Coffee is so ingrained into Vietnamese society that it’s almost a requirement to experience this cultural aspect when you’re visiting the country. It’s a far cry from the fast-paced American grab and go coffee, and more so resembles the watch-the-world-go-by concept embraced by the Italians. In fact, so much time is spent in these coffee shops that they cater to almost any aspect of life.

The most basic coffee shops place tiny blue stools out on the sidewalk, its patrons gathered around a little table, gossiping the afternoon away or reading a book, or simply watching the traffic drive by. During soccer (football for all those heathens out there) season, some coffee shops turn into non-alcoholic sports bars and despite the lack of alcohol, the crowd is so rowdy that you would have thought they’d been day drinking.

“I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake.”

Lewis Black

In more upscale places, these café shops have a notably westernized and hip interior. These cafes are similar to ones back at home, where friends gather, couples go on dates, or patrons use the area as a workspace. The sheer popularity of coffee culture means that these types of shops are everywhere! It’s not like back at home where people are forced to flock to the same few shops. In Saigon, you get first pick at the coffee bean pile.

The difficult part, however, is finding and sorting through these cafes. Many of these cafes seem to purposefully make it as hard as possible to find. They can be lurking up a hidden alley or nestled on the second or third floor of an odd building. If you can find these cafes, you’ll be rewarded with a cozy, cute café that’s often just overflowing with personality.

Well fortunately I am still unemployed and have to get out of the house on a daily basis for the sake of my sanity. During this, I’ve compiled a list of the cutest bars for a quiet hangout or a romantic date (I also have a list of favorite co-working bars that will be shared another time).

 

The Hidden Elephant Books and Coffee

35 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Conveniently located right next to the famous tourist market, Ben Thanh, The Hidden Elephant truly managed to hide an elephant in plain sight. It’s located on the second floor and has one teensy little sign outside the grimy stairwell that leads to the café.

If you can find this café, you’ll find a cozy little bookstore café with a great view. The drinks are fairly good, but what’s really special is the bookstore vibe. The café walls are lined with books (their English selection is fairly limited though) and the café highly discourages any noise. Talking is allowed on the balcony.

This may sound a bit strict, but it creates a great  atmosphere to sit down, read a book or get some work done while still being right in the heart of District 1. Just don’t expect to socialize much here.

Still haven’t found the elephant

 

Vietnam Coffee Republic

8a/7b2 Thái Văn Lung, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh

Also in District 1, but this little coffee shop is hidden a little ways north in the alleys of Japan Town. The décor is absolutely lovely with an old school Crate and Barrel feel. I will say the drinks are overpriced for the quality and the service is rather lackluster, but it’s a nice café if you find yourself in the area.

I particularly like the old school fridge

 

Cooku’s Nest Café

13 Tú Xương, phường 7, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh

Moving slightly outside of District 1 and on to the very edge of District 3 is the Cooku’s Nest. The most notable attraction here is that at night, they host live music which fills the place up with a decent sized crowd. It’s good music, but there is a sizable cover tacked onto the bill at the end of the night which wouldn’t be so bad if the drinks weren’t already more expensive than average.

The real highlight to me is how the café is often vacant during the day. Head to the upstairs area and you’ll find an obnoxiously adorable mezzanine furnished with tiny tables and cushions so you can sit cross legged on the floor. Look no further for a sappy romantic date spot.

Let’s be honest, have you seen a more adorable setup?

 

Cộng Cà phê

346 Trường Sa, Phường 7, Phú Nhuận, Hồ Chí Minh

While this café is a mini chain, their best location is undoubtedly the one in District 3 along the riverfront. The café has a very rustic vibe with shelves full of yellowing books, rustic shutters and a building aesthetic that recreates the old Vietnamese café style. Its open layout makes it great to sit around with a group of friends. If that’s not your jam, then its multiple floors and its corner front location makes for some great views of the river and the intersection.

There’s an oddly large amount of war paraphernalia here

 

Hoang Café

351/45 Lê Văn Sỹ, Phường 13, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh

Another café in the heart of District 3, Hoang Café also goes for the rustic aesthetic (and goes as far as building a nonfunctional fireplace). Like the Cooku’s nest, they also host live music at night and the place ends up being relatively vacant during the day. It can be used as an empty workspace or better yet, as another great date spot.

I feel like the owner went to Pier 101 Imports, and just bought anything he could touch

 

Cafe Cõi Xưa

55 Tân Canh, Phường 1, Tân Bình, Hồ Chí Minh

If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of Saigon, Cafe Cõi Xưa can provide a bit of a respite. The buildings are built with brick, and there’s a little pond and a massive tree that makes the area feel more calm and natural, giving it a nice garden ambiance. It’s a great relaxing spot with some greenery that makes for a very intimate hangout.

An urban oasis

 

Red Door Coffee

400/8 Lê Văn Sỹ, Phường 14, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh

Hands down my favorite café. Located down a small alley in District 3, it’s the best respite from the city I have found. It’s fashioned as a modern and very western café with giant windows that flood the café with natural light. The owner went through some effort to line the exterior café with all sorts of greenery, giving it a very natural feel. Throw in some very tasteful music and modern decoration to make this place truly warm.

The icing on the cake is that they have some absolutely fantastic coffee at a great price. They only focus on coffee, so there’s no food selection and an otherwise very limited drink menu. In addition, the downstairs area hosts live music, and some separate rooms seem to play host to photography meetups.

It doesn’t matter if you’re here to read a book, do some work, or go on a date, this café can do it all.

Such simplistic beauty

 

 

Until next time.