TNH

I've got to agree with Lungar - this place is dreadful. We went for the egg coffee after reading about in Word Hanoi (not blaming them btw!)as we were nearby anyway. The staff are so surly and rude and then tried to overcharge - really adding 40,000 and 30,000 isn't that hard and no matter how many times you do it it just isn't 80,000. Now I know 10,000 is no big deal but but the time I came to pay I was so angry with the staff that I was not going to overpay as well - adding insult to injury. Can see absolutely no reason to return until the staff change their attitude. Silly of them - the coffee and views are good but others are doing it better.

Truly one of Hanoi's best kept secrets, rapidly becoming Hanoi's worst kept secret as it becomes more and more popular.

I love the secret entranceway through the middle of a clothes shop and down a dark and narrow alley opening out into a fab courtyard. You have to climb up and up and up to find the best views of the lake, but once you're there you need not move for hours!

Just remember to order before you go up the stairs, and no perusing the menu, as once the waitress hands it to you she generally stands there until you order.

The drinks are all great and cheap. The Egg coffee is apparently a delicacy, although I'm not a fan. Once you get your drink you are left alone, which is great because you dont feel guilted into ordering more if you want to stay a while. Its a great place to park up with friends and chat or play cards, and the 'carpet' of empty peanut shells on the upper floors is an authentic if odd touch.

Truly though, one of the best views from any cafe in Hanoi.

Fortunately I did not walk into this cafe until after living in Hanoi two months, otherwise I may have raced to the airport. I just hope tourists don't form an opinion about Vietnam or the VIetnamese from this cafe. Never in my life did I experience such rudeness and slovenly behavior and witness such laziness by the staff of an open-to-the public service operation. Cannot critique the food or drink since I departed after being ignored and spoken to in a manner I wouldn't use to address my dogs.

This place now features in all the guidebooks, breathlessly described as "hidden", which it clearly isn't anymore. I'm adding to that problem by consistently making it the first place I take any visitors to Hanoi to lose their Vietnamese coffee virginity.

It ticks all the right boxes for this purpose: an unexpected entry-way into a beautiful, crumbling courtyard, worlds away from the mania outside, an improbable number of staircases, a fantastic view of the lake and absolutely delicious egg coffee. Guests never fail to be impressed, and it makes you look in-the-know to casually lead them into this hidden oasis, as if you're taking them somewhere only locals know about (in your dreams!).

One star off because the staff are really terrible. After making your order downstairs, you'll often find a completely different item brought to your table upstairs, a randomly-chosen substitute because your first choice was "finished".

My favourite cafe in town.
The view is just amazing.
And the caphe trung is delicious!