Terrazzo floors and brass accents, with designs evoking old French clocks lining the space, where you sip the signature “avocado milk” — Katinat Saigon Kafe is a Vietnamese-born café that has drawn Ho Chi Minh City's young people with interiors that reconstruct the air of old Saigon in a modern key. The playful spelling “Kafe” captures a lightness very much in the Saigonese spirit.
| Genre | Coffee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 (Ho Chi Minh City) |
| Origin | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
| Coverage area | Ho Chi Minh City・Hanoi |
| Number of locations | 93 locations |
| Signature menu | Avocado milk and milk tea macchiato are the signature items |
| Official site | https://katinat.vn/ |
What is Katinat | A trend café mirroring old Saigon's chic in the present
The founding story
Katinat Saigon Kafe is a Vietnamese-born café for young people, born in Ho Chi Minh City in 2016. The name comes from “Catinat Street (now Dong Khoi Street),” a thoroughfare symbolizing old Saigon, weaving the city's memories from the French colonial era into the brand's worldview. The distinctive spelling “Kafe” carries the playful spirit of the Saigonese.
For a while after founding, it stayed at a few small stores in the city center, then expanded rapidly entering the 2020s. Refined interiors and inventive drinks struck a chord with the 20-to-30-something social media crowd, women especially, and it grew into a multi-store chain in a short time. It is now at a scale of 93 stores, spreading to major cities from its Ho Chi Minh City base.
Why it resonates with the social media generation
Katinat's appeal lies in being designed so that both the drinks and the space “make a picture.” From the signature avocado-based drinks on, many menu items are visually striking, finished so you want to post them the moment you point a smartphone their way.
The interiors, too, are not mere prettiness but a distinct line that translates old Saigon's French motifs into a modern idiom. Each store is built a little differently, given an individuality suited to its location, so touring a few is its own pleasure. For travelers, it is a place to experience “the air of today's Saigon.”
Katinat Saigon Kafe's signature menu and flavors
The signatures are inventive avocado-based drinks. Milk teas and coffees are on offer too, with prices in the few-hundred-yen range, easy for everyday use.
Avocado x young coconut (Bơ Già Dừa Non)
A cup that symbolizes Katinat. A rich, creamy drink layering the sweet aroma and body of coconut milk over a ripe-avocado smoothie, with a fragrant topping for textural accent. It has the volume to drink like a dessert, drawing especially high popularity from women.
Milk tea macchiato (Trà Sữa Macchiato)
A two-layer cup of tea with milk, topped with creamy cheese foam. The balance between the foam's saltiness and the tea's body is good, a standard drink alongside the avocado line.
Other popular drinks
| Drink | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Brown sugar tapioca milk tea (Sữa Tươi Trân Châu Đường Đen) | A popular cup where you can enjoy the rich sweetness of brown sugar and the texture of tapioca |
| Coffee (Cà Phê) | Standard coffee drinks such as Vietnamese-style coffee with condensed milk |
| Seasonal drinks | New menu items made with fruit and other ingredients, rotating by season |
Cups that win over reviewers
We have rounded up the well-reviewed items that come up again and again in travel and food-site reviews (focusing on dishes praised across multiple reviews).
| Menu | Why reviewers rate it |
|---|---|
| Rambutan Milk Tea (Trà Sữa Chôm Chôm) | The chain's signature drink, made with Vietnamese rambutan. Reviewers praise its summery flavor. |
| Roasted Oolong Milk Tea (Trà Sữa Oolong Nướng) | Cited as a best seller for its good balance of fragrant roasted oolong and rich milk. |
| Peach Tea (Trà Đào) | Its fruit teas are so well regarded that some reviews call them the best on the planet. |
Katinat Saigon Kafe's locations and tips for stopping by
Scale and coverage area
Densely concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City, the chain has also expanded into Hanoi and nearby cities. It now operates around 93 locations, clustered especially in youth hangouts like District 1 and the Thao Dien area of Ho Chi Minh City. Outlets in airports and large malls have also raised its profile among tourists.
Rolling out new drinks at every milestone and keeping the buzz alive with seasonal menus and collaborations is what keeps the social-media generation coming back.
Main cities where you can enjoy this store:Ho Chi Minh City・Hanoi. You can check each city's tourist information from its city page.
Stores easy to visit while sightseeing
In Ho Chi Minh City, the outlets around Dong Khoi Street (the former Rue Catinat) and central District 1 are easy to drop into and tie in with the street's history, which gave the brand its name. The Thao Dien location sits in a lively area popular with local young people, where you can soak up the local atmosphere.
