Café
The Workshop Coffee
A specialty coffee café in a bright, high-ceilinged heritage space up a staircase just off Dong Khoi Street, known for pour-over and serious coffee.
Maison Marou Saigon
The flagship café of Marou, the Vietnamese bean-to-bar chocolate maker founded in 2011, serving chocolate drinks, cakes and French-style pastries on Calmette Street.
At a glance
- Type
- Chocolate café and patisserie
- Area
- District 1 (Ben Thanh), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- maisonmarou.com
Good to know
- Bean-to-bar chocolate
- Pastries
- Vegan drink option
Why we recommend it
Maison Marou is the flagship café of Marou, the Vietnamese bean-to-bar chocolate maker. The company was founded in 2011 by Vincent Mourou and Sam Maruta with a small team, and in 2016 they opened their first Maison, or chocolate house, in Saigon, with the executive pastry chef Stephanie Aubriot and a team of chefs. The flagship is at 167-169 Calmette Street in District 1, and Marou also runs other cafés in the city, including at Ben Thanh and on Le Loi.
The menu revolves around chocolate in every form. Drinks include the Signature Marou hot or iced chocolate, a chocolate and matcha marshmallow drink, the Marou Signature Pearl Ice and a vegan version made with coconut milk. The pastry counter offers croissants, pain au chocolat and a six-piece viennoiserie set, alongside cakes such as the Marou Opera, a chocolate brownie cake and a matcha choux. Some pastries sell out, so come earlier in the day for the widest choice.
The café is a good place for a sweet break during a day of sightseeing, and it suits families, couples and anyone who prefers chocolate to coffee. Ask about Marou chocolate to take home, as chocolate made in Vietnam makes an unusual souvenir.
According to the official website, the flagship is open from 09:00 to 22:00 from Monday to Thursday and from 09:00 to 22:30 from Friday to Sunday, which makes it useful for an after-dinner dessert as well as an afternoon treat. Hours and stock can change, so check the website before a special trip.
A few practical points apply to most independent cafés in the city. Opening hours are not always published and can change, so check the café's social media before making a special trip. Payment by card or QR code is increasingly common, but carrying some small notes in Vietnamese dong is sensible. Air conditioning, Wi-Fi and seating vary from place to place, and the quietest times are usually mid-morning and mid-afternoon on weekdays, outside the lunch hour and the after-work rush.
The café is in District 1, within reach of Ben Thanh Market by taxi or ride-hailing motorbike, and it is a good place for a break between the sights of District 1. If you are short of time, the other Marou cafés around the centre serve a similar menu.
Maison Marou Saigon FAQs
Who founded Marou?
Vincent Mourou and Sam Maruta, who founded the company in 2011.
When did Maison Marou open in Saigon?
The first Maison opened in Saigon in 2016.
What are the opening hours?
09:00 to 22:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 22:30 Friday to Sunday, according to the official website.
What should I order?
A Signature Marou chocolate drink with a pastry such as the Marou Opera or a pain au chocolat.
Is there a vegan option?
Yes, there is a vegan chocolate drink made with coconut milk.
Is it open in the evening?
Yes, until 22:00 or 22:30 depending on the day.
Are there other branches?
Yes, Marou has other cafés in the city, including at Ben Thanh and on Le Loi.
Where is the flagship?
At 167-169 Calmette Street in District 1.