Cup of Tea (No 317 Nguyen Khang Str., Cau Giay District, Hanoi)
Cup of Tea is as popular as you would expect any Hanoian café near water to be. The ground floor has a huge coffee counter full of desserts and treats, upstairs is much better.
The first floor is deceptively large and has plenty of choice of seating, all of it relatively comfortable. There two large arched windows against a backdrop of red brick, tall green cacti painted on the wall and a few large leafy plants.
This area is usually full by midday; office workers streaming to the café for a decent escape from the summer sun without being stuck in a dark and dingy room. The top floor is a delightful roof terrace with a mixture of concrete, metal and wicker seating.
The front half of the area is in open air; light bulbs dangling above and plant boxes lining the walls. Located on a slight bend in the adjacent canal, there is also a surprisingly panoramic view of the surrounding area. The back half of the rooftop is covered with greenhouse-type glass and certainly reflects the atmosphere of a greenhouse.
Although the appearance of the café is definitely appealing, it’s the atmosphere and the service that really stand out. Once you find a table, it’s quickly filled with flowers, napkins and menus. And, if you sit in a bare seat, you may even be showered with a hidden supply of cushions. This is a fairly good reflection of Cup of Tea as a whole.
Jouri Dessert & Tea (No 10 Khuc Hao Str., Ba Dinh District, Hanoi)
Right in the heart of ambassador residence territory, Jouri occupies yet another graceful French mansion and attracts a young, beautiful, and probably over-dressed crowd.
A fair distance from roaring Tran Phu and Le Hong Phong Streets, the outside spaces are pleasantly airy and relaxing. Sitting inside feels like being in a cloud, as everything is a variant shade of white or grey or beige, including the patrons. The muji interior matches the creamy cakes, which are genuinely delicious, though perhaps a little rich.
The drinks are also fresh and good. Though not the cheapest place in the neighborhood, adjacent competition prohibits the prices from being obscene. If this place maintains the fuss, expect prices to rise.
Toast ‘n Tea (No 15, Hoang Cau Str., Dong Da District, Hanoi)
The industrial chic interior design movement, a style that is currently enjoying unprecedented popularity in Ho Chi Minh city, is also starting to make serious headway in Hanoi. Things have even gotten slightly out of hand as cafe designers install fake air vents and functionless copper piping to give that edgy factory look. Thankfully, Toast ‘n Tea is not one of these places- although obviously inspired by the trend, all the exposed wiring does seem to serve a purpose.
Floor to ceiling windows are everywhere, admitting enormous amounts of natural light into the mollifying interior. There is a large selection of seating options, almost all of which are comfortable. And the drinks are tasty and freshly prepared. There is also a tempting menu of reasonably priced Vietnamese and western food favourites to tuck into if feeling hungry.
On the whole there is a lot to like about Toast ‘n Tea, even if it could appear in any modern city in the world. So if you can’t stand the seemingly unstoppable force that is thrusting Hanoi towards a possibly lackluster future then avoid Toast ‘n Tea at all costs. But if you’re wanting somewhere spacious and comfortable, with good drinks and a calming environment, then this might just be the place.
Xofa (No 14 Tong Duy Tan Str., Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
Xofa in No14 Tong Duy Tan Str., Hoan Kiem District. There are seating options that fit every possible need from comfortable desk chairs to squishy couches to makeshift beds. The beautifully illustrated menu has a vast selection of food and drinks that are reasonably priced compared with other Hanoi cafe-restaurants in the same vein.
On the upstairs floors, hanging lights droop from the ceiling to create personalized and cozy spots for you to chat quietly with friends or fiddle around with your laptop. Even the music is blissfully perfect.
The front facing structure is gorgeous and the open brick and high ceilings highlight the inbuilt charm of this French architectural beauty. The building behind is new, though you probably wouldn’t realize immediately, and makes an attractive setting for the downstairs bar and upstairs terrace. The encircling rustic patio and airy courtyard are elegantly lit for gratifying autumn evenings with a few beers. Our experience is that the drinks are pretty good- the food is mediocre.
Cup of Tea is as popular as you would expect any Hanoian café near water to be.
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The first floor is deceptively large and has plenty of choice of seating, all of it relatively comfortable. There two large arched windows against a backdrop of red brick, tall green cacti painted on the wall and a few large leafy plants.
The first floor is deceptively large and has plenty of choice of seating, all of it relatively comfortable.
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The front half of the area is in open air; light bulbs dangling above and plant boxes lining the walls. Located on a slight bend in the adjacent canal, there is also a surprisingly panoramic view of the surrounding area. The back half of the rooftop is covered with greenhouse-type glass and certainly reflects the atmosphere of a greenhouse.
The ground floor has a huge coffee counter full of desserts and treats, upstairs is much better.
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Jouri Dessert & Tea (No 10 Khuc Hao Str., Ba Dinh District, Hanoi)
Jouri Dessert & Tea a fair distance from roaring Tran Phu and Le Hong Phong Streets.
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A fair distance from roaring Tran Phu and Le Hong Phong Streets, the outside spaces are pleasantly airy and relaxing. Sitting inside feels like being in a cloud, as everything is a variant shade of white or grey or beige, including the patrons. The muji interior matches the creamy cakes, which are genuinely delicious, though perhaps a little rich.
Sitting inside feels like being in a cloud, as everything is a variant shade of white or grey or beige, including the patrons.
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Toast ‘n Tea (No 15, Hoang Cau Str., Dong Da District, Hanoi)
Things have even gotten slightly out of hand as cafe designers install fake air vents and functionless copper piping to give that edgy factory look.
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Floor to ceiling windows are everywhere, admitting enormous amounts of natural light into the mollifying interior. There is a large selection of seating options, almost all of which are comfortable. And the drinks are tasty and freshly prepared. There is also a tempting menu of reasonably priced Vietnamese and western food favourites to tuck into if feeling hungry.
If you’re wanting somewhere spacious and comfortable, with good drinks and a calming environment, then this might just be the place.
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Xofa (No 14 Tong Duy Tan Str., Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
Xofa in No14 Tong Duy Tan Str., Hoan Kiem District.
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There are seating options that fit every possible need from comfortable desk chairs to squishy couches to makeshift beds.
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The drinks are pretty good- the food is mediocre.
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