Vigan Is More Than a UNESCO City in the Philippines, It’s a Food Destination Too!

Vigan is famous for its cobblestone streets and centuries-old houses. But what most people don’t know is that the food is just as much a reason to visit. 

If you’re looking into where to eat in Vigan, you’ll realize that there are too many good restaurants in Vigan and not enough meals in a day to try them all. 

This list rounds up the best spots for classic food in Vigan, including my favorites, from heritage restaurants to eateries. 

These are the sit-down spots. Some are inside heritage houses, while others are tucked into hotels, but all of them serve Ilocano staples alongside a few unexpected twists. 

🍴 1. Cafe Leona

Sitting right at the entrance of Calle Crisologo, Cafe Leona is one of the most famous restaurants in Vigan. 

Named after Leona Florentino, the Mother of Philippine Women’s Literature, it’s actually housed inside the Florentino ancestral home.

Opened in 1997, the place has that worn-in, old wood interior with dim lighting that is very much old Vigan.

The menu covers a lot of ground, from Filipino, Japanese, to Italian dishes. But, in terms of taste, opinions on the food itself are split. Their pinakbet pizza, though, is worth trying before you pick a side.

It’s an adventurous take on pizza. Instead of the usual toppings, it has pinakbet. Order it, and then maybe you can decide from there!

Sign up now to grab your FREE guide to 50 hidden gems in the Philippines!

Grab Your FREE GUIDE HERE ➜

Loading…

You’re almost there! 🚀

To grab your FREE guide to the hidden gems of the Philippines, check your inbox (or maybe your spam folder) and click the link we sent you!

🍴 2. Kusina Felicitas (Grandpa’s Inn)

Personally, I think Kusina Felicitas is the best restaurant in Vigan.

Going there is one of the best ways to end your day after a long drive to Vigan or a day tour around the city.

It’s one of the heritage restaurants inside Grandpa’s Inn, one of the best places to stay in Vigan. The menu leans Ilocano, but they also offer Northern Luzon specialties.

We ordered Vigan longganisa, pork bagnet, and poqui-poqui, and none of them disappointed.

The Vigan longganisa was tasty and well-balanced, while the poqui-poqui was mushy and melt-in-your-mouth. 

They probably have the best bagnet in Vigan, which is perfectly fried but still juicy inside.

Service is just okay. I wish the staff were a bit more proactive, and they only accept cash. Still, it’s a great place for dining with family!

🍴 3. First Sinanglaoan

Sinanglao is a hearty soup made of beef and organ meat, flavored with bile and kamias (a sour fruit) that give it a sour, slightly bitter kick.

If you’re adventurous with food, sinanglao is a must-try, and even more so at First Sinanglaoan, which is said to serve the best sinanglao in the city.

And because of that reputation and the affordability, expect long lines. You’ll spot more locals here than tourists.

I visited on a weekend morning, a little past 8 AM (they’re open 6 AM to 2 PM), and the line was manageable and moved fast.

The process is simple: you line up, order your food, and pay (cash only) at the counter, then find a seat. Takeaway is also an option. 

Make sure to get rice on the side, since sinanglao is always best paired with it.

The best part about First Sinanglaoan is that you can choose which beef parts go into your bowl. If you’re not a fan of innards, you can ask for more meat instead, which is exactly what I did.

Soup refills are available, too, so don’t hold back!

🍴 4. Hidden Garden – Lilong and Lilang Restaurant 

Ten minutes away from Vigan’s town proper is Hidden Garden, a great place for a more relaxed dining experience. The restaurant literally sits in a garden, where they also sell plants like herbs and bonsai.

The food here is delicious and reasonably priced. Their specialties include bagnet kare-kare, bagnet sisig, pinakbet, and poqui-poqui.

They also offer bundle sets for groups, so it’s a good stop if you’re dining with family or friends.

You can also grab drinks from their cafe and bar, and pastries from their in-house bakery.

On weekends, expect a longer wait because of the crowds, but the live band performances make the wait worth it.

🍴 5. Panganan ken Ihawan toy Ciudad ti Vigan 

Another local favorite is Panganan ken Ihawan toy Ciudad Vigan.

It’s an eatery that offers various home-cooked Ilocano dishes. Portions run small, but prices are just as small, which makes it the perfect spot if you want to sample several dishes in one sitting.

The dishes are already cooked and laid out on the counter, so you just line up, take a look, and order whatever catches your eye.

They also run a grill on the side for barbecue and other skewers. Their barbecue, in particular, is one I keep going back for.

Lines depend on the time of day, and make sure to bring cash!

🍴 6. Cantina Mercante

Cantina Mercante is a good restaurant in Vigan City for fusion, serving a mix of Filipino and other cuisines. It’s located inside Hotel Mercante.

Their bestseller is the watermelon bagnet sinigang, which is a twist on the classic sour soup. Instead of pork, it’s made with fried bagnet, and instead of tamarind, watermelon brings the sourness. 

Their bagnet pinakbet is another standout if you like your veggies sweet and with crispy pork cuts. 

I’ve also heard good things about their strawberry-glazed chicken gizzard bowl and turon ube, though I’ve yet to try those myself.

The food aside, Cantina Mercante is also just accommodating. They have a menu for solo diners, bundles for groups, a Muslim-friendly menu, the option to pay by credit card, and very friendly staff.

