Dumaguete Accommodations: Lufian Dormitel and Check Inn Dumaguete

Here are two places my friends and I stayed at during our recent trip to Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental:

Lufian Dormitel

Nesia Building, San Jose Extension,

Brgy. Taclobo, Dumaguete City

(035) 523 3135 / 0922 825 5469

Pros:

• Rooms at Lufian Dormitel are spacious. We were three in the group, and the room was good for up to 5 persons (Php 1400). They have rooms good for up to 6 persons for Php 1800.
• Rooms are clean, air-conditioned, has a TV, a big cabinet, and table and chair. The room we stayed in had a queen sized bed and two single beds. Since we were only three, they only set up one single bed, which freed up the space.
• Room has an ensuite bathroom, and a shower with heater.
• Towels and soap are provided.
• Water dispenser is available at the reception.
• We were allowed to check in early. And since no one was checking in after us, we were allowed to leave our bags in the room hours after check out.

Cons:

• Lufian Dormitel is about a kilometer from the city center. If you want to be close to restaurants and the Dumaguete Boulevard, then this is considered far.
• The building is not solely a dormitel. On the second floor, where our room was, it had a law office and a conference room. Luckily, when we stayed, the law office was closed and no one was renting the conference room.
• The layout of the bathroom is not ideal: the shower is right next to the toilet, without any division, and the drain is near the sink. After taking a shower, the toilet and floor was all wet.

I forgot to take photos. This photo is from Lufian Dormitel's facebook page. This is the room we stayed in, but during our stay, the interiors had changed: it did not have a wall fan, the cabinet is bigger, there is a table and chair near the door of the bathroom, a TV on the corner across the bathroom door, and the beds were one queen bed and two single beds.

I forgot to take photos. This photo is from Lufian Dormitel's facebook page.

Check Inn Dumaguete

POS Marketing Bldg.

Dr. V. Locsin St., Dumaguete City

(035) 422 9000 / 0928 613 2595

Pros:

• Check Inn Dumaguete is located at the city center. Restaurants like CB City Burger and Sans Rival, and the Dumaguete Boulevard are just a steps away.
• The room for three persons (Business Suite, Php 1680) is spacious. It is clean, air-conditioned, has a TV, a big cabinet, refrigerator, and table and chair. The curtains are thick; if you like sleeping in, this will keep the room dark.
• Rooms have an ensuite bathroom, and a shower with heater.
• Towels, and a box containing soap, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste are provided.
• Keycard doors.

Cons:

• No free drinking water. The two 500ml bottles of water in the room are for sale (Php 20 each).
• We were informed that the room included free breakfast. What they did not mention was that it was only one breakfast (choice of luncheon meat or hotdog with rice and scrambled egg, and a cup of instant coffee)! You're paying for a room for three, but the free breakfast is only for one person?!
• Check Inn is old and the bathroom was not well maintained—scaling was evident on the sink and the shower enclosure.
• Very strict with check out. Guests must check out at 12 noon. They will charge 150/hour for the excess time.
• Our room was on the 4th floor. There is a conference room on this floor. The conference room is near the elevator/stairs. It can become noisy in this area.

I forgot to take photos. This photo is from booking.com.

I forgot to take photos. This photo is from booking.com.

A map to help you find your way:

Recharge, Refresh, Refuel in Dumaguete

Warming the backseat of a car for four hours straight can be boring and draining, what more for 7 to 8 hours. And what more if you're the driver! So on our road trip to Sipalay City, Negros Occidental (and vice versa) we welcomed the idea of staying a night in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

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. Quiet. 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 Nicanor

San Jose Street

(035) 421 0787

Rooms from Php 1050 to Php 2600

Family Room

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.

Stroll along Rizal Boulevard

Watch the sunrise (Photo by D. Cañete)

Refuel

By going on a food trip. A visit to Dumaguete City is not complete without having some good grub!

Kri Restaurant

53 Silliman Avenue

(035) 421 2392

Daily 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.

 Kri Restaurant's Menu (Click to enlarge)

Sans Rival Bistro

San Jose Street corner Rizal Boulevard

(035) 421 0338

Sunday to Thursday 10AM to 11PM

Friday and Saturday 10AM to 12MN
*Breakfast is served daily from 7AM to 10AM

3 San Jose Street

(035) 225 4440 / 422 9482

Daily 9AM to 7PM

Ground Floor Robinsons Mall

Lamberto 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.

Sans Rival Bistro

Sans Rival Bistro's Breakfast Menu (Click to enlarge)

Gabby's Bistro

Paseo Perdices, Rizal Boulevard

(035) 522 3219

Daily 8AM to 10PM

Florentina Homes, Rovira Road, Brgy Bantayan

(035) 422 0827

Daily 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 Mamia

14 San Jose Street corner Sta Catalina Street

(035) 422 2664

Daily 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).

 Cafe Mamia's Menu (Click to enlarge)

I had no time to go to City Burger or CB Grill and no space in the stomach for their chicken inasal. Yes, 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...


This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.


Road to Sipalay
Recharge, Refresh, Refuel in Dumaguete (you're here!)
How to Go to Sipalay City, Negros Occidental
Accommodations in Langub Beach, Sipalay

City Chicken

Time check: 5PM

Stomach check: Filled to the brim

Outlook: Four hours away from home (Cebu City), will be hungry by then

Decision: Buy take out

Which takes me back to City Burger, not for their burger (no, no) but for their chicken inasal. I have always found it funny that their name is "City Burger" when their bestseller is their grilled chicken.

