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A One-Week Itinerary For Taipei, Taiwan

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000

A One-Week Itinerary For Taipei, Taiwan

Published November 23, 2025
Last updated March 2, 2026

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Taiwan is one of my favorite destinations in Asia, which is why I’m so excited to finally feature Taipei on my travel blog! I recently spent a week there, and I found a fun, bustling city with excellent tourism infrastructure and lots of cultural attractions.

My first trip to Taiwan was in 2019, when I visited Kaohsiung and Kenting National Park in the south. This 2025 visit was my second trip to Taiwan. Taipei, the nation’s capital, is in the north, so I’ve officially seen multiple parts of the island. I’m already dreaming about going back for a third time to continue to “fill in the gaps” and see cities such as Taichung or Tainan!

This blog post will highlight all of the attractions I saw during my week in Taipei. To skip down to any particular one, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Monuments and Landmarks
Parks
Museums
- National Palace Museum
- Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Dihua Street
Visit a Night Market
Day Trip to Tamsui
Getting Around

Monuments and Landmarks

Taipei 101
台北101

Address: No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Website: https://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Taipei101.official/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taipei101_official/

Taipei 101 is Taiwan’s most iconic landmark. You simply can’t visit Taipei without going up to the observation deck here! Completed in 2004, Taipei 101 (named for its 101 floors) was the tallest building in the world for about five years. In 2009, the Burj Khalifa in the UAE took first place. As of late 2025, Taipei 101 is the 11th tallest skyscraper globally.

To visit the observatory, you’ll need to enter the mall connected to Taipei 101 and follow signs for the ticket counter. If I remember correctly, this ticket vendor was on the fifth floor of the mall. Admittedly, the layout was a little confusing, and it took me a little while to find the right spot. If you’re lost, I’m sure any staff member in the building can help direct you.

Once you get to the ticket counter, you’ll have the option to purchase a basic or premium ticket. I opted for a basic ticket, which included a visit to the 89th floor and cost 600 NTD (approx. 19 USD as of November 2025). There is also an option to visit both the 89th and 101st floors for 980 NTD (approx. 31 USD). A friend advised that the views would be similar, which is why I purchased the cheaper one.

As far as observation decks go, the one on Taipei 101’s 89th floor was pretty standard. It’s decently spacious, and there are a number of restaurants and food stalls up there. In terms of views, Taipei 101 is almost completely surrounded by dense city, except to the southeast. In that direction, Taipei 101 looks toward Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan).

One interesting thing to see on the 89th floor is Taipei 101’s tuned mass damper (TMD). This giant metal ball suspended by cables helps minimize the building’s sway during strong wind or earthquakes. Most buildings that have TMDs keep them out of sight, but Taipei 101 offers visitors a rare look at one. I didn’t actually see the damper move, so there must not have been much wind on the day I went!

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
國立中正紀念堂

Address: No. 21, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100012, Taiwan
Website: https://www.cksmh.gov.tw/en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cksmhfb/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cksmh/

Taipei’s most prominent historical monument is arguably the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. It was constructed in the second half of the 1970s to honor Chiang Kai-shek (1887 – 1975), who was the leader of the Republic of China from 1928 until his death. The memorial hall is a large white structure with an arched entry and an octagonal navy-blue roof.

If you’re here on the hour between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, you can watch the “Military Honor Guard Ceremonial Patrols and Drills” that take place in front of the monument. They last for about ten minutes.

Inside the main hall of the memorial, there’s a big statue of Chiang Kai-shek. The overall layout of this main room sort of reminded me of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

On the lower levels of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, you’ll find some galleries and exhibits (plus souvenir shops, cafes, and even a post office). Most of the exhibitions I saw appeared to be temporary art and calligraphy. However, the memorial’s official website indicates that there are permanent exhibits showcasing the life of Chiang Kai-shek and the history of the Republic of China. I must have missed those.

Liberty Square (Freedom Square)
自由廣場

Address: No. 21, Zhongshan S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

Liberty Square (also called “Freedom Square” in English) gets its name from the fact that pro-democracy protests happened here in the 1980s and 1990s. These culminated in Taiwan’s transition from authoritarianism to democracy with popular presidential elections beginning in the mid-90s.

This huge public plaza is beautifully tiled and surrounded on all four sides by important monuments: the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to the east, the Liberty Square Main Gate to the west, the National Concert Hall to the north, and the National Theater to the south. Of those, the National Concert Hall and National Theater have very similar, almost mirrored designs, giving the square a nice sense of symmetry.

Liberty Square also has manicured gardens, ponds, and a covered pathway that walls off the plaza from the surrounding city streets (although there are numerous gates that allow you to enter or exit on foot in all directions). I recommend strolling around these grounds after visiting the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
國立國父紀念館

Address: No. 505, Section 4, Ren’ai Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Website: https://www.yatsen.gov.tw/en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunyatsenMH/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunyatsen_mh/

Sun Yat-sen (1866 – 1925) was the founder of the Republic of China and the Kuomintang (KMT). This memorial hall dedicated to him was built in the early 1970s, less than a decade before the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall is relatively close to Taipei 101 in the city’s Xinyi District.

Unfortunately, as of November 2025, this memorial hall is closed for renovation, with projected reopening dates online ranging from mid-2026 to 2027. If I get a chance to go back to Taipei after the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall reopens, I’ll be sure to update this post and share what’s inside!

The silver lining is that the adjacent outdoor spaces are still open to the public, so I circled the building and briefly explored Zhongshan Park (中山公園) in front of the memorial.

Lungshan Temple
艋舺龍山寺

Address: No. 211, Guangzhou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10853
Website: https://www.lungshan.org.tw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LungShanTP/

Travelers interested in local religious traditions should set aside an hour or so to check out Lungshan Temple in Taipei. It dates all the way back to the 1700s, but has been destroyed and rebuilt a few times over the centuries. It combines elements of multiple spiritual traditions, including Buddhism and local folk religions.

When I visited, I encountered large crowds. This is an active temple that people pray at, so just be mindful of that if you’re visiting as a tourist. There are different sections of the temple where people pray to specific deities based on what they’re seeking.

The neighborhood surrounding Lungshan Temple is also worth exploring. It’s got a Bohemian vibe that feels pretty distinct from other parts of the city. That might be because Lungshan Temple is located in Wanhua, Taipei’s oldest district.

Parks

Taipei has no shortage of lush, urban parks to check out. Below are the ones I had time to visit during my week in the city.

Da'an Forest Park
大安森林公園

Address: No. 1, Section 2, Xinsheng S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106

This is one of the largest parks within the heart of the city. It even has its own dedicated metro stop on the Tamsui–Xinyi (Red) line. In Da’an Forest Park, there are groves of palm trees, wide open fields, and some wooded areas. There’s also a pond, but it was closed for landscaping when I walked through.

228 Peace Memorial Park
二二八和平公園

Address: No. 3, Ketagalan Blvd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

228 Peace Memorial Park is a short walk south of Taipei Main Station. There are lots of natural areas in this park, but one noteworthy thing here is the Tsui Hang Pagoda (翠亨閣), pictured below. The National Taiwan Museum is also located on the northern edge of 228 Peace Memorial Park. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go to that museum on this trip.

This park’s name honors victims of the February 28 Massacre, in which an estimated tens of thousands of Taiwanese people were killed in a crackdown on an anti-government uprising in 1947. To read more about the February 28 Massacre and see what some Taiwanese people did on the 2026 anniversary of 228, click or tap here.

Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
象山

Trailhead location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

If you’re looking for that iconic view of the Taipei skyline that puts Taipei 101 front and center, you’ll have to climb up Elephant Mountain! It’s not a terribly long hike, but it is almost all stairs, so I definitely worked up a sweat making my way to the top.

The beginning of the trail is pictured below, right on a seemingly random city street. Eventually, you’ll reach a couple of different panoramic viewpoints. After enjoying the view and taking some pictures, I turned around and headed back down. If you keep hiking west, the pathway turns into a vast network of wooded trails. Luckily, you don’t have to go deep into the mountains to see the city skyline.

Museums

I’m not a big “museum person” when I travel, but I’ll usually try to visit one or two museums per trip. I went to two in Taipei: one featuring older works and one specializing in contemporary art. This was a great way to see both historical artifacts and modern Taiwanese works.

National Palace Museum
國立故宮博物院

Address: No. 221, Sec 2, Zhi Shan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
Website: https://www.npm.gov.tw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/npmgov/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/national_palace_museum/

The National Palace Museum is home to a giant collection of imperial art. According to the official website, these pieces come from the “Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing courts.” There’s also an interesting history of these collections being taken from Beijing immediately after the Chinese Civil War.

As you can see in these pictures, I visited the National Palace Museum on a rainy day. The friend I was staying with in Taipei recommended I do that, and I have to agree that it was the right call. It’s such a large museum that it’s an easy way to spend an entire rainy afternoon indoors, which is exactly what I did.

The amount of ceramics, calligraphy, and other historical relics on display at the National Palace Museum is immense. I think I saw every exhibit there, but to be honest, after a while everything did start to blur together. There were a few really memorable pieces on display, such as the “puzzle ball” shown below, but some things basically went over my head (especially the calligraphy… and this is coming from someone who studied Chinese for a number of years in high school and college).

Outside the museum, you’ll find Zhishan Garden (至善園), a cozy little spot that was nice to meander through even in the rain. There are some covered walkways overlooking the ponds here, but I wasn’t able to stay completely dry out there.

The one thing to keep in mind if you visit the National Palace Museum is that it’s not near any metro stop. The nearest stop is Shilin (士林) on the Tamsui–Xinyi (Red) line, and from there, you can take a number of public buses east to the museum. Alternatively, you can walk about 40 minutes or take a taxi/Uber.

Taipei Fine Arts Museum
臺北市立美術館

Address: No. 181, Section 3, Zhongshan N Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10461
Website: https://www.tfam.museum/index.aspx?ddlLang=en-us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taipeifineartsmuseum/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tfam_museum/

If ancient art isn’t your thing, consider visiting the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) instead of the National Palace Museum. TFAM specializes in contemporary Taiwanese art, and I found most of the pieces here to be really engaging and thought-provoking.

TFAM has a nice variety of modern art that touches on both heavier and lighter subjects. There were also quite a few digital works here, such as short films and other immersive experiences. Also, the general admission ticket price is only 30 NTD (approx. 1 USD) as of November 2025!

Dihua Street
迪化街

Address: Dihua St, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103

I’m glad I spent one of my afternoons in Taipei walking up and down Dihua Street, a historic shopping area in the city’s riverside Datong District. Shops here mainly sell traditional herbs and food products, but there are also restaurants, cafes, a visitor center, a temple, and much more.

As you can see in these pictures, Dihua Street has unique architecture that utilizes a lot of red brick. Because it’s such an old street, efforts have been made to preserve this architectural style here. No other street I saw in Taipei looked like Dihua Street.

Visit a Night Market
夜市

I wrote earlier in this post that you can’t visit Taipei without going to Taipei 101, and I’d say the same thing about night markets! They’re an integral part of Taiwanese culture that you just shouldn’t miss. Taipei has a number of famous night markets, including Ningxia Night Market, Linjiang Night Market, Le Hua Night Market, and many others.

The friend I was visiting here and I decided to go to Shilin Night Market (士林夜市) because it was easy to get to on the Tamsui–Xinyi (Red) line. It was raining the night we went, so the market area wasn’t packed. We tried a bunch of different street food, and we ended our night at a fun camping-themed bar called Noobtent!

Day Trip to Tamsui
淡水區

If you’re spending a week or more in Taipei, consider doing one or two day trips! I went on one to Tamsui, a seaside district in New Taipei City. It takes about an hour to get there from Taipei Main Station on the metro, so it’s easily accessible from the heart of the city.

I’ll be writing a separate blog post about my day in Tamsui, so keep an eye out for that! I’ll link it here as soon as I publish it.

Getting Around

Taipei’s public transportation is one of the best systems I’ve used in many years. It’s clean, affordable, and easy to navigate even if you speak little to no Chinese. Signs and announcements are made in multiple languages including English, and transferring between lines is straightforward.

On this trip, I also used Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) to visit Kaohsiung from Taipei for a few days. (In total, I spent about 10 days in the country on this visit, with seven of those days based in Taipei. That’s why I wrote up a one-week itinerary for the capital city.) The HSR experience was pleasant and comfortable. It cost roughly 100 USD for a round-trip ticket between Taipei and Kaohsiung, and travel time on the HSR was about two hours each way.

Beyond that, I think I may have taken one or two Ubers during my week in Taipei. I only rode the bus twice, to get to and from the National Palace Museum. I also took a light rail in Tamsui, but I would say 97% of the time, I was moving around Taipei by metro and on foot. As a public transit enthusiast, I was so happy to find a top-notch transit network in this amazing city!

Make the Most of Your Week in Taipei!

Taipei is one of those cities that’s easy to enjoy as a visitor even if you haven’t done a ton of research before arriving. It’s safe, clean, welcoming, and lively. My list of compliments could go on!

