Cafés in Hanoi's old villas

Toka Coffee Stand

Toka Coffee Stand brance on Dang Thai Than Street in Hanoi. Photo by byy54

Toka Coffee Stand has two branches, the more well-known of which is located in an old French house on Dang Thai Than Street.

Though near Hanoi Opera House, the cafe attracts "low key" visitors due to its location in a secluded and tranquil residential area. The shop boasts a small, charming space nestled within the plants of the villa’s yard, and its faded moss-stained yellow wall below the old balcony and arches. This is an ideal place to unwind with friends, or for travelers to savor a coffee break.

Toka closes at 7 p.m. and the free parking lot is at the end of the street.

Address: 2, 3B Dang Thai Than Street, Hoan Kiem District.

Loading T Cafe

Loading T Cafe. Photo by hiroko0706

Occupying the second floor of an old villa on Chan Cam Street, Loading T Cafe not only attracts locals but also foreign tourists. The villa has been praised for its antique appearance. The old Hanoi home’s historical features have all been retained: a French balcony, a traditional bougainvillea truss, and steel door with flower designs. The second-floor cafe offers a view down the bustling streets of the Old Quarter. Loading T Cafe is an ideal choice for those who want to try to step back into the bygone Hanoian days.

Address: 2nd floor, 8 Chan Cam Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Hanoi Neighbors

The second floor of Hanoi Neighbors. Photo by filmdab

Hanoi Neighbors has become a familiar stop for the capital’s check-in lovers ever since it opened a year ago. Situated in an old house on Tue Tinh Street, the café’s vintage architecture features wooden floors, old handrails, and a European balcony. The cafe is quite spacious with a variety of nooks and crannies available to settle into on the main floor, in the attic, in the garden and on the balcony. The most popular space is perhaps the outdoor seating area on the balcony where you can look out at the green-leaved eagle tree in summer, or watch it turn red in winter.

Address: 114 Tue Tinh Street, Hanoi.

DOT cafe

The waiting area of DOT cafe. Photo by 3.tien

Tucked away on the second floor of an old villa on Tran Quoc Toan Street, another choice for "low-key" guests is DOT Café. Here is a blend of Hanoi vibes. Conveniently situated on a large street, the cafe is easily accessible by steps on wooden stairs outside. Dot boasts vintage furniture, floral tiles, wooden doors, typical Vietnamese yellow walls, and large windows overlooking the tile roofs of other old buildings.

Ban Cong

Ban Cong coffee shop. Photo by VnExpress

On the corner of Hang Bac and Dinh Liet streets, Ban Cong is popular with local and foreign visitors in Hanoi. Conveniently located near Ho Guom, in the middle of the capital city’s Old Quarter, the café’s spacious front yard is always colorfully decorated with flags and flowers. Ban Cong’ 100-year-old French villa still retains its original yellow peeling walls, floral tiles, wooden stairs.

Highlights include romantic balconies offering views over bougainvillea trusses down to the busy street corner below. Old furniture harkens back to another time, making for a classical atmosphere with wooden tables and chairs, lamps, pendulum clocks, gramophones, and old pictures adorning the walls.

Address: 2 Dinh Liet Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Ela Cafe

Ela Cafe. Photo provided to Ngoi Sao

Ela Cafe has left it’s old villa on 10 Khuc Hao street relatively untouched. The design of this villa is unique among homes in the Old Quarter. Visitors can choose different seating areas such as outside, inside, and a second rooftop overlooking the neighborhood’s other French villas.

Address: 10 Khuc Hao Street, Hanoi.