As François (Fränz), who owns the place together with Esther, explained to me, the idea was born after an exhaustive trip through Southeast Asia. They fell in love with Vietnam, its street food culture, and above all, its coffee culture, something he felt wasn’t being explored enough here, despite Vietnam being the frontrunner in robusta coffee production (a fact many people don’t know).
“Through mass production comes coffee culture”, Fränz told me, and that’s exactly what they wanted to bring to Luxembourg: Vietnamese coffee paired with honest, doable street food, using spices they import or bring back themselves.
Before this, Fränz had already lived quite a few lives, from running a restaurant at 23, then spending 20 years in film decoration. One of his previous spots, Vins Fins in Grund, was one of the first places here to introduce natural wines and locally sourced food.
With Nam Cà Phê, authenticity remains the red thread: importing their own coffee, staying true to the décor, and keeping things genuine and unfussy.
Next year, the plan is to expand the menu (they want to add fresh rice paper rolls) and, very on-brand, introduce karaoke nights, a big part of Vietnamese social culture – and something I’m definitely coming back for.
For now, they open for lunch only, with evening service planned for spring or early summer.
We went for the bánh mì, the classic Vietnamese sandwich with a French twist (baguette, veggies, herbs, protein of choice). We tried the hoisin seitan veggie option (€11.95) and the
beef lemongrass version (€13.95). It’s a refreshing quick-lunch alternative to the usual sandwiches you find everywhere in town.
Of course, dessert was a must at this place. We tried the matcha mousse (€8.50), a more liquid take on mousse as it was made with condensed milk, topped with roasted coconut (quite nice!). Their dessert selection rotates, and some of the options are genuinely intriguing: Bánh bò nướng pandan honeycomb cake (yes, it’s green), or a black sesame Basque cheesecake. It’s exactly those kinds of winter comforts you need during these gloomy December days.
Drinks are where Nam Cà Phê really stands out. In a city where coffee places are everywhere, their menu feels genuinely refreshing. I ordered a hojicha latte (€6.90); Hojicha being a roasted green tea, more earthy and toasty than matcha, and naturally low in caffeine and my friend went for the cà phê muối (salt coffee), which is another must-try if you enjoy something out of the ordinary.
I also got to try the cà phê trứng (Vietnamese egg coffee) – don’t let the name scare you, it’s creamy, sweet, and almost dessert-like (so I was immediately sold on that one).
Nam Cà Phê is one of those spots that just has something different about it. It’s warm, original, and different to what we normally see in Luxembourg. It was pleasantly busy when we went, but thanks to the generous space, it never felt cramped, you’re not glued to the table next to you. Whether you come for a bánh mì lunch, an afternoon coffee, or simply to try something new, this café brings a gentle and exotic Hanoi breeze to the neighbourhood, one you didn’t realise it needed.
Food quality – 4/5
Family-friendly – 4/5
Budget-friendly – 4/5
Date-friendly – 4/5
Veggie-friendly – 3/5
