白を基調にしたミニマルな空間と、「%」マークの看板──京都発のスペシャルティコーヒーブランド %Arabica（アラビカ）は、世界中の都市で行列を作る人気店だ。ベトナムには2023年にホーチミンへ初上陸。世界共通の高品質な豆と、スパニッシュラテ・京都ラテといった看板メニューが、若者や観光客の心をつかんでいる。
| Genre | Coffee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 (1st Hong Kong store) / The Kyoto flagship is 2014 |
| Origin | Kyoto, Japan |
| Coverage area | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Number of locations | 2 stores |
| Signature menu | Kyoto-born Spanish Latte and Kyoto Latte are the signatures |
| Official site | https://arabica.com/en/locations/vietnam/ |
What Is %Arabica | Kyoto-Born Specialty Coffee That Draws Lines Worldwide
The founding story
%Arabica is a specialty coffee brand born in Kyoto. Founder Kenji Shoji raised the slogan "One Coffee At A Time," opening his first store in Hong Kong in 2013 and his global flagship in Higashiyama, Kyoto, in 2014. From there it spread to over 100 stores in more than 25 countries, growing into an international brand known for its simple logo and high-quality beans.
ベトナムには2023年にホーチミンへ初上陸。1号店はホーチミン市1区の中心部、グエンフエ通り沿いの「カフェアパートメント」内に構えられた。元は集合住宅だった建物がカフェや雑貨店の集まる名所になっており、その一角に入った %Arabica は、グエンフエ歩行者天国を見下ろせる立地で一気に話題になった。
Why it resonates with travelers
%Arabica's appeal lies in its world-shared quality and design. Every store in every country is unified with the same "%" mark and a clean space using white, wood grain, and glass, recognizable at a glance. For coffee lovers it offers a "no-fail cup," and for photo lovers it offers a picture-perfect photo spot.
What's interesting is that the Ho Chi Minh City flagship tweaks the usual pure-white design a little. It incorporates bamboo craftwork by northern Vietnamese artisans, warm wood materials, and subdued lighting, blending in a local feel. The defining feature is the coexistence of world-standard reassurance and an atmosphere unique to that land.
%Arabica's signature menu and flavor
The menu centers on %Arabica's shared signature drinks. From single-origin hand drips to sweet milk-based lattes, the lineup suits Vietnamese tastes too.
Spanish Latte
One of %Arabica's flagships. A sweet cup combining espresso with steamed milk and condensed milk, with a rich flavor reminiscent of chocolate and caramel. It also suits Vietnamese tastes accustomed to sweet coffee made with condensed milk, making it an easy choice for a first cup.
Kyoto Latte
A signature drink said to have been born at %Arabica in Kyoto. Combining espresso with steamed milk and a small amount of condensed milk, it's praised as a cup with less sweetness and better balance than the Spanish Latte.
Other popular drinks
| Drink | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Pour Over | Single-origin beans brewed one cup at a time. For serious drinkers who want to enjoy the bean's natural aroma |
| Iced Cafe Latte | A staple in hot Vietnam. A refreshing cold milk-based cup |
| Iced Caffe Mocha | A cold drink combining the sweetness of chocolate with coffee |
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 |
|---|---|
| Spanish Latte | A cup cited in many reviews as %Arabica Vietnam's best-seller. With the richness and sweetness of espresso combined with condensed milk, it's notably recommended for those who love sweets |
| Kyoto Latte | Often introduced as the signature that made the brand famous. As a flagship menu item fitting Kyoto-born %Arabica, reviews treat it as a standard too |
| Dark Latte | Said to suit those wanting the strongest coffee presence on the menu, praised as a cup bringing a bitter-leaning taste together with condensed milk. Cited as a seller on par with the Spanish Latte |
%Arabica's store network and recommended ways to drop by
Scale and coverage area
It operates two stores in Ho Chi Minh City. The first is inside the "Cafe Apartment" on Nguyen Hue street, the second around Diamond Plaza; both are in central District 1. It focuses its openings on areas easy for tourists to visit, and expansion to Hanoi and Da Nang is also planned.
Because the store count is small and rarity high, the first store in particular often draws lines. It has become a spot %Arabica fans from around the world visit as the "Vietnam store."