If you’re in Taipei now, or you’re planning a trip, leave a comment below to let me know how it’s going! I personally can’t wait to go back someday soon to explore some more neighborhoods and districts in Taiwan’s capital city!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Nov 23, 2025
This post was updated on Mar 2, 2026

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

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The post A One-Week Itinerary For Taipei, Taiwan appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

How To Visit Culion, A Lush and Historic Island In The Philippines Near Coron

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:00:00 +0000

How To Visit Culion, A Lush and Historic Island In The Philippines
Near Coron

How To Visit Culion, A Lush and Historic Island In The Philippines Near Coron

Published March 12, 2025
Last updated March 8, 2026

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

My recent backpacking trip to the Philippines was an absolute whirlwind in all the best ways! This was my first visit to the country, where I spent almost a month island-hopping. My main stops were Manila, Cebu City, Bohol, Panglao, Catanduanes, Coron, and Culion. Of all those, Culion was probably my favorite.

In this blog post, I’ll explain what makes Culion special and worth visiting. I’ll also mention how to get there from neighboring Coron. To skip down to any particular topic, click or tap the corresponding link below!

An Introduction to Culion
Things to Do
Culion Guided Tour
Places to Eat
Where I Stayed: Hotel Maya
How to Take the Ferry From Coron
Six Additional Tips

An Introduction to Culion

Culion is both an island and a municipality within the province of Palawan. Culion sits between Coron on Busuanga Island and El Nido on the island of Palawan. Both Coron and El Nido are bustling tourism hubs known for their beaches, snorkeling, and radiant blue waters. In contrast, Culion is generally overlooked by tourists, but it’s a perfect destination for solo and/or adventure travelers who are looking to get off the beaten path.

Culion doesn’t have stunning sandy beaches or high-end resorts. Instead, this quiet island has a heavy yet fascinating history: it was world’s largest leprosy colony throughout much of the twentieth century. In 2006, the island was officially declared to be free of the disease, but stigma stubbornly remains and surely still plays a role in the small number of tourist arrivals.

Visitors to Culion will find an island that was medically segregated during the American colonial period. People with leprosy were brought from other parts of the Philippines and forcibly separated from their families, usually for life. Leprosy patients on Culion faced unimaginable pain, hardship, and isolation due to heavy restrictions on movement and family formation.

In spite of all of that, Culion also tells a story of hope and resilience. Increasingly effective remedies for leprosy were pioneered throughout the 1900s. Nonetheless, parts of the island still have an undeniably solemn atmosphere, even under sunny blue skies.

Things to Do

The majority of Culion’s landmarks are historical. Most of them were part of the day-to-day operations of the leprosy sanitarium.

Visit La Immaculada Concepcion Church

Address: V2RF+WJQ, Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmaculateConceptionCulion/

Culion’s most iconic landmark is a visually striking church at the easternmost point of town overlooking the sea. It’s actually built on the remains of Fort Culion (read more about that below), so the history of the building technically dates back to the mid-1700s. The church was completed by Jesuits in 1933, decades after the leprosy colony was established. They used stones from the fort to build the church, so the original structure was transformed, not destroyed.

If the church is open, you can walk inside and see the beautiful red and gold ceiling and vibrant stained-glass windows. I came here twice: once on my own and once as part of my guided tour.

Visit Fort Culion

Address: V2RF+WP5, Culion, Palawan, Philippines

What remains of Fort Culion is right next to La Immaculada Concepcion Church, so these two are easy to visit together. This fort was built in the 1740s during the Spanish colonial period, but its original form is hard to discern given the state of disrepair.

Of the “four bastions” mentioned on the plaque pictured above, only one remains on the church’s eastern corner. It overlooks a popular local swimming spot with beautiful blue ocean water between two concrete piers.

Hike to Aguila Viewpoint

Address: V2R9+XV6, Culion, Palawan, Philippines

As I approached Culion via ferry from Coron, the first thing I noticed was a giant symbol of an eagle above a shield on the main hillside overlooking the town. This is Aguila Point, and it’s visible from many vantage points around town. The eagle and shield is a depiction of the historic seal for the Philippine Health Service (PHS) made from a large arrangement of white stones. Above it is a sign that says “Culion,” along with a statue of Jesus.

You can actually hike up to the Aguila Viewpoint by navigating to this location and finding the staircase with the blue gates next to the cross, as shown in the picture below. As of January 2025, this trailhead is not clearly labeled with a sign, nor is it shown as a trail on Google Maps.

The hike up is steep, some of the stairs are crumbling, so be careful! There’s a good chance you’ll have this trail all to yourself. Furthermore, cell coverage may also cut out, so it’s probably best to let someone know you’re heading up this way just to be safe.

At the top of the hill, you’ll be able to walk behind the letters of the “Culion” sign and see the statue of Jesus up close. The views of Culion Town to the east and the wilderness of the island looking south are breathtaking!

The Culion Museum and Archives

Address: V2RF+H6Q, Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Website: https://csgh.com.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Culion-Museum-Archives-100057421450596/

This impressive museum is located within the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital (CSGH), which currently operates as a working government hospital without any specialized services for leprosy. I visited the museum as part of my group tour, and there was a brief sign-in process. If you want to visit the Culion Museum & Archives on your own, I would recommend consulting with your hotel reception or walking to the CSGH’s main entrance and asking if it’s possible to schedule an individual visit.

The Culion Museum explains the history of leprosy with a focus on how it shaped life in the colony here from its founding in 1906 until the present. A lot of the stories told in the archives are sad, but doctors and scientists in Culion were involved in research that led to a cure.

Explore the Town

I spent most of my waking hours in Culion walking around the main town. Oddly enough, this town doesn’t seem to have an official name, but I think if you call it “Culion Town,” locals will know what you’re referring to. Technically, the town is divided into numerous barangays (districts), including Osmeña, Tiza, and Libis. Farther west, the barangays of Balala, Culango, Jardin, and Baldat are more like separate villages than neighborhoods within Culion town.

Culion’s town has lots of informational plaques describing its many landmarks. Some of them are in decent condition like the ones shown below, but others are severely weathered and on the verge of being illegible. You can learn a lot about the leprosy colony just from walking around town, but a guided tour offers additional perspectives and stories not told on the signs.

Even when I wasn’t on the lookout for historical structures, I loved walking around Culion. Despite not having sandy beaches, the island is a tropical paradise. The town is built on a hillside, so certain streets farther inland offer great panoramic views. I was also struck by all the houses built on stilts out over the water.

Walk West Along the Shoreline

In addition to exploring every nook and cranny I could in town, I also meandered pretty far west. On my last full day on the island, I went all the way out to Neilsen Garden Café. Most of this walk is right along the water’s edge, so it offers close-up views of homes on stilts and brightly-painted bangka (traditional Filipino boats).

Culion Guided Tour

I spent three days in total on Culion, and one of those days was spent doing a group tour. This was organized by the hotel I stayed at, so if you’re interested in doing this tour, ask your accommodation if they can help you set it up. Alternatively, you can try to get in contact with the tour operator directly via his Facebook page linked below. I generally really liked the tour, but I had mixed feelings about one part of it, which I’ll explain in detail below.

The tour I went on was run by Pastor Hermie Villanueva, who seems to be Culion’s most prominent guide. He heads a local church that serves former leprosy patients and their descendants. Pastor Hermie also grew up on Culion and has family ties to the sanitarium.

The tour started with a visit to the Culion Museum and Archives, where Pastor Hermie supplemented the exhibits with personal accounts of growing up on the island. We then walked through Plaza Rizal, where we saw the Rizal Monument, the General Leonard Wood Monument, and a few other historical landmarks. After that, Pastor Hermie brought us to La Immaculada Concepcion Church and Fort Culion. By that point, it was time for lunch, so we all ate at Atoyhang Food Station.

To end the tour, Pastor Hermie brought me and another couple out to a gift shop in the barangay of Culango via motorbike. After that, we all went to Neilsen Garden Café. Unfortunately, they weren’t serving any food or drinks at that time, so we just had a quick look around (I did return the following day and ate there then).

The tour with Pastor Hermie provided tons of insights about Culion that I never would’ve gotten if I’d only explored on my own. For that, I’m really glad my hotel put me in contact with him. He was also an amazing guide who was so friendly and welcoming.

The one part of the tour I had mixed feelings about was when Pastor Hermie offered to let me meet some local residents who had been cured of leprosy. He said I could decline the offer, but I didn’t want to come off as rude. He mentioned that they appreciate visitors, but the men he briefly introduced me to spoke very little English, so I had no way to know if that was true. It was also hard for me to tell how they were feeling during our short visit.

In theory, building bridges between leprosy survivors and visitors sounds like a noble goal. Nonetheless, the thought of gawking or putting locals on display while traveling (even unintentionally) always makes me uncomfortable. I hope these people genuinely enjoy receiving visitors and are not pressured into it.

Places to Eat

Dining options are pretty limited in Culion, but I enjoyed most of my meals here. Below are all the restaurants I tried during my three days on the island.

Atoyhang Food Station

Address: Lower Balala, Culion, 5315 Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atoyhang.foodstation/

Atoyhang Food Station is widely regarded as the best restaurant in town, and it’s conveniently located near the ferry terminal. I first tried this spot with my tour group and got the mouthwatering burger with egg shown below. The next day, I returned on my own and ordered their spaghetti with fried chicken combo plate and a smoothie. Both meals here were delicious! After trying Atoyhang Food Station twice, I would agree that this is the best restaurant on Culion.

BingBong Leron Homestay & Restobar

Address: V2W9+522, Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bblhomestayrestobar/

This hostel on the western edge of town has a small restaurant with an open-air dining area and a modest sea view. I ate two meals here, partly because the first one was decently tasty, and partly because there were so few other restaurants in the area. On my first day on Culion, I got noodles with a chicken drumstick, and the following day I came back and ordered fettuccine Alfredo with fries and lumpia.

The food here took a while to come out, but it’s not like I was in a rush. I assume everything had to be made from scratch anyways. Both meals here were satisfying, plus they offer local beer to sip on while you wait for your food.

Butterflies Food & Beverage

Address: V2W9+36V, Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Butterflies-FB-Culion-Palawan-100064181076660/

This restaurant’s Google Maps listing is pretty empty, but their Facebook page linked above does seem to be updated regularly (as of January 2025). The chicken and lumpia I got here were fine, but not as good as the food at Atoyhang or BingBong Leron. Regardless, it was better to try a new place than go back to either of those spots for a third time.

Neilsen Garden Café

Address: V2V2+JX3, Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Neilsen-Garden-Caf%C3%A9-100087462530367/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neilsengardencafe/

As mentioned above, Neilsen Garden Café is the farthest west I walked while visiting Culion. It’s about two miles from the town center. When I arrived, I was surprised to find a massive outdoor dining space surrounded by manicured gardens, ponds, and statues. I was the only customer here, so I had the entire place to myself.

I ordered a sandwich with fries and an iced coffee, which were fine but not spectacular. I feel like the scenery here is the main attraction, and the refreshments are more like an added bonus.

Kapeng Tangay

Address: V2RC+JPC Upper, Tiza, Culion, 5315 Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kapeng-Tangay-100089253560176/

I was very happy to find a coffee shop in Culion that offered iced drinks and flavored lattes! I went twice and ordered an iced macadamia nut latte and an iced roasted almond latte. Kapeng Tangay also has a stylish indoor seating area. Coffee lovers should check it out!

The B Spot

Address: V2VF+3MH, Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dbestspot/

This was the only bar I tried in Culion, but it had such a nice vibe! I think they’re only open at night, and as of the time of writing, their exact location on Google Maps isn’t exactly correct (it’s right on the water, not inside Hotel Maya). I enjoyed sipping on a few San Miguel beers here under the stars after a long day of exploring on foot.

Magallanes Seafront Lodge & Restaurant

Update Mar 2026 Magallanes Seafront Lodge & Restaurant appears to be permanently closed. If I'm mistaken, leave a comment at the end of this post and let me know!

Address: V2V9+WG2, Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magallanesseafront/

I’ll admit, dinner at Magallanes was the most unusual dining experience I had on Culion. I think this restaurant may have been located at the ferry dock at some point in the past. Since then, they’ve apparently moved a little west of there on the main road. I ordered chicken adobo, which was fine but not amazing. The dining area looked more like a garage than a restaurant.

Where I Stayed: Hotel Maya

Address: V2VF+3M Culion, Palawan, Philippines
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hotelmaya.culion/

One of my favorite things about visiting Culion was staying at Hotel Maya! There are no fancy amenities here, but it’s got a lot of soul. I think at one point this hotel used to be student housing connected to Loyola College of Culion, a Jesuit school right next door. Hotel Maya is also steps from La Immaculada Concepcion Church and Fort Culion, making this a prime location. It is technically within walking distance of the Culion ferry terminal, but it can be a bit of a slog if you have large luggage.

Certain rooms at Hotel Maya look directly out over the water, and I was lucky enough to be assigned to one of them! If you want one, inquire about it during booking. The other thing to note is that Hotel Maya has no website. They do have a Facebook page (linked above), and I made my reservation via WhatsApp. You might need to pay for your stay in cash upon arrival because Culion does not have any banks or ATMs. Verify with the Hotel Maya staff before departing from Coron.

