In District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, turn into a narrow alley off Pasteur Street and climb to the second floor of an apartment building. Beyond the door spreads a Gothic other-world where skeletons, taxidermy, and neon signs cover the walls—The Alchemist Cafe. It was originally “Tiệm xăm Alchemist,” the studio of a tattoo artist known for neo-traditional tattoos. A café was added on, making it a hideaway where you can immerse yourself in the extraordinary over a single cup of coffee. Its location deep in an alley also draws travelers searching for Saigon’s “other side.”
A Gothic world lined with skeletons and taxidermy
Step inside and the walls are adorned with skeletons, dark paintings, and eerily glowing neon signs. Large cabinets are lined with taxidermied animals and skulls, and the dense atmosphere feels like the set of a horror film. The outdoor balcony seating, on the other hand, transforms the mood: an open, vintage-style space with plants, a patchwork-patterned floor, and metal furniture—a fun contrast with the indoor Gothic. Both are photogenic, special spots that get conversation flowing.
Its roots as a tattoo studio
The core of this café is the tattoo studio where artist Nhut Bé plies his craft.Neo-traditionalis the style he’s known for—adding depth and vivid color to traditional designs. Sessions start from around 500,000 VND (about 3,000 yen). Discuss a design over coffee and get inked right there—that kind of experience is unique to this shop, where café and studio are seamlessly connected. Of course, just looking is welcome too, so you can relax while taking in the distinctive world.
The specialty is coconut coffee
Drinks are reasonable at 40,000–100,000 VND (about 240–600 yen). The signature item iscoconut coffee (55,000 VND, about 330 yen), a well-chilled cup with a rich coconut flavor. On a hot Saigon afternoon, this cup—sipped while sinking into a dim sofa down a back alley—is exceptional. The café is open daily 10:00–21:00, the tattoo studio 10:00–20:00. Though it’s in central District 1, if you’re looking for a “hideaway deep in an alley” that guidebooks tend to miss, head here first.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shop name | The Alchemist Cafe |
| Address | 2nd floor, 158D Pasteur Street (left side of the alley), Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Specialty | Coconut coffee (55,000 VND, about 330 yen) / neo-traditional tattoos |
| Price guide | Drinks 40,000–100,000 VND (about 240–600 yen) / tattoos from 500,000 VND (about 3,000 yen) |
| Hours | Café 10:00–21:00 / tattoo studio 10:00–20:00 (daily) |
| Contact | 090 851 89 77 |
To Saigon’s “other side”
The Alchemist Cafe is the opposite of the bright, polished, stylish café. Surrounded by skeletons and taxidermy, immersing yourself in a tattoo artist’s world while sipping coconut coffee—it’s a place that hits home precisely for those craving that kind of extraordinary. Make this Gothic other-world hidden in a District 1 back alley the gateway to your Saigon night.
For Ho Chi Minh City’s distinctive cafés, seethe District 1 back-alley roaster “IM:MI Coffee Roasters,”and“CỘI,” which brought Japan’s jazz-café culture,、12 cafés in Thao Dien’s café battleground, where they’re also introduced.
Reference:TheSmartLocal The Alchemist Cafe／Ahoy Vietnam: a hidden gem of Ho Chi Minh City
