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Best New Cafes of 2010
Category: General Published on Monday, 20 December 2010 17:08 Written by John Thornton Hits: 606
More a multi-media mash up than a café, L’Usine has quickly established itself as one of the most stylish spots in town.
Set on the first floor of a gorgeous French colonial building tucked away off an alleyway on Dong Khoi, L’Usine combines café culture with contemporary art and fashion.
Coming on like a fusion of an elegant French bistro and an edgy industrial-inspired art space, the café serves freshly cut sandwiches and home-style cakes, as well as delectable European breakfast and lunch dishes. It also offers freshly roasted coffee and an impressive selection of specialty-imported teas – perfect for enjoying on its airy terrace.
As well as lunch time work crowds, it draws a daily mix of foreign and Vietnamese fashionistas, artists and creatives thanks in no small part to the lofty open-plan fashion store and semi-hidden gallery attached to the café.
The racks of cool contemporary clothing, all imported from London, Paris, New York and Tokyo, are selected specifically to fit with the tropical climate, while a quirky range of lifestyle accessories, such as retro cameras, coffee table books and vintage bicycles, add to the unique experience. The rustic gallery also showcases different exhibitions each month from painters, sculptors and graphic designers, demonstrating that commerce isn’t the only thing on the agenda here.
Compared to many of the identikit cafes dotted throughout the city, this place is a breath of fresh air.
WE
District 3’s WE is noticeably up-market and ultra modern both in design and attitude.
Leading the charge of cafes embracing high culture, this former luxury women’s clothing boutique has been refashioned as a sleek and contemporary new-age café, restaurant, lounge and hall.
Punters can sip premium wines and cocktails as DJs spin chilled tunes while the no-smoking policy makes a refreshing change from the Marlboro-tastic stench encountered elsewhere. Remnants of the building’s past remain with large posters of celebrities and models hanging from floor-to-ceiling windows that capture a welcome amount of natural light.
The décor is minimalistic, but patio tables, bare walls and exposed piping make for a stark yet tranquil atmosphere. The ambient background music also does a good job at pacifying the mainly professional and middle-class crowd.
Sophisticated, clinical and stylish, WE is a bold addition to Saigon’s café scene.
Tadao
One would be forgiven for mistaking Tadao with Acoustic upon entering the live music café-bar. A small but fully equipped stage (drum kit, mic stands, speakers, guitars and endless metres of cables) stands directly in front of lines of low lying couches and tables as a tiny bar at the far end serves up the usual suspects.
However, the addition of a mezzanine balcony means that Tadao has a distinct advantage over its peers with 100+ people able to squeeze in and enjoy unimpeded views of the musical action below.
Showcasing rock, metal, indie and acoustic music from a roster of local musicians every night of the week, Tadao is a great place for those in search of the underground local scene.
And regardless of their limited knowledge of English, the staff are extremely friendly and happy to chat to customers, especially about anything related to music. They’re enthusiastic and happy to share their passion with all comers. As the slogan on Tadao’s Facebook page reads, “music is one of the only things that can connect people all over the world”. The Word agrees and hopes Tadao goes from strength to strength.