Like most other hotels in the Philippines, Hotel Maya provides a traditional Filipino breakfast each morning. The meals are simple and light, but there’s no better way to start off a long day of exploring with some rice, protein, and a cup of coffee!

How to Take the Ferry From Coron

Coron ticket Office location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Coron ferry terminal location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Culion ticket office location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Culion ferry terminal location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Montenegro Shipping Lines website: https://montenegrolines.com.ph/landing.php
Montenegro Shipping Lines Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montenegroinc/
Montenegro Shipping Lines Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montenegroshipping/

Figuring out the ferry system from Coron to Culion was a bit of a hassle. There isn’t much information online explaining how to do it. Luckily, once I figured it out, I didn’t experience any major issues such as delays or cancellations. The only regularly scheduled ferry that travels between Busuanga Island (Coron) and Culion is operated by a company called Montenegro Shipping Lines. At the time of writing, there are two daily services in each direction, and a one-way ticket costs 325 PHP.

Unfortunately, in Coron both the ferry ticket office and the pier are located on the far eastern edge of town. It’s not exactly convenient to get to from the town center, and traffic can back up quite a bit on the narrow road to the port. In other words, give yourself sufficient time to purchase a ticket and arrive at the ferry terminal. When you make the return trip, things will be a little more lax at the Culion ferry terminal. The Montenegro ticket office there is basically a little yellow shack across the street from the port.

My experience on the ferry here was generally very comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised; reviews online for the Montenegro ticket office in Coron are overall quite negative. Despite that, the boat was almost completely empty in both directions, which just speaks to how few tourists in Coron even have Culion on their radar.

I took the “Marie Kristina” in both directions, which had a small concession stand on the main passenger deck. It’s an open-air deck, but I assume they close the flaps to keep water out if it starts raining.

Six Additional Tips

Below are some additional suggestions and things to know before visiting Culion.

1. Don't expect luxury.

There are no five-star resorts or gourmet restaurants on Culion. If you visit, there is no guarantee of comfort and convenience. The island’s economy is not set up to cater to international tourists. With that said, visiting Culion is fulfilling in other ways. The main thing to do here as a tourist is to learn about leprosy and its devastating impact on people in the Philippines. You’ll also experience incredibly warm hospitality and witness an inspiring, tight-knit community.

2. Google Maps is not accurate here.

Of all the places I’ve traveled to in the last few years, Culion is probably the least accurate on Google Maps. To be fair, the town has a labyrinth of narrow roads and alleys that are designed for pedestrians and motorbikes, not cars. If you’re unable to find a certain attraction or restaurant in Culion, ask a local for help! It’ll be much quicker and more reliable than trying to decipher Google Maps.

3. Phone and internet service will probably be spotty.

Depending on your phone carrier and international roaming, cell and internet coverage in Culion is likely to be spotty. If I remember correctly, Hotel Maya did have Wi-Fi, but even this is not guaranteed to be connected all the time.

4. Withdraw all the cash you need in Coron before arriving in Culion.

As of January 2025, there is no bank or ATM on Culion. I would highly recommend withdrawing all the cash you need (including to pay for accommodation) in Coron before boarding the ferry to Culion.

5. Restaurants may not be open.

Culion only has casual family-owned restaurants. They may or may not be open at any given time (even on weekdays), despite business hours posted online stating otherwise. As such, I had to be flexible for meals while visiting Culion. My advice would be to eat at the first decent-looking place you come across that’s open during mealtimes. If you’re too picky and wait too long, you could end up stuck without food. On a related note, restaurants here might struggle to accommodate dietary restrictions.

6. Try to stay overnight.

On Coron, you might come across tour operators offering day trips to Culion. I would recommend coming on your own instead and spending the night. For one, these day trips may well be more expensive than taking the Montenegro ferry over and staying at Hotel Maya. Also, there is enough to see on Culion to justify a full 24 hours here. Lastly, overnight stays have a much stronger positive impact on the island’s economy than day trips. In all honesty, every dollar spent in Culion probably goes a lot further in supporting local residents than it would in Coron.

I stayed at Hotel Maya for a total of three nights, which is not required to see everything mentioned in this blog post. However, it did give me the opportunity to explore Culion at more leisurely pace. I walked for hours each day, exploring the residential areas near the town in as much depth as I could. If you want to really immerse yourself and get away from the crowds in Coron, consider staying in Culion for a few days like I did.

Enjoy Your Time in Culion!

Visiting Culion is one of the most enriching and eye-opening things you can do while backpacking through the Philippines. Like I said at the beginning of this post, Culion was probably my favorite destination out of over half a dozen different places I visited! Learning about the leprosy colony here is emotionally intense, but I’m so glad I did. Travelers who love adventure and history should set aside some time during a visit to Coron to take the ferry over to Culion.

Are you planning a visit to Culion? If so, what do you hope to see and do there? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading, and have a great trip if you’re headed to this unforgettable destination!

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This post was published on Mar 12, 2025
This post was updated on Mar 8, 2026

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

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The post How To Visit Culion, A Lush and Historic Island In The Philippines Near Coron appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Things To Do In Saigon: Tips From Someone Who Lived There

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 08:00:00 +0000

Things To Do In Saigon: Tips From Someone Who Lived There

Published December 8, 2019

When I first moved to Vietnam, I wanted to write a blog post after a few weeks showcasing what Saigon (otherwise known as Ho Chi Minh City, or HCMC) has to offer. For better or worse, I never got around to it. I think I felt like there was always something left to discover that I’d want to add after the fact. Luckily, now that I’ve moved away, there’s no reason to procrastinate any longer, and here it is!

Saigon is Vietnam’s largest city and center for finance. Its city center is modern and cosmopolitan, making it an ideal place for expats and foreign visitors alike. Due to its location in the south of the country, the weather is hot all year long. As Vietnam’s tourism industry booms, more and more people are spending at least a few days in Saigon. If you’re going to be one of them, read on to see what you should do during your visit!

Click any of the links below to skip directly to that section.

A Cathedral and a Post Office
The Opera House
City Hall & Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street
See the City from Above
The Vietnam History Museum
Bùi Viên (Backpacker Street)
The War Remnants Museum
Bến Thành Market
The Independence Palace
The Famous Pink Church
Saigon Day Trip Ideas
The Expat’s Guide to Eating in Saigon

I’ll finish off the post by answering how many days I think you should spend in Ho Chi Minh City. Let’s dive right in!

1. A Cathedral and a Post Office

First on my list are two icons of Saigon: the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. These two famous buildings are located in the heart of District 1 within walking distance of everything else on this list.

The Notre Dame Cathedral
Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn

Start by admiring this church named after the original in France. However, know that the structure has been covered by scaffolding for the entirety of the time I lived there (from March to December of 2019), and it didn’t look like that construction work would wrap up anytime soon. The front of the church wasn’t obstructed, though.

The Central Post Office
Bưu Điện Trung Tâm Thành Phố

After seeing the church, head on over to the Central Post Office next door. This iconic structure houses intricate decor as well as an iconic portrait of Ho Chi Minh. It’s also filled with various souvenir vendors.

Here’s a tip: go around sundown to experience the post office without the sea of tourists. The tiled floor is beautiful, and you won’t be able to see it if there are a ton of people inside.

Nguyễn Văn Bình Street
Đường Nguyễn Văn Bình

The last attraction on this block is Nguyễn Văn Bình Street, located right next to both the cathedral and the post office. This pedestrian-only walkway is lined on both sides with bookstores and cafes. While most of the books are in Vietnamese, it’s still a quaint area worth exploring for a few minutes.

2. THe Opera House

Nhà hát Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

Another interesting architectural attraction is the Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as the city’s opera house. It’s a stunning example of the kind of building styles that were brought from France during the colonial period. Although the exterior is beautiful, I would’ve loved to see a concert there. Unfortunately, I never got around to it. If you’ve been inside, leave a comment and let me know what it was like!

3. City Hall & Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street

UBND Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

City Hall (officially known as the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City) is probably my favorite historical building in Saigon. I recommend visiting both during the day and after sunset; it’s even more spectacular lit up after dark.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall is located at one end of Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street (Phố đi bộ Nguyễn Huệ). Nguyễn Huệ is also beautiful at night. It’s got a statue of Ho Chi Minh, a lotus fountain, and tons of shops and vendors on both sides of the street. If you walk down to the other end of Nguyễn Huệ opposite City Hall, you’ll find yourself on the banks of the Saigon River.

4. See The City From Above

The skyline of Ho Chi Minh City may not be as grand as some larger cities, but it’s definitely growing and becoming an important part of the city’s identity. Here are two ways to enjoy the view.

The Saigon Skydeck at Bitexco Financial Tower

Bitexco Tower is perhaps Ho Chi Minh City’s most recognizable building, and it offers a 360-degree view of the urban surroundings. Since the tower was completed in 2010, you shouldn’t have to worry about really long lines or crowds here. However, it’s always better to go on a weekday afternoon than a weekend if you can. Entrance costs 200,000 VND (as of December 2019), or approx. 9 USD.

Another option to go up is by visiting the tower’s bar, EON51. I did this once and I honestly recommend just paying the fee for the observation deck instead. That’s because the bar tends to be crowded and it’s not easy to see the whole city with so many people seated next to the windows. You also won’t really save much money this way since drinks are pretty pricey up there.

An alternative to the Saigon Skydeck is Landmark 81. It’s further away from the city center, but since it’s much newer than Bitexco Tower and about 30 floors taller, entrance to the observation deck is more expensive.

My Favorite Rooftop Bar

Ho Chi Minh City naturally has a bunch of rooftop bars, so choosing one might be a challenge. My personal favorite is AIR Saigon (formerly known as Air 360 Sky Lounge), which offers unobstructed views of the city’s tallest and most famous skyscrapers.

AIR also has delicious, creative cocktails at reasonable prices. It’s located on the 22nd floor of Bến Thành Tower in District 1.

5. Vietnam History Museum

The Vietnam History Museum is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about the country. Acquaint yourself with ancient Vietnamese history as well as ethnic minorities as you admire the beautiful artifacts and artwork on display. Note that this museum doesn’t focus explicitly on the Vietnam War. Another museum in the city center is dedicated solely to that.

Next to the history museum is the Saigon Zoo And Botanical Garden. The gardens are really nice, but I always feel a bit iffy about patronizing a zoo, so I only went once and never had a strong urge to go back.

6. Bùi Viên (Backpacker Street)

When you hear ‘Saigon,’ do you picture backpackers drinking and bars blasting music seven nights a week? If the answer is yes, you’re probably thinking of Bùi Viên, one of Asia’s busiest and loudest bar streets. To experience it in full force, go for a drink after dark on a Friday or Saturday night.

I have mixed feelings about Bùi Viên (as I assume most expats in HCMC do). Although it can be fun, it can also be overwhelming. I personally found myself visiting its cafes and restaurants during the day more often than going to the bars at night. If you’d like to see it without so much commotion, I recommend you do the same.

7. The War Remnants Museum

Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh

This is such an important museum to visit because it tells the story of the Vietnam War from a different perspective than you’re probably used to (if you’re from America or Europe). Come with an open mind and a willingness to read and learn about the impacts the war had, especially in the south of Vietnam.

A major focus of the museum is the lasting impact and terrible suffering caused by the use of Agent Orange as an herbicide during the war. Parts of the museum have graphic content, so it may not be the best to bring really young kids. However, I think the exhibit on Agent Orange is really important for most people to see.

I suspect that most American public high schools don’t teach their students about the human impact of spraying such toxic chemicals (I never learned about it during my history classes). If you’re also hearing about it for the first time, I highly recommend visiting the museum to get a fuller picture of the impact of the Vietnam War.

8. Bến Thành Market

Chợ Bến Thành

This huge market is fairly standard, but it’s the perfect place to pick up a souvenir or two. The bright blue and red neon lights are impossible to miss at night.

The surrounding blocks are also filled with street vendors and cafes, and one particular eatery worth noting is the Bến Thành Street Food Market. This large food court has international options and classic Vietnamese dishes (admittedly at inflated prices), but I always enjoyed grabbing a casual dinner here. To learn more about food options in Saigon, check out point number 12 below.

9. Independence Palace

Dinh Độc Lập

If you’ve had your fill of colonial architecture, head straight to the Independence Palace. It was built in the 1960s and its lavish interior has an undeniable retro vibe. I felt like I was touring a James Bond movie set as we wandered through the ornate meeting rooms and secret passageways in the basement. This building served as the home of the president of South Vietnam before reunification in 1975.

10. The Famous Pink Church

Nhà thờ Tân Định

You may have seen the Tân Định Church on Instagram, and its striking pink facade really is one-of-a-kind. Just be warned that literal busloads of tourists get off here to take pictures in front of the iconic structure.

Here’s a tip: the church isn’t extremely photogenic from ground level. Across the street is a Cộng Cafe with multiple upper levels of balcony seating. Buy a Vietnamese coffee or an espresso and go up for the best photo angle. I took the photo above from the third (or fourth?) floor of this coffee shop.

