More Coffee Shops and more hangouts

Hangout is a place a person would frequently go to because of its atmosphere. It may be a place for meeting friends, spending a pastime like reading a book or just having a good dish and drink after a full day. Here is to share three different coffee shops that have become my hangout while in Saigon.

The Loft Cafe

Address: 26 Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh

Phone: 08 6682 5082

The Loft Cafe is at the 1st level of the century old Art gallery building at the corner of Dong Khoi and Ly Tu Trong streets in District 1. The coffee shop is open as early as 7:00am and closes at 10:00pm. They serve a wide variety of meals–from Vietnamese to continental breakfast, local noodles and ala carte meals for lunch, sandwiches, cocktails coffee and mocktails, simple and specialty ice cream such as duriccini, chocomando and peppacado and a good line up of appetizers.

I come here because the ambiance is very peaceful. But mind you, this could be filled up during lunch time on workdays. I have tried their salmon which is great, lunch meal, golden noodles and even the bruschetto. The staff are also very attentive to the diners’ needs.

This is a good place to visit to have a relaxing personal time and a sumptuous dinner after a hard day of work.

Caffe Bene

Address: 58 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Phone: 08 3925 7788

Caffe Bene is an Italian named and themed coffee shop but is a fusion of Vietnamese coffee, Italian and American coffee, nice fruit smoothies and juices, and of course famous for their Korean bing-su. It has a very spacious ground and first floor areas. The second floor has bookshelf walls with many reading materials in Vietnamese for the young and the old.

The place also possesses a serene ambiance suited for both formal and informal meeting of friends and acquaintances. The coffee and the smoothies are a bit pricey but it is a good place for reading or studying. It is like every corner is a small private space. I don’t mind passing a weekend afternoon time to read my book in this place. I will come back.

Cafe Com Hen Nho

Address: 382/22 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường 5, Quan 3, Hồ Chí Minh City, 700000

Phone:08 6681 9107

Cafe Com Hen Nho is a coffee shop gem situated perpendicularly between Vo Van tan St. and Nguyen Thi Min Khai in District 3. It has two levels with well chosen wooden chairs and antique frames. They serve local coffee, ice cream and desserts too. There is an acoustic music band on Saturdays but I usually come here on week nights.

The place has a personality of antiquity but still a source of modern coffee ambiance pleasures. As a hangout, it has been a refuge for my Vietnamese friend and myself to go here for an end-of-work chat, rumblings and consolations.