Down a narrow alley at 84 Hang Bac Street in Hanoi and up a worn staircase, visitors discover a nostalgic café space where every step of the coffee-making process is on full display.

Choosing to sit by the brewing counter, Megan, a tourist from Australia, watched intently as her coconut cream coffee was carefully prepared.

Coffee beans were ground on the spot, releasing a rich aroma that filled the room. The grounds were then placed into a phin filter and brewed with hot water at approximately 93°C for exactly 1 minute and 15 seconds.

Megan followed every drop as it dripped slowly into a glass. "It’s so interesting, definitely more captivating than the usual machine-made coffee," she said to her travel companions, Tara and Emma.

The trio had spent a week exploring Hanoi. On their final day before flying home, they came to the so-called "waiting coffee" café tucked deep within an alley off Hang Bac Street in the Old Quarter.

"A friend insisted we had to visit this place. We passed by a few times before noticing the sign. The alley looked like a secret tunnel with an old staircase. But then the space opened into a beautiful, vintage room with the cozy scent of coffee,” Megan shared.

Each coffee here takes 8–10 minutes to prepare, with precision in every detail. That’s why customers affectionately call it “waiting coffee.”

“We were excited to wait, and when we finally tasted it, the flavor was astonishing – rich and distinctive. At that moment, we knew the wait was worth it,” Megan added.

The café’s signature coconut cream coffee, served with crispy coconut cookies, has become a favorite among visitors.

With a 4.9/5-star rating from over 1,600 reviews on Google, this hidden café has gained global attention through social media posts from travelers.

During her visit to Hanoi last year, Christine Ha (Hà Huyền Trân), winner of MasterChef US 2012, also stopped by and praised the café’s egg coffee, coconut cream coffee, and jackfruit-infused coffee.

"We were stunned when Christine Ha came. She filmed her experience and shared it online. After that, more international guests started coming," said Tran Hoa Binh, the café owner.

Opened in October 2022, the café occupies a 40-square-meter room on the second floor of an old house. When Binh first discovered the space, it was severely run-down. He preserved the original patterned floor tiles, repaired the walls, and used concrete-effect paint to create a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of Hanoi’s old homes.

"Though it’s dark and narrow, once you reach the top of the stairs, there’s a bright skylight, lush green vines, and a serene vibe. I decided this was the perfect place for a peaceful café, far removed from the busy streets outside,” Binh recalled.

Vanessa, a traveler from the UK, visited the café after seeing a video online and navigated the narrow maze-like alley to find it.

Inside, the place was full, mostly with foreign tourists eager to experience traditional Vietnamese coffee culture.

The café’s décor is simple - wooden tables and chairs, Central Highlands gongs, and handpicked coffee-brewing tools.

“In our first month, only a few guests came. But instead of flashy marketing, I chose to treat every visitor with care. They’ve become our best ambassadors,” Binh said.

Every cup is freshly brewed once a guest places an order, with the full process happening in front of them.

Binh, a coffee enthusiast with over 11 years of experience, has studied raw coffee bean processing and flavor profiling across Vietnam.

He uses beans from 10 renowned coffee-growing regions such as Dien Bien, Son La, Quang Tri, Hue, Gia Lai, and Lam Dong, tailoring each brew to highlight the unique flavor of each region.

For example, the egg coffee is made using beans from Dak Nong, with black pepper undertones that balance the egg’s richness. The coconut cream coffee uses Robusta beans from Gia Lai with subtle notes of chocolate and caramel, harmonized with the chilled, fluffy coconut cream topping.

Each egg coffee costs about $2.70 (VND 66,000) and is made to order.

One group of five travelers from Spain, including a woman named Jana, waited patiently for their turn. Despite the long wait, they expressed delight at the bold, memorable flavors of their drinks.

The café is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can host up to 20 guests at a time. Between October and March, international foot traffic peaks, and customers often queue on the balcony for a seat.

Since the café is deep in a small alley, it doesn’t have parking. Motorbikes must be parked 200 to 500 meters away.

This spot is ideal for those seeking a tranquil, reflective atmosphere while learning about Vietnam’s diverse coffee traditions.

If lucky enough to meet the owner, visitors may hear fascinating stories about Vietnam’s coffee regions, traditional and modern phin filters, and the science behind different brewing tools. These conversations make the 8–10 minute wait for a cup of coffee fly by.

Linh Trang - Nguyen Huy