Best Cafes in Saigon

If you are looking for coffee heaven in the world, then Saigon, or as it is officially called now, Ho Chi Minh City, is a place for you. The first reason is the deep connection between coffee and Vietnamese people. Coffee culture in Vietnam started with the French and has stayed in the heart of daily life ever since. That is why the Saigon coffee experience is like no other. Here are some of the best cafes in Saigon that caught our eye.

Cà Phê Sữa Đá or Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk

Before we go into the café shops in Ho Chi Minh City, we need to mention the ultimate star. For the ultimate experience of the coffee culture in Saigon, we are all about iced coffee with condensed milk. The best way to have a cup is from a street vendor that is loved by locals. Of course, it is a bonus if the lady has a stand on the side of the busy road or, even better, at the crossing. That way, you’ll enjoy the sweet delight and feel the buzz from the get-go.

What is special about Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk?

Everything starts with coffee beans, in the case of Vietnamese coffee, the Robusta coffee variety. Roast on the beans must range from medium to dark to get the desired intense and more bitter flavor. Afterward, the grinding must be done just right for the drip Phin filter. That means that the grind shouldn’t be too fine as it would clog the filter. However, the coffee should be well pressed into the filter for a slow drip process. Time enables coffee beans to fully develop a body that is rich in flavor. The taste can be described as chocolatey and nutty with vanilla-like properties. Combining it with condensed milk you get the addictive bitter-sweet combination that is just to die for. The brew is strong so don’t get too crazy, even though the second cup sounds very appealing.

Best Cafes in Saigon

It is safe to say that café culture in Ho Chi Minh City is changing rapidly. After all the focus is directed into artisanal passion for the high-quality product. We love the emphasis on the local produce and we hope this never changes.

The Workshop Coffee

The post-industrial look of the bright open space has some inspiring action going on in the middle. At the center, the brewing magic is happening and it is easy to see why it attracts all the looks. It is hard to look away from different brewing tools. Some look quite scientific and precision is easy to find in their coffee-making process. The Focus of The Workshop is on locally grown Arabica coffee in the Da Lat region, which they also roast and blend themselves. The workshop of this café with local coffee in Saigon is in a separate space from the Café. You’ll find both on top of the second floor of the building.

Our Coffee

When we saw the fizzy coffee, we couldn’t resist the temptation. Righteously so, because we loved it! As the name stated, it had tiny buttles that invigorated every sip and enhanced the refreshing fruity notes. We certainly didn’t expect to find such vivid plum and cherry notes in the iced coffee. As expected, our second coffee was also very tasty. It was a white coffee with a pleasing toffee body and hazelnut candy finish.

The Workshop Menu

The interactive menu explains how brewing methods affect the coffee. Then it lists all the coffee beans on offer with listed taste notes and details of each coffee variety. The menu covers food centered around Western influences on breakfast and brunch. Even though the Workshop is all about coffee, you’ll also find fresh juices, chocolate drinks, tea, and more. Can we say that the wall art is also on the menu? Although local artists aren’t directly listed, their artwork is on sale at the Workshop in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Fig

Already upon entering, we were in a much calmer state of mind. It is no secret that a natural environment filled with plants and water affects both the body and the soul. Before settling on the shaded outdoor terrace, we entered the Fig restaurant. We loved the natural color scheme with wooden furnishings. Without a doubt, this is one of the top coffee spots in Ho Chi Minh. A place to unwind and savor.

We took pleasure in ordering fresh Vietnamese spring rolls with intensely appetizing peanut sauce. Refreshing rolls were a good base for a fruity mocktail one could easily call compote. We say so because it is full of palmyra and jackfruit chunks and Cao Bang grass jelly cubes. What a refreshing treat! Yes, the coffee was also very good.

Mockingbird Coffee

Up on the 4th floor of an old building from the French era is quite a little spot for café hopping in Ho Chi Minh. At first, we had our doubts when we entered the dark stairways. Yet, we continued our journey toward the light and felt a sigh of relief after every floor. When we stepped on a balcony, we immediately felt like we were visiting an old friend. Perhaps, a little scruffy old friend but certainly hearty and charming. Maybe it was because of the tiny size or the guitar lady, but we felt we could stay there for a while. It could be that this makes Mockingbird Cafe one of the best cafés for digital nomads in Ho Chi Minh. If not that then the homely charm of the interior surely does. Honestly, we enjoyed our iced latte very much and we recommend it.

Cong Caphe

Admittedly, this is a coffee shop chain that you’ll find in about 66 different places. Everywhere you’ll recognize it by the signature military design inspired by the Viet Cong from the 1970 era. Usually, it is a lively space where you can enjoy something to eat and drink. Unquestionably, a must-have is their iced coconut milk coffee. Coconut milk coffee from Cong Caphe delights with a rich exchange of coconut milk and chocolate caramel coffee dimension. A combination that left us gasping for more.

FLY Cupcake Garden

FLY stands for Forever Love You, and we certainly love Cupcake Garden Forever. Both our cupcakes were as tasty as they looked, with pineapple winning the match. Simply because it was perfect in all ways. Starting with pineapple flavored cream flower and additional chunks that landed in the bouncy dough. Attention to the details carried through the interior is reminiscent of the walled garden. Indeed, it is a perfect spot for some fruity mocktails, but we went with coffee. Vietnamese iced coffee tasted fairly nutty and was rather sweet, just the way it ought to be.

38° Flower Market Tea House

As the name suggests, flowers are on sale and the focus is on tea, but that is not it. As it turned out we got a wonderfully tasting Vietnamese iced coffee that scored a balance between sweet and bitter. Since we love tea as well, we had to try their white bubble tea. The scent of jasmine flower went perfectly with milk bubbles that brought a playful texture.

The Interior of the 38° Flower Market Tea House is very chic and offers the perfect backdrop for photos. That is why we think it must be one of the Instagram-worthy cafés in Ho Chi Minh.

Ban Sonate Café

Hidden in a quiet corner of District 3, Ban Sonate Café is where calm and coffee come together in perfect harmony. With warm wooden interiors, classical music softly playing, and leafy views out the window, it feels more like a retreat than a café.

We kicked things off with the signature Vietnamese iced coffee, slow-dripped through a phin and poured over ice with condensed milk. It delivered exactly what we hoped for: bold, bittersweet, and dangerously easy to fall in love with. A pour-over followed, featuring beans from the Central Highlands. Earthy, rich, and just a little peppery, it was a cup worth slowing down for.

Final Thought

If you are asking where to find the best coffee in Saigon, rest assured that you don’t have to search far and wide. Rather, ask what kind of coffee you are after. Is it the famous Vietnamese coffee with ice and condensed milk, classic Italian espresso or are you after the trendy coconut coffee? In the case of something special and unique, we warmly recommend the Workshop, but we are sure that you’ll unexpectedly stumble upon a hidden gem café in Ho Chi Minh City.