Cafe Marcel: Saigon Breakfast/Brunch - Spicy Shakshuka
Ho Chi Minh City,  Coffee Shops,  Restaurants

Cafe Marcel: Delicious French Brunch in the Heart of Saigon

After hearing countless rave reviews about a new French cafe in District 1, we finally got a chance to sample the brunch menu at Cafe Marcel. What we found when we visited was a cute and cozy ambiance, friendly and efficient service, and the best Saigon breakfast we have had yet!

Cafe Marcel is on the pricey side compared to some other cafes in Saigon, but the quality of the food makes it absolutely worth it! Plus the portions are large and the menu is unique so you’ll leave feeling stuffed and satisfied.

The Ambiance

Cafe Marcel, Saigon, Vietnam: Interior

Cafe Marcel is centrally located in the tourist area of District 1. It is a narrow space so the restaurant is divided between three separate floors. The bottom floor (which is actually up a set of stairs) has some nice, comfortable booths by the big windows and a few smaller tables sprinkled throughout.

The next floor up has high-top bar seating. And the rooftop has some smaller tables with umbrellas to provide shade and plants hanging from the walls. The rooftop is a lovely place to enjoy a cup of iced coffee and a view of the city below.

Cafe Marcel: Saigon Coffee Shop - Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Note that laptops aren’t allowed at Cafe Marcel during lunch hours or on weekends because they get so busy. So if you’re looking for a quiet place to work, this probably isn’t the best choice.

The Menu

The all-day breakfast menu at Cafe Marcel is French-inspired so you can enjoy a flaky and delicious croissant or pain au chocolat. French toast with raspberries or the seasonal fruit pancakes should also satisfy your sweet tooth. But be sure to save room for some tiramisu or panna cotta for dessert!

If you’re looking for a savory breakfast, you can build your own by choosing the type of eggs and bread that you’d like, and then adding sides and a sauce. The most popular breakfast dishes are the bacon and eggs pancakes, the spicy shakshuka, avocado tartines, and our personal favorite, the Croque-Marcel.

Cafe Marcel also has a variety of smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, coffee drinks and tea varieties to choose from.

The Pricetag

Cafe Marcel - Ho Chi Minh City Breakfast/Brunch: Croque-Marcel

Cafe Marcel is one of the pricier brunch spots in Saigon. Entrees hover around 200,000 VND and if you get too excited when building your own breakfast, you could end up with a hefty bill.

You can expect to pay around 300,000 VND per person (~$13 USD) for an entree and a drink. It’s probably not an everyday brunch spot but it’s a great place to treat yourself every once in a while.

Our Recommendation

Cafe Marcel: Saigon Breakfast/Brunch - Spicy Shakshuka

Out of all of the cute brunch spots that we’ve tried so far in Saigon, the food at Cafe Marcel is our favorite! So we could definitely recommend that you eat here, at least once!

And of all of the menu items to choose from, the Croque-Marcel and the shakshuka were absolutely incredible! You can’t go wrong with either choice. And all of the desserts are decadent and delicious so save room!

Cafe Marcel does get quite busy and unfortunately, they do not accept reservations on the weekends. You’re best off dining before 9:00am or after 1:00pm to avoid the brunch rush.

Location: 96 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

More Info: TripAdvisor | Facebook

Val is one half of the Wandering Wheatleys. You can read more of her writing at WanderingWheatleys.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *