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Hanoi’s cafe culture isn’t just synonymous with coffee, it’s a way of life in the Vietnamese capital. And the best place to experience that is at the best cafes in Hanoi.
No matter which area you’re exploring, there are handfuls of cafes to be found, each one seemingly more insta-worthy or ambient than the next. There are even roads, like around West Lake (from Lac Long Quan side), where the entire strip is one photogenic cafe after the next. It’s pretty insane!
Though a lot of the cafes just do drinks, there are also plenty of dessert cafes and then cafes selling some local chow. In recent years, the typical “western cafe” model has picked up, and there are cafes in Hanoi that do bring the drinks and light food bite vibes.
It would be impossible to list every single one of them, so for now, here are 10 of best cafes in Hanoi according to locals, spread across different areas — and, naturally, every bit as trendy as you can imagine.
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- 1. Lá Cafe – Instagram-worthy personified
- 2. Cong Caphe – The best iced coconut coffee (cafe dừa) in town
- 3. Papa’s Dessert Cafe – For French pastries
- 4. HAY Society – A great wine list
- 5. Habakuk Fine Coffee and Bistro – Michelin-listed
- 6. Monetē cafe and dessert – Lake views
- 7. bake&burnt – Vintage vibes
- 8. The Hanoi Social Club – International cuisine and live music
- 9. Tranquil. Books & Coffee – For the bibliophile
- 10. Joma Bakery Cafe – The best bagels in town
1. Lá Cafe – Instagram-worthy personified
Location: Ba Đình
Soft woods, exquisite natural lighting, and corners dripping in plants and foliage; Lá Cafe is the perfect spot to sit and read a book for hours as the world flitters by.
It feels as if you’ve stepped inside Hanoi-meets-Japan-meets-France — if you can picture it. There are gorgeous vintage touches everywhere, as well as the local kitty lounging about, welcoming guests into this inviting space.
They serve fresh juices (try the watermelon), cold teas, and specialty coffee (both hot and cold), all brewed in cups and cutlery as stunning as the entire setting. If you’re feeling peckish, they sell scrumptious croissants and other yummy pastries.
2. Cong Caphe – The best iced coconut coffee (cafe dừa) in town
Locations: The central ones I’d recommend are Truc Bach, Tây Hồ, the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm, Ba Đình, and Long Biên
Okay, Cong Caphe is my personal favorite cafe in Hanoi — or if ever I spot it elsewhere around the country. They’re scattered across Vietnam, but were born and bred in Hanoi. Without fail, I always bring my visiting friends and family here because – and I’m not being biased – they make the best coconut coffee you’ll ever taste!
It’s so well-balanced: not overly sweet and the coconut flavor shines through.
Plus, the interiors are super-cool – they’re inspired by the Vietnam War days. The space has got this industrial vibe to it, and the lighting and décor are purposefully moody. They’ve been around since 2007 — which is honestly a milestone in the world of the best cafes in Hanoi. Cafes open and close so frequently in this city so it’s really saying something.
They have many locations around Hanoi (at least 26!) but my go-to spots for newbies are the Old Quarter locations. Most Cong Caphes have balconies and I recommend sitting outside if you can get a table.
They stock traditional snacks like sunflower seeds, dried mango, spicy corn, dried beef, and more.
3. Papa’s Dessert Cafe – For French pastries
Locations: Ba Đình and Đống Đa
Paris or Hanoi? With two locations in Hanoi, there’s a Papa’s Dessert Cafe in Ba Dinh (which is one of my favorite areas in Hanoi) and one a little further out in Dong Da (this one is situated on the seventh floor and has stunning water views over the lake).
Everything about it très chic, and the interiors are modeled on the streetside Parisian cafes, down to the last table and chair.
As you can imagine, it’s all about the sweet stuff given they stock a huge selection of classic French pastries. While they may be French-inspired, you’ve simply got to order one of their “crombolonis”. It’s one of those latest dessert trends in Hanoi that’s a fusion between a croissant and an Italian bomboloni (a filled donut). They offer crombolonis in chocolate, mango (yum!), and even a cheese crumble-inspired rendition.
4. HAY Society – A great wine list
Location: Hoàn Kiếm
This is where the #coolkids come to hang! The vibe is contagious and as trendy as ever, with funky tunes, amazing drinks (including an awesome selection of natural wines, which is pretty hard to come by at your standard cafes in Hanoi). The interiors mimic New York or London but carry all the charm of Hanoi.
Sip back on a glass of crisp vino as an old-school record player spins in the background, and enjoy their take on classic dessert or food with an elevated twist. They also do a fantastic pour-over. I like to think their slogan explains it all: “Sip, Chill, Revel.”