11. Day Trip Ideas

I’m sad to say that I didn’t take advantage of all Saigon had to offer in terms of day trips. Nonetheless, here are two I went on that I recommend.

The Củ Chi Tunnels

This popular attraction located in the northern district of Củ Chi is a great way to learn more about the Vietnam War. A guide will bring you through some of the tunnels and explain how they were used during combat. The tunnels are fairly small, so people who are claustrophobic may choose to skip this day trip.

See The Mekong Delta

I did a private day tour of the Mekong Delta when my parents came to visit, and it exceeded my expectations. For most of my time in Vietnam, I was under the impression that visiting the Mekong River was a multi-day commitment, and that simply isn’t the case. To read more about what we saw and did, check out my full review here.

12. The Expat’s Guide To Eating In Saigon

To be perfectly honest, daily life as an expat in Ho Chi Minh City isn’t defined by the sites and attractions listed above. On the contrary, Saigon was such a fun place to live long-term because of its infinite number of delicious food choices for very low prices. If you’re curious about what culinary delights await you, check out my “Expat’s Guide To Eating In Saigon”!

How Long Should You Stay in Saigon?

To wrap up this post, I’d like to answer a common question: how long should you spend in Ho Chi Minh City? My answer to that is roughly three days. Even if the list above sounds long, most of the points of interest mentioned above can be seen in an hour or two. If you want to go at a leisurely pace, four days is fine, but I honestly recommend moving on to a different part of Vietnam after that.

What else is worth seeing outside of Saigon? Well, if you’re planning a trip and still need ideas, check out some of my other Vietnam posts! In my nine months of living there teaching English, I managed to see quite a few different parts of the country. If you’re headed to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, let me know if you have any questions in the comments section below! Thanks for reading and have an amazing time in Saigon!

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This post was published on Dec 8, 2019

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The Expat’s Guide To Eating In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 08:00:00 +0000

The Expat’s Guide To Eating In Saigon

Published December 7, 2019

If you’re headed to Saigon as a tourist or an expat, I’m sure you’re wondering what the city’s food scene is like. Let me assure you: it’s amazing! But it can be tough to navigate, especially for newcomers. As someone who lived and worked there for most of 2019, I want to share some of my favorite dishes and restaurants I discovered in Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City or HCMC).

This post is an expat’s food guide, which means it will feature a mix of authentic Vietnamese options as well as western restaurants. Vietnamese food is delicious, but let’s be real: if you’re living in HCMC long-term, you’re eventually going to crave pizza or burgers, and I’ve got you covered! After that, I mention some of my favorite bars and cafes. To skip to any of the sections below, click or tap the corresponding link!

Vietnamese Classics
Foreign Treats
My Favorite Bars
Where to Caffeinate

Disclaimer For My Food Guides When patronizing restaurants, bars, and cafes for my food guide blog posts, I always pay full price. I never request discounts or free menu items in exchange for being featured here. As such, all opinions are completely my own!

Vietnamese Classics

Let’s start off with some quintessential Vietnamese dishes. While this is by no means a complete list, these quick and cheap eats were some of my favorites that I would have a couple times a week.

Phở

The world-famous noodle soup known as phở was indeed a staple of my diet in Saigon. It’s slightly different from the variety you’ll find abroad, but taste it for yourself and see what you think.

While I made an effort to try as many phở restaurants as I could, I found myself going to one over and over again called Phở Lệ (website and Facebook page). At 70,000 VND (approx. 3 USD) per bowl, this place wasn’t the cheapest, but it was consistently delicious. They have two different locations: one in District 3 and one in District 5. The latter happened to be a short walk from my apartment, and they were always open late. An English menu is available for those who need it. If you’re nearby, give it a try!

Bún thịt nướng

This noodle-based dish is a meal I could never tire of. It’s a colorful mix of rice noodles, grilled sliced meat, a fried egg roll cut into pieces, shredded veggies, mint, a sweet and sour sauce, and chili paste. Bún thịt nướng exemplifies everything amazing about Vietnamese food, with each bite encompassing a full range of flavors and textures.

My favorite place to get bún thịt nướng was a street vendor near the War Remnants Museum. She always set up her booth right around this location and would be there during lunchtime on weekdays. She may not stay there forever, but as far as I know, she never moved spots the entire time I lived in Saigon.

Cơm tấm

I was surprised to learn that Saigonese cuisine was less rice-based than, say, Japanese or Chinese food. I actually found myself craving it at times. That’s when I would go out and get a plate of cơm tấm. “Cơm tấm” literally means ‘broken rice,’ referring to the fact that it’s a bit more dry than other types of rice, so the individual grains don’t really stick together.

Cơm tấm is usually served with egg, a simple vegetable, some type of meat, and a sauce that can be used for dipping or pouring over the plate. When you order it, you’ll usually get to choose which toppings you want.

Hủ tiếu mì

What Vietnamese food lacks in rice dishes, it more than makes up for with its large variety of noodles. Hủ tiếu mì is a perfect example of that: the name of the dish refers to two different types mixed together. Hủ tiếu are long, flat, and stretchy noodles that absorb any sauce they come in contact with. Mì are much thinner and curly, looking sort of like instant ramen. Put both into a wok with some marinated beef, green leafy veggies, an egg, soy sauce, and tương ớt (spicy sauce), and you’ve got one delicious lunch or dinner!

Bún chả

This dish is a delicacy from Northern Vietnam, so if Hanoi is on your Vietnam itinerary, you might as well get it from the source. If not, you should definitely get it in Saigon! It’s one of my favorite dishes, basically made up of rice noodles and herbs that are dipped into a bowl of broth with meat. It’s a lot lighter than phở and the soup has a different flavor, so don’t pass up one even if you didn’t love the other!

My go-to place to get bún chả is Quán bún chả Hồ Gươm, located here (although I believe they have a few other locations). It’s a popular meal though, so you should never be too far from a shop serving it.

Gỏi cuốn (spring rolls)

Fresh spring rolls are one of my favorite snacks in Vietnam, partly because they’re so cheap! A single roll can be as low as 6,000 or 7,000 VND (approx. 0.30 USD) and generally comes with a brown peanut dipping sauce.

Final Thoughts on Local Food in Saigon

Street food is an integral part of life in HCMC, and you might as well embrace it. Locals and expats alike find the best vendors around their homes and workplaces, becoming valued regular customers. It was always nice to wave hello to the local noodle lady or coffee shop owner (even if you just happened to be passing by without ordering anything). I really enjoyed that aspect of eating locally in HCMC.

If you need some more ideas for local meals, consider trying bún bò Huế (another soup dish from the region of Huế in Central Vietnam), bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich), mì Quảng (yet another noodle dish), or bánh xèo (a shrimp and egg omelette-crepe). I lived in District 5, which is the city’s Chinatown. That was a great area for hole-in-the-wall restaurants, although District 5 is a little further out from where most tourists stay. Have fun and I’m sure you’ll find some gems of your own!

Foreign Treats

Saigon has a vibrant international food scene, which is one of the many reasons it’s a comfortable place for expats. While the choices are numerous, individual restaurants can definitely be a hit-or-miss. Here are some of the western places I like most.

Burgers: Rogue Saigon

Address: 13 Pasteur (Floors 2+), Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/roguesaigon/

Rogue is actually a rooftop bar in District 1, but what I liked most about it was their delicious burgers! Really good ones are somewhat hard to come by in Ho Chi Minh City, so Rogue was a good find. They serve other American bar food as well.

Fried Chicken: Texas Chicken

Address: multiple locations
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TexaschickenVN/

I feel a little odd including this one in here, because as far as I can tell Texas Chicken is just an international fast food chain with ties to Church’s Chicken (which I’ve never had the chance to try in the US). Nonetheless, it was honestly my favorite place to get fried chicken in Ho Chi Minh City. The food was always served hot and fresh with tons of flavor; it was just consistently satisfying. Do you have Texas Chicken in your home country?

Mexican: Gringo Tacos and The Taco Stand

Since I lived in Mexico before moving to Vietnam, I had fingers crossed hoping that I might find some good ‘comida mexicana’ in Saigon. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, choices are pretty limited. With that said, the following two places are worth mentioning.

Gringo Tacos

Address: 137 Calmette, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/gringotacos1/

Gringo Tacos was opened by an American who was unsatisfied with the lack of good Mexican restaurants in Saigon. I, for one, am glad he did! The food at Gringo Tacos is delicious, and they definitely make an effort to get authentic (i.e. probably imported) ingredients like tortillas. My favorite dish here is their chimichangas topped with a surprisingly legit mole sauce.

The Taco Stand

Address: 12 bui vien #14, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TACOSTANDSAIGON/

The other good Mexican place I found is called The Taco Stand. It’s somewhat hidden on the upper level in an alleyway near Bùi Viên, but they have a sign on the street to help you find it. The tacos are mouth-watering, especially with their unique grilled cheese.

There’s one other Mexican restaurant in Saigon you might come across called Rico Taco. I went twice and was not a fan either time. I found that it tasted more like Vietnamese-Mexican fusion (and not in a good way). I definitely recommend Gringo Tacos and The Taco Stand instead.

Dim Sum: Baoz Dimsum

Address: 86-88 Nguyễn Tri Phương, Phường 7, Quận 5, Hồ Chí Minh OR 190 Hồng Bàng, Phường 15, Quận 5, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://baozdimsum.com/

I am a huge fan of dim sum, so it was nice to find a restaurant specializing in it in Ho Chi Minh City. Staples did taste slightly different from what I’ve had in Hong Kong (or even cities like New York or Seattle), but overall it was a fairly standard experience.

Indian: Shanti Indian Cuisine

Address: 371c Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/shantivietnam/

Ho Chi Minh City has a surprising number of good Indian restaurants, especially on and around the famous Bùi Viên walking street. While I liked most of the ones I tried, my favorite place was definitely Shanti Indian Cuisine.

They make an excellent thali (multiple small dishes served on a large metal tray with rice) that has both vegetarian and meat-based options. The price is also pretty good for how much food you get. However, they also have other standard options on their menu such as curries and Indian rice dishes.

Pizza: Pizza 4P's and Italiani's Pizza

Saigon has no shortage of pizza restaurants, but most aren’t very noteworthy. In contrast, the two mentioned below are my favorites.

Pizza 4P's

Address: multiple locations
Website: https://pizza4ps.com/

Without a doubt, Pizza 4P’s is Saigon’s best pizzeria. The menu is extensive with lots of creative offerings, including different pastas and salads. It’s also a bit pricey, especially with appetizers and drinks. But if you’re going to splurge, this is the place to do it. You can add their signature burrata cheese to any pizza you want (shown in the center of the margherita pizza pictured below).

Italiani's Pizza

Address: 290 Ly Tu Trong, Phuong Ben Thanh, Quan 1, Ho Chi Minh, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: http://italianispizza.com/

Delicious pizza, a casual atmosphere, friendly staff, and a great location are all reasons to try Italiani’s. Like Pizza 4P’s, Italiani’s makes a delicious thin-crust pizza. (A lot of other places in Saigon either serve pizza that’s way too thick and doughy or too thin, which just ends up tasting like a baked cracker with tomato sauce and cheese.) Italiani’s pizza goes well with a local craft beer.

The Deck Saigon

Address: 38 Nguyễn Ư Dĩ, St, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.thedecksaigon.com/

This restaurant was the most high-end dining experience I had in my nine months of living in HCMC, and it was also the most expensive. However, if you want a truly luxurious meal, this is the place to be.

The Deck Saigon seamlessly combines French- and Vietnamese-inspired dishes to create an honestly unique and refreshing dining experience. They’re able to do what most fusion restaurants can’t, and I enjoyed trying everything we ordered.

While The Deck Saigon does offer waterfront tables, they don’t feature the city skyline. The restaurant is located in District 2, so I recommend booking a reservation and giving yourself ample time to get there from District 1 or 3 if that’s where you’re coming from.

Bến Thành Street Food Market

Address: 26-28-30 Thủ Khoa Huân, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/BenThanhstreetfoodmarket/

I mentioned this food court in my comprehensive guide to Saigon because of its proximity to the massive gift and clothing market of the same name. Bến Thành Street Food Market has dozens of stalls that together offer a complete range of international cuisine (including Vietnamese dishes). It’s definitely meant for tourists, but I always enjoyed coming here every once in a while.

My Favorite Bars

Ho Chi Minh City has no shortage of bars and breweries for any budget and occasion. In fact, no other city I’ve been to or lived in has cheaper drinks! The following are some of my most highly recommended.

Layla - Eatery & Bar

Address: Second floor, 63 Đông Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/LaylaEateryandBarHCM

Layla is quite simply my favorite bar in the city. Located on the upper floor of a building across from the Sheraton Hotel in District 1, this bar is the perfect mix of classy and casual. Their cocktail recipes are unique and legitimately delicious. Case in point: I’ve never been a fan of gin and tonics until I had one at Layla that actually tasted good. I’ve liked every cocktail I tried at Layla.

Layla can get quite busy during peak hours, so I recommend going during the late afternoon. Happy hour is another good idea; prices here are definitely on the higher side.

