Café Leona is one restaurant in the heart of Vigan that is amazingly sensible. The facade deceives tourists into thinking that it might be either a European-style coffee shop or an Ilocano restaurant. Well, it’s both plus a lot more. They serve Japanese, Thai, Italian, Filipino and Continental cuisines. In terms of space, the place is rather small, but surprisingly, they consistently have everything written on their menu. Talk about modern sensibilities… they have tinapa (Filipino dried fish) pizza alongside smoked salmon pâté on crackers and other not so well heard dishes.
The restaurant has been in existence since 1997, and continues to attract tourists and locals alike. According to a waiter, Ilocano dishes like sinanglao, pinakbet, Vigan-style morcon and longaniza are still their bestsellers. Also popular is fish tamales, an Ilocano delicacy made from tiny ipon fish available only in the cold months of December, January and February.
Café Leona accepts catering for all occasions within Ilocos.
BlauEarth 
i would love to try your japanese cuisine when i come for vacation.they all look yummy.
thanks, tita. the sea urchin are my favorite. it’s good to have something different in Ilocos for a change.
I really like the European-style of the shop. Although it looks old, it still gives good impression to customers.
I liked the black and white pic of cafe leona up there. 🙂
I had a taste of cafe leona two weeks ago and sadly, I wasn’t that impressed with the food. We tried the “Vigan Specialties” dishes in the menu but nothing really made a lasting impression. Did we order the wrong food?
Honestly, I prefer Ilocano food from northern Ilocos, maybe because I’m so used to our Ilocano cooking… I like our longaniza and pinakbet with bagnet here, but I don’t know if you might like them. When we’re at Cafe Leona, we always order Japanese food which we don’t have in Ilocos besides sashimi and California maki at Eagle’s Nest and Bistro 51, and sometimes, at the Fort Ilocandia Deli and Wine Shop. My choice at Cafe Leona is sea urchin sushi and miso soup. I don’t like their tempura much.