NUSTAR shines as world-class lifestyle destination
NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu is a glimmering gateway to world-class experiences that has transformed the Cebu cityscape for the better.
Its scale and aesthetic make NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu hard to miss. Wowing both guests and viewers since its May 2022 launch, the flagship project of Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI) pays homage to Cebu’s intimate connection with the seas on 300,000 sq m of the flourishing South Road Properties.
World-renowned designers like HKS Architects, HBA Design Consultants and ASYA Design teamed up with UHRI to curate a piece de resistance depicting a galleon gloriously sailing on the seas. Their final product also thoughtfully highlights vernacular culture and homegrown talent.
Beyond just looks, NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu delivers memorable moments and revolutionary innovations. Staying true to the origins of its name, it is a “new star” that, like the Polaris (North Star), serves as a bright guiding presence.
NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu, indeed, challenges lifestyle destinations to reach new heights. Over three years since its inauguration, it remains the only integrated resort in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. It also continues to be the largest luxury lifestyle destination outside Metro Manila. In that short span of time, it has also broken and remade the standards, even beyond Cebu City, for hospitality, retail, dining, gaming, events and more.
New hotel enters Michelin Guide list
The addition in June 2025 of the posh NUSTAR Hotel Cebu to the prestigious “Michelin Guide hotel” list affirms NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu’s success in elevating standards in the southern Philippines, and directing eyes toward the tourism industry in Cebu and the rest of the country.
NUSTAR Hotel Cebu joins only 19 other Philippine establishments that have met the exacting standards of independent-minded and experienced travelers and specialists.
“At its core, a Michelin Guide hotel represents the intersection of style and service,” the Michelin Guide website explained. “It’s a destination unto itself, offering not just a room, but a unique and lasting memory.“
NUSTAR Hotel Cebu opened only May 2025, which makes the inclusion even more impressive.
It offers 223 well-appointed rooms and suites that the Michelin Guide described as “oversized, with deep soaking tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the sea or skyline.”
It is the second hotel in NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu, next to Fili Hotel. Launched in 2022, Fili Hotel is the Philippines’ first authentic Filipino five-star hotel. It offers 379 rooms.
Both hotels are known for enormous rooms, amazing vistas, luxurious amenities and cutting-edge in-room technology. They are also popular for their butler service. Each butler is savvy with new tech and are skilled in arranging schedules for the guests, among others. They were trained by Heilbron Hospitality, one of the world’s most respected hospitality training institutions.
A third addition to the integrated resort’s hospitality portfolio, Grand Summit Hotel, will open in late-2026.
Island escape, pleasure palace
The Michelin Guide did not fail to reference the whole integrated resort, aptly describing NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu as “part city hotel, part island escape, and part integrated pleasure palace, with far-ranging views, lively interiors, and plenty of space to properly unwind.”
The casino, spanning 21,000 sq m across two levels, is the largest and most diverse gaming venue in the region. It offers an extensive range of table games, state-of-the-art slot machines, a dynamic gaming stadium, and exclusive VIP salons crafted for ultimate privacy and comfort.
The Mall
NUSTAR is curated to bring international names to shoppers. The selection includes luxury fashion brands like Bulgari, Dior, Ferragamo, Givenchy, Gucci, KENZO, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Off-White, Porsche Design, Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co. and Tory Burch. You will also encounter top beauty brands Clé de Peau Beauté, Estée Lauder and Jo Malone.
NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu carries a universe of gastronomic delights, too. It has the country’s only branch of Mott 32, a globally celebrated dining destination. Wine and dine at Il Primo Italian Steakhouse. Encounter Asian flavors at Xian Tian Di. Pinoy food loyalists can opt for Fina. Other options are Huangdi, Fili Lobby Lounge, Axis Entertainment and Sports Bar, Café Laguna, Koshima by Nonki and Yeonwha by Kaya, among others.
Cinephiles will delight in NUSTAR Premier Cinemas, which offer plush seating and immersive Dolby Digital surround sound. Finally, there are various venues for conventions and events. NUSTAR Convention Center is 4,000 sq m of versatile event space that can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. There are more ballrooms, function rooms and other spaces across the integrated resort.
Even more features are to be unveiled. NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu will soon inaugurate The Stage, a 1,300-seat performing arts theatre; a leisure and water park designed for family-friendly enjoyment; and The Skydeck, a viewing platform showcasing stunning coastal and city views.
While NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu is near tourist haunts and transport hubs, thereby making it a practical takeoff point to explore all of Cebu, it helps guests capture the local vibe right within it through fun-filled events. Playing host to various activities — from concerts and wellness activities to Sinulog observances and food festivals, including the signature event, “Taste Cebu” — it has galvanized Cebuanos to demonstrate their pride of place and provided never-ending spectacles for visitors to behold.
A myriad experiences beckon at NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu, a world-class destination proudly rooted in its heritage.
NUSTAR Resort and Casino Cebu is owned and operated by Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc., a private entity under the Gokongwei Group. For more information, visit www.nustar.ph or call (032) 888 8282.
