Top 10 best cafe shops that you must visit when in Hanoi

Hanoi Cafe – If you are neither born in Hanoi nor a true connoisseur of cafe, Hanoi’s old cafes will still have a strange appeal. The feeling of sipping a cup of cafe in a tight space, looking out at the busy street with people passing by will linger in the hearts of anyone who has experienced it once.

It can be said that Hanoi’s old cafes are like a link between modern life and the old Hanoi space. Only this place slows down life, where you can have time to think, to reminisce…

Here is a summary of the old town cafes you must visit once when traveling to Hanoi. It does not have the luxury of nobility, not shimmering to live virtual but they are keeping the soul of Hanoi.

1. Giảng cafe

Address: Alley 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

The story begins in 1940, a talented chef named Giảng of the Metropole hotel is looking for something that can replace cow’s milk (considered a luxury ingredient) in a cup of cappuccino at that time. He did not expect that his creativity had brought Hanoi a specialty that any visitor today when coming to Hanoi must try – Egg coffee.

Cafe Giảng (the shop named after the talented chef in the past) is famous for its egg coffee, located in a small alley on Nguyen Huu Huan coffee street. If you are a first-time visitor to Hanoi, the cafe is more difficult to find because there is only a small sign in front of the alley, but ask anyone nearby who can point you to the place.

In Hanoi, there are many shops selling egg coffee, but none are as good as Giảng. Egg coffee in Giảng is not fishy, on the contrary, it is very fragrant, smooth, and greasy right from the first sip. The coffee cup consists of 2 ingredients, egg cream, and black coffee, two things that blend together perfectly to create a unique coffee in Hanoi.

Cafe Giảng is a famous place attracting tourists to enjoy Hanoi coffee, especially international tourists. Giảng is like a bridge connecting international tourists with Vietnamese coffee. The thick, bitter coffee in the eyes of international tourists has been replaced by a cup of coffee with the aroma of eggs, and the sweetness of milk mixed with the typical taste of Vietnamese roasted coffee.

2. Nhân cafe

Address: 39D Hang Hanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

The first Nhân cafe shop was established in 1946, located at 39D Hang Hanh. The shop was founded by 3 people, but only husband and wife Nguyễn Văn Thi and Trần Thị Thanh Kỳ researched the recipe, and named the shop Nhân – In English means human. Up to now, the coffee shop has developed in the form of a coffee production company that supplies restaurants and supermarkets, not just an ordinary cafe shop.

When switching to a new form, Nhân cafe also has more stores in Hanoi, not just a single address in Hang Hanh. The cafe shops were later opened by the descendants of the two grandparents. The staff is decorated in a modern style, without any nostalgic features. Besides serving coffee, the shop has a number of other dishes. Perhaps when expanding and following the modern trend, Nhân coffee has lost some of its distinctive features. However, the quality of the coffee remains unchanged over the years.

3. Nhĩ

Address: 02, Hang Ca, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Nhĩ cafe is one of the “big four” cafes of old Hanoi, next to Giảng, Nhân, and Dĩ (Or Năng for now). Compared to the other coffee shops above, Nhĩ Coffee is less well-known. But if you are a coffee lover, you must definitely try it when you come to Hanoi.

Many people said that the coffee of Nhĩ is heavy, and darker than other places but super delicious. If you are a person who does not drink coffee regularly, it is easy to get drunk from the first sip.

The coffee here is also quite special, pre-made filter coffee, stored in porcelain pots used to make green tea, when guests drink coffee, it will be measured into two cups and then poured into a thick glass cup, sugar or milk and then beat up the foam with a whisk, finally add ice.

Nhĩ cafe has remained the same for many years, still has the same old taste, the same old space, and the same scene of people sitting close together. The shop is mainly visited by regular customers to sip and enjoy.

4. Năng cafe

Address: 45 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

For the “big four” cafe shops, some put Năng, and some put Dĩ on the list. But currently, Dĩ cafe has been closed for a long time, so Năng coffee is a worthy destination on the list.

In the past, the shop was still at 6 Hang Bac, the space was smaller than the place at 45 Nguyen Huu Huan now. The apartment at 45 Nguyen Huu Huan is now located in a small alley, but going inside, the space is spacious and designed in the old architecture of Hanoi, extremely eye-catching.

Năng’s coffee is famous for its density, it is this density that makes people strangely passionate. However, many people can’t stand it and “give up”! In addition to black coffee, iced milk coffee, egg coffee here is also a good choice.

5. Lâm cafe

Address: 60 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Lâm cafe has existed since the 50s of the last century. Lâm is famous for two things: the fragrant aroma of roasted coffee and the paintings of the most famous painters in Vietnam such as Bui Xuan Phai, To Ngoc Van, Duong Bich Lien, Vo Tu Nghiem, Nguyen Hong, Nguyen Sang…

The coffee here is carefully selected and roasted and ground according to its own recipe, so the coffee has an indescribable aroma. You should come here to enjoy one of the shop’s two traditional coffees, hot black or ice brown to feel the unique flavor of Lâm.