 

Chicken inasal ready for take out.

Every time I am in Dumaguete, I must have their inasal. Might be because I'm a chicken devourer or maybe because they really have good chicken inasal. The chicken inasal is best eaten whilst hot. How'd my take out survive after five hours? Cold chicken inasal isn't as good as the smoking hot ones, but it still satisfied my chicken tooth.

They have other dishes on the menu (click photo to enlarge)

City Burger

San Jose St corner Real St

Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

(035) 422 2775

You can also find City Burger at the food court of Robinson's Place Dumaguete.

How a dinner take out took out more money from Mustachio's pocket:

Chicken Barbeque with rice Php 77

In Dumaguete Diet is Dead:

Gabby's Bistro

Make Way for Some Desserts

Burger vs Burger

City Chicken (you're here!)

Burger vs Burger

Time check: Time for some snacks

Snack of choice: Burger

Burger #1: City Burger

San Jose St. corner Real St., Dumaguete City

(035) 422 2775

Grilling station?

 

  Cheeseburger Php 65

Wow! Big fat burger! Upon closer inspection....Wow! Big fat bun and nonexistent patty.

Verdict: Very Disappointed!

Proceed to

Burger #2: Scooby's

Silliman Avenue, Dumaguete City

(035) 2250675

I'm back for burger vengeance!

MEME power!

Inside Scooby's. No scrappy doo's!

 

Double Cheeseburger Php 64

Sorry no zoomed in photo of the patty, but I assure you the patty of this burger is wayyyy thicker than City Burger's. And wayyy tastier!

Verdict: Very Satisfied!

How two opposing burgers made a 1/2 pound deficit on Mustachios budget:

City Burger's cheeseburger Php 65

Scooby's double cheeseburger Php 64

In Dumaguete Diet is Dead:

Gabby's Bistro

Make Way for Some Desserts

Burger vs Burger (you're here!)

City Chicken

Make Way for Some Desserts

Time check: 330PM

Stomach check: Still a bit stuffed from lunch at Gabby's Bistro but can always make some space for desserts

Destination: Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries

It's mid-afternoon and the place is packed.

So many choices, so little space in my stomach.

What shall we have?
The bestsellers, of course: San Rival and Silvanas. Plus a slice of Date & Walnut Dacquoise.

Sweet-o-meter:

Sans rival: Huh? Should use the butter-meter. Too buttery. Sorry, not my type.
Silvanas: Just right. I could finish the whole box in one sitting.
Date & walnut dacquoise: Too sweet for me, but my travel buddy absolutely loves it.

Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries

3 San Jose St., Dumaguete City

(035) 422 9482 / (035) 225 4440

They're also in Robinson's Place Dumaguete.

How making some space for desserts also made some space in Mustachio's pocket:

Box of Silvanas (10 pcs) Php 110

Slice of Sans Rival Php 26

Slice of Date & Walnut Dacquoise Php 48

In Dumaguete Diet is Dead:

Gabby's Bistro

Make Way for Some Desserts (you're here!)

Burger vs Burger

City Chicken 

Gabby's Bistro

Five hours in Dumaguete.

Five hours to stuff ourselves.

Time now is 1130AM.

Stomachs are growling for lunch.

And we hurriedly hop (but not without agreeing on the fare first) on a tricycle to take us to Gabby's Bistro.

Gabby's Bistro, found in the residential area of Dumaguete, sits in the same compound as Florentina Homes (a hotel) and Rana Verde (a coffee shop).

Clockwise from top-left: Florentina Homes, Rana Verde Coffee Shop which also sells ice cream, a small bit of their Mexican inspired mini plaza, and a painted-on burger cart.

At the bistro, you can dine inside where there is AirConditioning or al fresco where it is AirContinuous.

The menu please. I'm getting hungry.

Some of the many things that kept my eyes busy while waiting for our food:

From L-R: The Bar in the bistro. Mr. Donald Duck looking like a boss! ETHYL Gasoline Pump. Don't worry, there's a fire extinguisher, albeit an ancient one. Below: Angry Birds and a cool pre-WWII plane.

 


Here comes lunch!

Anna's Fiery Skewers

 Four choices for your skewer: vegetables Php 145 / chicken Php 165 / pork Php 175 /  prawns Php 215

Of the four, I just had to have prawns. Great combo with its sweet and spicy sauce and java rice.

Pork Marsala

According to the menu, it is "beer-battered and breaded pork loin fried topped with cheese and herbs,

with mashed potatoes and marsala gravy." Pork plus mashed potatoes plus whatever marsala is, this delish dish is more than enough for my travel buddy.

Summer Strawberry Mocktail

Mmmm...tastes like lemonade with strawberry syrup.

Maybe it is lemonade with strawberry syrup.

Verdict? More than satisfied!

Now, where to next?

Gabby's Bistro
Rovira Road, Bantayan, Dumaguete City
(035) 422 0827


How this satisfying lunch ate its way through Mustachio's pocket:
Tricycle from port to Gabby's Bistro Php 15 (per person)
Pork Masala Php 185
Anna's Fiery Skewers (tiger prawns) Php 215
Summer Strawberry Php 50
Plain rice Php 25


In Dumaguete Diet is Dead:
Gabby's Bistro (you're here!)
Make Way for Some Desserts
Burger vs Burger
City Chicken