Ellie’s Cafe Hoi An

Ellie’s sits a short walk from the Old Town crowds, which is exactly where it should be. The menu leans healthy without being preachy about it – avocado toast, granola bowls, fresh smoothies, good pancakes. Run by a local family who actually remember your order from the day before (Lin in particular is the kind of host who makes you come back).

The space is shaded and fan-cooled, which matters more than any menu item when it’s 40 degrees outside. Seating near a fan is the goal – positions away from them get uncomfortable fast. Busy mornings are genuinely busy, so arrive early or be patient.

The food sits firmly in the ‘fresh and solid’ category rather than revelatory, but that’s fine. It’s consistent, the portions are honest, and the hangover juice is doing real work for people who need it.