CIBO

A Pizza Ranking That Tells You Something Real

CIBO landed 31st in the 50 Leading World Artisan Pizza Chains 2025; a global benchmark that puts this Quezon City institution on the same list as dedicated pizzerias from Naples to New York. For a Filipino-founded casual Italian chain operating out of a mall address in Cubao, that ranking is worth paying attention to. It answers the first question most food-focused visitors ask: is this actually good, or is it just popular?

The answer is both, that distinction matters for how you should approach a visit. CIBO is the kind of place that earns repeat business from people who know Italian food, not just from diners looking for a comfortable mall meal. Founded by Margarita Fores, whose name carries real weight in Philippine culinary circles, the chain has built its reputation on modern Italian cooking; pizza, pasta, casual fare, done with more discipline than the format usually demands.

What the Experience Actually Delivers

The Cubao location sits inside Alimall, which sets the physical context: you are eating in a mall, the atmosphere reflects that. Expect a lively, mid-volume dining room where the energy runs warm and social rather than hushed and intimate. This is not the venue for a quiet anniversary dinner where the room itself contributes to the occasion. The sound level during peak hours tracks closer to a busy trattoria than a formal dining room, which suits the format well if you are eating with a group or keeping things relaxed.

Where CIBO earns its price point, whatever that turns out to be when you visit, since pricing is not confirmed in our data, is in the consistency and technical care behind the food. A global artisan pizza ranking does not happen by accident. The kitchen is working to a standard, for a casual Italian chain in Southeast Asia, that standard sits noticeably above the category average. Fores has long championed Italian culinary technique applied to the Philippine context, that philosophy shows in the product rather than the decor.

Service at CIBO runs functional and friendly rather than polished. You should not arrive expecting the attentive, proactive service rhythm of a fine dining room. Staff are generally accommodating, but the experience is self-directed: you choose your pace, you flag when you need something, the interaction is transactional in the leading sense of the word, efficient and without pretension. For the explorer diner who wants to focus on the food rather than manage a formal service encounter, this is actually a point in CIBO's favour.

Who Should Book This

Book CIBO if you want dependable modern Italian cooking with a credentialed pizza program, you are comfortable with a casual mall setting. It is the right call for a relaxed lunch, a group dinner without fuss, or a mid-trip meal where quality matters but ceremony does not. If you are in Cubao and the alternative is a generic chain, CIBO is the obvious upgrade.

Do not book it if you need the venue itself to carry the occasion, the Alimall location and the casual format are not going to create atmosphere on their own. For special events where setting and service matter as much as food, look at options elsewhere in Metro Manila.

Booking is easy. Walk-ins are realistic for most visit times, though weekend lunch at a popular mall location can compress availability. No reservation system details are confirmed in our data, so check directly with the venue before arriving for a time-sensitive meal.

Practical Details

CIBO is located at Alimall in Cubao, Quezon City. Phone and website details are not confirmed in our data, verify current contact information and hours before visiting. Dress code is casual; the mall setting and the format make smart casual or everyday wear entirely appropriate. The venue suits solo diners, couples, groups equally well. For more restaurants and experiences across the city, see our full Quezon City restaurants guide, our full Quezon City bars guide, and our full Quezon City experiences guide.

If Italian is not the priority and you want to explore the broader Manila dining scene, Toyo Eatery in Manila is among the strongest modern Filipino options in the metro. Further afield, Helm in Makati and Linamnam in Parañaque are worth the trip for serious food explorers.

Quick reference: Cubao, Quezon City | Casual Italian | Global pizza ranking (31st, 50 Leading World Artisan Pizza Chains 2025) | Easy booking | Casual dress | Mall setting.