Café
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.
Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters
An acclaimed specialty coffee roaster with a riverside roastery at Saigon Pearl and a downtown café on Nguyen Sieu Street, known for its skilled baristas.
At a glance
- Type
- Specialty coffee roastery
- Area
- District 1 (Saigon), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- On-site roasting
- Specialty coffee
- Pastries
Why we recommend it
Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters is one of the most respected names in Saigon's specialty coffee scene. The Rusty Compass guide to the city's cafés praises its acclaimed baristas and describes its owner as a knowledgeable coffee devotee, and the company roasts its own beans on two large roasters. Its original café is in the Saigon Pearl apartments on Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh, a mellow riverside setting about ten minutes by taxi from downtown, and a second café later opened at 12 Nguyen Sieu Street in District 1.
The coffee is the main reason to come. Espresso drinks such as a flat white are a good test of the baristas' skill, and Vietnam Airlines' city guide mentions croissants as a good partner.
The Saigon Pearl roastery is polished and spacious, with strong air conditioning and large tables that suit people who want to work for a few hours, while the District 1 café is more convenient for a stop during a day of sightseeing. Both suit coffee lovers, remote workers and anyone wanting a calm break from the heat.
For visitors with a particular interest in coffee, the riverside roastery makes a pleasant destination in itself, away from the busiest streets of the centre, and a taxi there and back can be combined with a walk along the river. For a quick stop, the District 1 café is the more practical choice. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, and longer at the roastery if you plan to work there.
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 Nguyen Sieu Street café is in central District 1, while the Saigon Pearl roastery is best reached by taxi or ride-hailing from downtown.
Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters FAQs
Where are Bosgaurus's cafés?
At Saigon Pearl on Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh, and at 12 Nguyen Sieu Street in District 1.
Does Bosgaurus roast its own coffee?
Yes, it roasts on site with two large roasters.
What should I order?
An espresso drink such as a flat white, with a croissant.
Is it good for working?
Yes, the Saigon Pearl roastery has big tables and strong air conditioning.
How far is Saigon Pearl from downtown?
About ten minutes by taxi.
Is it expensive?
Prices are moderate for specialty coffee in the city.
When is it quietest?
Usually mid-morning and mid-afternoon on weekdays.