Chocolate Coffee And Vijay Fever: Inside Kashmir’s Viral ‘Leo’ Café
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From dancing to ‘Naa Ready’ to ordering the famous ‘Chocolate Coffee’, Vijay fans are flocking to a Kashmir café made iconic by scenes from the blockbuster film ‘Leo’
Visitors arriving at the café are often seen filming Instagram reels, recreating scenes from ‘Leo’ and dancing to songs associated with the movie.
A quiet café tucked away in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has unexpectedly turned into a pilgrimage spot for Tamil cinema fans, especially after actor-turned-politician Vijay recently became Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister.
Located around 40 kilometres from Pahalgam, Sifar Cafe has witnessed a steady stream of tourists from Tamil Nadu who arrive eager to relive scenes from the blockbuster film Leo, which was shot at the café.
‘Leo’ Turned The Café Into A Fan Destination
Known as Cafe Wild Beans in the film, the café served as a major location in Leo, where Vijay portrayed a café owner secretly leading a double life as a gangster. Several memorable scenes from the film were shot there, including moments featuring actors Trisha Krishnan, Sanjay Dutt and Sandy Master.
In the film, Vijay is seen serving coffee, sharing quiet moments with his family and engaging in intense action sequences, all against the snowy backdrop of Kashmir.
Since the film’s release in 2023, the café has transformed into a popular stop for Tamil tourists visiting Kashmir.
Fans Recreate Film Moments At The Café
Visitors arriving at the café are often seen filming Instagram reels, recreating scenes from Leo and dancing to songs associated with the movie. During a recent visit, tourists from Chennai reportedly performed hook steps from the song Naa Ready soon after entering the café premises. Several fans were also seen enthusiastically taking photographs beneath posters of Vijay displayed throughout the venue.
A six-year-old visitor travelling with family members had reportedly spent the journey listening repeatedly to songs from Vijay’s upcoming film Jana Nayagan.
Employees at the café said Tamil tourists now make up the overwhelming majority of visitors, particularly after Vijay’s political rise.
‘Chocolate Coffee’ Emerges As Fan Favourite
One item in particular has become inseparable from the Leo experience at Sifar Café: the now-famous ‘Chocolate Coffee’. The café’s version of Chocolate Coffee includes espresso, chocolate syrup, milk and foam, recreating the beverage made popular through the film, as reported by The Hindu.
According to café staff, most visitors arriving from Tamil Nadu specifically ask for the drink immediately after reaching the establishment. An employee at the café said many tourists instruct their drivers to take them directly to Sifar as soon as they arrive in Kashmir. Among the visitors was a Catholic priest from Chennai, who described the visit as an emotional experience for Vijay’s admirers following his election victory.
Café Staff Recall Vijay’s Kashmir Shoot
Employees who were present during the shooting of Leo continue to share stories about the actor with curious visitors. Shaukat Rahman, the café’s floor manager, said location scouts from Tamil Nadu first visited the property in 2022 before finalising it for filming.
Although the original agreement reportedly planned for 22 days of shooting, the production eventually used the location for around 25 days. Rahman recalled frequently serving local trout fish dishes to Vijay during the shoot and described the actor as reserved and quiet while staying mostly inside his caravan between scenes.
Café Embraces Its Film Identity
Since gaining recognition through Leo, the café has fully embraced its cinematic association. Photographs of Vijay and Sanjay Dutt now decorate both indoor and outdoor sections of the property, which can accommodate around 170 guests. Scenes from the film are regularly played on LED screens installed inside the café.
The menu prominently features Chocolate Coffee, while many visitors continue to arrive simply to experience the location where several iconic scenes from Leo were filmed.
A New Tourism Spot In Kashmir
Situated on KP Road in Bomzoo, Anantnag, the café has evolved from a quiet local establishment into a tourism hotspot connecting Tamil cinema fandom with Kashmir’s scenic landscape. For many visitors, the attraction is no longer only about coffee or cinema; it has become a place where fandom, politics and film culture intersect in an unexpected corner of Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir, India, India
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