Hidden cafés in Vietnam have a special charm. They draw in both locals and travelers with their unique designs, cozy themes, and views that blend old Saigon with modern life. Everyone loves having that one secret spot you only share with your favorite people, right? In this guide, Jackfruit Adventure brings you our favourite collection of iconic saigon coffee shops in the hidden corner of the city, let’s find out what they are right below.

1. Ca Phe Do Phu – Bao Tang Biet Dong Sai Gon

Saigon hidden coffee shop

• Address: 19 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ben Nghe, District 1
• Opening hours: 08:00 – 22:00
• Price: 35,000 – 45,000 VND

The reason this café is number one on the list must be something special. And yes, this café is a completely different place from before 1975.

Used to be a secret meeting point for a special Vietnamese force in Saigon, today Do Phu Café has been transformed into a cozy mix of café and mini ‘museum’. Back in the 1960s, this hidden spot was used by the “Saigon Rangers,” a force known for carrying out sabotage missions and sudden attacks during the war against South Vietnamese under US forces’ control.

Walking into Do Phu Café feels like stepping into Vietnam in the 70s and 80s. The wooden chairs, old cupboards, and vintage signboards bring back the look of a classic Vietnamese home. Warm yellow walls, old-style décor, and small nostalgic details make the space feel familiar and comforting like visiting someone’s living room from decades ago.

One of the most special features of the café is the restored basement. This tiny underground room once served as the Rangers’ hiding place. It’s only a few square meters wide, just enough for two or three people, and was used to plan missions, exchange secret documents, and store hidden equipment.

Today, you can walk down and see it with your own eyes. It’s a rare chance to touch a piece of Saigon’s wartime history while enjoying a cup of strong Vietnamese milk coffee. Do Phu Café isn’t just a simple Saigon coffee shop, it’s a story, quietly preserved behind warm lights and old walls.

2. Bittersweet Cakery & Cafe

Saigon hidden coffee shop

Bittersweet Cakery & Cafe sits quietly in a small alley off Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s well-known streets. From the outside, it feels like a tiny bakery house straight out of a fairy tale.

• Address: 287/75 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 5, District 3
• Opening hours: 07:00 – 22:00
• Price: 45,000 – 60,000 VND

Step inside and you’ll see it really is a small home, with two floors connected by a narrow wooden staircase tucked into the left corner. The space is filled with retro-style wooden tables and chairs sized for two to four people, along with little flower pots placed along the windows and walls. The shop uses cute tablecloths and curtains with polka dots and Christmas-style patterns, giving the whole place a warm and cozy feeling.

Bittersweet is known not just for drinks but also for its cakes and sweets. Their creations are playful, pretty, and delicious, quite different from what you usually find in regular bakeries. You can enjoy a slice right there or pick up a small box as a thoughtful gift for family and friends.

This little Saigon coffee shop is also home to two very calm, gentle cats. Visitors often spend time playing with them, taking photos, or giving them soft pets. As long as you interact gently, they’re happy to keep you company.

Since the year-end season is coming, Bittersweet is especially worth mentioning. Their Christmas decorations are truly charming. The first time I visited was during Christmas 2023, and the whole scene immediately won me over. If you plan to come by motorbike, there’s a parking spot about 20 meters inside the alley, and the fee is around 10,000 VND.

3. Luu Coffee Shop

Saigon hidden coffee shop

If you’re searching for a hidden rooftop cafe in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Luu Cafe (Chân Trời Ký Ức) might be exactly the little heaven you’ve been hoping to find. The space still keeps the vintage style you see in many old-Saigon cafes, but what truly sets Luu apart is the lush greenery. Plants grow thick around the space, giving the feeling of stepping into a witch’s plant room or a secret garden tucked above the city.

• Address: Halo Building, 39 Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1
• Opening hours: 08:00 – 22:00
• Price: 45,000 – 60,000 VND

Since it’s a rooftop, the view is one of the best parts. You get fresh, open air and a chance to quietly watch life unfold in the alleys below. From the balcony, you can also see a beautiful angle of Tan Dinh Church, also known as the Pink Church, one of Saigon’s most iconic landmarks.

The cafe also has many small artistic items around the space, such as pottery cups, decorative birds, old cassettes, and digital cameras. You’re welcome to touch or borrow them while enjoying your drink, just gently ask the staff first. Also, remember there’d be a 5,000 VND fee for bike parking.

4. Auvery Cafe

Saigon hidden coffee shop

Another lovely spot inside one of Ho Chi Minh City’s old apartment buildings is Auvery Cafe. Unlike many hidden Saigon coffee shops that follow a vintage theme, Auvery brings a brighter, more modern look. The space uses light wooden cupboards, soft white walls, and small cute decorations that make everything feel calm and refreshing.

• Address: 54 Ky Con, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1
• Opening hours: 08:30 – 21:30
• Price: 40,000 – 75,000 VND

Located inside the Ký Con apartment building, the cafe gives you a chance to enjoy your drink while watching life unfold in an old Saigon block that still beats alongside the modern city around it. Stepping into Auvery feels a bit like visiting the home of a creative friend. Every corner seems like it could be turned into a piece of art. It’s not overly decorated or staged but simply feels lived-in, personal, and artistic.

The drinks are also surprisingly good. Normally, I don’t expect much from a beautifully decorated coffee shop, but Auvery changed my mind. The quality matches the atmosphere. A Japanese influencer once visited, fell in love with the place, posted about it on Instagram, and the cafe even reposted their content.

If you give Auvery Cafe a try, I’m confident it won’t disappoint you. It’s a quiet, charming escape in the middle of the city.

5. Nhi Cafe

Saigon hidden coffee shop

Nhi Cafe sets its main theme, “Saigon Vintage,” right on the front sign. It invites you to step in and experience how an old Saigon coffee shop once looked, sounded, and felt. Even though it sits under a modern apartment block, the café still feels tucked away because the spot on Co Giang Street is usually quiet and easy to miss.

• Address: Soho Residence Apartment (C, 0.02), 100 Co Giang, Co Giang Ward, District 1
• Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00
• Price: 20,000 – 62,000 VND (drinks); 65,000 – 109,000 VND (breakfast)

The space follows a rustic vintage style and is much larger than it appears from the outside. There are plenty of seats inside and a few more at the entrance. With warm yellow lighting shaping the entire mood, the café recreates a familiar Saigon atmosphere through its architecture and furniture. The interesting part is that everything looks new and polished, almost as if Saigon in the 1990s had been brought into 2025.

Inside, you will also notice beautiful artwork. The walls are decorated with paintings created using classic Vietnamese art materials and style. They help carry the whole aesthetic and make the café feel soulful and full of character. If you have time, I recommend dropping by in the morning because the breakfast here is truly delicious.

More than just hidden coffee shops in Saigon for you to explore!

Saigon coffee shops are one of those topics that instantly capture people’s attention when they visit the city. I hope these carefully selected spots spark your curiosity as they truly offer a chance to explore Saigon’s alley culture and its hidden, understated aesthetic. From the signature drinks to the unique architecture, these places offer some of the best lesser-known experiences in the city. I hope more people discover them, because they genuinely deserve to be cherished.

If you want to uncover even more hidden corners, join Jackfruit Adventure on two wheels. Our Saigon Cycling Tours take you through local neighborhoods, real stories, and the everyday warmth of the people who call this city home.

When you are ready, hop into the flow of Saigon’s traffic and let the adventure lead the way.