5 Hidden cafes in Hanoi’s Old Quarter that you’ll love discovering!

"The harder a cafe is to find, the more local it feels."

If you’ve ever dreamed of wandering through tiny alleyways or stepping into a café that feels like it has lived a hundred quiet stories, Hanoi’s Old Quarter is your perfect playground. Many of the best cafés sit quietly behind wooden doors or up creaky staircases, waiting for curious travelers to discover them. We always tell friends and guests of Beyond Vietnam: the harder a café is to find, the more local it feels.

1. Hanoi House - a vintage hidden cafe near St Joseph's Cathedral.

Right beside the iconic Cathedral, Hanoi House rests on the second floor of an old French house. Sunlit shutters, worn wooden floors, and the gentle echo of church bells make it one of the coziest places to enjoy a slow morning with strong Vietnamese coffee. It’s peaceful, nostalgic, and the kind of place you end up staying longer than planned.

📌 Location: Hanoi House - 47A Lý Quốc Sư

💰 Price: 50,000-250,000 VND (~$2-10 USD) per drink

🕒 Open hours: 9:00 AM - 12:30 AM daily

2. Hidden Gem Cafe: colourful, eco-friendly and full of soul.

A totally different vibe awaits at Hidden Gem Cafe. Bright colors, recycled materials turned into art, and a joyful energy that families and creative travelers always love. It feels cheerful and youthful, like a reminder that Hanoi is always finding new ways to reinvent itself.

📌 Location: Hidden Gem Cafe - 1 Hàng Mắm / Hàng Tre

💰 Price: 45,000-60,000 VND (~$1.7-2.2 USD) per drink

🕒 Open hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM daily

3. Nola Cafe: a quiet maze of rooftops and vintage corners.

Step inside Nola Cafe on Mã Mây Street and you’ll find tiny rooms, quirky art pieces, lanterns, and staircases leading to unexpected hideouts. Every corner feels like a memory. It’s a beautiful escape from the busy streets below and a perfect spot if you enjoy slow afternoons and quiet conversations.

📌 Location: Nola Cafe & Bar - 89 Mã Mây

💰 Price: 45,000-60,000 VND (~$1.7-2.2 USD) per drink

🕒 Open hours: 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM daily

4. Cafe Giang: the birthplace of Hanoi's famous egg coffee.

Cafe Giang sits down a narrow alley, easy to miss but unforgettable once you find it. This café invented Hanoi’s original egg coffee in the 1940s - whisked egg yolks, condensed milk, and bold Vietnamese coffee. The smell alone makes the whole search worth it. Drinking egg coffee here feels like stepping back in time.

📌 Location: Cafe Giảng - 39 Nguyen Huu Huan

💰 Price: 40,000-60,000 VND (~$1.5-2.3 USD) per drink

🕒 Open hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM daily

5. Café Pho Co: a hidden path to a view of Hoan Kiem Lake

You walk through a silk shop, climb a couple of steep steps, and suddenly a stunning terrace overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake opens up in front of you. Café Phố Cổ is one of Hanoi’s most iconic hidden cafes. Morning, afternoon, or sunset, the lake view is always magical.

📌 Location: Cà phê Phố Cổ - 11 Hàng Gai

💰 Price: 45,000-60,000 VND (~$1.7-2.2 USD) per drink

🕒 Open hours: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM daily

Love discovering charming, hidden cafes like this in Hanoi? Follow our page for more local gems and slow travel stories - the kind you won’t find in guidebooks.

And if you’re curious to taste, brew, and explore Vietnam’s coffee culture with locals, feel free to message us anytime about our Coffee Workshop. It’s a cozy, hands-on experience we think you’ll love ☕😊

Photos: collected

Dung (Emma)

Beyond Vietnam