Cafeño | The Soshal Network

On our way to Marco and Kat’s wedding, we passed by this charming coffee shop in San Juan, Batangas, called Cafeño.

The portion of the heritage home where Cafeño now stands used to be a gas station called “Mobilgas” which started in 1938. Cafeño started in April 2006, and is now a showroom of family food and things from the colonial past.

Cafeño serves fresh barako coffee, homemade creamy ice cream and sorbet, iced tea with herbs, baked bread and greens.

Adobo Flakes

Cafeño promotes heritage and vintage art and recycled products.

What caught my attention are the paintings hanging on the walls of Cafeño, all done by “Sylvia.”

I messaged Cafeño via Facebook and got to exchange messages with the co-owner, Sylvia M. Marasigan, who I found out is also a lawyer and is the Consul General of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea. OMG!

Sylvia (feeling close ako) studied oil painting in Seoul in 2010.

A portion of the heritage home where Cafeño sits is being developed into a gallery. The gallery will be called Galleria Apolonio, named after Sylvia’s father-in-law who owns the heritage home and a lover of fine things. The gallery will open before the month ends and it will feature artworks of artists from San Juan.

So, if ever you’re in San Juan, Batangas, drop by Cafeño where you can enjoy good food and fine art.