Hoan Kiem Lake view from a hidden café where time stops ☕✨

Tucked away in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, there’s a little café where time seems to pause. No flashy signs, no touristy buzz - just the scent of strong coffee, a quiet courtyard, and a rooftop view that’ll stop you in your tracks.

To find it, you’ll need a bit of curiosity (and maybe a sense of adventure). Step into a silk shop, sneak down a narrow alley, and you’ll end up in a hidden courtyard wrapped in vines and weathered bricks.

Order your drink (we highly recommend the creamy egg coffee ☕), then start climbing. One staircase. Then another. Maybe you’ll pass a sleepy yellow cat or catch sunlight dancing through the leaves.

One final spiral staircase - and boom - you’re on the rooftop.

Right in front of you: Hoan Kiem Lake, shimmering like a painting. The Turtle Tower floating calmly in the center. No noise. No rush. Just Hanoi - slow, soulful, and quietly beautiful.

Right in front of you: Hoan Kiem Lake, shimmering like a painting. The Turtle Tower floating calmly in the center. No noise. No rush. Just Hanoi - slow, soulful, and quietly beautiful.

Your coffee is hot, smooth, and strong - just how we - locals like it. You’ll spot Note Coffee across the lake and wonder how many hidden stories are being written from rooftops like this every day.

📌 Location: Cà phê Phố Cổ – ll Hàng Gai  💰 Price: 45,000–60,000 VND (~$l.7–2.2 USD) per drink

Love discovering charming, hidden cafés 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