Phinista Cafe

This joint's got some serious culinary cred, tossing taro into the mix. It's a short stroll from my place, and curiosity got the better of me. Thankfully, the menu delivered. Only downside: the tiny space feels cluttered, earning it 3 atmosphere stars. And, seriously, that trash can outside needs some serious de-stinking action - a good cleaning and a discreet relocation, stat! On the bright side, the staff is fantastic - friendly, helpful, and totally on it. the crew's awesome - Too bad the stench kept us from dining al fresco. the plants 🪴 could use some love water them please 😅

Super busy on Friday afternoon and great service, drinks, and food. Got an ube milk tea which didn’t totally agree with my stomach solely because I got whole milk but still good, Also got the classic cold cut bahn mi which was yummy. I would love to come again and try other things on the menu. I would recommend this as a casual place for anyone in the areas.

The owner and the staffs are really friendly and so kind. You will definitely enjoy this coffee place. Drinks and foods served quick and tasted great.“Iced Saigonese” coffee is so authentic. Cute spot for pictures and studying or even working. What more can you ask for?

Great place to work and eat some good treats. Ube latte sugar free is bomb, matcha is okay and the sandwiches as well. The crepes are great too

DEC. 2023 UPDATE: I came back to Phinista for the custard buns since I did not get to try them the first time. I went at opening as to not risk them selling out and to have better luck with parking, which can be difficult to find in that area. The interior aesthetics are top notch. I love all of the design choices. It was empty when I went, with two workers. I got the ube latte and the pandan and coffee custard buns. The ube latte was smooth and creamy and a decent size for the price ($5.50). The worker accidentally gave my drink to someone else but corrected it before that person left. As for the custard buns, they looked so sad and deflated (especially the coffee one) and were burnt on the bottom. There wasn't that much custard either, but the flavors were good. I don't know if they were crunchy from being burned or are normally crunchy, but I kind of liked that they had a bite (not so much the burnt taste, though). The worker also forgot that I ordered these, so I had to wait a while after getting my drink. The worker seemed quite out of it, but the holidays can be stressful, so I can overlook the service. Maybe third time's the charm? JUL. 2023: This is a cute Vietnamese café located in the Fenway area. I went on a weekday afternoon, which was a mistake on my part because all of the popular pastries were already sold out. I ended up getting the strawberry matcha latte and nutella crepe. The server accidentally put my drink in a glass cup rather than a to-go cup, so I stayed to finish my meal. If I had to rate based on the food alone, I would have rated lower because the matcha latte was subpar compared to matcha lattes at Matcha Maiko down the street, and the nutella crepe was flat in flavor and texture and expensive. However, the staff was so sweet, and these aren't the popular dishes, so I would come back to give Phinista another chance.

The store is moderately quiet and a good place to study or read. When I went, there was no AC so it was a bit humid inside the store. I got the dragonfruit lemonade and a vietnamese iced coffee. The coffee was good but the lemonade was too sweet and we could not finish it.

Phinista is a cute coffee shop with lovely atmosphere, is a place you can relax and spend some time with friends or solo reading a book! Great coffee, delicious pastries, and finally very nice service!!

It took me a while to get here, but the wait was worth it. The line was crazy, likely due to the holiday rush (Labor Day) and college students returning to school. Even though there were only two staff members, they handled the situation admirably and did a fantastic job—wish I could remember their names to give them a proper shoutout. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it a great spot for enjoying coffee while working or reading. We tried the Lychee Spritzer and the Saigon Buzz, both of which were delicious. This Viet café offers a variety of fantastic drinks, along with food and pastry options. Recommend!