Soft Luxe Travels: Calle Crisologo Part 2 – Shops, Mindoro Beach, and Nighttime Charm
Calle Crisologo by day is already enchanting, but the experience evolves as the day goes on. After our café and souvenir stroll, we found ourselves lingering longer—discovering more shops, escaping to the quiet of Mindoro Beach, and then circling back to see Calle Crisologo in the rain, which made everything feel cinematic.
More Shops to Explore
Kabsat Lanai has beautiful pieces. The price reflects the artistry and craftsmanship that was poured in each piece. However, a lof of pieces were dirty and looked worn out already. Maybe these are just show pieces, and they have the real stocks in their stockroom?
This skirt is what drew me to this shop
We wandered deeper into Crisologo and discovered even more shops filled with woven bags, trinkets, and handwoven pieces. Each store had its own personality—some playful, others more traditional. It was the kind of browsing that felt leisurely, not rushed, which made every small find more meaningful.
I was able to buy a bag and some pasalubong (homecoming gifts) from this shop.
Lots of beautiful table runners
Maybe next time I'll buy some of these wooden vehicles for my godsons. I got one of them a wooden plane in Baguio last time. We didn't have enough space in the car for lots of purchases so I curated mine.
Familiar Brands with an Ancestral Vibe Twist
I told my husband that I wanted to check out the Starbucks merch, but totally forgot! Amidst the heat, dodging calesas, and going back to Cafe Uno to buy food for my mom and sister, the thought just escaped me! Next time, Starbucks!
This Max's Restaurant was very popular. Look at their beautiful building right in the middle of Calle Crisologo's entrance. I wasn't able to take a photo of the front door as there were lots of people!
There's Cafe Leona where we originally wanted to eat, but mom said that it was moldy inside and my sister will get more sick.
Oh, there's Max's facade from a distance!
Tongson Royal Bibingka
My sister asked me to buy some Royal Bibingka.
It's not the typical bibingka. My sister said it's made of cassava. I didn't taste this because sometimes I'm sensitive to cassava.
A Pause at Mindoro Beach
Not far from the bustle of the shops, we drove 15 minutes out to Mindoro Beach. The wide horizon and crashing waves were a contrast to the cobblestone streets, yet it felt like a natural extension of the trip—Vigan isn’t just about history, it’s also about grounding yourself in nature. The sea breeze and gray skies gave us a moment of calm before heading back.
I encouraged my sister to come with us as the sea air will do her lungs some good.
Calle Crisologo in the Rain
When we returned, Calle Crisologo was draped in rain. My sister asked my mom to buy some chichacorn for pasalubong, but she needed a lot and I volunteered to go with my husband. Our first stop was Tongson again as she asked me to buy more Royal Bibingka. When we got out of Tongson, hard rain started pouring!
The shopkeepers started to cover their wares or take them inside the shops.
Before reaching the street halfway, the rain turned into a full-blown thunderstorm with scary lightning! Our feet were soaked (I was wearing slip-ons!), my dress was getting drenched, my long hair was wet, so we took shelter at the Heritage Admin Office, where the officers laid out chairs for the ladies and the kids.
The wet cobblestones were beautiful in my eyes.
The cobblestones glistened, the calesas moved slower, and the lanterns started to light up one by one, casting a soft glow against the drizzle. It was a side of Crisologo that felt intimate, almost like the street was sharing a secret reserved for those willing to brave the weather.
The rain died down for a while, allowing us to go to the shop selling chichacorn, but while there, the heavens decided to pour another round! We asked the shopkeeper if we could stay until it was safe to go. She said yes and provided us with chairs. I didn't sit for long because my dress was wet and I was getting cold. I barely had enough sleep for the past few days and didn't want to get sick.
Calle Crisologo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cars are not permitted to go through it. On our way back, we were surprised to see this car parked in front of Mang Inasal. Good thing, the ever reliable police from the Heritage Office rode his bike in the rain and caught the driver. I'd like to say that we've seen this officer earlier in the day and he really takes his job seriously. He was actively patrolling the street and I heard him talking to a bunch of guys about their drone. He told them to bring it down. Kudos to you, officer!
When we got back to the car, I joked to my mom that I now know how it feels like to have a sagala/Santacruzan, drenched, in the middle of Calle Crisologo, as I was holding my dress up like a gown to prevent it from absorbing more rain water on the cobblestones. 🤣
Ending the Day with Room Service
We wrapped up the night tucked into our room, enjoying room service from Angkong Restaurant while listening to the rain outside. After a day of strolling, shopping, and exploring, it was the perfect soft luxe way to end the adventure—comfortable, cozy, and completely unhurried.
I took a shower the moment we got back. I'm so thankful that I arranged our room like this. Everything was in its place and I could easily grab the things that I needed to get out of my wet clothes fast and take a luxurious shower before dinner.
This wraps up our Calle Crisologo journey. Next, I’ll share more about the little indulgences that made our Vigan stay memorable and our journey back home.
I will leave you with this short video I took of the raging waves in Mindoro Beach.
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