Hen House Craft Beer Bar

Address: 285 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/henhousevn

Although Hen House is one street over from the crazy bars and booming clubs on Bùi Viên, it’s way more casual and relaxed. They sell Rooster Beers with a nice variety of brews from light to dark. Their prices are also quite good for craft beer on tap. If you’re feeling hungry, they also have some Vietnamese-inspired fast food.

East West Brewing Co.

Address: 181 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: http://www.eastwestbrewingcompany.com/

This brewery with a huge dining room is another good option for beer fans. I particularly liked their Saigon Rosé, which is sold at many restaurants around town. Get a flight to try four of beers on tap.

Lac Brewing Co.

Address: none
Website: https://www.lacbrewing.com/

I’m sad to say that this brewery closed right after I left Saigon! Nonetheless, I want to include it here even though they have no physical store right now because you can still pick up some of their delicious craft beers elsewhere around the city. I reached out to them on Facebook and was told that “you can still get our products at Urban Basement nearby or other outlets such as Malt, B3 Steakhouse, BiaCraft, [etc.]”

The View Rooftop Bar

Address: 195 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheViewRooftopBar/

This is my second favorite rooftop bar in Saigon (after AIR Saigon, discussed below). Although you can’t see the skyline as well from here, I like their interior design, which features a ton of lanterns and festive hanging lights. The drinks are fine but not outstanding. If you want to feel like you’re in the middle of everything on Bùi Viên without having to deal with all the commotion on street level, The View is a great place.

AIR Saigon (formerly 'Air 360 Sky Lounge')

Address: Rooftop 22nd Floor, Ben Thanh Tower 136 – 138 Le Thi Hong Gam, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City
Website: http://airsaigon.vn/assets/cache/all/index.html

This rooftop bar was mentioned in my complete guide to Saigon because it’s my favorite place to see the city skyline. In addition to that, they also offer some tasty (i.e. fruity) mixed drinks at reasonable prices. Go check it out!

Rogue Saigon

Address: 13 Pasteur (Floors 2+), Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Website: https://www.facebook.com/roguesaigon/

Mentioned above for their delicious burgers, Rogue is also worth mentioning as a nice rooftop bar. The drinks are good, and while the view may not be as grand as what you’ll see from The View or AIR Saigon, it’s in a quiet little corner of District 1 with its own unique charm.

Cafes

If you’re a coffee addict like I am, Ho Chi Minh City will be your happy place! Learn about two major coffee chains in the city, plus other options below.

The Coffee House

This cafe with locations all over the city was my favorite place to settle in for a while and be online. Many of my blog posts were drafted while I was sipping on cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee) in The Coffee House! They also make a really good hot latte, pictured below.

Highlands Coffee

This is the other major coffee chain in Saigon, and their prices are basically identical to those of The Coffee House. Cà phê sữa đá here tends to be a little more rich and sweet, and they also have delicious pastries.

Other Mentions

Coffee fanatics should try some other cafes beyond the two listed above. Sometimes, the best coffee can be found in the most unassuming places, including hole-in-the-wall operations. The sheer density of coffee shops in Saigon is unlike any other city I’ve been to (and I’m from Seattle). Coffee is a defining feature of life in Vietnam, so be sure to branch out and try some new places!

Feeling Hungry Yet?

Whether you’re visiting Saigon for a few days or planning to move there long-term, get ready for a culinary adventure! If you’ve just started researching the area and need more info on things to do, check out my comprehensive guide to Saigon! I share all the city’s best attractions in that separate post so that you can plan the perfect trip.

Have you tried any of the foods or restaurants mentioned above? Got any favorites that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments below! I hope this guide has helped jumpstart some ideas and inspired you to try some new dishes in Ho Chi Minh City!

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This post was published on Dec 7, 2019

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The Traveler’s Guide To Côn Đảo, A Gorgeous Vietnamese Island With a Dark Past

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 08:00:00 +0000

The Traveler’s Guide To Côn Đảo,
A Gorgeous Vietnamese Island With a Dark Past

Published December 5, 2019

As many of you know, I love exploring relatively unknown destinations. This typically means small towns, but occasionally I come across an island that isn’t yet on the radar of most tourists and travelers. That was the case with one located off the southern coast of Vietnam known as Côn Đảo (or Côn Sơn). If you’ve been to Vietnam’s more famous destinations and are in need of a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively, Côn Đảo might be exactly what you’re looking for.

You’d be forgiven if you’ve never heard of the tiny island chain before. About 150 miles south of Ho Chi Minh City, Côn Đảo is anything but a bustling tourist destination. Its best features include beaches you won’t have to share with anyone else, colorful fishing boats, green mountainside cliffs, and delectable seafood.

In addition to its stunning landscapes, Côn Đảo was also home to a brutal prison for over 100 years, from the 1860s up until the 1970s. It was used both by French colonists for political dissidents as well as soldiers and citizens during the Vietnam War.

Conditions in the prison throughout its operation were heart-wrenching, and unimaginable human suffering occurred within its stone walls. The remains of the prison are open to visitors, and seeing it in person is an emotional experience. However, I think all visitors to the island should go if they can. As uncomfortable as it may be, the Côn Đảo Prison is an important relic of Vietnamese history and a reminder of the immense pain and trauma that the country has gone through to become what it is today.

Fortunately, the prison doesn’t need to overshadow a stay on Côn Đảo. The island is now sleepy and relaxing. Locals are friendly and welcoming. Read on to learn exactly why you should consider this beautifully unspoiled spot for your next Southeast Asian getaway!

Breathtaking Views

The best part of Côn Đảo is its stunning natural beauty. In this section, I’ll give you a taste of what you can expect. If you’d like to skip ahead to sections featuring cuisine, the prison, where we stayed, how we got around, and how we got to the island from Saigon, click or tap the relevant link.

Beaches

Despite not really having a very tropical vibe, the beaches on Côn Đảo were pristine. We almost always had them to ourselves, too. Here are some of my favorites.

Lò Vôi Beach
Bãi Lò Vôi

Located within walking distance of the main town, this wide beach will almost make you feel like you’re on a desert island. With dense trees and rocky mountains surrounding it, this was probably the most calm and relaxing beach we went to.

Đầm Trầu Beach
Bãi Đầm Trầu

Although this beach was the least picturesque, it did have two things going for it: a couple of restaurants nearby, and the ability to watch planes fly in from its shores thanks to its proximity to the airport. We had lunch at one of the restaurants, and you can read more about it below.

Bãi tắm An Hải

Somewhat similar to Lò Vôi Beach, this one is also located within walking distance of the main town.

Nhát Beach
Bãi Nhát

The beach offering the best view is Bãi Nhát. The dramatic mountain peak that can be seen from it is located on the nearby islet known as hòn Bà (I think).

A fishing port

This was perhaps my favorite spot on the island, located roughly here. It wasn’t designed for tourists, but the colorful boats and mountainous backdrop made it the perfect place to practice our photography skills.

The National Park
Vườn quốc gia Côn Đảo

If you’re interested in seeing a beach or two on the northern side of the island (which is mostly uninhabited), you can enter through Côn Đảo National Park here, then take a hike down to the water. Entrance costs 60,000 VND per person, but this was honestly an underwhelming beach compared to the others mentioned above.

An Hải Lake
Hồ An Hải

Last but not least, this massive lotus pond on the edge of town with a road running through its center is a sight to see. Here, you can watch locals fishing along the side of the road.

Amazing Seafood

As you might expect, Côn Sơn is home to some really excellent, fresh seafood. Check out some of your options in the section below.

A restaurant on the beach

If you want a local seafood experience, you could eat at a restaurant on the beach. We saw two side by side at the entrance of Đầm Trầu Beach (Bãi Đầm Trầu), and decided to try the one on the right.

We were thoroughly impressed with the crab we tried there, which was served with a delicious slightly sweet glaze. The shellfish appetizer we tried was also good, and the shrimp fried noodles we had rounded out the meal. If you want an authentic seafood meal with an ocean view, this is a great place to head to.

A restaurant in town

A slightly more standard dining experience can be found in town, where a number of large and bustling seafood restaurants are clustered opposite the park on Nguyễn Đức Thuận Street. I think we went to the one called Nhà hàng Cánh Buồm.

We tried snail soup, a local variety of jumbo prawn, calamari, and fried rice. This is the kind of place where you’ll want to try multiple dishes and share. Other restaurants on this street looked similar, but we chose this one because it seemed to be the most busy at the time.

A resort restaurant

Your final option for food is to eat at one of the island’s resorts, even if you aren’t staying there. We tried the restaurant at the Poulo Condor Boutique Resort, and while it was good, I’d say the main thing I remember about the meal was how expensive it was. In terms of authenticity, I’d say the meal was lacking.

We were originally considering trying the restaurant at the even more fancy Six Senses Con Dao resort, but decided against it in the end. After seeing Vietnamese standards on their menu such as phở and bánh mì for astronomical prices, we opted to splurge on a more unique luxury dining experience in Saigon. I’m glad we did.

The Côn Đảo Prison

In order to visit the prison on Côn Sơn, you’ll need to buy tickets at this location. I highly recommend buying a ticket that includes both the museum and the prison. Read the following section to learn more.

The Museum
Bảo Tàng Côn Đảo

Before actually visiting the prison itself, you’ll want to check out the museum next door. You’ll learn about the history of the island, which is largely entwined with its inception in the 1860s as a place of penal exile during the French colonial period.

It continues on with exhibits focusing on some of the people who were kept here and how it became a prison of war during the 1960s up until 1975 when it was finally closed. Depictions of incarceration in the Côn Đảo Prison can be tough to witness because of how inhumane the conditions were. Some artifacts are especially personal, such as annotated books and diaries that belonged to prisoners.

To read another review of the museum with some additional info, click here.

The Prison
Nhà tù Côn Đảo

After you’ve seen the museum, you’re ready to go next door to see the prison itself. Like the museum, the prison might be difficult for some people to visit. They’ve put in some life-sized statues to really drive home the point that thousands of human beings were kept here in awful conditions.

I think what was so harrowing to me was how recently people were imprisoned here. Certain parts of the prison look like they haven’t been changed or cleaned up since it was closed. Human suffering was recent here, and you can almost feel it in the air.

As I mentioned earlier, I think visitors to the island should dedicate one day to see the prison if they can. It would be unfortunate to come away from Côn Đảo with no understanding of what happened here. I took time to reflect on it, then made a conscious effort to appreciate that the island is finally a place of peace.

Where We Stayed

We decided to book a room at the Tân Sơn Nhất Côn Đảo Resort, located right on the edge of the main town directly on the beach. This “hotel” was comprised of a few dozen beachside bungalows, but they had modern amenities: air conditioning; a modern, clean, and spacious bathroom; WiFi; and a TV.

They also had a nice, complimentary breakfast buffet with both western and Vietnamese dishes. We took advantage of it each morning before venturing out on our motorbikes.

While the rooms were nice and comfortable enough, the best part of Tân Sơn Nhất was its location right on the beach. We enjoyed the view right from our bungalow’s porch. The resort is also close enough to walk into the town center for dinner or drinks.

We decided to try their on-site restaurant for dinner one night. The seafood hot pot and other dishes we got were good, but most of the other restaurants mentioned above were a bit better.

Overall, the Tân Sơn Nhất Côn Đảo Resort was a comfortable and memorable place to stay. At 75 USD per night, it was expensive for Vietnam. Nonetheless, being directly on the beach was a luxury worth splurging on, so I recommend it if you’re looking for a place to stay.

Traveling Around the Island

Without a doubt, the most convenient and budget-friendly way to get around the island is to rent a motorbike. We paid 120,000 VND (approx. 5.20 USD) per bike per day, and our hotel receptionist directed us to a rental guy just down the road. We were not asked to put down a security deposit, but we had to pay for our own gas, which cost about 50,000 VND (approx. 2.15 USD) for a full tank.

While I’m sure taxis and other tour vehicles are readily available for hire, it was nice to be able to explore the island at our own pace with the motorbikes. Many of my favorite spots were found by just pulling off to the side of the road, parking, and exploring on foot. We probably wouldn’t have seen as much of Côn Sơn if we used taxis to get around.

Many hotels appeared to offer free shuttle pickup and dropoff to the island’s airport, and this was the case for the Tân Sơn Nhất Côn Đảo Resort where we stayed. This was very convenient and helpful, especially with luggage.

Getting to Côn Đảo

At the time of writing (December 2019), the only air carrier that flies to Côn Đảo is Vietnam Airlines. Since local budget airlines don’t operate there, airfare was much more expensive than most domestic flights: round-trip cost 155 USD (3.6 million VND) per person. In contrast, it’s normal to find round-trip flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Phú Quốc for as low as 40 USD.

Another option to get to Côn Đảo is a ferry from Vũng Tàu. According to one blog, this is a much more economical option than flying. However, it mentions that boat service is weather-dependent.

We decided to fly to avoid the uncertainty, and it may have been a good thing that we did. When we arrived, the sea looked pretty rough. We also inquired at our hotel about boat tours, but were told that the wind and waves were so strong that the island’s port was closed. We assume that this probably meant the ferry wasn’t in service while we were there.

