Cafe Hopping – Best Cafes in Saigon

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Cafe Hopping – Best Cafes in Saigon

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Blog Team Friends Travel Vietnam • May 22, 2020

Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter of the world and its coffee culture is remarkable. You will never run out of cafes to visit – I bet you there is one on every block.

Even though there are so many cafe options, travelers still ask for some recommendations. So here is a list that has narrowed down the thousands of cafes in the city of Saigon to just nine. It excludes those well-known brands such as Trung Nguyen, Phuc Long, and the Coffee House. Despite their delicious coffee and awesome environment, they can get a bit crowded as they are popular. If you just want to find a place to relax with a book and a cuppa, then this list is definitely for you.

Here are our favorite cafes in Saigon. We recommend these not just for the taste of the coffee but also for the ambiance and environment. It doesn’t matter if you drink coffee or not – you’ll just want to go and chill or take that perfect Instagram snap

Thinker & Dreamer

Located in the 42 Nguyen Hue building, this coffee shop was created by one of Saigon’s most popular photographers. That being said, Thinker & Dreamer is a stunning artistic space that completely stands out from other coffee shops in the same building.

It is the ideal space to think, relax, and even daydream. The coffee shop is quite small, but its layout is neat and airy. Besides coffee, you can also order a slice of cake or tea. The signature dish is their flowerpot cakes. Almost every dish on the menu looks as good as it tastes!

Address: Fourth floor, 42 Nguyen Hue street, District 1

Price: 50,000 Vietnamese Dong

Hours: 9 AM – 10 PM

Contact: Facebook page

The New Thinker & Dreamer

In addition to the Thinker & Dreamer located in the Nguyen Hue apartment building, this coffee shop has just opened a new branch aptly named The New Thinker & Dreamer. The new branch was inspired by the Saigon of 1975. Expect the same attention to simplicity and calming white walls with nostalgic wood chairs. What people remember about this shop is its quiet atmosphere, isolated from the crowded, cramped city.

Thinker & Dreamer’s specialties have always been their coffees and cakes. This is a indispensable space for you to relax with your friends and take some pretty photos.

Address: 26B Le Loi street, Ben Nghe ward, District 1

Price: 45,000 – 70,000 VND

Hours: 9 AM – 10 PM

Contact: Facebook page

The 1985 Cafe

The 1985 Cafe is a place where you can comfortably chat with friends and family, put aside the chaos of life, relax beside a cup of tea and your favorite cake, or you can simply sit and read a good book that you found somewhere in the shop.

Inspired by Japanese menus, this intimate cafe offers teas, cakes, and other dishes resonant of the Land of the Rising Sun. With a beautifully crafted pastry at hand, one can’t help but admire the overall artistry of the space.

The downside: the prices are a bit higher compared to other places on the list. But rest assured, the price is worth the experience. The perfect time to visit The 1985 Cafe is between 3 to 5 PM, with sunlight basking the interior in rays of glittering light.

Address: 223/2K Pham Viet Chanh Street, District 1

Price: 50,000 VND

Hours: 9 AM – 10 PM

Contact: Facebook page

Padma De Fleur

Padma de Fleur is often known to people in the neighborhood as a flower shop. However, this is not just a pretty little flower shop, Padma de Fleur is also a place where you can sip a cup of tea next to beautiful vases in a sunny courtyard. It’s a well-kept Christina’s secret, you can sometimes find our editorial team typing away at their computers here.

The quiet Padma de Fleur is simple in appearance. The open-space design takes advantage of the natural light so the store is always full of warm sunshine. Every day, the shop exhibits more than a dozen types of flowers, fresh and brilliant in color.

The ground floor has a small bar with some tables and chairs. The rooftop is like a green garden with pretty small tree pots.

Padma de Fleur is also a coffee shop that serves lunch at noon, and cocktails and Vietnamese food in the evening. The lunch options change daily depending on the chef and you will not be able to know until you order. You will also fall in love with the food presentation at Padma de Fleur, because even the simplest and most ordinary dishes also have a very delicate and elegant appearance. Each drink or dish is decorated with flower flourishes, satisfying customers both in sight and taste.