The atmosphere at Katinat Saigon Kafe and how to spend your time
Features of the interior and design
Each outlet has its own character, but they share a design that translates old Saigon's French memories into a modern idiom—terrazzo floors, brass accents, and motifs reminiscent of old French clocks. Materials like concrete and glass are softened with rounded curves and earth tones.
Many locations feel open and airy, with light pouring in through high ceilings and large windows, making them popular as photogenic spaces. Because each outlet is built differently, comparing how their character suits the setting is part of the fun.
Wi-Fi, power outlets, and how easy it is to linger
Most outlets have Wi-Fi and power outlets, making them handy for catch-ups, studying, or light work. Weekend afternoons get crowded, though, so if you want to linger, aim for a weekday lunchtime or right after opening.
Katinat Saigon Kafe's price guide and payment
| Menu | Price guide |
|---|---|
| Avocado Milk | 55,000-65,000 VND (about 380-450 yen) |
| Milk Tea Macchiato | 45,000–55,000 dong (about 300–380 yen) |
| Coffee drinks | 40,000-55,000 VND (about 280-380 yen) |
The mid-range, affordable pricing makes it an easy everyday choice for students and young professionals. Besides cash, some outlets accept QR payments or cards. Joining the app membership can also unlock perks.
Prices can change by store and season. Check the latest at the counter or on the official menu.
Katinat Saigon Kafe takeout and souvenirs
The entire menu is available for takeout. There are also goods such as Katinat-branded tumblers and keychains, and the colorful cups depicting the Saigon cityscape make ready-made, photo-friendly souvenirs.
Katinat Saigon Kafe: map, access, and ordering tips
In Ho Chi Minh City, the flagship store sits along Dong Khoi Street in District 1 and is known as a photogenic spot for its colonial architecture and riverside atmosphere.
Vietnamese phrases for ordering
Here are the basic phrases that come in handy locally. Pointing works, but adding a word makes ordering smoother.
| Vietnamese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cho tôi một … | One [drink], please |
| nóng / đá | Hot / iced |
| ít đường | Less sweet |
| không đường | No sugar |
| ít đá | Less ice |
| mang đi | Takeout |
| ở đây | For here |
| tính tiền | The check, please |
You can check the latest menu, prices, hours, and store listOfficial sitehere.
What to know before visiting Katinat Saigon Kafe
How to enjoy it smartly
If you want to be sure of a seat, avoid weekend afternoons, when café-goers crowd in, and aim for weekday mornings or right after opening. New and seasonal drinks rotate frequently, so it's fun to ask the staff what they recommend on the day.
Start with the signature Avocado Milk, and if you prefer tea, add the Milk Tea Macchiato or brown-sugar boba milk tea to enjoy Katinat's sweet, showy style.
Points to note
The avocado and brown-sugar drinks are quite sweet, so if you'd like them lighter, say so when ordering. Cold drinks dominate the menu, so choose according to how you feel and your preferences.
Each outlet differs in décor, menu, and how busy it gets. For photos, pick a seat with natural light; to relax, choose a quieter time or outlet.
📖 For the history, background, and ways to enjoy Katinat Saigon Kafe, see our feature column “More about Katinat Saigon Kafe.”
🗺️ If you also want to compare it with other cafés,Vietnam's 30 Popular Cafés: A Thorough Comparison Guidelets you browse from a single list.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of café is Katinat?
-
A Vietnamese café aimed at young people, born in Ho Chi Minh City in 2016. Its name comes from old Saigon's “Rue Catinat,” and its inventive drinks and refined interiors have made it popular with people in their 20s and 30s.
- What is the signature menu item?
-
Avocado Milk (Bơ Già Dừa Non), a smoothie of ripe avocado layered with the richness of coconut milk. This thick, dessert-like cup is especially popular with women.
- What is the origin of the name?
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It comes from “Rue Catinat” (now Dong Khoi Street), a street that symbolizes old Saigon. The memory of the city's French-colonial past is woven into its interiors and brand world.
- Is there Wi-Fi and power?
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Many outlets have Wi-Fi and power outlets, so they work for catch-ups, studying, or light work. Weekend afternoons get busy, so weekday lunchtime is a good bet.
- Is it expensive?
-
Mid-range pricing of roughly a few hundred yen a cup. The pricing makes it easy for students and young professionals to visit daily, and even the signature Avocado Milk is affordable to try.
