Getting to Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant in Cordova [1st of 2 Parts Series ]

I’ve come to notice that more often than not spontaneity works best especially when it comes to get togethers and reunions among barkadas. Long planning doesn’t seem to work especially in light of countless food trips, beach day trips and road trip adventures which did not pan out and were sooner postponed and cancelled. Come to think of it, unplanned ones have higher chance of fulfillment.

I have decided to make this into a two posts series because this article has become so long. Guess I was carried away by the place hehehe.  

Please scroll to the bottom of the post to see the link to the 2nd post –  Main Review of Lantaw Resto in Cordova.

I was browsing through my albums a few minutes back when I saw the pictures I have of Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant in Cordova, a small municipality in Cebu Province located southern part of Mactan Island. The visit to Lantaw was a testament that unplanned food trips have a higher chance of pushing through over those you plan for way ahead of time.

Welcome Arch and Wooden Bridge

It was a Friday payday afternoon, not that payday Friday means anything to us freelancers hehe, when my good friend Doi sent me a text message. It was just general stuff “what are you doing today?”, “I just did this today” kind of things that good friends chats about. Then Doi brought up the subject of Lantaw Restaurant and that hopefully we get to check it out someday to try out their food and yes, try to capture sunset shots.

Separately, we’ve been hearing good reviews about the place. Bloggers that we are and food lovers at that, the two of us have thought about visiting this floating restaurant but we never talked about it until that afternoon.

“Why not we go to Lantaw today?” quips me.

“Are you sure? Shouldn’t we wait for Titus?” ask Doi.

Bless good friends for thinking of the boyfriend. Titus was in Laguna that time so he really can’t come with us.

“Nope, we don’t have to wait for him”.

So within just an hour of the text messages, Doy picked me up at my house and our trip to satisfy curiosity, discover a new place and fill our stomach begin. I called Titus when we were on the way, to brag a little that I am going to Cordova – for the first time. Titus I am pretty sure wants to protest at that moment since he is more eager than me to check out this restaurant. He has said that we should go there etc etc for months now.

When we reached Lapu – Lapu City national highway, which I should not have pointed out because it’s just a minute or two from our house but I did anyway , came Doi’s next question.. do you know the direction and the way to Lantaw Floating Restaurant?

Errr … Nope? But I could guess hehe.  🙄

Despite growing up in Mactan Island, I have never set foot in Cordova until that day and to think that the place is just about 20 to 30  minutes from where I live and on the same island! Goodness gracious me.

This here is the map of the Island of Mactan, where Lapu – Lapu City is located. You can see the road Doi and I took to get to Lantaw Floating Resto. She was coming from Mandaue City then.

The Municipality of Cordova is also the jump-off point for those who want to dive and explore Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary.

Bamboo Raft and Mangrove Forest

Doi and I have this wanderlust affliction so getting lost on the road is no biggie. In fact, getting lost only means more interesting adventures up ahead. That’s one of our life’s philosophies but of course it would be better if we won’t get lost because we were after the famed Cordova sunset and we only have an hour at most to get there at Lantaw before Mr Sun goes down.

This Cebu restaurant is one of the best places to catch the golden glow of the setting sun in the island. 

Surprise, surprise! we were not lost.   😉 But we did stop once to ask road bystanders  when we were starting to get fidgety and second guessing if we were on the right direction, we have passed the small bridge separating Lapu – Lapu City and Cordova by then. After driving straight for 5 minutes and not seeing any Lantaw signage, we decided to ask.  I was on the passenger side, before I could fully lower down the window and before uttering a single word, a helpful man on the roadside said:

“Lantaw?”

“Yes, Lantaw Manong. ..”

“Just straight ahead, on the next intersection, take left. Look for the COOP sign and it’s another straight road.” he said in the vernacular.

“Daghang Salamat!” 

These locals knew right away we’d be asking about instruction to get to Lantaw. That popular is this resto and I guess that many who are confuse about the direction  hehehe.

Before I share my experience and review, let me say this Lantaw in Cordova is a good place to bring your special someone dahil sa di matawarang ambience and  sunset view. Guys heads-up, this place is good venue for romantic dates. 

Aside from the sunset view that we were after, we have to be early too because we would be walk-in customers. Lantaw has become popular as a place for special occasions among Cebuanos and is also being frequented by tourists, balikbayans and ofws. With its popularity on the rise and becoming an “IT” place, this restaurant in Cebu has also become notorious for becoming crowded at night even on a weekday. You should think about calling ahead for reservation days before your plan to visit especially if you are coming from far places and MOST ESPECIALLY if you are dining on a national holiday and special occasions like Christmas, New Year, Valentines, Graduations etc etc etc.

This native floating restaurant in Mactan Island is out-of-the-way even for residents of Lapu – Lapu City like me. There is also no good restaurant nearby to transfer to if hunger pangs hits you before you are seated. Take that into consideration if you want to risk going there as walk-in guests.

By the way, I suggest reserving and taking one of the outside tables, the view there is open and it’s more airy. But if you arrive late like past 7 pm and you sit outside, expect that the staff will be hovering over you with flashlight as you try to read the menu. The outside area becomes dark and is illuminated only by the torches on the perimeter fence. Taking pics of food at night-time can be challenging too. 🙂

Waiting for sunset at Lantaw

Night Comes 

Please click here to continue reading the 2nd POST >>>>   Lantaw  Sunset, Food and Experience

Direction Tip to Lantaw in Cordova:

1. If you have a vehicle, bring it for convenience. They have a designated guarded parking space. Basically, you will just follow the main highway. You will pass by the main gate of the Virgen dela Regla Church. Getting to the church is trickier if you haven’t pass by the area before. Anyhow, you can always ask locals where is the road to Cordova.

After making your way out of the market and church vicinity, it’s going to be straight ahead. Continue driving, you will pass by the small bridge connecting Cordova with Lapu – Lapu City. Straight road again until another major intersection, a busy one during day time. When you see the intersection with the Cooperative Bank, take a right turn, 1 kilometer straight driving and you are there.  Again, it is always best to ask people on the road in case of doubt. 

2. Public commute is possible. Once you arrived in Lapu – Lapu City, just hail a multicab bearing “Cordova” signage, get off in the main intersection, watch out for the blue sign of “Cooperative Bank” on the right side. To be sure tell the driver “Sa Coop” lang. Beside the bank are pedicabs queuing to take in passengers, take one of those pedicabs, fare is P9. At the end of the road you can see Lantaw Restaurant.