6. Đinh cafe

Address: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Đinh cafe is very strange with no signboard, only those who know will come. The shop is located on the 2nd floor of the building from the old French period, the entrance is difficult and narrow. From the 2nd-floor railing, you will see the old town of Hanoi, and the whole space of Sword Lake, but it is difficult to sit in this position because it is always full of people.

Đinh cafe has a nostalgic style, and for some people, it may look a bit old and a bit messy. But in return, the drinks here are quite delicious, the coffee is strong and fragrant. Especially, the egg coffee here is not inferior to Giảng’s egg coffee, because Mrs. Bich, the owner of the shop, is also the daughter of Mr. Giảng, so the taste of egg coffee here is still kept close as intact. The average price of drinks is 20,000VND to 30,000VND.

7. Mai cafe

Address: 96 Le Van Huu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

If you are really a coffee lover and want to make yourself a cup of hot coffee, please take the time to come to Mai cafe at 96 Le Van Huu Street – Hanoi.

Opened in 1936 with traditional techniques and French processing methods, it has created a reputation for itself both at home and abroad. Customers coming here are usually connoisseurs of drinks. Mai cafe has many price ranges. Customers do not pay much attention to this issue, but mainly to their “gout” of drinking. Some people like the taste of Cafe Buon Ma Thuat, while others like to drink Arabica or Moka, Aliculi Dak Lak. The shopkeeper said that there are many different types of coffee, but the most important thing to ensure a good cup of coffee is to have an “aftertaste”, that is, when drinking, it is bitter, and after drinking, it is sweet and smooth on the palate.

8. Thái cafe

Address: 27 Trieu Viet Vuong, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

Thái cafe has been around since 1926, originally just a hawker in the old streets. But then, what is the fate, their family is still attached to coffee forever. His life was passed down to his father, son, and grandson… Over the ages, the shop was called many different names such as old man’s shop, rustic coffee, etc. Now, Hanoians are only used to Thai cafe names, or even called Thái for short, like the way they often invite each other: “Go to Thái and sit down!”.

The coffee atmosphere here is not a quiet corner. Because guests are always crowded and bustling, but not too crowded or jostled. There are no beautiful tables and chairs, just a few plastic chairs are enough.

Just like that, with a cup of black coffee, or a cup of iced milk coffee, and a plate of sunflower seeds, you can sip and chat all day.

In Thái, coffee is roasted and ground on the spot. Outside is a coffee shop, a little inside is a place to grind and make coffee, and the entire top is a place to store and roast coffee.

Most especially, in the countless coffee shops in Hanoi now, Thái cafe is a rare, almost the only one that still retains the way of roasting coffee with firewood. Inside the coffee roasting “machine” that has been passed down for generations, although it looks old, it is still very well used, each batch of coffee is rotated by the roaster evenly on the flickering fire. Occasionally, a puff of smoke would rise.

9. Thọ

Address: 117 Trieu Viet Vuong, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

With an age of up to three decades, located on the famous coffee street Trieu Viet Vuong, Thọ is still an outstanding shop with delicious coffee. The highlight of Th is in their space, because when today’s society is gradually Westernizing, we need to find somewhere a little peaceful and ancient in old Hanoi to enjoy the feeling of sipping a cup of coffee. Watching the street go by gently, and peacefully with a little bit of deposition in the heart will bring an interesting experience at the shop.

A little taste of old Hanoi, quite ancient with architecture, luxurious with space and quiet, and a cup of brown iced coffee with more milk will surely be an interesting drink for restless souls. For those with a strong personality who like to experience the hardships of life and a little bit of the hustle and bustle of society, that destination must be on the sidewalk because there are crowded and western spaces.

Coffee prices here are also very reasonable for everyone, besides the shop, also has many different types of drinks to suit each person’s preferences. It will be a great experience to sit at the bar, enjoy a good cup of coffee and chat with friends.

10. Old Quarter cafe

Address: 11 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Someone gave the Old Quarter cafe the name “Cafe of Explorer”, which is not wrong. To find the Old Quarter Garden cafe, you will be involved in an interesting exploration, because along Hang Gai street, there are many shops, it needs to take a sharp eye to recognize this special cafe.

The entrance to the shop is very small, but only after about 4m, you will enter the place known as The Garden of Enlightenment. A large courtyard, receiving sunlight, leads through a long corridor. The most interesting thing is sitting on the top floor of the bar. From here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Sword Lake. Hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the streets, the Old Town Garden is a haven for you.

With an area of more than 200m2, painter Nguyễn Tuấn, the owner, decorates the shop in a style “unlike anyone else”. Paintings and statues on walls and along paths. The small, beautiful bonsai tanks decorated on the table give you a very pleasant feeling. In particular, you will discover many interesting things when viewing the owner’s antique collection. The drink menu is very diverse: cafe, smoothies, and juices are all very well made. Here, fruit ice cream is a favorite dish of many people. Drink prices here are quite cheap compared to other places. Choose for yourself an egg coffee – a specialty of the Old Quarter and enjoy the cool breeze blowing from Sword Lake, enjoying the quiet feeling in the heart of the bustling center.