Highlands Coffee

Highlands Coffee

Mom always told me, “If you can’t say something NICE about somebody, then don’t say anything at all.”

So, concerning Highlands Coffee in Saigon,

 

…..   silence  …..

 

…….  more  silence  …….

 

……….  a lot more silence  ……….

Okay, sorry mom, I can’t resist.

Just one short comment.

So, there I was, downtown Saigon, District 1, tourist central.  I had just walked a kilometer or more in the blazing morning Saigon sun.  I was overheating, a bit moist, and needed to cool down and take a break.  I needed a cà phê sữa đá  (iced coffee with milk).

My favorite “western” coffee shop, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, was a kilometer in the other direction :-(.  And there were no Vietnamese coffee street vendors in sight 🙁 🙁 .

BUT, staring in front of me was the Highlands Coffee sign.  “Do I dare?”

Many times in the past I’ve tried their coffee and always have been disappointed.  In a city with a million coffee shops, Highlands Coffee stands out as the ever-present coffee chain offering coffee that is just plain not great.  It comes with lots o’ ice, too much sweetened condensed milk, and only a splash of so-so coffee. And the management is run like something out of a dying bureaucratic government agency.

But, it’s been a year since I’ve set foot in a Highlands Coffee.  Maybe something’s changed!?! After all, many of their shops around town are decked out in new decor now.

And, I could avoid the coffee and have a sinh tố (fruit shake)!  That would be refreshing and healthy!

I took the escalators to the top floor of Thương Xá Tax building across from the Rex Hotel, walked through Highlands’ glass doors, and … GASP!  A lung full of smoke! YUK!

“Do you have a No Smoking section?”

“Yes, this is it.”

“But the air is filled with smoke!?”

“Yes, the Smoking section is right here beside the No Smoking section.”

Oh, I see, that makes sense.  “OK, thank you anyway”.

I turned around and headed back down the escalators.  It was clear that I wouldn’t find much comfort sitting in a smoke-filled No Smoking section, drinking bad coffee, or even a fruit shake.

Now what?

Still, no Coffee Bean nearby or Vietnamese coffee street vendor in sight. OK, just another 1/2 kilometer to the bus station and I’ll head home.

Halfway back to the bus station I passed in front of the Saigon Center with its Highlands Coffee.  I spotted an empty table outside on their patio. Surely, no smoke out here!  And in the shade!  OK, let’s give that Highlands Coffee sinh tố another try.

I grabbed the table on the patio, pulled out my iPad, and decided on the Very Berry fruit shake – sounded yummy.  The pleasant looking young waitperson took my fruit shake order.

“Oh, please bring me a glass of water with my shake. It’s so hot today.”

“Sorry Sir, no free water“, she announced.  “Would you like to buy a bottle of water?”

“But, I’m buying a fruit shake – I just want a small glass of water with it!”

“Sorry, that’s, Highlands’ policy – no free water for anyone.”

“Got it.  Please cancel that fruit shake. Thanks, anyway. “ STRIKE TWO!

Another 1/4 kilometer walk back to the bus station, then home.

Goodbye Highlands fruit shakes.   Goodbye Highlands coffee.  Goodbye Highlands (I only believe in two strikes.)

P.S.:   Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf offers bottomless pitchers of free ice water, self-serve, without any request, or delivers water to your table free by their friendly staff, upon request!

Eating Saigon! offers Highlands Coffee an Ah Yuk rating free on our Yum Meter.

Sorry mom, I promise I won’t have anything further bad to say about Highlands Coffee.

Location Map not created.  Unfortunately, this chain is easy spotted all over town.