Breakfast in Saigon
The Old Compass Cafe
This is Rusty Compass’s home in Saigon - it’s a great spot for a healthy start to the day or for sampling Vietnamese “banh mi and eggs” breakfast aka. banh mi op la or more familiar flavours like toast and eggs, avocado, mushroom and bacon. You can try Vietnamese drip coffee too - or our espresso style coffee options. The Old Compass is on Pasteur St in the heart of Saigon - but it’s hidden down an alley next to Liberty Citypoint Hotel. Come and find us for breakfast (reopened for breakfast late May 2022).
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
Godmother Bake and Brunch
A cafe that puts brunch in its name is throwing its lot in with a single idea. Right now (late 2019), Godmother seems to be nailing the brunch idea. It’s affiliated with Melbourne’s Workshop Brothers, who supply the coffee and what must be Saigon’s fanciest coffee machine. The menu tips its hat to Australia's cafe scene (minus vegemite). The space is bright and upbeat with large windows looking over the Majestic Hotel and Dong Khoi St. The locals pile in, complete their Instagram obligations (Instaligations?) and settle down for a bite and a coffee. This is an extravagant design cafe built for crowds. Equal effort seems to have been applied to food, coffee, service and decor - and you’ll pay for that, and the large prime location - even on the third floor. Godmother’s breakfast is probably at the top of our list on price (you need to add 15% to the menu prices). A destination breakfast or brunch.
Address: Level 3, 4 Dong Khoi St. Ho Chi Minh City
Photo: Mark Bowyer Godmother Bake and Brunch, Saigon
Photo: Mark Bowyer Godmother Bake and Brunch, 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 very good breakfasts - everything from granola, avocado on toast to the full English brekky. Pre-COVID they had three cool locations around the city. Aadly, now they're down to one. And they lost their heritage locations. But they have a place in District 2 these days too.
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
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
Vintage Emporium District 2
The same couple behind one of downtown Saigon’s nicest cafess opened a big new place in District 2 in 2018. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and the whole feel is little more posh than other cafes around town. Friendly feel and good food.
1 Duong 39, Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City (at the end of the alley).
Photo: Mark Bowyer Vintage Emporium, 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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