Saigon’s brunch scene: top places to eat and drink for morning lovers

Cafe Marcel

If you are looking for a brunch spot in Saigon that offers breakfast all-day and brunch with a French twist, you might want to check out Cafe Marcel. Inspired by cafes in the south of France, Café Marcel is designed with an airy, light and sunny space with wooden furniture.

A burger plate at Café Marcel. Photo courtesy of Café Marcel

At Café Marcel, you can discover classic breakfast dishes with a few small twists. All the food is homemade and fresh. Some of the popular dishes are Avocado tartine, and Croque-Marcel, which includes sourdough bread served with a sunny side egg, speck, smoked Comté and Emmental cheese, with truffle béchamel espuma. The place offers a wide range of drinks, such as coffee, tea, smoothies, juices and sodas, and alcoholic beverages including wine, beer and cocktails.

Cafe Marcel is at 19A Ngo Quang Huy St., District 2. They are open from Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prices range from VND50,000 to VND200,000 ($2.13 to $8.52) per dish.

Godmother Bake & Brunch

Godmother Bake & Brunch offers brunch all day long, featuring both Vietnamese and Western dishes. The cafe has a charming and bright decor, and large windows that offer a view of Dong Khoi Street.

Brioche French Toast with cinnamon custard cream, choco crumble, and banana brulee, with a bit of icy vanilla ice cream. Photo courtesy of Godmother Bake and Brunch

Godmother uses a lot of pink and neutral colors in its interior design, creating a soft and feminine vibe.

The restaurant is creative with traditional dishes. Secreto Com Tam, for example, is a modern version of the familiar broken rice dish popular in southern Vietnam. The dish is added with premium Iberico pork and truffle pork patty, but is still full of traditional flavors such as pork skin and pickles. It also features green rice, which gets its color from cooking with spinach. Godmother also offers diners Western-style breakfast dishes, such as eggs benedict, pancakes, waffles and avocado toast. Accompanying the food is a selection of drinks, from Kombucha to green smoothies.

Godmother Bake & Brunch is at 2-4-6 Dong Khoi St., third floor, District 1. It is open from Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Prices range from VND187,000 to VND363,000 ($7.97 to $15.47).

L’Usine

L’Usine offers a contemporary Vietnamese experience with a touch of Indochinese elegance. This is a cafe, fashion boutique and evening bistro chain serving a variety of dishes and drinks. L’Usine not only offers products from Vietnamese domestic brands, but also displays many foreign brands, such as Maison Kitsuné and Comme Des Garcons.

Customers at L’Usine in HCMC. Photo courtesy of L’Usine

L’Usine offers both western and Vietnamese dishes. You can try their signature English breakfast with avocado toast. If you fancy a big brunch, try out their L’Usine Burger with beef patty, cheese, jalapeno pepper, bacon and caramelized onions.

L’Usine has 5 branches. Two of the branches are at 19 Le Thanh Ton St., District 1, and 24 Thao Dien St., District 2. The other three branches are at three different malls, Saigon Center in District 1, Thiso Mall in District 2, and Crescent Mall in District 7. They are open from Monday to Sunday. Price range from VND120,000 to VND350,000 ($5.11 to $14.92).

Soko Cake Bake & Brunch

Soko Cake Bake & Brunch draws many customers thanks to its beautifully designed space and European brunch classics with a modern and Asian twist. The place is quite spacious and decorated with different hues of beige, neutrals, black, and additional touches of greenery. In response to the bustling city of Saigon, Soko delivers an atmosphere that is relaxed and friendly, making it a great spot to hang out with friends, family, or even just by yourself.

Cakes at Soko Cake Bake & Brunch. Photo courtesy of Soko Cake Bake & Brunch

Soko offers dishes such as Canadian lobster eggs benny and Louisiana shrimp baked eggs, as well as Vietnamese classics such as banh mi chao (baguette served in a pan with varied toppings). Soko also has been known for its baked goods such as cube croissants, cronuts (combination of croissant and donut), cruffins, and donuts. Due to the large demand, Soko allows a maximum of two hours of seating for dine-in during the weekend.

Soko Cake Bake & Brunch is at 27A Nguyen Trung Truc St., District 1. They are open from Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Prices range from VND165,000 to VND690,000 ($7.03 to $29.41).

The Vintage Emporium

The Vintage Emporium is a cafe and restaurant chain that was founded in 2014 by a couple who wanted to bring a little bit of Sydney’s cafe culture and lifestyle to Saigon. The ambiance at The Vintage Emporium is cozy and inviting, with a touch of nostalgia. The Da Kao location is more fun with its quirky, and colorful collectibles and vintage posters decorating the walls. The Thao Dien location is more elegant and spacious, with wooden furniture and green plants creating a natural feeling. Both locations have outdoor seating areas where you can enjoy fresh air and a view of the street.

The Vintage Emporium Thao Dien is ideal for friends or family gatherings. Photo courtesy of The Vintage Emporium Thao Dien

The menu at The Vintage Emporium is diverse and appealing, featuring a range of dishes from Western to Vietnamese cuisine. The food and drinks use quality ingredients that are sourced locally when possible. You can try their brunch signatures like Tasmanian artisanal smoked salmon, which includes poached eggs, salmon caviar, hollandaise, and potato rosti. Moroccan eggs, which includes poached eggs served with spiced tomato sauce, Feta cheese, Dukkha, and flat-bread, is another signature brunch dish.

The Vintage Emporium is open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 95B Nguyen Van Thu St., Da Kao Ward, District 1, or 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at No.1, St.39, Thao Dien Ward, District 2. Prices range from VND120,000 to VND350,000 ($5.11 to $14.92).

The Running Bean

The menu features classic brunch dishes. Photo courtesy of The Running Bean

The food at The Running Bean is diverse and appealing, offering a variety of dishes from Western to Vietnamese cuisine. You can find classic breakfast items like croissants, avocado toast, granola bowl and eggs benedict, as well as lunch and dinner options such as salads, sandwiches, burgers, soups and curries. It also features a range of coffee drinks from classic espresso, cappuccino and latte to specialty drinks like roasted almond latte and pink salted caramel macchiato. If you have a sweet tooth, check out their desserts, which are made at their associated bakery “Le Petit Bake and Cake,” which claims to use no preservatives.

The Running Bean is open every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 115 Ho Tung Mau St., District 1, or 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at 33 Mac Thi Buoi St., District 1. Prices range from VND95,000 to VND175,000 ($4.05 to $7.46).

Eddie’s – New York Deli and Diner

Eddie’s has received many positive reviews from customers who appreciate the authentic American flavors and generous portions. The place also hosts regular events like stand-up comedy nights, trivia nights and special promotions for holidays.

A brunch combo of burgers and chocolate mix at Eddie’s. Photo courtesy of Eddie’s – New York Deli and Diner

Eddie’s is a 1950s-style diner that serves classic dishes like burgers, sandwiches, salads, pancakes, pies and milkshakes. The eatery serves an all-day breakfast and brunch. Some of the most popular items on the menu are the Philly cheesesteak, biscuits and gravy, nachos, poppers and apple pie. Eddie’s also offers rich and creamy milkshakes that come in a variety of flavors. Some of the American-Chinese foods at Eddie’s are chop suey, chow mein and egg rolls.

Eddie’s – New York Deli and Diner is located at 71 Thao Dien St., District 2. They are open from Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Price range from VND75,000 to VND438,000 ($3.20 to $18.67).