Da Lat, a highland city at an elevation of 1,500 meters, is known as a town of morning mist and pine forests. About 10 km south of the city, on a hill at Prenn Pass, Horizon Coffee is the caf\u00e9 where you can feel that mist most closely. On clear early mornings, the valley below is covered in a sea of clouds, and the terrace seats are like a garden floating above the clouds. Called \u201cthe garden above the clouds (khu vuon tren may)\u201d on social media, it\u2019s become a photo spot not to miss on a trip to Da Lat. This time, with Horizon Coffee as the axis, we introduce three caf\u00e9s with different charms of the city: the Japanese-mood Kokoro Cafe and the pinewood-built Thong oi.<\/p>\n
The star of Horizon Coffee is the garden terrace spreading in tiers toward the valley. Built using the pine-forest slope, every seat looks out over layer upon layer of mountain ranges. The early morning when mist fills the valley is the time of stunning scenery, with the sea of clouds spreading at your feet. The way to spend time here is to watch the clouds move with a Vietnamese-style condensed-milk ca phe sua in hand. About 20 minutes by motorbike from the city center, or about 150,000 VND (about 900 yen) one way by taxi. It\u2019s a hilltop caf\u00e9 worth getting up early to reach.<\/p>\n
In the misty city of Da Lat, for some reason there are many caf\u00e9s that suit a Japanese mood. Kokoro Cafe & Koi at 45 Dang Thai Than Street is a Japanese-architecture-style caf\u00e9 within the Lang Phong sightseeing area. Japanese-style buildings line up as if surrounding a large koi pond, with photo spots prepared here and there in the grounds. Oolong-tea-based drinks and peach tea are reasonable at around 35,000 VND (about 210 yen). Because it\u2019s inside the sightseeing area, an entry fee of 40,000 VND (about 240 yen) for adults applies, but it\u2019s a caf\u00e9 suited to those who want to spend time quietly. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Easy to drop by on the city-center side is Thong oi at 31 Street 3\/4. The name is a call in Vietnamese, \u201cO pine tree.\u201d True to its name, the interior is a simple build assembled entirely from pinewood, and from the open two floors a Da Lat-like view of pine forest spreads out. Besides coffee, it has herbal tea and fresh juice, at 40,000\u201350,000 VND a cup (about 240\u2013300 yen). Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., it\u2019s a location easy to use both for a morning cup before heading to Horizon Coffee and for a break during a town walk.<\/p>\n
| Shop name<\/th>\n | Horizon Coffee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
|---|---|
| Address<\/th>\n | 31\/6 Duong 3\/4, Ward 3, Da Lat (toward Prenn Pass)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Specialty<\/th>\n | A garden terrace overlooking a sea of clouds, ca phe sua (condensed-milk coffee)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Price guide<\/th>\n | Drinks 40,000\u201360,000 VND (about 240\u2013360 yen)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Hours<\/th>\n | Daily from around 6:30 to around 21:30 (aiming for the early-morning sea of clouds is recommended)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Access<\/th>\n | About 20 minutes by motorbike from Da Lat city center, about 150,000 VND one way by taxi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nSummary<\/h2>\nHorizon Coffee looking down on a sea of clouds, Kokoro Cafe where you can immerse in a Japanese world, and Thong oi wrapped in the warmth of pinewood. Even in the same Da Lat, the three carry entirely different times. If you\u2019re aiming for the early-morning mist, we recommend first drinking a cup at Thong oi in town, then climbing the hill. To tour more caf\u00e9s in Da Lat,the hilltop popular caf\u00e9 The Wilder-nest<\/a>is also worth a look. If you\u2019re interested in caf\u00e9s that make use of old architecture,10 caf\u00e9s that revived Vietnam\u2019s architectural heritage<\/a>, and for choosing Da Lat souvenirs,the feature on the latest trends in Vietnamese souvenirs<\/a>is a useful reference.<\/p>\n |