HALF PAST SIX Specialty Coffee — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Not sure what the other 1 ⭐️s were about 🫤

Food & Drink 2.0 ⭐️ 100/10 Croissant, absolutely amazing taste, not too buttery, slight crunch outside, soft inside. 10/10 Hot Latte, aromatic coffee with balanced taste 👌🏻 Not over toasted or burned beans, great with croissant

Price 0.9 ⭐️ It is a tad pricey for a coffee, but the location is prime (expensive rent area). Compared to the quality/portion of the drink, it's decent.

Service 1.0 ⭐️ You receive what you give. Because of all the 1 ⭐️s I read, I got quite nervous stepping in the place, afraid I would accidentally do something that tipped off the staff or owners present at the time. I was directed straight to the tablet to order and pay, normal procedure. The food came out, it's good, and I made a comment to the barista/owners. We had a chill small talk, actually quite pleasant.

Environment 1.0 ⭐️ If a place has that many rules posted, it says a lot about the type of customers coming in and the manners of the customers. For me, every single "warning" or policy is common-sense. No pet indoor: The cafe has an outdoor area where you're welcome to stay, and they don't restrict you to having your pet outdoor. Indoor is a well furnished, tight space, and also for hygiene purposes. No pictures or recording: of the decor, not your food or drink. Owners spend time, dedication, and money to decorate the place, Viet is known for copying concepts, so this policy makes sense. Besides that, it's a small cafe, you should be there for coffee, not selfies or video with the decor, it can get annoying, especially with other customers around trying to find peace at the place. And, I can see why, the place should be left for customers to experience and enjoy with their own presence, not through social media ☺️ You don't order, you'll get charged a fee (of a coffee) / exceeding 2 hrs stay, and you'll get charged a fee (another coffee) makes sense. The place is boutique, not a chain coffee place that can afford selling 1 coffee for a table of 10 to use free wifi/ac/hog up an entire area for a whole day 🙄 Do Not Touch: This cracked me up. If they have to put this, it says a lot. By looking at the decor, you should know, in the right manner, not to touch because most look like collection/fragile items and coffee making tools that are not common to find or get. One book at a time: this, 🤷🏻‍♀️ did someone really come in and try to take several books off the shelf, hog them to read, and not leave anything for others coming after? Do not make noise: Okay, this is probably wording coming from the business, which can be altered to sound more welcoming and more of a reminder instead of restriction. My friend and I were talking normally, we giggled a bit from time to time, but there was no complaint from the owners. If you come into places like this and be obnoxiously loud then . . . 🫤 It's not exactly a place for a big group hangout/chit chating and laughing, but for working, it should be okay. For this, I'd say, "Please stay courteous to your surroundings and keep noise level at minimum," would do the trick without leaving a harsh impression to new customers.

I didn't get to explore upstairs this time though, will be back for a short reading session to enjoy the space upstairs when I can 😁

Overall 4.9 🌟 Stay respectful,...

Great vibe with good coffee and music. The owners pay attention to all the details, from the little spoons to the flower arrangements and the individual drinks. Besides high-quality coffee specialties, customers can enjoy music, occasional movie nights on the weekends, and a curated selection of books. HPS offers a cozy, quiet atmosphere for intimate conversations with friends or just some time alone.

Their croffle is so crunchy and buttery that you’ll want more and more. My favorite drinks at HPS are the espresso tonic and the affogato. Their special coffee blend, made from Ethiopian and Vietnamese Arabica beans, is significant and unforgettable. The coconut ice cream is perfect—creamy with a delightful coconut scent.

This place is highly recommended for people who enjoy a silent, reflective atmosphere where you can savor the ambiance and flavors deeply.

Oh, please always ask for permission of taking photos, due to...

As many specialty shops I've visited in Vietnam sell under roasted coffee bean which produces thin bodied and overly acidic cups, it was a pleasant surprise for me to discover this place. Now this is my go-to coffee shop at weekends.

Coffee here are well roasted and properly brewed, which results in a well-balanced, rich, and aromatic cup. The shop's serene and nostalgia atmosphere provides the perfect background for coffee appreciation, or for some of us, means to get separated from the busy world out there. The two lovely lady owners are always helpful and attentive to their customers' experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this shop to all coffee...