Find HAY Society right near the Old Quarter, centrally located in Hoàn Kiếm district.
5. Habakuk Fine Coffee and Bistro – Michelin-listed
Location: Hoàn Kiếm
Officially listed by the Michelin Guide, yup, for a cafe bistro, you can expect big things from Habakuk Fine Coffee and Bistro. Doubling as a specialty coffee house and classic bistro set-up, this is one cafe not to miss if you love to photograph your food and drinks (guilty).
They’re big fans of coffee art, often presenting cups with themes according to the seasons (the Halloween one is great). Do try the ‘HowWhy Latte’ showcasing Vietnam’s famous salt coffee rendition, or quench your thirst with a fresh juice or seasonal kombucha.
On the menu, there are traditional western brekkies, salads, bread variations (sandwiches, paninis, toasties, and bagels), pasta, and a dessert selection. I’m all for the lime mousse with cheese ice cream and apricot jelly. This is thee place to be for brunch hour.
6. Monetē cafe and dessert – Lake views
Location: Tây Hồ
With a fountain in the middle of the courtyard decorated with cherub angel statues and balcony settings overlooking West Lake, this Tay Ho gem is rather romantic if I do say so.
Open late (until 11:30 pm), the various seating areas make up half of Monetē’s charm, and you best believe this cafe is as ambient as ever when the sun goes down. During winter, the outdoor fireplace comes out to play — if you’ve never visited Hanoi in winter, one word of advice, it gets freezing cold!
The menu offers coffee, drinks, desserts such as tiramisu, and a selection of savory snacking plates, like potato wedges and fried chicken. The crowds are a mix of locals and expats thanks to its location (this is where a huge bulk of the expats live).
7. bake&burnt – Vintage vibes
Location: Ba Đình
I’m an absolute sucker for anything vintage, and so this vintage-inspired eatery is the cutest spot for cafe-goers like me. It reminds me of a quaint cafe in the English countryside circa the 1920s.
Step back in time and spend more time ambling through the collectibles that make up the interiors and decor of bake&burnt. Picture ornate and mix-matched photo frames lining the walls, old heavy wooden cabinets decorated with books, milk jugs, candelabras, and porcelain.
I’ve got an insane sweet tooth and unlike a lot of the cafes in Hanoi, this one offers loads of classic desserts (not the Vietnamese versions). New York-style blueberry cheesecake, brownies, scones, waffles, Japanese souffle cheesecake, and even Biscoff-inspired goodies!
8. The Hanoi Social Club – International cuisine and live music
Location: Old Quarter
The Hanoi Social Club is another one of my top cafes in Hanoi. It’s three storeys of eclectic goodness, starting from the moment you walk through the terracotta entrance.
Whenever I’m craving western food, this is one of my go-to spots in the Old Quarter. And every Tuesday evening the top-floor balcony transforms into the ‘Tiny Music Club.’ Guests can feel free to join the open mic sessions or see one of the local acts playing.
The interiors are a mix-matched bash, and the menu has plates of food from around the world. I always order the goulash for something hearty around lunchtime, and they do a winner breakfast.
Travel tip: while this spot has all of the ambiance, they are always chocka block full, and sometimes service suffers.
Bring your patience and have a squiz at the little shop inside while waiting (between levels on the staircase).
9. Tranquil. Books & Coffee – For the bibliophile
Location: Hoàn Kiếm
Books, great coffee, and an intimate setting — what more could your heart desire? I’m a bookworm through and through, and one of my guilty pleasures in life is sniffing the pages of any book I pick up — hey, it’s a thing in case you didn’t know.
Tranquil. Books & Coffee could easily belong somewhere in Brooklyn, NYC. Expect red brick interiors and bookshelves lining the walls.
The counter teases with its fresh bread and bakes, sandwiches and chocolate bars, as well as other cutesy memorabilia to take home. Plus, there’s live music, too.
10. Joma Bakery Cafe – The best bagels in town
Locations: Tây Hồ, Ba Đình, Cầu Giấy
Last but certainly not least, my beloved Joma. How I still dream of your salmon bagel on a sundried tomato base, pumpkin pie, iced frappe, and breakfast burritos.
Joma Bakery Cafe is a Canadian-inspired cafe and bakery that often stocks seasonal cakes (around Christmas time, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.) For me, it was always the closest place to eat when I was in the mood for a proper “westernized cafe.”
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve frequented this spot or ordered in, and every meal or snack is fail-proof. The coffee is amazing; the food scrumptious! The interiors are standard, but honestly, it’s the food and drinks that make this spot so iconic. It’s another long-standing cafe in Hanoi and great for families.
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