Vigan has a nice cafe scene. These spots serve good coffee and food, some rooted in local flavor, others leaning into fusion.

🍴 7. Amian Cafe

Compared to most establishments in the heritage village, Amian Cafe, which opened in 2023, is one of the freshest spots in the area, and it looks like it’s here to stay.

I took it as a recommendation from an Instagram story published by a chef who works at a Michelin Selected restaurant in Metro Manila, and I’m glad I did.

As someone who visits cafes around the Metro fairly often, I can say their locally sourced coffee holds up. 

I tried their latte, but it was their orange coffee, Kahel (“orange” in Filipino), that instantly became my favorite. I liked it so much I ordered a takeaway cup before I’d even finished my first glass.

As a foodie, it’s now my favorite spot in Vigan. The staff are great, too, they’ll ask how you like your drink and give you honest recommendations.

Part of the charm is the interior. Old capiz windows are worked into the space, some even repurposed as tabletops. 

Amian Cafe also serves food with a twist, like their Abaya Bibimbap, which takes the Korean rice mix dish and swaps in Ilocos longganisa.

I haven’t tried the food here yet since I default to Vigan empanada and bagnet elsewhere, but it’s on my list for next time.

🍴 8. 1995 Studio Cafe 

This is one of the best spots for breakfast in Vigan City. They offer pasta, pizza, baked goods, crepes, and cafe drinks. 

For local flavors, I recommend the Ilocano Platter, loaded with flavorful Vigan longganisa, perfectly fried bagnet, and pinakbet.

Their Vigan longganisa pasta, mango shake, and Spanish latte are also crowd favorites.

1995 Studio Cafe has grown beyond Vigan, too, with branches now in Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Sorsogon.

🍴 9. Café Uno (Grandpa’s Inn) 

Cafe Uno is another restaurant inside Grandpa’s Inn, right alongside Kusina Felicitas.

Where Kusina Felicitas leans traditional Ilocano, Cafe Uno’s menu is more of a mixed bag of entrees, pasta, sandwiches, breakfast items, and desserts.

What’s convenient is that you can cross-order between the two. The staff will hand you menus from both restaurants at the same table, so you’re not stuck picking just one.

Their specials include pasta tossed with poqui-poqui, longganisa, or bagnet, and a longganisa burger for something less traditional. 

Cafe Uno also has a second location right on Calle Crisologo.

These are empanada places and other stores locals actually queue up for.

🍴 10. Casa Jardin Empanada 

Casa Jardin sits within the historical village, though it leans toward the quieter, more residential side.

Their empanada offerings let you customize the amount of meat, vegetables, and egg, from none at all up to triple of each. You can also build your own dip with onions, salt, chili, and vinegar. 

Everything is made fresh to order. Your empanada is rolled, filled, and fried right in front of you.

I got the regular version (which has one portion of every ingredient), and it was perfectly fried, not greasy at all. The dough had a good crunch, and the flavor was balanced rather than overwhelming. 

My only issue was the size, it took me a while to finish, but that’s a good problem to have. I’d say this is the best empanada in the area.

I went at lunchtime on a weekday, and surprisingly, it wasn’t crowded.

They also sell okoy, a Filipino fritter made of grated vegetables and tiny shrimp bound in a rice batter and deep-fried until crisp, if you want something different.

🍴 11. Irene’s Vigan Empanada 

Irene’s has two branches: one right on Calle Crisologo, and another on the parallel street. I went to the latter.

I got to watch the ingredients being prepped right in front of me, though here, the dipping sauce comes pre-made rather than mixed to order. 

It’s a good empanada, with a crisp shell and a good filling ratio.

They also sell okoy, which is worth grabbing alongside your empanada if you want a second snack to go.

🍴 12. Irma’s Longanisa and Bagnet

Irma’s isn’t a dining spot per se, but a store where you can sample and buy well-packed Vigan longganisa and crunchy bagnet to take home.

Their prices run a bit cheaper compared to other pasalubong centers, so it’s worth seeking out if you’re stocking up.

That said, it’s a bit of a challenge to find. The place is tucked away, and you’ll need to duck into a narrow street to spot it.

That covers the best restaurants in Vigan City, along with the cafes and street food stalls worth squeezing into your trip. 

Come hungry and make sure to bring cash. Don’t be afraid to try something outside your comfort zone!

If you want to dive deeper by dish, start with Vigan empanada. Or if you’d rather plan around a place first, Calle Crisologo is the best street to build your food stops around.

Check Out These Recommended Articles:

• Best Attractions in Vigan: 18+ Things to Do & Places to Visit
• Where to Stay in Vigan: 12 Best Hotels for Every Budget
• Pottery in Vigan: A Guide to Burnay Jar Making
• 5 Best Beaches in Vigan and Nearby
• 11 Top Tourist Spots in Ilocos Sur for Your 2026 Adventure (+3 Awesome Activities To Try!)

About the Author

Hi! I’m Ellie, a matcha lover, creative, and one of the writers behind Philippines Hidden Gems. I travel to document joys: sights that leave you in awe, a patch of nature that asks for nothing, a meal that surprises you, a new restaurant or cafe worth lingering in, and museums and galleries that slow you down. The Philippines has no shortage of these, and I have a particular soft spot for its culinary scene, local businesses, and the stories behind them!