FifthSip Is Redefining Vietnamese Coffee in NYC

There’s no shortage of coffee shops in New York City but every so often, a place comes along that makes you slow down, sit a little longer, and rethink what coffee can be. FifthSip, a Vietnamese coffee shop in Nolita, does exactly that.

Founder Alan Nguyen didn’t set out to simply open another café. “I believe that it wasn’t a single moment, but a growing realization that New York City was craving quality Vietnamese culture, whether it’s in coffee and food,” he explains. That idea, simple, but deeply felt, became the foundation of FifthSip.

For Nguyen, the inspiration is rooted in something personal. “New York City reminds me of Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City. Both cities are fast-paced and full of energy, with people constantly moving between work and their daily routines,” he says. “In Saigon, it’s very common for people to take short breaks at coffee shops - whether to pause for a moment, enjoy a cup of coffee, or catch up with friends. When I came to New York, I found myself missing that simple ritual.” FifthSip grew out of that absence, a place designed to bring back “that sense of pause, connection, and community through Vietnamese coffee.”

That intention is felt the moment you step inside. Vietnamese coffee culture, as Nguyen describes it, isn’t just about caffeine, it’s about connection. “Sharing good food and drinks is very much a love language,” he says. “At FifthSip, we wanted to recreate that feeling by designing a menu that gives people a reason to gather.”

At the center of it all is traditional phin-dripped Vietnamese coffee, brewed slowly and deliberately. “We are a Vietnamese coffee shop first,” Nguyen says. “We proudly use coffee beans from Vietnam and roast them here in NYC.” Each cup is layered with intention, often paired with house-made elements like Ube or Pandan Syrup. “If we have to make it in-house, we will because that’s how we would enjoy our beverages.”

If you’ve never had Vietnamese coffee before, expect something entirely different. “Vietnamese coffee is strong, bold, smooth, velvety, and creamy,” Nguyen explains. “It gives you this burst of caffeine because Vietnamese coffee uses Robusta beans, which has 2x the amount of regular Arabica coffee drinks.” It’s not just a drink, it’s an experience that lingers.

And FifthSip leans fully into that experience. The menu features 18 different Vietnamese iced coffee options, but it never feels overwhelming. Instead, it feels curated. “Vietnamese people love everything balanced,” Nguyen says. “We try our best to take that part of the culture and present it in our coffee drinks. We don’t serve Vanilla syrup at our store, because we serve South East Asia’s Vanilla, Pandan. We make that into a syrup and serve it in our lattes and it’s been a hit with our customers,” he says. “Putting one culture into a single cup is hard but exploring different ways and sharing this with our customers is our homage to Vietnamese cuisine and culture.”

One drink in particular keeps people coming back: the Da Nang. “Savory, Sweet, Creamy, Salty—what’s not to love?” Nguyen says. “It combines our strong, bold, creamy Saigon Drip with a salty foam on top & another sprinkle of salt. If we were to describe this drink we would say it’s very similar to Sea Salt Caramel. In Vietnam, locals tend to say that this coffee is addictive, so we had to have this on our menu to share with our customers.”

That word, addictive, comes up often when people talk about FifthSip. It even inspired the name. The idea? You are hooked by the fifth sip… though Nguyen admits, “sometimes people are hooked by the first one.”

Beyond coffee, the menu expands into Vietnamese-inspired drinks like salted plum soda, juices, and teas. “When you stop at our coffee shop, you should find things similar to that,” Nguyen says. “It's a place to start your day, it’s also a place to take a break, catch up with friends, and hide away from the bustling city life. Having non-coffee drinks was really important to us as well.”

That sense of escape is part of what makes FifthSip stand out in Nolita, a neighborhood filled with cafés. “Vietnamese coffee is often overlooked and still relatively unfamiliar to many people,” Nguyen says. “At FifthSip, we wanted to create a space that brings Vietnamese coffee and culture to the forefront. Our hope is to bring that culture to New York city and bring something different and exciting to the neighborhood & community.”

And New Yorkers are responding. “What has surprised us most is how open and receptive people have been,” he says. “New York City is such a melting pot of culture, and many customers are genuinely excited to discover new flavors and traditions.

We’re especially grateful to see people from all backgrounds returning to enjoy our version of Vietnamese coffee.” For Nguyen, that’s the most meaningful part, “to share a piece of Vietnamese culture through what we do.”

Looking ahead, the vision goes beyond coffee. “We want to share the richness of Vietnamese cuisine with people in New York and beyond,” he says, hinting at a future that might include a full Vietnamese restaurant.

Until then, FifthSip is already doing something rare in NYC: creating a space that feels both energizing and grounding at the same time. A place where coffee isn’t rushed, flavors tell a story, and every cup invites you to stay just a little longer.

And if Nguyen is right, you’ll understand it by the fifth sip.