Food & Drink
Best Cafes in Hanoi
Hanoi's coffee culture runs deep — this is a city where coffee is often stronger, cheaper and more central to daily life than in almost anywhere else in Southeast Asia.
What to order beyond egg coffee
- Cà phê sữa đá — iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk, the everyday order for most locals.
- Cà phê đen — black coffee, hot or iced, strong and often made with a small metal drip filter (phin) at the table.
- Cà phê cốt dừa — coconut coffee, a newer but very popular blended, creamy iced drink.
- Sữa chua cà phê — yoghurt coffee, tangy and refreshing, a good hot-weather order.
Different types of cafes to try
Hanoi's cafe scene spans several distinct styles, and it's worth trying more than one type:
- Vỉa hè (pavement) coffee stalls — tiny plastic stools, a few dollars a cup, the most local experience.
- Old Quarter heritage cafes — long-running spots, some open since the mid-20th century.
- West Lake design cafes — modern spaces, often in converted villas, popular for a slower afternoon.
- Train Street cafes — coffee with a view of the railway line (see our Train Street guide for current access rules).
Good to know: Coffee in Vietnam is traditionally strong and often already sweetened with condensed milk by default — ask for it without ('không đường' for no sugar) if you'd prefer it unsweetened.