Address: 55/6 Le Thi Hong Gam street, District 1

Price: 50,000 VND

Hours: 9 AM – 10 PM

Contact: Facebook page

An Xanh 1958

In a small alley at the heart of the city center, there are two cafeterias located opposite to one another. One is an elegant modern tea house, the other speaks the voice of Saigon in the 1900s.

That old place is An Xanh 1958. It’s a vegan coffee shop that serves most foods and drinks on a donation-based basis. They use grass straws instead of plastic. After you finish your servings, the leftovers are sorted into any of the three types: compost, burn, and recycle. You can also find several choices of eco personal care such as soap, shampoo, and detergent.

Most takeaway drinks are served in glass bottles, the price ranges between 25,000 VND – 45,000 VND. You can choose to reuse the bottle or to return these bottles to the shop. You get 5,000 VND back per returned bottle that is still in good condition.

Occasionally, there will be eco and art events arranged at An Xanh 1958. Head there if you are a fan of eco-art!

Address: 58/9 Truong Dinh street, District 1

Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM

Contact: Facebook page

L’usine – 1st Floor, 151 Dong Khoi, D.1

Launched in 2010, L’Usine is a little different. It has a restaurant-cafe, art gallery, and fashion-accessories retailer. L’Usine constantly appears on many of the world’s major newspapers such as CNN and The New York Times. CNN Travel has twice voted L’Usine as one of the creative coffee shops that tourists in the world must visit when in Ho Chi Minh City. At L’Usine, you can enjoy a variety of delicacies of European-Asian cuisine and have the opportunity to purchase unique and fancy products.

The two-floor space of L’Usine features French architecture, with simple but cozy and luxurious interiors. It’s classic yet dynamic which makes for a great place to meet your friends or just sit down to journal about your travels. With these factors, L’Usine Dong Khoi is the right address for meeting friends, family, and simply gathering.

Address: 1st Floor, 151 Dong Khoi street, District 1

Price: 50,000 – 150,000 VND

Hours: 7 AM – 10:30 PM

Contact: Facebook page

Nguoi Sai Gon Cafe – 9 Thai Van Lung, D.1

Located on the one-way street Thai Van Lung, District 1, Nguoi Sai Gon cafe is considered a familiar house that welcomes guests with a respite from the crazy city. This café is located in an old apartment building that is often cast in a stained yellow light, making it a mysterious and intriguing place. When walking through the stairs, you’ll see the sign to this cafe. It’s on the first floor.

As soon as you walk through the door, you will see a space filled with light from the windows. The layout is quite simply decorated in the sense that even though the space is small, you are able to privately go about your work.

This coffee shop has many delicious dishes for you to enjoy such as broken rice and side dishes. Some of my personal favorites are the beef noodles and Mi Quang (noodle soup of the Quang land in central Vietnam) only served on Saturdays. The food and drink prices range from 40,000 to 80,000 VND.

This shop also organizes acoustic music performances every Thursday and Saturday night. It’s a great way to see a different side of the cafe culture in Ho Chi Minh City.

Address: 9 Thai Van Lung street, District 1

Price: 40,000 – 80,000 VND

Hours: 8 AM – 11 PM

Contact: Facebook page

Thuc Coffee – Many Locations in D.1

Thuc Coffee is a familiar name among the youth of Saigon. You may think that Saigon is busy during the day, but the downtown area gets even crazier when the sun goes down. At Thuc, customers can spend their sleepless nights enjoying a coffee while perched on the roadside. This is the perfect place for people watching. You can easily pick a spot inside or outside, but for Ho Chi Minh first-timers, take a seat outside to soak it all in.

Addresses:

45 Nguyen Oanh street, Go Vap district
320 Nguyen Thai Son street, Go Vap district
22 Quang Trung street, Go Vap district
37 Ly Tu Trong street, District 1
48 – 50 Huynh Thuc Khang street, District 1
182 Pasteur street, District 1
156B Pasteur street, District 1
65 Go Dau street, Tan Phu district

Price: 40,000 – 70,000 VND

Hours: 24 hours

Contact: Thuc’s website

La Viet

La Viet has a good reputation in Da Lat city thanks to its unrivaled space and quality of drinks. Now, La Viet has officially appeared in Ho Chi Minh City. This branch has three floors, each of which is designed differently to suit the needs of their wide customer base. La Viet in Ho Chi Minh City still retains the same “industrial style” that made the shop in Da Lat city popular. The coffee counter and floor are made of cement, and the tables and chairs are inspired by a classic workspace.

