Ho Chi Minh City's top café connoisseur spots

1. Anh Coffee Roastery

This sprawling 400 meters square café, surrounded by greenery along Pasteur Street, offers various seating areas. The central bar area exudes the aroma of freshly roasted coffee. Patrons can choose to sit here, enjoying a selection of coffee preparation techniques, including hand-brewed, traditional filter, and Italian-style coffee.

The Anh Coffee Roastery captivates tourists with its predominant orange theme evident in both the walls and the furniture arranged in the outdoor area. Photo courtesy of Instagram/davidnakamurah

Anh Coffee Roastery has earned praise from foreign design magazines, and in 2023, American architectural magazine Architectural Digest named it one of the 23 most beautiful coffee shops worldwide. This café was also honored with a silver award at the Vmark Design Award 2022 presented by the Ho Chi Minh City Design Association (VDAS) in the Best F&B Design category.

Address: 200 Pasteur Street, District 3

2. Bonjour Café The Art

Nestled in the Thao Dien neighborhood, this coffee shop boasts a Parisian ambiance, featuring two floors decorated with flower baskets. The atmosphere is deepened by the melodies of French music. Despite its relatively small size of around 70 m2, the café is well-lit due to several petite windows.

The shop is filled with lots of colorful flowers. Photo courtesy of Bonjour Cafe The Art

The menu features a range of beverages, including coffee, smoothies, and juices. Particularly noteworthy is the milk coffee jelly dish.

Address: 42 Thao Dien Street, District 2

3. Co Ba Dong Khoi

Situated on the first floor of a house in the heart of Dong Khoi street, Co Ba Dong Khoi captures the vintage style of the 80s. Wooden tables as well as nostalgic souvenirs like porcelain cups and copper flower pots contribute to the ambiance reminiscent of the bygone era. The highlight is the balcony offering a view of the Saigon River and the bustling city center.

The shop is presently closed due to relocation, and the details of its new location have not yet been announced.

The balcony offers a view of the bustling streets in the city center. Photo courtesy of Ca Phe Co Ba Dong Khoi

Address: 4-6 Dong Khoi Street, District 1

4. Do Phu Coffee

The coffee branch on Dang Dung Street, functioning both as a café and restaurant, holds historical significance in connection with the Saigon Rangers. Do Phu Coffee reflects the culinary and architectural style of Saigon from the years preceding 1975. The shop is characterized by a simple hand-lettered sign, and a bronze plaque at the entrance designates it as a "Historical Monument: Secret mailbox and bunker of the Saigon Special Forces."

Do Phu cafe on Dang Dung Street is decorated with plenty of green plants. Photo by VnExpress/Bich Phuong

Upon entering, numerous historical artifacts such as photos, papers, and documents related to the Saigon Rangers are on display. Every watch, cassette player, oil lamp, and telephone serves as a testament to a bygone era. Visitors to the restaurant can observe the unique structure of the special bunkers employed by the special forces.

Addresses:

- 113A Dang Dung Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1

- 287/72 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ward 5, District 3

- 145 Tran Quang Khai Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1

5. Coffee shops with Koi fish ponds

In addition to the book cafe and pet cafe concepts in Ho Chi Minh City, there is also a cafe model inspired by Koi fish. These cafes are typically set in locations close to nature, featuring green trees, fish ponds, and miniature rockeries. The peaceful setting offers a break from the city noise.

Suggested addresses:

- The Festa Coffee & Tea: 46 Tran Trong Cung Street, Tan Thuan Dong Ward, District 7

- Koilands Coffee: No. 13 – 24 Khong Tu Street, Thu Duc City

- Koi Coffee Garden Island: No. 15, Street 5C, Binh Hung Hoa A Ward, Binh Tan District

6. Du Mien Café

This coffee chain has several branches across the city. What ties these establishments together is their location in expansive garden areas spanning thousands of square meters.

The outdoor seating area provides a space for visitors to unwind and savor the fresh air. Photo courtesy of Du Mien Garden Coffee

The shops are surrounded by green trees, shielding patrons from street traffic noise with the gentle sounds of water from indoor ponds. As night falls, the garden spaces come alive with yellow lights, setting a romantic ambiance.

However, it's worth noting that garden cafes with abundant trees may attract mosquitoes. Visitors are advised to bring insect spray to ward off mosquito bites.

Addresses:

- 7 Phan Van Tri Street, Ward 10, Go Vap District

- 221A Nguyen Trong Tuyen Street, Ward 08, Phu Nhuan District

- 565 Kha Van Can Street, Linh Dong Ward, Thu Duc District

- GM-D03, 119 Pho Quang Street, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District

- 18 Tran Thien Chanh Street, Ward 12, District 10

7. Cong Coffee

In the midst of Saigon's growing coffee scene, Cong has established a major presence. The first outlet of this coffee chain commenced operations in 2007 on Trieu Vuong Street, Hanoi. The name "Cong" is a direct reference to the initial word in the national title "Cong hoa Xa hoi Chu nghia Viet Nam" or "The Socialist Republic of Vietnam." Currently, Cong operates over 60 shops throughout Vietnam, with an additional 10 locations in South Korea and Malaysia.

A Cong coffee shop features predominantly green decor and non-uniform chairs. Photo courtesy of Cong Caphe

Similar to its establishments in Hanoi, the shops in Saigon maintain a traditional Vietnamese style reminiscent of the subsidy period. Each location features a distinctive layout.

For instance, the shop on Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1 occupies a modest three-story house, offering a self-service model and views of Tan Dinh Church. In contrast, the Thao Dien branch is housed in an older villa.

The menu appeals to customers with offerings like coconut milk coffee, bac siu (drink of milk and coffee), or lime slush. Additionally, the brand regularly introduces new drinks to its menu.

8. Da Bao Concept

Two cafes within this brand in Saigon attract tourists not only as coffee shops but also as unique photo-shooting spots due to their distinct architecture.

Spanning an area of up to 800 m2, Da Bao Concept Co Do, situated at 18 Tu Xuong Street in District 3, features two primary spaces: indoor and garden. The outdoor area is shaded by a canopy of green trees, casting shadows on walls that have aged over time. Inside, carvings on the ceiling, columns, deep brown wooden tables and chairs, and dome-shaped wooden doors with sculptural details inspired by nature distinguish the interior. The patterned tile floor enhances the unique ambiance.

Da Bao Concept Co Do coffee shop evokes the image of a traditional Vietnamese house for visitors. Photo courtesy of Instagram/bb.yummy

Da Bao Concept Dong Do is nestled in an alley in 151C Hai Ba Trung Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3. The interior predominantly features wood and rattan elements, creating a rustic atmosphere. Outside, there's a small pond surrounded by numerous green trees.

9. Lacàph Coffee

Opened 2022, this establishment blends old and modern aesthetics. The ambiance here is that of coziness and the feeling of home, achieved through the use of wooden materials, black and white ceramic tiles, and expansive windows offering a view of the city.

Lacàph coffee shop has a modern ambiance with a hint of old aesthetics, visible in the patterned floor tiles. Photo courtesy of Lacàph

Visitors are attracted to the varied drink offerings, including specialties like Phin Con Panna—a mix of filter coffee, condensed milk and coffee flower honey, topped with whipped cream and yogurt. Another popular choice is Phin Colada, made with filter coffee, coconut cream, pineapple juice, and syrup.

Moreover, the shop offers traditional coffees like salted coffee and egg coffee, which are also unique and well-liked. The seating in the coffee shop is orderly, offering a specific area for customers to chat and a quiet corner for work.

Address: 220 Nguyen Cong Tru Street, District 1