An Island Unlike Any Other

Côn Đảo was undoubtedly one of the most unique places I had the pleasure of visiting in Vietnam. Its beauty is simply unparalleled. Even if you’ve been to Phú Quốc or other islands in Vietnam or Cambodia, Côn Đảo is a different experience altogether. It’s less tropical, and (at least in 2019) isn’t dominated by resorts and vacationers.

Although the history of the island is bleak, part of the joy of visiting today is knowing that the century-plus of terrible suffering is finally over. Côn Đảo is once again a peaceful place. While seeing the museum and prison can have an emotional toll, you’ll come away from the island with a more complete perspective of Vietnamese history and be a more informed traveler for it.

Have you been to Côn Đảo before? Was your experience similar? Leave a comment and let me know! Thanks for checking out Caffeinated Excursions, and happy travels to anyone headed to this beautiful place!

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This post was published on Dec 5, 2019

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Things To Do In Dalat, Vietnam: Train Rides, Temples, Waterfalls, And More!

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 03:00:00 +0000

Things To Do In Dalat, Vietnam: Train Rides, Temples, Waterfalls, And More!

Published November 30, 2019

When I first visited Dalat earlier this year, I was sadly unable to explore outdoors because of heavy, non-stop rain. That’s why I was so excited to revisit the city with my friend Ismael a few months later! When we got off the plane and were greeted by blue skies, I was so excited to finally see what Dalat had to offer.

The one good thing about my first rain-soaked trip was that I got to explore the city’s amazing cafe scene. Since Dalat is the heart of Vietnam’s coffee-growing region, the cafes there are some of the best that I’ve come across in all my travels. I wrote a separate post about it, which you can check out here. I also updated the list with five new cafes and restaurants I tried with Ismael, so be sure to check it out!

I came away from Dalat this time loving the city. The green hills around town and the unexpectedly cool temperature will make you feel like you’re in Canada or Northern Europe. There are a couple of interesting and unique attractions in Dalat which are discussed in this post. They center around a historic train ride and a waterfall. To learn more, keep reading!

Unique Attractions in Dalat

A Tourist Train Ride

Dalat’s most noteworthy offering is a short historic train route that runs from Dalat Railway Station (Ga Đà Lạt) in the city center to Trại Mát Station (Ga Trại Mát) in the suburbs to the east. While Trại Mát has a beautiful temple that you should definitely check out, the scenic train ride is a fun experience all on its own. Below are more details on Dalat Station, the train, and the temple.

Dalat Station

You’ll first want to head to Dalat Railway Station, located here. The station itself is an attraction to check out with its distinctive yellow façade.

There are also old train cars on display, a couple of gardens, and a chocolate shop.

The Train Ride

After exploring the station, board the train at your designated departure time. Check out the vintage interior of the train and find a seat. As you chug along, you’ll be treated to scenic views of coffee farms and greenhouses.

The Linh Phước Pagoda
Chùa Ve Chai (Linh Phước)

The terminal station for this route is located here. Walk just a bit to the east, then turn south to find the entrance to the pagoda. Follow the crowd or ask an employee for directions if you’re not sure where to go.

We paid for round-trip train tickets, but this would’ve made for a very rushed temple visit. We wanted to take our time exploring the Linh Phước Pagoda, so we decided to forego the train ride back and took a taxi back to the Dalat town center instead.

The temple is a pretty large complex with a number of different rooms and shrines. If you only spend half an hour here, you might miss some of the most impressive parts. Those who are able should climb the steep staircases up to the top of the tallest pagoda, which offers really stunning panoramic views. It’s about seven stories tall!

Datanla Waterfall

Like the temple mentioned above, this waterfall is also a short distance outside of the city center. Unfortunately, there is no train service out here. Instead, visitors should call a Grab car (the local version of Uber) and ask to be dropped off at this point.

The Datanla Waterfall appears to only be accessible via a “roller coaster,” although it’s not the kind of thing you might imagine in an amusement park. It’s relatively slow and smooth, and even has a mechanism for slowing down. You ride in an individual car which is not connected to any other passengers.

I found this to be a fun part of the excursion, but I can imagine that some travelers might not be interested in (or able to) do this. You could inquire at the ticket booth about other ways to reach the waterfall, but it seemed to me like this might be it.

As mentioned above, the coaster ride itself was smooth and comfortable. The only thing I didn’t love about it was that the inclines felt pretty steep, and the car design has passengers reclined quite a bit. This gave me the feeling of almost laying down while being brought up the hill with my legs higher than my head, which didn’t feel natural. If the thought of that freaks you out, you might want to skip the Datanla Waterfall.

After all this talk of the coaster, you might be wondering about the actual waterfall itself. This is what it looks like (pictured below). At the bottom of the hill where it’s located, there’s a small visitor area. When you’re ready to go back, you’ll have to get back on the roller coaster to return to the main entrance.

An Amazing Array of Cafes

Dalat has a vibrant food and drink scene, but in this town, coffee is king! That’s because coffee is one of the region’s most important industries, so much of what you’ll find here is local specialty brews. This post would be way too long if I included all my recommendations, which is why I’ve written a separate post all about Dalat’s best cafes. Be sure to check it out!

Other Points of Interest

As you can see, Dalat is a very green city that has a small-town vibe. That’s why it’s such a great place for outdoor activities as long as the weather is good! I highly recommend setting aside some time to explore on foot, and an excellent place to do this is along the shores of Xuan Huong Lake (Hồ Xuân Hương).

Along the southern shore, you’ll find Lam Vien Square (Quảng trường Lâm Viên) which has some interesting modern architecture, cafes, a shopping center, and street vendors.

This is hardly the only place worth checking out on foot, but it’s a good starting point. Dalat’s District 1 (Phường 1) and District 2 (Phường 2) are both commercial areas with lots of interesting restaurants and bars to explore.

Also, here’s one tip: pack layers! Since the town is in the mountains and not on the coast, it can be surprisingly chilly, especially at night!

Where to Stay

On my first visit to Dalat, I stayed at the Tigon Dalat Hostel (affiliate link). On this trip, we booked a room at the Tía Dú Homestay (affiliate link). Both were a little out of the way, but the panoramic views from the homestay were a great reason to stay in that particular neighborhood, which is pretty residential. If you’d rather be closer to restaurants, bars, and cafes, I’d recommend looking for a place to stay in District 1 (Phường 1).

Go check out Dalat!

This blog post is by no means exhaustive. If you stay for longer than a few days, you’ll have ample time to see everything mentioned here and more! Have you been to the area before? Are you interested in checking it out on your next trip to Vietnam? Leave a comment and let me know! Thanks for reading, and if you’re either in Dalat now or headed there soon, enjoy!

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This post was published on Nov 30, 2019

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See The Mekong Delta In a Day: Bến Tre Private Tour Review

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 08:00:54 +0000

See The Mekong Delta In a Day: Bến Tre Private Tour Review

Published November 22, 2019

I’ve lived in Saigon for about nine months now, but I had never taken a trip to the Mekong River Delta. Luckily, having my parents visit me in Vietnam was the perfect excuse to go check it out! We decided to book a private day tour with a company called Mekong Delta Tourism (AG Travel), which meant we got our very own guide and driver for the entire day.

The Mekong River is only about 40 miles away from Ho Chi Minh City, and you don’t need to go as far as Cần Thơ to see why the delta is such a popular tourist destination. Instead, we traveled to the city and province of Bến Tre. In this post, I’ll share what we did and end with a quick review of the company we went with.

What We Did on the Day Trip

1. Hotel Pick-up

The tour began with an 8:00 a.m. hotel pick up. The tour guide was right on time and met us in the lobby, then brought us out to a large van which we had all to ourselves. We took the main road out of the city (Võ Văn Kiệt) before taking the highway (Quốc lộ 1A, or QL1A) the rest of the way to Bến Tre.

2. Quick Rest Stop

At some point before reaching the city of Bến Tre, we stopped for a few minutes at a rest stop. It looked like they offered coffee and food if we wanted to get breakfast, but we had already eaten earlier at the hotel.

3. Crossing the Mekong River

We didn’t get out of the van to stop here, but we did get panoramic views of the Mekong River as we crossed it on the Rạch Miễu Bridge (Cầu Rạch Miễu). It was interesting to see just how wide the river really is, and our guide pointed out the houseboats and fishing communities floating on the water as we crossed.

4. Brick Factory

Our first real stop on our journey was a brick production facility on the banks of the river. Despite being quiet that day, our guide informed us about the clay in the region being ideal for bricks, which are made by hand.

Seeing the firing kilns on site was probably the most interesting part of this stop. Since they weren’t being used when we visited, we even got to step inside and check them out up close!

5. Motorboat Ride

Since the brick factory happened to be right on the banks of the river, we walked over to one of the boats and got in. Fresh coconuts were served on board, and we enjoyed the view as we passed by palm trees, vegetation, other boats, and the occasional waterfront house.

6. Coconut Candy Production

Our next stop was short and sweet: a quick look at a local producer of sweets based on coconut and chocolate. We had some delicious samples and watched as the women working cut and packaged the treats they were making.

7. Mat Weaving and Fresh Fruit

We then made our way to another house, where two women were making a traditional mat. They also ran a small souvenir shop, and we were treated to a plate of fresh local fruit while sitting down for a few minutes to rest.

8. A Lunch to Remember

After enjoying our fruit appetizer, we were more than ready for lunch. We got into the back of a small truck, which took us through palm groves down dirt roads. After ducking our heads to avoid the low-hanging fronds, we finally arrived at the remote but beautiful Ba Danh Homestay, where we had lunch.

Although every dish we were served was great, the highlight had to be the massive fish shown above: the giant gourami. This fish was delicious and crispy, and our waitress showed us how to make delicious spring rolls with it. Some other side dishes we enjoyed are shown below.

9. Rowboat Back to Bến Tre Town

It was time for the second portion of our journey by boat, except now, we had no motor to propel us forward. We moved at a much more leisurely pace as two rowers paddled us through the river under the hot sun. It was the perfect way to relax after a big meal.

10. Ride Back to Saigon

We concluded our short boat ride right in the center of Bến Tre town, where our van was waiting for us. We drove back into Ho Chi Minh City the way we came and were back in time for dinner.

Was the Trip Worth It?

Although this tour was probably about as expensive as they get, it was really enjoyable and well-planned. A day trip was the perfect way to see a glimpse of the Mekong Delta without having to commit too much time. Needless to say, I’m sure a multi-day journey through the swamps and towns here would have its own rewards.

If you’re willing to shop around (both on the streets of Saigon and online), you can basically find a tour for any budget that should include the activities you care about most. Most people probably visit the Mekong on a group tour. I’d bet that the itinerary is similar, but without as much flexibility.

Have you been to the Mekong Delta before? If you have, did you see some similar sites? Or did you happen to book with the same company we did? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading, and if you’re about to check out this stunning region in Vietnam, enjoy!

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This post was published on Nov 22, 2019

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Istanbul (Sept)

The post See The Mekong Delta In a Day: Bến Tre Private Tour Review appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Bangkok, Thailand: A City That Inspired Me To Became a Traveler

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:00:00 +0000

Bangkok, Thailand: A City That Inspired Me To Become a Traveler

Published November 12, 2019

Despite having been to Bangkok four times, I’ve procrastinated writing a blog post about it until now. Why? Quite honestly, the capital of Thailand is a place that can’t be put into words. To be sure, it’s one of my favorite destinations, but condensing it into a list of attractions doesn’t do it justice. No blog or vlog can fully convey the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the world’s most visited city.

In fact, Bangkok was my very first experience of Southeast Asia back in the summer of 2016. At that time, I hadn’t started blogging yet, but I had been to Japan, China, and South Korea. That trip to Thailand lasted only three days, but I loved how festive and fun Bangkok was compared to much of East Asia. The energy of the city, the multiculturalism, and the food have inspired me to travel even to this day. I knew I eventually wanted to live in this part of the world, and three years later I do (albeit two countries over, in Vietnam).

In this post, I’ll be sharing some of the highlights of Bangkok. Keep in mind that these attractions are only a piece of the puzzle. Bangkok is atmospheric, so visitors who rush from one site to the next might not have time to appreciate what the city has to offer. Think of this post as a blueprint for exploring, not a ‘must-see’ or ‘can’t miss’ checklist.

During my most recent trip to Thailand, I met up with my cousin Kailyn (the author of Kailyn Travels) and her boyfriend, Andrew. In addition to writing her own travel blog, Kailyn has been featured as a guest writer here on Caffeinated Excursions. To read her blog, click the link above!

Points of Interest

The Grand Palace and Wat Pho

We’ll start off with Bangkok’s most famous sites. This palace and temple are located side by side, so it’s easy to see both in a single day. (‘Wat’ in Thai means temple, and you’ll see that word a lot in Bangkok.)

