Mactan Cebu International Airport Shops

There is a bit of catharsis to be had in commerce. This makes shopping or window shopping a relaxing activity while waiting for flight departures at the airport. Though this isn't exactly my scene, I have posted features here on airports, the services they offer, and the shops they have - as part of my travel survival posts. They may not be beautiful sights, but they remain an essential part of travel.

In this post, we try to document the shops found at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA). Compared to NAIA 3, shops here are more local fare than international brands. In fact, a good number of these shops (or stores) feel like sari-sari store, with a smattering and bits of everything on their shelves.

The shops are mostly found in three areas. First, at the entrance hall just before passing through security check. Second is at the check-in hall. Third is the pre-departure hall, which has the most number of shops.

There is an ATM machine (to your left) as you enter the departure building. Further on are the following: Value Money Changer (for your foreign exchange requirements), Gala Cafe, Visual Expressions Arts Shop, Hi-Tech Telecommunications, the comfy Cafecesario (top photo), D'Lindth Snackshoppe and Pasalubong (gifts) and PhilPost (below, for your postcard and snail mail needs). There's a huge waiting area near PhilPost if you came in too early to check-in.

The entrance hall also has Relaxing Massage booth with rates similar to those in Manila or Davao: foot spa at P250; foot spa with pedicure at P300; 1-hour massage at P250; 30-minute massage at P130, and so on. There's another massage stall at the pre-departure area.

Shops after security check are as follows: Lulanbles Pasalubong Center, Airport Guitar shop, Christian Ventures (books, etc.), another Gala Cafe Bar/El Garaje Pasalubong, Echevarrias Rolling Snack Bar (Dimsum and Native Food), Cah N' Carry Food Delicacy.

More shops/bars: Bo's Coffee Club, Mikel's Philippine Delicacies, Ato-MCIAA Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (a shop, not an office), Silangan Snack Bar, Ricky's Pasalubong Center, Twin's Pasalubong, Sinia's Snack Bar, Bennette's Snack Shop (Pudding Taho & Snow Ice), Dunkin Donuts, Clothes Minded (an apparel shop), Reflections Gift Shop, Alma Gift-Novelties and Guitars,Timex Watch stall, Massage (right at the pre-departure corner), Marlboro smoking cafe, Ezekiel Souvenirs, and Fruit Magic.

If you've read enough "pasalubong" in this post, this is a Tagalog word referring to gifts you buy from travels.

There was a cafe the interested me - Cafe Wien, and if you've traveled around Europe, you'd know that some quarters call Vienna (Austrian capital) as Wien. You read this in sign boards or train posts when your hopping in transits. Imagine, an Austrian cuisine in the heart of Cebu? Do they have strudels and schnitzels too like the Germans? Maybe I can try their germnodel or schweinbraten? The thought made me salivate. I eagerly checked it out then saw delectable photos of the following (see photo below): beef caldereta, lechon, chili con carne, baby pork ribs, beef tapa! Darn! How Austrian! LOL. But to be fair, their meals looked delicious, I'd have tried them if I didn't get my breakfast prior to my airport arrival.

Shop lovers will have enough shops to fill their time with.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

The Visayan version of Starbucks - Bo's Coffee Club, with branches found all over Visayas and Mindanao.

Cafe Wien

Cafe Wien's menu

Pre-departure area

Smoking Cafe

Fruit shakes and juices at Fruit Magic.