Cafe Leonor: Where Marikina Celebrates with Food & Memories
Rooted in heritage, love, and family, Café Leonor continues the legacy of Nanay Onor, the beloved grandmother and family matriarch, since 2022. Known to many as an exceptional cook, her culinary talent inspired the creation of this cozy café-restaurant, which also serves as an intimate events venue for all occasions.
Café Leonor’s dining room features wood and brick accents, a glass-enclosed entrance, and simple table settings that keep the space bright and versatile—perfect for everyday meals or more formal occasions. Even their staircase has a classic varnished look. The function room, located just inside the restaurant, is a library-like space where you can enjoy dining in a quiet atmosphere, fitting for a library but with more lively and colorful floral decor accents. The space is designed to accommodate special events without compromising its casual charm.
The restaurant is in its third year in 2025. It accommodates 70-80 people, including the library function room.
Today, Café Leonor is a heartfelt tribute to not just delicious food and cherished memories, but also to Nanay Onor’s enduring legacy of love, warmth, and generosity. It’s more than just a restaurant; it’s a welcoming home where stories are exchanged, milestones are joyfully celebrated, and every guest feels like family.
What’s in a name?
Simply just a dedication to the resto’s family matriarch.
Ambiance:
Chic resto vibe with pipe-in jazz music. Esperanza’s, a classy restaurant in the 90s along Tomas Morato immediately comes to mind when you see and experience the place. It’s a mini-version of sorts. The establishment itself is a heritage site dedicated to Nanay Onor, as prominently displayed among other decors inside. Moreover, Café Leonor has the friendliest staff.
Resto Format:
Dine-in, Delivery, and Online: Grab. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Quirk:
Cafe Leonor offers lower prices than other popular brunch spots in the city while providing a more complete “meal + coffee + venue” experience than many traditional cafes. That ideal combination—affordable main dishes and café beverages, and an excellent event venue for intimate weddings, corporate meetings, birthdays, and showers.
Key touches include:
- Transformable décor (e.g., floral ceiling installations)
- Private/VIP-style sections depending on setup
- Booking options posted via their socials
If you want a “plug-and-play” intimate venue that doesn’t demand hotel-level budgets, this is precisely the lane they occupy.
Furthermore, Café Leonor is conveniently located on the second floor. It’s a good idea to wash up before heading to the main restaurant since its restrooms and lavatories are downstairs. Pet-friendly too.
- Where: 832 (a.k.a. 830) J.P. Rizal St., Nangka, Marikina City
- Hours: Mon–Thu 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; Fri–Sun 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
- Contact: +63 968 011 2922; Tiktok; Instagram; Facebook
- Typical spend: ₱200–₱400 per person
Specialties
- Lechon Kawali with a signature calamansi sauce—a bestseller the café spotlights often.
- Chicken and pork plates, plus rice bowls for hearty, value-friendly meals.
- Spaghetti Carbonara and other pasta plates appear frequently in diner photos and reviews. Portions are filling without breaking the bank—ideal for students, families, and office groups.
- A long list of frappes (Matcha, Dark Belgian Choco, Salted Caramel, White Choco Mocha, and more) typically runs ₱115–₱175. It’s a crowd-pleasing drinks board to pair with savory plates or dessert.
Check their Resto Menu…
VIAJERO KULTURA PILIPINAS: FOOD TOURISM—MARIKINA