The Grand Palace
พระบรมมหาราชวัง

The Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most famous landmark. Thai royalty lived in and used the palace from the time it was built in 1782 until 1932. The grounds are massive and the architecture is impressive, but the most stunning aspect of the Grand Palace is the amount of detail that can be seen on every embellishment and decoration. The murals inside are testament to that.

My one warning about the Grand Palace is that it can end up feeling a bit like a tourist trap. While this shouldn’t deter you from going, I would say that it’s the kind of attraction you don’t need to visit every time you go to Bangkok (I only went in 2016 and don’t feel like I missed out by skipping it on subsequent trips).

You also need to be wearing long pants and covered shoulders to get in. Kailyn, Andrew, and I were considering a visit to the Grand Palace but were turned away for wearing shorts. Since Bangkok is hot, you’ll need to keep this in mind (a change of clothes, perhaps?) or pay a premium for elephant-print pants at or near the palace entrance.

Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho)
วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลาราม

If you’re not feeling too hot or exhausted after the Grand Palace, the temple known as Wat Pho is a short-ish walk directly to the south. While the two attractions might seem similar, part of the fun is spotting the stylistic differences between them.

The highlight of Wat Pho is the massive Reclining Buddha housed in the temple complex. It’s off to the side, so be sure not to miss it! Getting a perfect picture here is a bit of a challenge due to the crowds and the massive columns that block some of the best vantage points. Plus, the Buddha is just so big that fitting it into a camera frame is a challenge itself!

Here’s a tip: you could visit either the Grand Palace or Wat Pho in the morning, then head over to the nearby Tha Tian Market (ตลาดท่าเตียน) for lunch and a break from the sun. Then visit the other attraction after you’ve eaten. Visiting the temples is more energy-intensive than you might think, so sunscreen and lots of water are highly recommended.

Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market
ตลาดนัดรถไฟรัชดา

Bangkok has a ton more temples and palaces than the two mentioned above, but don’t feel obligated to keep visiting more if you’ve had your fill. A nice contrast to the beautiful ancient architecture can be found in one of the many night markets around the city, and Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market is a great one worth considering.

This train station-turned-market is now home to hundreds of vendors selling everything you could imagine: souvenirs, food, and clothes, with quite a few bars thrown in around the perimeter. If you want to bring back something interesting for friends and family, this is the place to go.

I’ll speak more in depth about food below, but one noteworthy thing you might see at Ratchada Market is pictured below. Can you guess what it is? It’s a massive mountain of pork spine served on the biggest plate you’ve ever seen. As an adventurous eater, I would’ve loved to try it, but unfortunately we didn’t have time (or big enough appetites) to go for it. It looked like many different restaurants in the market offered this dish if you’re daring enough to order it!

If Ratchada is too far away from your hotel or Airbnb, there are a bunch of other night markets to consider. One expat I met in Bangkok recommended checking out Chatuchak Weekend Market, which I intend to check out on a future trip. If you’ve been there, let me know what it’s like in the comments section!

Neighborhoods to Explore

As I mentioned earlier, Bangkok is an atmospheric city. As such, you should dedicate some time to take it all in while exploring on foot! Here are some areas to consider.

Chinatown (Yaowarat Road)
สัมพันธวงศ์

Chinatown (otherwise known as Samphanthawong, เขตสัมพันธวงศ์) is a unique area to walk around. If you’re curious about the notion of coming all the way to Thailand just to see a Chinatown, rest assured that the area still feels uniquely Thai. As one of the world’s oldest, the neighborhood has a distinct fusion of Thai and Chinese culture. Chinatown is also a great place to get some authentic cheap eats.

Centered around the busy and wide avenue known as Yaowarat Road, Chinatown offers tons of offshoots and narrow alleys filled with small shops and cafes. Be sure to check them out, but watch out: motorbikes still come zipping through them at a moment’s notice!

Sukhumvit (Khlong Toei Nuea)
แขวง คลองเตยเหนือ

Sukhumvit is a centrally located part of Bangkok with tons of restaurants and bars, many of which cater to foreigners. We stopped for some drinks here, but don’t expect the most authentic options (or the lowest prices). Nonetheless, it’s still a fine place to cool off with a cold beer or a plate of comfort food.

Silom
แขวง สีลม

Silom feels sort of similar to Sukhumvit, although I’d say the bars here are a little more laid back. Street food is more readily available than in the city center, and this is another great area to pick up some gifts from vendors set up along Silom Road or at the adjacent Patpong Night Market.

Thai Cuisine

Harder to find than you might think!

As a cosmopolitan city, Bangkok has no shortage of international cuisine. With that said, I recommend committing to finding some good Thai food for some of your meals. This isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds. (In fact, I think it’s much harder to find authentic local food in Bangkok than it is in Saigon, where street food adored by locals and tourists can be found on practically every street corner).

Of all the areas mentioned above, I think Chinatown had the best selection of authentic (i.e. hole-in-the-wall) options. Sukhumvit and Silom had some Thai restaurants mixed in among the bars. In general, Bangkok’s shopping malls (discussed in more detail below) feature a lot of chains and Western cuisine.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by the choices, that’s understandable. Here are some specific restaurant recommendations to consider.

By Bua Silom

The delicious appetizer sampler I got at By Bua was actually perfect as a meal for one. They have a nice interior and good-tasting drinks as well.

Ponn Cafe ป้อน

This popular restaurant may be a chain, but it has a very large menu of tasty Thai dishes. No matter where you are in Bangkok, there’s probably a Ponn Cafe within walking distance.

Madame at Langsuan

This cozy and casual restaurant located in the Langsuan shopping center was a place I visited back in 2016, so I was excited to see that it was still open in 2019. They have standard Thai dishes (my go-to is the red curry).

Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market

As mentioned above, this night market is perfect for dinner. For readers not dying to try the massive mountain of pork spine, there are tons of restaurants serving Thai standards. We got pineapple fried rice, papaya salad, and pad Thai from some of the vendors there and all of it was satisfying.

The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar

I’m always down for a good rooftop bar, and The Speakeasy had everything you would expect. With expansive views and creative cocktails, this bar is perfect for anyone in the Lumphini area looking to admire the surrounding skyscrapers.

Gargantuan Shopping Malls

Shopping malls may be on the decline in the US, but definitely not in Bangkok. Especially if you’ve never experienced malls in Asia before, Bangkok is home to some really grand shopping centers that are busy from morning until night.

I think part of the reason malls are still such an integral part of life in this city is the fact that they offer so much more than their American counterparts. Far from housing only big box department stores, the malls we saw had everything from multi-level food courts to pharmacies, banks, currency exchange places, boutique shops, and more. You really can get anything you need here, and you’ll see that malls are a gathering place for young and old alike.

Take a tuk-tuk!

Have you really been to Thailand if you don’t take a tuk-tuk ride at least once? They’re everywhere, but crowds of them can be found outside tourist hotspots like the Grand Palace. Know how much you’re willing to pay (price estimates from Grab, the Uber of Southeast Asia, or even Google Maps can help inform what’s reasonable for a specific trip). Practice your bargaining skills and be willing to walk away if the driver won’t budge on an inflated price!

Experience the outskirts of Bangkok in Pak Nam (Samut Prakan)

Last but not least, for travelers who may want to see Bangkok beyond the beaten path, a great option is Samut Prakan. Specifically, the small town of Pak Nam is perfect because it’s located on the southern end of the BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line).

Despite being easy to get to, there are almost no foreign tourists who come out here, so it’s a totally different experience from all the neighborhoods mentioned above. To learn more about Samut Prakan, check out my list of ten things to do there.

What does Bangkok mean to you?

Bangkok is such a big and ever-changing city that no two visits are going to be the same. With that said, the capital of Thailand is a cornerstone of international travel and perhaps the most important city in all of Southeast Asia.

If you’re about to experience it for the first time, you may also find a metropolis that you connect with on a personal level, like I did. If you’ve been before, leave a comment and let me know what impression Bangkok left on you! Did you like it, love it, or hate it? Thanks for reading, guys!

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This post was published on Nov 12, 2019

Bangkok (Sept)
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Ideas For a Budget-Friendly Weekend In Singapore

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 17:00:54 +0000

Ideas For a Budget-Friendly Weekend In Singapore

Published November 4, 2019

When I booked my flights for a getaway weekend to Singapore, I was aware of the city’s reputation for being expensive. I was excited to see this global hub of finance, trade, and innovation for the first time, but I didn’t want to spend a ton of money over the course of two days. Before making any other decisions, I decided to focus my trip on exploring the city as economically as possible.

In this post, I’ll share some ways to enjoy a few days in Singapore without spending a fortune. At the end, I’ll share the one thing worth splurging on. Let’s get started!

Free (Or Almost-Free) Things To Do In Singapore

The following is a list of things to do in Singapore, including suggestions on where to stay and how to get around.

Explore Chinatown

Chinatown (otherwise known as “Outram”) is the part of Singapore I liked most. It’s authentic and full of activity throughout the day. I also enjoyed seeing the colorful buildings and storefronts here.

Be sure to try Singaporean noodles at one of the restaurants in the area! I went to one called Chiew Kee Noodle House on Upper Cross Street, and it was delicious and cheap (about 7 SGD).

If you only have time to see one thing, I recommend visiting the beautiful Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This huge structure is free and open to the public during the day. Be sure not to miss the rooftop garden! There are elevators that can take you up to see it.

Check out Arab Street

Although not nearly as big as Chinatown, Arab Street and the surrounding alleyways are another area that’s full of character. In addition to a beautiful mosque on one end, the neighborhood is home to a surprising number of bars and restaurants.

I ended up trying venison murtabak from a local restaurant in the area for dinner one night. Although the trendier places will be more expensive, local restaurants near Arab Street offer meals for under 10 SGD.

Stay at a Beary Best Hostel

One of the most expensive things in Singapore is lodging. The most effective way to save money on a short trip is to stay in the cheapest place you can find. I used Airbnb to book two nights at Beary Best Hostel Kampong Glam, which was located right on Arab Street. They have a couple of other locations throughout the city.

At 22 USD per night, Beary Best is still quite expensive compared to most countries in Southeast Asia. However, the location is great, and the hostel was sparkling clean and quiet. They even have a rooftop which offers some amazing views of the neighborhood. To book a reservation at Beary Best Hostel Kampong Glam via Hostelworld, click here.

Use the city's Mass Rail Transit (MRT) to get around

Singapore’s MRT system is both easy to use and affordable. It connects almost the entire island to the airport and is basically self-explanatory for anyone who’s been to a big city before. Expect to pay between one and three SGD per ride.

If you stay at a hostel or hotel within walking distance of an MRT stop, you’ll never need to use Grab or call a taxi. Every attraction mentioned in this post is within walking distance to at least one MRT stop.

Free attractions downtown

I’ll be honest: Singapore’s central business district was pretty boring to me. Not only are the buildings nondescript, but the streets are quiet and it doesn’t have the grandiosity and scale of other major world cities. Nonetheless, the Downtown Core is home to a couple of free attractions worth checking out.

The Merlion

This half-mermaid-half-lion statue is a symbol of Singapore. You can’t leave the city without getting an obligatory picture in front of it, and luckily you don’t have to pay to check it out.

Gardens by the Bay

Across the water from the Merlion, you’ll find the Gardens by the Bay. Perhaps most famous for the “Supertree Grove” pictured below, this massive park is the most lush green space in the city center. Although some attractions here cost money (such as “Floral Fantasy” and the OCBC Skyway), general entrance is free.

A light and music show known as “Garden Rhapsody” plays each night at the Supertree Grove and is free for anyone who happens to be there at 7:45 and 8:45 p.m. I didn’t expect to be impressed, but the medley of famous songs and film music ended up being surprisingly fun.

Have lunch at Tiong Bahru Market

I’m glad I got to meet up with a friend from college named Misya not only because it’s been years since I last saw her, but also because she brought me to the Tiong Bahru Market, a local eatery with dozens of hawker stalls that I never would’ve found on my own.

We caught up over plates of delicious noodles which only cost 5 SGD for pretty big portions. This market also has beverage stalls that sell coffee for 1 SGD, which I was in desperate need of! Coffee chains in other parts of the city were charging a ridiculous 7 or 8 SGD (6 USD) for a latte, which made me want to cry.

Visit the Changi Jewel before your flight home

Did you know that Singapore’s Changi International Airport has been voted best in the world for years on end? I can’t definitively say it was my favorite, but it was undoubtedly fancy and infinitely better than the hot mess that is Kuala Lumpur International.

One of the most impressive things at Changi is the Jewel. This shopping center located before check-in or customs is home to the biggest indoor waterfall in the world, and most images online don’t do it justice. It’s much bigger than it appears, and the trees inside the atrium make it feel like you’re in a rainforest. This is also free to visit, so don’t be late to the airport! Fifteen or twenty minutes is plenty of time to check it out.

The View From Marina Bay Sands: Worth The S$23

Now that you know how to visit Singapore on a budget, I’ll share the one thing worth spending a bit of money on: the view from Marina Bay Sands. This massive, iconic resort is a defining feature of Singapore’s skyline, and since it stands apart from the rest of the skyscrapers downtown, it’s the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the city.

