Vietadvisor
New Member
Hi everyone! If you’re visiting Hanoi soon, you’ve probably heard that egg coffee is a "must-try." As someone who has spent a lot of time in Vietnam, I can tell you that the quality varies wildly. Some places serve what feels like a sugar bomb with raw egg, while others are absolute perfection.
To save you the trial and error, here are the 5 shops I actually frequent and recommend to my friends.
1. Giảng Café (39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân)
This is the birthplace of the drink. It’s located down a very narrow, easy-to-miss alley. The vibe is gritty and authentic—plastic stools, low tables, and a lot of noise. Their egg coffee is very rich and thick, almost like a hot custard. It’s the original recipe from the 1940s and costs about 35k VND. Definitely the place to start your journey.
2. Dinh Café (13 Đinh Tiên Hoàng)
This is my personal favorite. It’s less touristy than Giang but has a similar old-school feel. You enter through a clothing shop and climb a dark staircase. The highlight is the tiny balcony overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. The coffee here is a bit more balanced and slightly less heavy on the sweetness. It’s a great spot to sit and watch the chaos of the street below.
3. Loading T Café (8 Chân Cầm)
If the noise of the Old Quarter gets to be too much, head here. It’s in a beautiful French colonial building with high ceilings and vintage decor. It’s much quieter and more artistic than the other spots. Their egg coffee is refined and the atmosphere is perfect for reading a book or working for an hour. It’s a bit pricier at 50k VND, but worth it for the peace and quiet.
4. Cafe Pho Co (11 Hàng Gai)
This one is famous for the view. You walk through a silk shop to get to the cafe area, and then climb up several floors. The panoramic view of the lake is unbeatable, especially on a clear day. The coffee is reliable and consistently good. It’s a classic choice for a reason—you go for the "Hanoi experience" as much as the drink.
5. Note Coffee (64 Lương Văn Can)
You’ve likely seen photos of this place—it’s the one covered entirely in post-it notes. While it might seem like a "tourist trap," the staff is incredibly friendly, and the coffee is actually quite good. It’s a fun, interactive place where you can read messages from people all over the world while sipping your drink. Great for a quick photo and a positive vibe.
The Basics: What to look for?
A good egg coffee should have a strong, bitter Vietnamese Robusta base to cut through the sweet foam. If the coffee tastes weak, it’s not a good cup. I always recommend the hot version; it’s served in a bowl of warm water to keep the egg from curdling or getting "fishy" as it cools.
Don’t be afraid of the small alleys or the dark stairs—that’s where the best coffee usually is! Enjoy your time in Hanoi!
To save you the trial and error, here are the 5 shops I actually frequent and recommend to my friends.
1. Giảng Café (39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân)
This is the birthplace of the drink. It’s located down a very narrow, easy-to-miss alley. The vibe is gritty and authentic—plastic stools, low tables, and a lot of noise. Their egg coffee is very rich and thick, almost like a hot custard. It’s the original recipe from the 1940s and costs about 35k VND. Definitely the place to start your journey.
2. Dinh Café (13 Đinh Tiên Hoàng)
This is my personal favorite. It’s less touristy than Giang but has a similar old-school feel. You enter through a clothing shop and climb a dark staircase. The highlight is the tiny balcony overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. The coffee here is a bit more balanced and slightly less heavy on the sweetness. It’s a great spot to sit and watch the chaos of the street below.
3. Loading T Café (8 Chân Cầm)
If the noise of the Old Quarter gets to be too much, head here. It’s in a beautiful French colonial building with high ceilings and vintage decor. It’s much quieter and more artistic than the other spots. Their egg coffee is refined and the atmosphere is perfect for reading a book or working for an hour. It’s a bit pricier at 50k VND, but worth it for the peace and quiet.
4. Cafe Pho Co (11 Hàng Gai)
This one is famous for the view. You walk through a silk shop to get to the cafe area, and then climb up several floors. The panoramic view of the lake is unbeatable, especially on a clear day. The coffee is reliable and consistently good. It’s a classic choice for a reason—you go for the "Hanoi experience" as much as the drink.
5. Note Coffee (64 Lương Văn Can)
You’ve likely seen photos of this place—it’s the one covered entirely in post-it notes. While it might seem like a "tourist trap," the staff is incredibly friendly, and the coffee is actually quite good. It’s a fun, interactive place where you can read messages from people all over the world while sipping your drink. Great for a quick photo and a positive vibe.
The Basics: What to look for?
A good egg coffee should have a strong, bitter Vietnamese Robusta base to cut through the sweet foam. If the coffee tastes weak, it’s not a good cup. I always recommend the hot version; it’s served in a bowl of warm water to keep the egg from curdling or getting "fishy" as it cools.
Don’t be afraid of the small alleys or the dark stairs—that’s where the best coffee usually is! Enjoy your time in Hanoi!