Breakfast in Saigon
The Old Compass Cafe
This is Rusty Compass’s home in Saigon. Located down an alley off Pasteur St in the heart of the city, we may be Saigon's ultimate hidden cafe. We're proud of the food, coffee, design and vibe - swing by and say hi!
The Old Compass is a great spot for a healthy start to the day. Sample Vietnamese banh mi op la or more familiar flavours like granola bowls, sourdough and eggs, avocado, mushroom and bacon. You can try Vietnamese drip coffee, ice coffee or our espresso-style options - lattes, long blacks, flat whites etc. We're down the cool alley next to Liberty Citypoint Hotel. Come and find us for breakfast - we also do lunch dinner, craft beers and wines.
Address: 63/11 Pasteur St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - in the alley next to Liberty Citypoint Hotel
Photo: Mark Bowyer The Old Compass Cafe, Saigon
Vintage Emporium is a popular cute little spot slightly away from the centre of Saigon. Good healthy breakfast options, cool vibe and friendly team.
Address: 95 Nguyen Van Thu St, Dakao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Mark Bowyer Vintage Emporium, District 2, Saigon
Au Parc
Au Parc is one of the nicest cafe spaces in town - looking over the April 30 Park from a colonial era shophouse. It’s also one of the longest running most successful eateries in the city. These days it describes itself as a Mediterranean restaurant though the feel is unchanged. It’s expanded a lot since the early days. A good stop for a “traditional” breakfast - French, English or Californian. They also offer a Turkish breakfast. You can pop next door to their sister restaurant Propaganda for a Vietnamese breakfast.
Address: 23 Han Thuyen St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Mark Bowyer Morning at Au Parc, Saigon
The people who pioneered Vietnam’s vintage industrial cafe scene serve a good breakfast - everything from granola, avocado on toast to the full English brekky. Their once proud connection with Saigon heritage spaces is sadly passed. There are 3 locations downtown and one in District 2.
Address:19 Le Thanh Ton St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
AND 24 Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Mark Bowyer L'Usine Le Thanh Ton
CTY Cafe and Bar
This place is in a corporate office building but it's a pleasant spot to grab a breakfast close by the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace. You can also check out Vietnam's busy young corporate class starting their day with ad agencies and other creative businesses tenanted here. There are set breakfast options that change with some interesting Vietnamese touches thrown in.
Address: 72 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh
Photo: Mark Bowyer CTY Kitchen Saigon
Breakfast in Saigon's District 2
Mekong Merchant
The first serious cafe in District 2 by our recollection (there are dozens now) still serves up a solid western breakfast. The courtyard space is a charmer.
23 Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Mark Bowyer Mekong Merchant, District 2, Saigon
WKND Cafe
Jay Moir and his partner Annie Vu are superstars of Saigon's F and B scene. The own multiple bars and cafes. WKND is their District 2 extravaganza. It's a spacious mode cool big city venue with excellent brekky offerings and plenty for later in the day too. There's a price premium that you might expect from an operation as fancy as this.
Address - 27 Tống Hữu Định, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Mark Bowyer WKND Cafe, District 2, Saigon
The Snap Cafe
A Saigon expat institution, The Snap is a welcoming cafe space with a dedicated zone for families and kids. It's set in a larger complex of local boutiques and artisan outlets - cool shopping options. Breakfast is tasty. Vibe's friendly. Snap is open day and night.
Address - 32 Trần Ngọc Diện, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh
Photo: Mark Bowyer Snap Cafe District 2, Saigon
Vietnamese Breakfast in Saigon - going local
Walk down any downtown street in Saigon and you’ll spot locals fuelling up for the day - banh mi baguettes or pho, bun bo or hu tieu noodles are favourites with Saigonese.
Here are some recommendations in the downtown area. This list is a combination of personal experiences and recommendations from fiends and colleagues - I haven’t tried all of them yet!
Banh mi Hoa Ma
This place has long been ranked around the top for a Vietnamese breakfast banh mi - “the banh mi op la”. It’s a little away from the centre of town in District 3 - but Cao Thang St is a food centre in its own right. If you’re eating local food’s your thing, Cao Thang is a street worth visiting.
Address: 53 Cao Thang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Banh Mi Nhu Lan
Nhu Lan is an industrial scale bakery and local food joint that’s been serving customers since before 1975. It opens for business at 4AM so should be in full swing for your breakfast banh mi requirements.
50 Ham Nghi St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - close by Bitexco Tower
Pho Minh Pasteur
Wonderful old Saigon eatery from the 50s in a colourful alley in downtown. Been open for decades but shuts each morning at 10AM or when the pho runs out. It's right next to our place, The Old Compass Cafe - so come for a coffee when you're done.
Address: 63/6 Pasteur St - in the alley next to Liberty Citypoint Hotel
Photo: Mark Bowyer Pho Minh Saigon
Pho Huong Bac
Northern style Pho in another time honoured venue in the centre of town. The name “Huong Bac” means fragrant north.
86 Nguyen Du St, Ho Chi Minh City
Bun Bo Dong Ba
Serving up Hue’s famous spicy beef noodles, bun bo Hue at breakfast and bearing the name of Hue’s famous market, Bun Bo Dong Da is located downtown on Nguyen Du St between the Conservatorium of Music and the rear of the Reunification Palace.
Address: 110A Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
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