Although there are a number of ways to gain entrance to the rooftop deck which famously spans the three towers of the hotel, I recommend just paying for a ticket to the SkyPark observatory. Tickets cost 23 SGD (approx. 17 USD), but there’s no time limit to how long you can stay.

Another option is a rooftop bar called CÉ LA VI, which I think has a minimum drink purchase but no “entrance fee.” However, it looked to me like the bar deck didn’t actually offer unobstructed views. In fact, SkyPark ‘surrounds’ the bar, and I think the two are completely separated. I also saw a long line in the hotel lobby for CÉ LA VI, so it just looked like a lot of hassle for worse visibility.

Note that the famous infinity pool on the top of Marina Bay Sands is only available to guests staying in the hotel, so there’s not an option to purchase a day pass. Needless to say, a room in this luxury resort is quite pricey, so SkyPark is the most affordable option.

I recommend visiting around dusk and watching the city slowly light up.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, a weekend in Singapore doesn’t have to be ridiculously expensive. You don’t even have to miss the city’s most famous attractions in order to save a buck while exploring! In addition to everything mentioned above, my last piece of advice is to not drink in the city. If you want even a single cocktail or mixed drink, you’ll have to pay handsomely for it: I never saw any for less than 20 SGD (15 USD). Embrace sobriety for a few days and your wallet will thank you!

Is Singapore my new favorite destination?

To be perfectly honest, I liked but didn’t love Singapore. While I’m definitely glad I went once, it’s not a destination I’m dying to go back to. In contrast, I could easily spend a month exploring every corner of Malaysia I haven’t seen yet. The same goes for Thailand. There’s a certain charm throughout most of Southeast Asia that seems to be dampened in Singapore.

Nonetheless, I think all avid travelers should aim to visit the city-state at least once. If presented with the opportunity to go back, I’d be sure to check out the less-urbanized northern side of the island, as well as Pulau Ubin, which is supposed to be a totally different world from the city center.

Have you been to Singapore before? What was your experience with prices and budgeting? Let me know in the comments below; I love to hear from my readers! Thanks for visiting Caffeinated Excursions!

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This post was published on Nov 4, 2019

Bangkok (Sept)
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The Best Restaurants In Kochi, Kerala

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 07:00:07 +0000

The Best Restaurants In Kochi, Kerala

Published October 24, 2019

Greetings, fellow travelers and foodies! My recent solo journey to the city of Kochi (also spelled ‘Cochin’) in the Indian state of Kerala was one of my favorite trips of the year. Kochi is a city defined by beautiful beaches and a unique system of marshy canals and rivers known as the backwaters (which you can read about in my comprehensive guide to the city). But Kochi has one more thing going for it that can’t be overstated: its vibrant food scene.

In this post, I’ll share some of the best restaurants I found as well as other tips on how to make the most of Kochi as a culinary destination. Here are the topics I’ll be covering. Click any link below to skip directly to that section.

Top Recommendations
Branch Out
Coffee
1. Kashi Art Cafe
2. Pepper House
Beer and Cocktails
1. Kingfisher beer
2. A note on cocktails
Honorable Mentions
1. Homemade meal on a river cruise
2. Complimentary breakfast at my homestay

Disclaimer Regarding Affiliate Links This blog post contains affiliate links. That means that if you purchase a product, book an accommodation, or schedule a tour mentioned on this post, I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you). If you choose to do so, thanks for your support! With that said, none of the links to any of the restaurants on this post are affiliate links, nor did I receive any compensation or discount from any business that is featured on this page. Hence, all opinions are completely my own!

1. Top Recommendations

The following restaurants are perfect for a sit-down meal. All four are located in the waterfront historical area known as Fort Kochi, which is where visitors tend to stay.

Oceanos Restaurant

My homestay recommended this seafood restaurant specializing in local dishes, and it was pretty good. The menu is large, and ordering a dish sort of felt like a shot in the dark. Luckily, the spicy fish curry I got for my main course was as full of flavor as I hoped it would be. The only complaint I have about Oceanos was that the service was sort of slow.

Fusion Bay
ഫ്യൂഷൻ ബേ

Fusion Bay is probably my favorite restaurant on the list. Not only was it casual, but the service was good and the dishes were stunning. It looked as if most meals came with the wide array of side dishes pictured below, spread beautifully on a banana leaf and served on a metal tray. They offer a ton of seafood and Keralan dishes, so if you want to experience local flavor, I highly recommend trying Fusion Bay.

Rasoi Fort Kochi

Conveniently located on Rose Street in Fort Kochi, this restaurant specializes in North Indian food. Don’t let that stop you from checking it out for lunch or dinner one day. I ordered their chicken skewer platter and a serving of cheese and garlic naan, both of which were packed full of flavor and hot off the grill.

Old Harbour Hotel Restaurant

This is the fanciest (i.e., most expensive) restaurant on the list, but if you’re looking to splurge on some great food, look no further. I ordered a crab dish with two different sauces and rice on my final night in Kochi, and it was a great way to end the trip. Old Harbour is located here.

Be sure to leave room for dessert! I ordered ice cream with fruit and crumble. It sounds pretty standard, but the tartness of the fruit perfectly complemented the sweet vanilla. It was honestly one of the most memorable desserts I’ve had this year.

2. Branch Out

This section features some additional ideas, including snacks and more casual options.

Try a Tibetan Restaurant

I was surprised to see quite a few different Tibetan restaurants around town, so I was excited to try one. I went to Tibetan Chef’s Restaurant and ordered a plate of dumplings, which were simple yet delicious. If I had more time, I would’ve gladly tried one or two more places to get a better sense of what Tibetan cuisine is like. I recommend it, especially if you’ve never been to a Tibetan restaurant before.

Visit a Bakery

If you were unaware that India had amazing pastries, I’m here to tell you that they do and you need to try them! Bakeries are everywhere in Fort Kochi. I happened to get the bun and green cookie pictured below from Elite Bakery, but I visited a few more and they all seemed to have a wide selection of sweets.

Ginger House Restaurant

Located in Jew Town (a short tuk-tuk ride away from Fort Kochi), Ginger House was probably the most unique restaurant I found. The entire menu features ginger-inspired dishes and drinks. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered a ginger milkshake, but it ended up being really good!

Ginger House is also connected to a museum and a hotel, and the courtyard is stunning. Even the view of the river from the outdoor dining area is really nice.

Biryani

This common Indian dish is one that I’ve had many times at home, so when I saw Al-Falah Biryani Hut at the Kunnumpuram Junction, I couldn’t resist trying it. I would say it was more or less what I expected. Nonetheless, there’s something wholesome about rice with meat and a ton of fragrant spices.

3. Coffee

Can a blog called ‘Caffeinated Excursions’ even have a food post without at least a mention of the city’s most notable cafes? Two of my favorite coffee shops in Kochi are discussed below.

Kashi Art Cafe

As soon as I walked through the door, I knew that Kashi Art Cafe had all the makings of a top-notch establishment: a creative menu, an interesting concept, and a casual yet welcoming vibe. I liked it so much that I had to come back a second time. Their iced coffee with coconut milk and honey was a beverage I simply couldn’t pass up.

Take a moment or two to peek all the way into the back of the dining area even if you don’t sit there. I really liked the art they had on display there, as well as the beautiful courtyard in the middle with natural lighting.

Pepper House

What I loved most about this particular cafe was its beautiful open-air courtyard as well as the bookstore (or library?) on site. The drink I got was good, but it was especially nice as a place to just sit and relax for a bit.

4. Beer and Cocktails

While traveling, I am usually on the lookout for interesting places to grab a drink. Bars (and breweries, etc.) can reveal a lot about a city’s food scene overall. With that in mind, the main thing I noticed about Kochi is that they were few and far between. And that’s no coincidence: the sale of alcohol in Kerala was essentially banned until mid-2017, according to this and other sources online. Some restrictions are still in place, so the bar scene in Kochi is quite literally in its infancy. Here’s some more info.

Kingfisher beer

I recommend sticking to beer over mixed drinks in Kochi (I’ll explain why in a minute). And if you’re going to have beer, you might as well take advantage of a local brand: Kingfisher. It was very prominent on almost every drink menu I saw, and I tried a few of the many varieties available. If you order one, expect it to come in a big bottle (which fills roughly 2.5 glasses of beer).

A note on cocktails

I only had one or two cocktails in Kochi mainly because they were so expensive. With so few bars to choose from, I never found a place with really original or noteworthy mixed drinks.

5. Honorable Mentions

The last two items on my list aren’t really restaurants or cafes you can go to, but they were some of my favorite food-related memories of Kochi.

Homemade meal on a river cruise

A visit to Kochi isn’t complete without a Kerala Backwaters river cruise (learn more here). Although the boat ride was incredibly relaxing, another highlight of the day trip was the delicious lunch we were served.

We docked at what honestly looked like someone’s house right on the banks of the river. Then a couple of people came out and served everything pictured below: a vegetarian curry accompanied by a variety of pickled vegetables and a deliciously crispy biscuit (the name escapes me… if you know what it’s called, please leave a comment and tell me!).

It may not look like a huge meal, but they offered seconds (and thirds, and fourths…) of everything. Each serving was light and refreshing, but I left feeling quite full and satisfied.

Complimentary breakfast at my homestay

Last but definitely not least, another meal I’ll remember quite fondly in Kochi was the free breakfast that was served each morning at my homestay. I can’t speak for other homestays, but Coconut Grove Homestay (affiliate link) provided a soup or curry as well as local pastries and juice every morning. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Fort Kochi, be sure to choose one with a complimentary breakfast! You won’t regret it.

To Wrap Up...

Did I get sick? And Other Final Reflections on Eating in Kochi

As a lifelong fan of Indian food, it was quite a treat to at long last taste some local flavors in India. I think the biggest takeaway from eating in India for a week is how diverse the options are. Keralan cuisine is not commonly found in the US, so it was especially interesting to try some local seafood and fish specialties with Portuguese and Dutch influences.

If you’re wondering if I ever got an upset stomach, the answer is no. I never specifically avoided anything in Kochi (for example, I never avoided ice). A few things to note: I think that I developed a strong stomach while traveling in China in 2010 and also during my first visit to Mexico in 2017. These days, I rarely experience symptoms of food poisoning, which I assume is a result of adventurous eating across six continents. I was also told by one friend that there’s a reason it’s called ‘Delhi belly’: namely that food-related illnesses among foreigners is especially common in that particular city. I can’t yet confirm or deny.

As you might guess, Kochi has even more to offer than its food and restaurant scene. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my complete guide to the city designed specifically for readers venturing to India for the first time. Kochi is the perfect destination, and I explain why in that separate post. Thanks for reading, and bon appetit if you’re reading from Kochi or headed there soon!

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This post was published on Oct 24, 2019

Bangkok (Sept)
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The post The Best Restaurants In Kochi, Kerala appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

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A One-Week Itinerary For Taipei, Taiwan

Monuments and Landmarks

Taipei 101台北101

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall國立中正紀念堂

Liberty Square (Freedom Square)自由廣場

National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall國立國父紀念館

Lungshan Temple艋舺龍山寺

Parks

Da'an Forest Park大安森林公園

228 Peace Memorial Park二二八和平公園

Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)象山

Museums

National Palace Museum國立故宮博物院

Taipei Fine Arts Museum臺北市立美術館

Dihua Street迪化街

Visit a Night Market夜市

Day Trip to Tamsui淡水區

Getting Around

Make the Most of Your Week in Taipei!

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Places to Eat

Atoyhang Food Station

BingBong Leron Homestay & Restobar

Butterflies Food & Beverage

Neilsen Garden Café

Kapeng Tangay

The B Spot

Magallanes Seafront Lodge & Restaurant

Where I Stayed: Hotel Maya

How to Take the Ferry From Coron

Six Additional Tips

1. Don't expect luxury.

2. Google Maps is not accurate here.

3. Phone and internet service will probably be spotty.

4. Withdraw all the cash you need in Coron before arriving in Culion.

5. Restaurants may not be open.

6. Try to stay overnight.

Enjoy Your Time in Culion!

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Things To Do In Saigon: Tips From Someone Who Lived There

1. A Cathedral and a Post Office

The Notre Dame CathedralNhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn

The Central Post OfficeBưu Điện Trung Tâm Thành Phố

Nguyễn Văn Bình StreetĐường Nguyễn Văn Bình

2. THe Opera House

Nhà hát Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

3. City Hall & Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street

Taipei 101
台北101

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
國立中正紀念堂

Liberty Square (Freedom Square)
自由廣場

National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
國立國父紀念館

Lungshan Temple
艋舺龍山寺

Da'an Forest Park
大安森林公園

228 Peace Memorial Park
二二八和平公園

Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
象山

National Palace Museum
國立故宮博物院

Taipei Fine Arts Museum
臺北市立美術館

Dihua Street
迪化街

Visit a Night Market
夜市

Day Trip to Tamsui
淡水區

The Notre Dame Cathedral
Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn

The Central Post Office
Bưu Điện Trung Tâm Thành Phố

Nguyễn Văn Bình Street
Đường Nguyễn Văn Bình

Italiani's Pizza