SM Seaside City
A large SM Supermall and mixed-use development in Cebu City's South Road Properties.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
SM Seaside City, commonly called SM Seaside and still identified on some exterior signage as SM Seaside City Cebu, is a major shopping and entertainment complex in South Road Properties, Cebu City, Philippines. It was developed and is owned by SM Prime Holdings, the property-development company of the SM Group. The mall forms part of SM Prime's broader expansion in Metro Cebu and became the company's third mall in the metropolitan area and its 56th mall in the Philippines when it opened in 2015. The project emerged from plans dating back to the 2000s for a second major SM Supermall in Cebu. South Road Properties, a large Cebu City government-owned reclamation and development area, was selected as the location. SM Prime formally offered to acquire approximately 28 hectares in 2009, proposing a mall and associated mixed-use development with a projected investment of about 20 billion Philippine pesos over 15 years. The Cebu City government approved the purchase in 2010, and construction formally began with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 12, 2011. The mall opened on November 27, 2015, exactly 22 years after the opening of SM City Cebu in 1993. Its launch attracted substantial public attention and produced severe traffic congestion around the South Road Properties and Cebu South Coastal Road. A large fireworks display was held on opening night. The mall's construction budget was later increased from an initially reported 6 billion pesos to 8.5 billion pesos, while the wider SM Seaside complex was estimated at approximately 30 billion pesos. At the time, SM Prime described the project as its largest and most expensive mall built in a single construction phase, before the completion of SM City Tianjin in China. Architecturally, SM Seaside City is a large circular retail complex designed by Arquitectonica, whose portfolio also includes major SM malls such as SM North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia, and SM Megamall. The property combines conventional shopping with dining, cinemas, recreation, events, and family entertainment. Its principal retail anchors include a two-level SM Store and an SM Supermarket. Entertainment facilities include a Centerstage theater, a Super Screen Cinema, two Director's Club cinemas, four regular cinemas, an 18-lane SM Bowling and Amusement Center, and an Olympic-size ice-skating rink near the food court. The cinema portfolio includes a Super Screen auditorium with 351 seats, a screen reported to be almost 30 percent larger than a regular cinema screen, Christie 6P laser projection, and Dolby Atmos sound. These facilities position the mall not only as a retail destination but also as a regional leisure and entertainment venue. The property has an approximate gross floor area of 470,486 square meters. Based on published rankings cited in the subject's reference material, it was described in 2025 as the second-largest mall in Cebu, the fifth-largest in the Philippines, and the seventeenth-largest in the world. These rankings can change as other malls open or expand. A 169-meter Seaside Tower rises at the center of the complex. Plans have called for restaurants, coffee shops, and a viewing deck, but the tower was described as unoccupied in the available reference material. SM Seaside City is also connected to SM Prime's wider South Coast City development, a mixed-use project being developed with Ayala Land. A proposed SMX Convention Center Cebu has been associated with that adjacent development. A separate 16,000-seat SM Seaside Cebu Arena was initially planned across the mall complex for concerts, sporting events, and other large gatherings. SM Prime reportedly canceled the arena plan in 2017, after which plans were revived in 2019 with the venue repositioned within South Coast City rather than directly inside the original mall complex. The available reference does not establish the arena's final operating status.
History
Plans for a second SM Supermall in Cebu were being considered by 2007 as SM Prime Holdings sought to expand beyond SM City Cebu, which had opened in 1993. Cebu City's South Road Properties was identified as a suitable location because of its scale and position within the city's developing southern waterfront district. In 2009, SM Prime formally submitted an offer to acquire approximately 28 hectares at South Road Properties. The proposal covered a shopping mall and additional mixed-use development, with an investment plan reported at around 20 billion Philippine pesos over a 15-year period. The Cebu City government approved the land purchase in 2010. SM Prime held the project's groundbreaking ceremony on April 12, 2011, at the intersection of F. Vestil Street and the Cebu South Coastal Road. The development was subsequently expanded in ambition and cost. Before opening, SM Prime president Hans Sy was reported as describing an increase in the mall's budget from approximately 6 billion pesos to 8.5 billion pesos. The wider SM Seaside complex was estimated at roughly 30 billion pesos. The mall was described as SM Prime's largest and most expensive single-phase mall project at that time, although that distinction later changed with the completion of SM City Tianjin in China. SM Seaside City opened to the public on November 27, 2015. The date marked 22 years since SM City Cebu opened in 1993. The opening was accompanied by a large fireworks presentation and attracted substantial crowds. Traffic congestion was particularly severe around the South Road Properties and the Cebu South Coastal Road, reflecting both the mall's regional draw and the developing infrastructure around the site. The mall was designed by Arquitectonica, an international architecture firm also associated with several other prominent SM Supermalls. Its circular form and very large floor area support a combination of retail, dining, cinema, recreation, and event uses. The main commercial components include a two-level SM Store and an SM Supermarket. Its entertainment program includes a theater, multiple cinema formats, bowling, amusement facilities, and an Olympic-size ice rink. One of the mall's distinctive cinema features is the Super Screen auditorium. It has 351 seats, a screen described as almost 30 percent larger than a standard cinema screen, Christie 6P laser projection, and Dolby Atmos audio. The complex also contains two Director's Club cinemas and four regular cinemas. These facilities, together with the bowling center and ice rink, broaden the property's role beyond conventional shopping. A 169-meter Seaside Tower was built at the center of the mall. Proposed uses have included restaurants, cafés, and a viewing deck offering panoramic views of Cebu City and the mall. The available reference material states that the tower remained unoccupied at the time of writing. Another proposed component was the SM Seaside Cebu Arena, a planned 16,000-seat indoor venue intended for concerts, sporting events, and other large gatherings. It was discussed as a potential venue for events involving the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation and the Philippine Basketball Association, and was also linked to planning for a possible 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup bid. SM Prime reportedly canceled the arena proposal in January 2017, but plans were revived in late 2019 in connection with South Coast City, an adjacent mixed-use development co-owned by SM Prime and Ayala Land. By 2025, published descriptions characterized SM Seaside City as having approximately 470,486 square meters of gross floor area. Those descriptions ranked it as the second-largest mall in Cebu, the fifth-largest in the Philippines, and the seventeenth-largest in the world, although such rankings are subject to change as competing properties expand or new malls open. The mall remains one of SM Prime's major assets in Metro Cebu and an important anchor of the South Road Properties district.
