6 popular coffee shop interior design styles compared

In Vietnam, coffee is more than a drink — it has become a culture, and coffee shop business models have multiplied accordingly, from sidewalk stalls to upscale lounges. In that competition, interior design style is what differentiates a shop and keeps customers coming back. Below are the 6 most popular styles, with the traits that define each, so you can choose the direction that fits your crowd and your model.

Preparing to open a shop? See our restaurant and coffee shop design-build service to picture the process and budget.

1. Vintage — nostalgic and romantic

Vintage blends the classical and the modern in balance: raw wooden tables, chairs with worn paint and antique chandeliers sitting beside modern equipment. The palette is soft and unpretentious, steeped in the patina of time. This is the “safe” style — enduringly popular and virtually immune to going out of fashion, well suited to shops aiming for a warm, relaxing feel.

2. Retro — rustic yet seductive

Retro shares Vintage’s nostalgia but leans more sincere and rustic, with bolder reinterpreted lines. Emerging in mid-century Northern Europe, Retro keeps the essence of classical design and then makes the motifs simpler, softer and more fluid — giving a shop a subtle signature of its own.

3. Industrial — raw and full of character

Where other styles hide roughness, Industrial celebrates it: bare concrete walls, exposed ductwork and open, airy volumes. The palette runs a confident black–grey–white, with minimalist furniture and little ornament. It suits shops that want a bold modern identity while saving on surface finishing costs.

4. Bohemian — free-spirited and unbound

Bohemian carries a wild beauty that follows no rules: vivid colours, unexpected patterns and simple materials mixed on instinct. The core spirit is freedom — creating a romantic, distinctive, inspiring space. It fits shops targeting young, creative customers who love a photogenic corner.

5. Mid-Century — mid-20th-century elegance

Mid-Century Modern draws on the 1950s–60s: clean lines, tapered legs, warm wood paired with blocks of accent colour. Balancing function and aesthetics, it delivers a timeless elegance that still reads as modern — a strong choice for shops that want a polished, grown-up image.

6. Scandinavian — minimal, bright and warm

The Nordic style prizes simplicity: a light-dominated palette (white, beige, pale wood), abundant natural light, greenery and honest materials. The space stays neat, airy and easy to be in — suited to shops going for a restful, “healing” feel, with decoration costs that stay reasonable.

Style chosen — now how do you build it as pictured?

Choosing the style is only the first step — the hard part is building that exact spirit on budget and by opening day. Coffee shops also carry technical items that are easy to miss: the barista station, water supply and drainage, extraction, low-voltage systems and waterproofing. Consolidating these under one general contractor keeps schedule and quality under control instead of splitting the work across many crews.

AIC designs and builds restaurants and coffee shops turnkey under a single-point model, with over 10 years of experience (since 2016 under the predecessor Nhan Viet; AIC was founded in 2019) and two in-house factories (1,200 m² and 600 m²) that standardise joinery, counters and shelving. From a floor plan, AIC can produce a BOQ estimate within roughly 4 working hours and writes the opening date into the contract; projects are handed over with a warranty of up to 24 months. See our restaurant and coffee shop fit-out service.

Frequently asked questions

Which style is the cheapest to build for a coffee shop?

Industrial and Scandinavian usually optimise finishing costs: Industrial keeps surfaces raw (fewer finishing layers), while Scandinavian uses honest materials and minimal decorative detail. Actual cost still depends on the floor area, the site’s existing condition and technical items (kitchen, M&E, extraction).

Should I choose a style by personal taste or by customer base?

Prioritise the customer base and the business concept. Bohemian and Scandinavian suit young customers who love photogenic spots; Vintage and Mid-Century suit those seeking a warm, grown-up atmosphere. Personal taste belongs inside the frame of the shop’s brand positioning.

How long does coffee shop design take, and is a site survey needed?

A site survey is needed to measure up and assess the electrical, water and extraction infrastructure before design begins. Duration depends on scale; for small to medium premises, the design stage usually takes a few weeks, plus construction time that varies with the finishing scope and kitchen works.