Lado Cafe (“Place of Passion”)
97/5 Le Quang Dinh, Ward 14
Binh Thanh District
08 2977630
*****
Enjoy good Vietnamese coffee in a serene cafe
This lovely Saigon cafe is one of my favorite places in Ho Chi Minh City to stay cool and relax with a cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee with milk) on a steamy afternoon. Truly, there’s nothing extraordinary about this place. But a combination of many small “pluses” has turned this cafe into one of my most-visited places in Saigon.
I definitely have a drinking problem here in Saigon
First, there’s location, location, location. Set back away from the crowds on Le Quang Dinh street down a small alley, Lado Cafe feels much more like a quiet and private garden retreat, than a center-city coffee shop.
The second “location plus” is it’s proximity to Chợ Bà Chiểu, my #1 favorite Saigon market. It’s just a short, several minute stroll away from here. So, if I need an early morning caffeine fix before hitting the market, Lado Cafe is the answer. And when, after spending an exhausting few hours at the market, I’m looking for a relaxing afternoon delight in the form of a delicious iced coffee, again you’ll find me at Lado Cafe.
“Location plus” #3 is the fact that Lado Cafe is easy strolling distance from Hai’s restaurant. Need I say more? 🙂 If you’ve followed here my obsession with Hai’s food you’ll understand.
Ponds, fountains, bamboo, What’s not to enjoy here?
Oh yes, and it’s lovely to watch the koi glide past as you enjoy your cà phê sữa đá.
And then there’s the pond, the bamboo, the fountains, and the koi. Another series of “pluses” that lure me back at least once each week.
And the waiters here speak English – kind of (like I speak Vietnamese). So ordering, chit-chatting, and discussing wi-fi password issues are all do-able in a fun, interactive kind of way.
Welcome to a “Place of Passion”
So, Lado Cafe’s open-air gardened setting, complete with sheltered areas and umbrellas for Saigon’s afternoon cloudbursts , schooling koi, pleasant music, and friendly staff all combine to make this “not extraordinary” cafe, in fact, a very special place.
But, a word of advice. Bring your own “Passion”. I found it to be more a place of “Peace”, than a place of “Passion” :-) .
Oh, but wait! I am passionate about writing Eating Saigon! And this is where I often put fingertips to keypad. So Lado Cafe is indeed my “Place of Passion” after all. Enjoy!
OPEN FROM 6:30 am to 10:30 pm
UPDATE – Lado Cafe has undergone a metamorphosis. PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Lado Cafe (“Place of Passion”)
97/5 Le Quang Dinh, Ward 14
Binh Thanh District
08 2977630