Say Coffee House, a cafe centered on Vietnamese coffee, opened in May 2026 in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg, Florida. It is located on Central Avenue, a strip lined with cafes and eateries. Rather than simply reproducing traditional Vietnamese-style coffee, the menu combines condensed milk, ube, egg cream, and other ingredients to make it approachable for first-time customers.
A Modern Menu with the Phin as Its Starting Point
Vietnamese coffee is widely known for its slow drip through a metal filter called a phin, served with condensed milk. Say Coffee House also centers its menu on Vietnamese-style drinks that highlight bold, sweet flavors. At the same time, one of its signature drinks, the Marble Drip, layers condensed milk, milk, and espresso—not all drinks use traditional phin brewing. The cafe's character lies in translating Vietnamese flavors into an American cafe context.
Choosing by Sweetness or Flavor Makes It Easier
Flavor options include ube, Biscoff, strawberry, egg cream, and banana cream. Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk is rich and sweet, so if you usually drink black coffee, it is worth asking about sweetness levels when ordering. Beyond coffee, the menu includes matcha and green tea drinks, as well as croissants and cinnamon rolls sourced from nearby Crumb Factory.
Owner and Shop Details
The owner is Haley Huynh, who also runs Sip Tea Boba in Pinellas Park, Florida. A different name and a mention of "cocktail-style menu items in development" that appeared in the original article have been removed to reflect currently verifiable information.
Address：2414 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Florida
HoursDaily 8:00–16:00 (as of May 2026)
Hours and menu items are subject to change. If you are traveling from out of town, check the official social media accounts to confirm same-day operations. For anyone curious about how Vietnamese coffee culture is interpreted outside Vietnam, the menu structure itself is as interesting as the drinks.
Related reading:
・Nâu Coffee Holds Simultaneous Pop-Ups at 12 San Francisco Locations
・Buon Ma Thuot: Vietnam's Coffee Capital
Source:Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
How to build your order
Deciding first on hot or cold, coffee or tea, sweetness level, and whether you want dairy will help you narrow down even a long menu. Even if you cannot pronounce the item name accurately, pointing at a photo and confirming size, ice, sugar, condensed milk, and toppings one by one is enough. Once you receive your order, compare the receipt against the product name.
