21 March 2025
I was browsing Facebook one day when I saw Espazio, a place where gastronomy, art, and history coexist. As an art, history, and cafe lover, I always want to visit unique dining places to taste new culinary flavors and see their unique features. I guess I still need to explore our city to discover hidden gems, just like I used to do back in Hong Kong.
The cafe is located just a few steps from a notable church in the city. I passed through that street several times but never noticed Espazio's existence. Judging by its exterior, the cafe looks like an ordinary one. The former old house was converted into a creative space, an ideal destination in the heart of the city.
As we entered Espazio, we were welcomed by its art design and vintage charm, with soft acoustic music in the background. I later realized that taking my niece along was not a good idea. She used to play around and would cry if her desires were not fulfilled. If it happens, my niece will disturb those students studying at the corner, and I also spotted some working on their laptops. I only hoped she wouldn't throw her tantrums. We were already inside and had no choice but to dine in.
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Wherever I go, the artistic design and unique features always catch my attention. Well-chosen art pieces are hung on walls and corners, giving the cafe a gallery-like ambiance.
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The iconic San Juanico Bridge on the right painting
In addition to this, the antique furniture and collections are also a good match with the art interior design. The cafe is certainly a perfect destination for relaxation, culinary discovery, and cultural exploration for foodies, art lovers, and history buffs.
Vintage collections and furnishings.
As for its culinary delights, food enthusiasts would love to indulge in a wide variety of dishes. There are Filipino comfort foods, the creative fashion of international cuisine, mouth-watering snacks and desserts, and a wide selection of beverages, including coffee, frappe, smoothies, juices, and soda.
I forgot to take a photo of its menu book. Still, if you are interested in visiting the place, you can check the updated menu at TripAdvisor. On one of the certificates posted on the counter's wall, it says that the cafe received an award as one of the recommended cafes of TripAdvisor in 2024. It also has positive reviews online and is recommended by many food enthusiasts in the city.
Our journey wouldn't be complete without tasting new culinary flavors. It's really tough to make choices when there is a wide variety of food choices, and every dish looks enticing. After some time browsing the menu book, I chose a set of snacks for myself and a rice meal for my sister since she hadn't had her lunch yet.
I ordered a Bolognese burger dog with potato chips paired with the ube frappe for myself and crunchy herb chicken with rice paired with strawberry/watermelon slush for my sister and niece.
All food tasted great, and I still like the frappe and slush, eventhough they are a bit sweet. As usual, my niece ate the potato chips and the whipped cream with sprinkles on my ube frappe instead of rice and chicken. We don't know how to control her food preferences anymore. We had no choice but to let her eat whatever she wanted rather than not eating anything at all.
What makes this cafe stand out despite being new in the city?
It may appear ordinary at first look from the outside, but you will be surprised as you enter the place. As mentioned above, the cafe is adorned with art pieces, vintage furnishings, and collections. Beyond its artistic appeal, Espazio Cafe also has a mini museum on its second floor.
The creative staircase to the second floor
Unfortunately, my niece was already acting out and wanted to go outside so we couldn't make it to the second floor. Additionally, should I insist on visiting the second floor, my niece might grab some displays in the exhibition room since she might think they are for sale, like toys in malls, so we would instead not visit the museum. The main reason I wanted to visit the cafe in the first place was the museum, so it was a waste of opportunity. Still, I want to see the mini museum to satisfy myself the next time I visit the cafe. I might bring my mother on my next visit rather than my sister and niece.
To show you the mini museum, I grabbed a photo from TripAdvisor. It's just a glimpse of the mini museum because I truly want to visit it next time. The museum exhibits more vintage collections, different memorabilia about the city's history, and artifacts from World War II. It's complimentary so everyone can visit, open from Monday to Saturday, from 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
The mini museum on the second floor. Photo from TripAdvisor
Upon browsing more photos, I noticed that it actually has a mini garden at the back with an alfresco dining area. This gives me an idea of where to dine on my next visit. It is such a cute and cozy place.
The mini garden and alfresco dining area. Photo from TripAdvisor
Espazio is more than just a cafe. It's a cultural hub that allows historians, artists, and foodies to connect. Our trip to this cafe was unforgettable, and every penny spent was well worth it.
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It's the kind of place I would like to visit again and again. So, if you are in Leyte and Samar, don't forget to visit this cafe! It is located at Juan Luna Street near Sto. Niño Church in Tacloban City.
That's all for today. Happy dining, and I hope you enjoyed Espazio.
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can.
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