As a Vietnamese coffee brand, the menu of the shop focuses mainly on items such as brewing coffee, filtering coffee, and drip-handcrafted coffee. In particular, La Viet in HCMC has a cold brew for those who like to mix coffee with other flavors.

The shop is roofed with old corrugated iron sheets, a staple in this city. While this idea originated in Da Lat, the owners have done an excellent job of utilizing HCMC’s unique style. From the large windows embracing sunshine every morning, the long wooden tables for those who want to sit down and work for a while, to even a small balcony full of greenery, this place is also uniquely Saigonese. On the wall, you’ll also see frames of coffee beans of different roasting levels. It’s easy to feel motivated with the constant surrounding smell of good coffee.

Address: 191 Hai Ba Trung street,Ward 6, District 3

Price: 30,000 – 60,000 VND

Hours: 7:30 AM – 9 PM

Contact: Facebook page

Chanchamayo Cafe

Chanchamayo is located on Ngo Thoi Nhiem street, the “coffee street” of HCMC with many famous coffee shops. Chanchamayo is quite spacious and easy to find so you don’t have to worry about getting lost among the various coffee shops, although you can’t really go wrong on this street either.

The interior space is divided into two areas. The outside space is large, airy, and full of sunlight. This area is dominated by the simple white and brown tones that create both a rich and cozy space. While the colors are simply, the cacti and palm trees make for a wholly different experience and vibe. Do be careful with the weather if you want to sit outside, sometimes the sun is too hot or if it’s the rainy season, you’ll be more wet than your drink.

Inside, you’ll find the same themes complemented by potted plants and small decorative objects with elegant and simple colors. The shop has a pretty shelf displaying lots of pottery products.

If you’re coming here to work, there is conveniently space for groups or meetings equipped with large boards and markers!

Chanchamayo’s menu is diverse, ranging from coffee, smoothies to milkfoam drinks. Drinks are carefully decorated. In addition, the coffee shop also serves dishes for lunch, and cakes and crepes for dessert.

One tip: the ceiling here is quite low which can make the space feel cramped if there are too many people.

Address: 6A Ngo Thoi Nhiem street, Ward 7, District 3

Price: 40,000 – 80,000 VND

Hours: 8 AM – 11 PM

Contact: Facebook page

Goc Ha Noi Cafe

How about a little taste of Hanoi in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City? Because of its location in the famous Westerners’ quarter, Goc Ha Noi is frequented by many foreign visitors. This small shop with low ceilings and narrow staircases is a favorite place for both Western and Vietnamese guests.

The ground floor of the shop is a kitchen, where delicious dishes are prepared. The first floor has only two tables, enough seats for just about six people, while the second floor is larger, where there are three tables and a small balcony to let the light in. The inside of the shop is decorated with reminders of Hanoi, from a single picture to a painted flower vase.

If I mention Hanoi, then I have to talk about the typical egg coffee. This is also a popular drink here!

Address: 165/3 Bui Vien street, Pham Ngu Lao ward, District 1

Price: 30,000 – 50,000 VND

Hours: 9 AM – 11 PM

Contact: Facebook page

Cafe Vot

And we’ve saved the best for last… to cap off our full-bodied list is the charming Cafe Vot. You won’t find any signs or kitschy décor because this is an unassuming coffee stall with some plastic tables, chairs, and an old man running the whole operation.

So why is this place high on the priority list for the best coffee shops in Saigon? Each cup is bursting with flavor so unique, you’ll be begging for more. Using the antiquated technique of filtering the coffee grounds with a cloth, the lady brews the coffee in her own professional way. It is undoubtedly impossible to find a similar flavor anywhere else in the city. This process undergoes several stages, requiring the maker to be super meticulous and knowledgeable to come up with such a qualified cup of coffee. Seriously, this hidden experience is worth the time and energy. Don’t skip out on Saigon without visiting Café Vot!

Fun fact: Ca phe Vot is said to be the most hardworking cafe in town since, during its decades of operation, the place only closes for only 10 minutes every year.

Address: 330 Phan Dinh Phung street, Phu Nhuan district

Price : 15,000 – 40,000 VND

Hours : 24 hours

Credits to: Vinh Vu

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