01The vinyl corner

In one corner of the room, Shibui keeps a vinyl setup: wooden speakers, a turntable, an amplifier and stacks of records. Not a prop — the owner is a genuine music lover, and you can hear it in how the sound is cared for. Music runs in the background all day, loud enough to fill the gaps in conversation, quiet enough never to break a work session.

The low black-and-cream futon sofa nearby is the proper "listening" seat: lean back, put your feet up, let the music do the rest. In the afternoon, sunlight from the balcony falls right into this corner — one of the prettiest frames in the house.

02Matcha takes the lead

Shibui started with Japanese tea, and matcha is the most-ordered drink. The matcha latte (₫75,000) is the crowd favourite — lightly sweet, just creamy enough, good hot or iced. Those who want to go deeper can try ceremonial usucha (₫130,000) or Ippodo usucha/koicha (₫195,000), the famed Kyoto tea line.

The matcha here is whisked with a bamboo chasen — the whisk resting on the wooden tray in the shop's own photos is proof of the proper method. Coffee is no sidekick either: salted coffee, coconut coffee and the ₫70,000 sidamocha each have their own fans. For an afternoon snack, order the pineapple cake (₫28,000) or the salted-egg croissant (₫30,000).