For its coffee culture, Vietnam has become every coffee lover’s dream. Visit the country and you’d find it almost anywhere your eyes land on, whether you’re in a chill alley or an otherwise buzzing street. That’s what Filipinos have been able to get a taste of without leaving their homeland since the arrival of Cong Caphe in the country.

Instead of an old house or a building, its first Philippine branch provides a welcome breather to a bustling Quezon City mall. Cong stuck to its intention of bringing the cafe's rustic charm to Manila, as envisioned by former performance artist Linh Dung when she founded it in Hanoi in 2007. The coffee spot was designed with actual thought, from the mismatched furniture to upcycled decor—think old buckets transformed into lamps that obviously took inspiration from Dung’s mechanic father, who always found beauty in repaired items.

Beyond the interiors, they also made sure that their beverages would be the same down to the last gram, so it goes without saying that a sip of bac xiu (coffee with condensed milk and coconut cream) or cot dua com xanh (coconut green rice smoothie) would transport you to Vietnam almost instantly. While coffee is clearly the main act, banh mi and other authentic Vietnamese bites are also on the menu to complete the experience.

Cong Caphe Philippines is located at Gateway Mall 2 in Quezon City. It also has branches in Maginhawa and SM Marilao in Bulacan.

Price range: P190-P280 for food; P170-P310 for drinks

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