Top Places to Eat, Drink & Work in Hoi An

I’ve been lucky enough to call Hoi An “home” for the four years. On the second day, after six month of travel around SE Asia and Australia, I knew I wanted to stay in Hoi An. The ocean, the vibe, the yoga, the food; these are just some of the reasons why I haven’t left. Here’s my go-to list of places to eat, drink, explore, and work in Hoi An (updated July 2020):

EAT

Central Vietnam is known as the food mecca of the country, and I’m not surprised! Hoi An is home to some of the most colourful, flavourful dishes around. Here are my top places to EAT.

My Quang

1. Ba Dam Chay Vegan Restaurant

Local Vietnamese vegan rice buffet and my go to spot for Hoi An’s specialty My Quang noodle dish. I eat here almost daily!

2. Rosie’s Cafe

Rosie’s Cafe is owned by some of the sweetest people you’ll meet: Thuy and My. The cafe is a great place for breakfast/brunch or lunch with many vegan options including avocado toast, hummus toast, smoothie bowls, wraps, salads, fresh juices and plant based milk options for your coffee.

3. Buttercup by Rosie’s Cafe

The sister cafe to Rosie’s is Buttercup, located in the Old Town just behind Ba Dam Chay (#1 on this list). A wonderful outdoor garden with a slightly different menu to it’s sister. My favourite is the terriyaki tofu wrap with an almond milk iced latte.

4. Peanuts

Home cooked vegan (and vegetarian) meals delivered to you. Always reliable and quality never wavers. Build your own box with lots of different options and brown or white rice. Make sure to get the tofu patties and peanut stew! But really, everything on the menu is YUM.

5. Shakshuka Middle Eastern Veg/Vegan Home Kitchen

For all your middle eastern cravings, I’d recommend delivery from here! I love the vegan middle eastern plate where you get everything: falafels, hummus, pita, salad, pickled veg and dessert.

6. Nourish Eatery

Nourish Eatery has become a staple in the Hoi An vegan scene. The space and food do not disappoint! The food is carefully thought out, delivered beautifully and tastes DELICIOUS. I particularly recommend the Nourish Bowl with their homemade falafels (made with dill... yuuumm) and tofu feta cheese. Sprinkled pomegranates are a nice touch.

7. Yen Hoi An Cafe

New in the neighbourhood of Tan An, this cafe is a great spot for lunch with indoor and outdoor garden options. Would highly recommend the lemongrass tofu, sweet and sour eggplant, green mango salad and sweet potato cakes. Hoi, the owner is also lovely!

Photo: Shakshuka Middle Eastern Veg/Vegan Home Kitchen Facebook

Photo: Peanuts Facebook

8. Veranda Food and Drink

A great place to sit and catch up with friends, their plant based options include a pho seaweed roll, brown rice noodles, and taro-filled spring rolls. At night the space is whimsical and charming with its fairy lights and picnic tables. They’ve also recently merged with The Lazy Baker Hoi An who makes New York style bagels and vegan herbed cream cheese.

9. Luna D’Attuno

For pizza in Hoi An, I head to Luna. Beautiful setting by the beach with lots of options. For my fellow vegans, I usually get the Vegetariana without cheese (delicious still!) and the focaccia.

Side note: Artscape at the Anatara Hotel also serves wood-fried vegan pizza with vegan cheese that is hearty and very tasty.

10. Mua - Tra Que

Chef Tru takes private bookings and is impressively creative with his plant based dishes. The location, along the river and hidden amongst the vegetable gardens is also quite romantic of a higher-end (but still incredibly reasonable!) date night. Book at least four days in advance for a full plant based menu.

11. Revolution of Mushroom (ROM)

Now with a location in Hoi An, ROM offers delicious vegetarian, Vietnamese dishes with specialty mushroom dishes (vegan options available too). My favourites: Banh Xeo, Eggplant with Mushroom Sauce, Mushroom Fried Rice.

12. Bikini Bottom

A poke bowl-place by the beach, their tofu panda (+ edamame) has become a great place for lunch and dinner.

DRINK

This drinks list is focused on coffees, juices and smoothies.

Photo: saigon om at Sound of Silence

13. Sound of Silence

Coffee. Ocean. Need I say more? (only thing is there are no plant based milk options here)

14. Phin Coffee

I love Phin Coffee for its americanos, and open, outdoor garden space. They’ve also opened a second location along the River! This spot offers plant based milks for my fellow vegan friends.

15. The Espresso Station

A Hoi An staple hidden in the laneways has great classic and unique coffees. The only plant based option is soy milk with sugar, which personally I find too sweet.

16. SnapStay Hoi An

An air conditioned cafe (a haven in the summer time!) with strong coffee, great juices and smoothies. Coconut milk is a plant based option here.

As mentioned above Rosie’s Cafe and Buttercup by Rosie’s is also a great spot for fresh juices, coffee with plant based milk options, and smoothies.

WORK

As someone who spends time behind my laptop, I like to mix up my “office”. Luckily, Hoi An is filled with great cafes, restaurants, and coworking spaces to work from.

For an ocean view:

17. Soul Beach

18. Salt Pub

19. Sound of Silence

Dear Sweetie Smoothie Bowl and Cold Brew

Closer to town:

20. Rosie’s Cafe

21. Phin Coffee

22. Dingo Deli (air conditioned)

23. SnapStay Hoi An (air conditioned)

24. Hub Hoi An Co-Working Space (air conditioned)

This was originally published on More Than Food Mag on April 6, 2018. This list was last updated on 18 July, 2020.