Café 2nd Gen comes across as a cozy, well thought out spot with friendly service and inventive drinks ranging from strong Vietnamese coffee to nuanced matcha blends and playful toppings like ube, tiramisu and jasmine; the menu rotates seasonally and the croissant and pastries are praised for texture and balance. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing, suitable for work or conversation, with small details like board games and a calm playlist adding to the vibe. Seating can be limited at times, but the high quality ingredients and creative twists keep many guests coming back, making it a standout go-to in the area.
Everything you order here will be amazing! Their signature ube matcha is a must try & their food hits the spot. Must try the breakfast sandwich & kofta sandwich.
The owner is always welcoming & the service is consistently excellent. Our favourite coffee spot.
Such a good spot. One of the best viet coffees i have had! So roasty & flavourful. The cafe plays pleasant music suitable for working or chatting. It is not loud even when crowded! The croissant was very good, a plush chewy inside with crispy corner edges, i loved it as i like my croissants more chewy than airy. I can tell their other selections would also be good !
I went to Matcha 2nd Gen Café on March 1st with friends… one of those freezing winter evenings where you just want something soft & comforting after being slapped by the wind.
The first thing I noticed was how kind the staff were. It immediately set the tone. I was served by the owner, Sarah, who answered all my questions & gave thoughtful recommendations based on my mood. I'm very indecisive when I go somewhere new because I want to try everything… which is exactly why I bring friends. More options, more tasting… don't tell them I said that. Love you girls !!
We ended up trying a few drinks:
• Matcha 2nd Gen with coconut milk (my pick)
• Iced matcha with ube topping (Farzy's pick)
• Iced salted tiramisu matcha (Jules's pick)
My favorite flavor was the ube… but I'd ask for a little less ube topping & more matcha next time since it leans a bit sweet. Still really good, just depends on your preference.
One thing I appreciated is that the matcha base actually tastes like matcha. Not overly milky, not hidden under sugar. This is not a spot for fake matcha lovers… & I mean that in the best way.
We also tried their cinnamon brioche, & that surprised me. I'm usually more of a donut person & don't go for cinnamon rolls often , but the texture was soft, balanced, & not too sweet. It was done really well.
The space itself feels thoughtful… from the drinks to the little details like games you can grab & play at your table. They were playing'With You' by Chris Breezy along with other early 2000s R&B, which added to that cozy, nostalgic feeling I love.
The café is still very new, opened about 6 months ago by Sara, her husband, & a friend, & you can feel the care in everything. They also rotate seasonal drinks, so the menu we tried was their March selection.
It ended up being one of those simple outings that just felt good. Cozy time escaping the brutal winter winds… good matcha, good energy, & a place I'd come back to when I want a emotional support matcha or Vietnamese coffee .
I'm just a foodie & travel lover who enjoys trying new places & experiences & sharing them along the way. If you like scrapbook-style posts & discovering spots like this, come hang out with me on TikTok @foxy.appetite & IG @foxyappetite 🫶
Café 2nd Gen has great coffee & really good matcha, definitely worth visiting for the drinks alone. The only downside is that the space is very small. I was hoping to stay & sit for a while, but there weren't enough seats available, so we had to take everything to go instead.
I have been here twice & the drinks are always so good! I could tell they use high quality matcha & coffee. I highly recommend the ube coffee & matcha.
Everyone who works there is also very nice & friendly.
We tried their tiramisu latte which was such an amazing treat, their kafta banh mi was extremely delicious!! Their date tahini latte, can't pin the taste of dates or tahini but it makes the sweetness balance the bitterness of the coffee perfectly. Their hot chocolate was so good & not too sweet.
The owner is just the sweetest & so welcoming.
Definitely will be back to try more & especially for that kafta banh mi!
Love the vibe but felt the lady at the register was lowkey bothered by the fact that I didn't tip for a self-serve $13 croissant & coffee 😭 would come again tho it's cute!
J'adore ce nouveau café dans le quartier! Café Second Gen est rapidement devenu, selon moi, le meilleur coffee shop du Vieux-Port. Leurs cafés sont uniques & créatifs, comme leur incroyable café à l'ube & le latte pomme-miso , deux boissons presque impossibles à trouver ailleurs, & encore moins aussi parfaitement réalisées. Chaque visite est un petit plaisir, & l'ambiance est toujours chaleureuse. Sans oublier la propriétaire, qui est tout simplement la plus adorable de toutes. Une vraie perle! / I'm absolutely in love with this new spot in the neighborhood. Café Second Gen is easily the best coffee shop in the Old Port. Their drinks are unique & inventive, especially their ube coffee & the apple-miso latte - flavors you'll rarely find anywhere else, & certainly not made this well. Every visit feels special, & the vibe is always warm & welcoming. & the owner? Truly the sweetest of them all. A real gem.
I love this place. The employees are very attentive & super kind. Their coffee flavors are original & always hit the spot. Very chill & laid-back atmosphere.