Main cities where you can enjoy this store:Ho Chi Minh City. You can check each city's tourist information from its city page.
Stores easy to visit while sightseeing
The "Cafe Apartment" housing the first store is a nine-story building facing the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, a noted spot where former apartment units have been reborn as cafés and goods shops. %Arabica occupies an upper floor of it, and the view overlooking Nguyen Hue street from the windows and terrace is popular. Since the building itself is a tourist spot, it's easy to combine with a stroll.
%Arabica's interior atmosphere and how to spend time
Features of the interior and design
%Arabica stores are basically minimalist, clean interiors built around white, wood grain, and glass. The design strips away superfluous decoration so the "%" mark becomes the star of the space, making every angle photogenic. People taking photos in front of the sign as a photo spot never let up.
A highlight is how the Ho Chi Minh City flagship adds northern Vietnamese bamboo craftwork and warm lighting to this shared design, incorporating the local atmosphere. You can taste both world-shared refinement and a distinctly Vietnamese local feel at once.
Wi-Fi, power outlets, and how easy it is to linger
While stores have Wi-Fi, %Arabica's spatial design emphasizes "the experience of savoring one cup of coffee carefully" rather than long work sessions. It suits stopping by during a stroll to enjoy a high-quality cup, rather than long work. Since it's a popular, crowded store, aiming for less busy times is good if you want to relax.
%Arabica's price guide and payment
| Menu | Price guide |
|---|---|
| Spanish Latte | 85,000〜105,000ドン（約515〜635円） |
| Kyoto Latte | 85,000〜105,000ドン（約515〜635円） |
| Hand drip | 95,000〜130,000ドン（約575〜785円） |
Prices are in the world-shared high range, about 600–700 yen a cup, fairly upscale by Vietnamese standards. Still, there's value in tasting world-standard specialty coffee locally. Many stores accept card and QR payment.
Prices can change by store and season. Check the latest at the counter or on the official menu.
%Arabica's takeout and souvenirs
At the counter, %Arabica's original coffee beans, drip bags, tote bags, tumblers, and other goods are available. The Vietnam-limited logo tote bag in particular is popular as a souvenir among tourists and suits a gift for coffee lovers.
%Arabica's map, access, and ordering tips
The store inside Ho Chi Minh City's Cafe Apartment (a popular spot renovated from a former apartment) is known as a place easy for Vietnam travelers to drop by and photogenic.
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.
Things to know before visiting %Arabica
How to enjoy it smartly
It's a popular store that can sometimes have a 2–3 hour wait on weekends. The relatively quiet weekday morning, the window soon after opening, is the time to aim for. If you take photos, the area in front of the "%" sign is the classic photo spot.
Since the stores are in tourist-heavy areas, English gets through easily. Comparing the sweet Spanish Latte first, then the less-sweet Kyoto Latte, gives you a good sense of what makes %Arabica distinctive.
Points to note
Milk-based lattes have plenty of condensed-milk sweetness, so those who dislike sweetness should choose hand drip to enjoy the coffee's natural taste. Since the price range is higher, visit ready to savor the difference from Vietnamese local cafés as an "experience."
Operating hours and crowding differ by store. If you want to be sure to get in, checking the official site or each store's information before visiting gives you peace of mind.
📖 For %Arabica's history, background, and how to enjoy it, see the reading column "%Arabica in More Detail.”
🗺️ 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 brand is %Arabica?
-
A globally recognized specialty coffee brand born in Kyoto. It opened its first store in Hong Kong in 2013 and its flagship in Higashiyama, Kyoto, in 2014, expanding to over 100 stores in more than 25 countries.
- How many stores are there in Vietnam?
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Currently two in Ho Chi Minh City. The first is inside the "Cafe Apartment" on Nguyen Hue street, the second around Diamond Plaza; both are in central District 1.
- What is the signature menu item?
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The sweet Spanish Latte and the well-balanced, less-sweet Kyoto Latte. Single-origin hand drip is also popular with serious drinkers.
- Is it expensive?
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It's in the world-shared high range, about 600–700 yen a cup. Upscale by Vietnamese standards, but you can taste world-standard specialty coffee locally.
- Is it crowded?
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Its rarity is high, and the first store in particular can have a 2–3 hour wait on weekends. The relatively quiet weekday morning is the time to aim for.
