ban-ca-phe

by Chaewon Jung · April 25, 2026

Okay so Bản Cà Phê is on the SECOND FLOOR of an old French apartment building on Lê Lợi and there is no big sign screaming "café here!!" You climb this narrow wooden staircase past checkered tiles and potted plants and then — BOOM — tiny library.

I'm not exaggerating: floor-to-ceiling dark wood bookshelves. Manga, novels, a vintage camera just sitting there, a leather armchair that I immediately claimed. And then the Japanese corner?? Vintage Japanese movie posters, ukiyo-e dancers, a 1940 Tokyo poster, a RED RETRO TV. <Quote>

I sat under it with my iced coffee and felt like I was in three countries at once.

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The cups!! They serve everything in Bát Tràng ceramic cups with this little tree logo, on wooden trays, by the window with the city beyond. Paper straws because they're eco like that. There's a paper lantern and wind chimes (furin!) over the bamboo blinds and the afternoon light comes through all filtered and golden and I took approximately 200 photos.

Drinks I tried:

• Cà phê muối (their signature!) — salty-sweet creamy, SO good
• Orange cold brew — bright and weird in the best way
• The Hokkaido Vibe (coconut cream thing) — DESSERT IN A CUP

They also serve actual food?? Phở and lẩu?? At a book café?? I didn't try it this time but I'm going back specifically for that, the audacity delights me.