whether to play nice or naughty? Morals & Malice gives you the liberty to paddle on both sides of the river. Co-founded by Cebu’s world famous furniture designer, Kenneth Cobonpue along with coffee connoisseur Glenn Soco and entrepreneurs Michael Yu and Paco Rodriguez, this cosmopolitan spot brims with over-the-top artistry and first-class craft coffee and liquors.

Morals & Malice is a two-part establishment separated only by a staircase. Morals appeals to the less “wicked” crowd who go for innocent coffee and all-day breakfast. The owners, particularly Cobonpue, make this half of the spectrum sunny and cheerful, with bright greens and cream tones for an overall upbeat vibe. They also accentuate the space with fresh plants and trees set against large windows.

On the menu, you can order the much beloved dessert-in-a-smoothie, Crema de Manga, made with Cebu’s famous mangoes, plus oatmeal cookies and cream cheese. Also part of the “morals” menu is Morally Tea (see what they did there?), a blend of black tea, lemongrass, calamansi, and honey best paired with the equally guilt-less carrot cake.

But! When things go a little too nice, you can always leave Morals behind and dive right into its badass counterpart. The Malice lounge used to be Z Bar. While it closed down several years ago, Cobonpue decided to keep the place in order to save his intricate cocoon-like masterpieces. Totally different from the paradise that is Morals, Malice exudes a bolder ambiance with its out-of-this-world bamboo and steel fixtures and ornaments. This classy hideout is an art-filled sanctum for those thirsty for a fun and playful evening.

Following trends abroad, the owners decided to rock the boat and concoct their own cocktails. With equally fascinating and mysterious names, libations include Pomelo Spiced Mojito, Burning Bush, and Fall of Adam. What’s in them? We have yet to find out. But I’ve heard that one of them is infused with a burnt rosemary twig and a whole lot of Scotch.