- 2019
Arena plans revived in South Coast City
[1]The proposed arena was revived with a revised location associated with the adjacent South Coast City development.
- 2017
Arena proposal reportedly canceled
[1]Plans for the proposed SM Seaside Cebu Arena were reportedly canceled, before later being revived in a revised form.
- 2015
Mall opens to the public
[1]SM Seaside City opened on November 27 with a major public celebration and fireworks display.
- 2011
Groundbreaking ceremony
[1]SM Prime held the groundbreaking ceremony on April 12 at the corner of F. Vestil Street and the Cebu South Coastal Road.
- 2010
Cebu City approves the purchase
[1]The Cebu City government approved SM Prime's proposed acquisition of the South Road Properties site.
- 2009
Land acquisition proposal submitted
[1]SM Prime formally offered to acquire approximately 28 hectares at South Road Properties for a mall and mixed-use development.
- 2007
Second SM mall in Cebu considered
[1]SM Prime's plans for another major shopping mall in Cebu identified South Road Properties as a potential site.
Products and positioning
A large regional shopping, dining, entertainment, and leisure destination serving Cebu and the wider Metro Cebu market.
Shopping mall · 2015
SM Seaside City shopping mall
The core offering is a large circular shopping mall with approximately 470,486 square meters of gross floor area. It combines department-store and supermarket anchors with specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment, and recreational attractions. The property serves as one of SM Prime's principal commercial destinations in Metro Cebu.
Department store · 2015
SM Store
A two-level SM Store serves as one of the mall's principal retail anchors. It provides the department-store component of the complex alongside specialty shops and other SM retail formats.
Supermarket · 2015
SM Supermarket
The SM Supermarket provides grocery and everyday-consumer merchandise within the mall, complementing the department store and specialty retail tenants.
Cinema and entertainment · 2015
Cinema complex
The cinema program includes a Super Screen auditorium, two Director's Club cinemas, and four regular cinemas. The Super Screen has 351 seats, a large-format screen, Christie 6P laser projection, and Dolby Atmos sound.
Family entertainment · 2015
SM Bowling and Amusement Center
An 18-lane bowling and amusement venue adds recreational programming to the mall's retail and dining offer and supports its positioning as a family-oriented leisure destination.
Sports and recreation · 2015
Olympic-size ice-skating rink
An Olympic-size ice-skating rink is located near the food court, providing a distinctive sports and recreation attraction within the shopping complex.
Observation and mixed-use tower
Seaside Tower
The 169-meter tower stands at the center of the mall. Plans have included restaurants, cafés, and a viewing deck with 360-degree views, but the available reference material describes the tower as unoccupied.
Arena project
SM Seaside Cebu Arena
A proposed 16,000-seat indoor arena was intended for concerts, sports, and major events. The plan was reportedly canceled in 2017 and later revived with the venue associated with South Coast City rather than directly within the original mall complex.
Brand decisions
2017
Cancel proposed arena projectStrategyBackground
SM Prime had proposed a 16,000-seat indoor arena near the mall for concerts, sporting events, and major gatherings.
Action taken
The arena project was reportedly canceled in January 2017.
Aftermath
The project was later revived in 2019 with a revised location associated with South Coast City.
2015
Launch SM Seaside CityProduct launchBackground
SM Prime was expanding its mall network in Metro Cebu and had developed a large-format complex at South Road Properties.
Action taken
SM Seaside City opened on November 27, 2015, with retail anchors, cinemas, bowling, dining, and an ice-skating rink.
Aftermath
The opening drew large crowds, caused significant traffic congestion in the surrounding area, and established the property as a major regional mall.
Mall construction budget. Approximately PHP 6 billion → Approximately PHP 8.5 billion (Before opening in 2015)
2009
Acquire land for a Cebu regional mallStrategyBackground
SM Prime sought a second major SM Supermall in Cebu and identified the South Road Properties as a strategic site for a large retail and mixed-use project.
Action taken
The company submitted an offer to acquire approximately 28 hectares and proposed a long-term development program.
Aftermath
The purchase was approved by Cebu City in 2010, leading to the project's groundbreaking in 2011 and opening in 2015.
Proposed development investment. Approximately PHP 20 billion over 15 years (2009 proposal)
Recent events
- 2019
Plans for the SM Seaside Cebu Arena are revised[1]
Other
After a reported cancellation in 2017, plans for a 16,000-seat indoor arena were revived and associated with the adjacent South Coast City development rather than the original mall complex.
- 2015
SM Seaside City opens in Cebu[1]
Product launch
SM Seaside City opened on November 27, 2015, with a major public celebration and fireworks display. The opening generated heavy traffic in the South Road Properties area.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/sm-seaside-city · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled