Good Restaurants in Hoan Kiem (Hanoi)

Trung Nguyen Cafe

Originally found only in Saigon, this coffee chain's rapid growth has made it the Vietnamese answer to Starbucks. Its main Hanoi location sits beside Hoan Kiem Lake. With Trung Nguyen you can be guaranteed a taste of the some of the best coffee Vietnam has to offer. It is best drank black or iced with a touch of sweetened milk, as is the norm in Vietnam. Among the eight varieties to choose from, the "Weasel" is the most expensive, though its process of retrieving the ground coffee is better left to the imagination. I suggest sticking with the arabica.

Green Ho Guom

Finished work, need a seat by a window and a gin? Green Ho Guom is a good place to start. This large music cafe/bar sits on the cafe side of Hoan Kiem Lake. The interior is well decked out with a stage, a long wooden bar and bamboo furniture scattered across the floor. The highlight of this bar is the view. It is one of the few places you can sit by a window and overlook Hoan Kiem Lake. The Vietnamese singers start around 9pm, but before that the venue is fairly quiet.

Lan Anh Restaurant & Bar

This favorite bar of long time Hanoians is close to the Melia Hotel and Hoa Sua Patisserie. Originally established by thirsty Australian diplomats in 1992, it still retains a very welcoming atmosphere. Stained glass lamps provide a warmly colorful environment. The curved wooden bar is well-stocked and set with stools for late night sitting, while tables at the windows serve as a good meeting point after work. The restaurant upstairs serves everything from steak to traditional Vietnamese cuisine to cous cous. Call for the open hours before you plan to hit this Barstool Paradise.

Café 252

"The yogurt and pastry place" is how most people refer to this popular eatery. Well frequented by expatriates, it serves a fine assortment of Western fare, as well as its renowned croissants, cookies, and custard cakes. Busy most of the day, its long and spacious interior is forever buzzing with speedy waitress service and giggles from the open kitchen at the back. Fresh yogurt is made on the premises and can be taken away or you can eat in the Cafe. Call for timings before you plan your breakfast or brunch in the cafe.

Hanoi Gourmet

Sports utility vehicles, which shuttle embassy employees, are often parked outside of the posh Hanoi Gourmet. Run by a melting pot of foreigners, the deli serves a medley of international treats. Camembert cheese, foie gras and Norwegian smoked salmon will transport you into a European kitchen. If assemblage requires too much effort, select a sandwich or a salad from the brief menu. An international wine rack appeals to the thirst. Foreign gourmet comes at a price: the cost of a slice of imported cheese could equal a week's worth of Vietnamese pho (noodle soup). Call for timings before you visit the Hanoi Gourmet.

La Salsa Tapas Bar & Restaurant

With olives and full-bodied red wine on offer, one could perch at the bar at La Salsa for hours. The funky first floor is usually filled with expatriates chatting away over wine. A list of tapas provides fabulous nibbling food for groups. This area is a great place to meet for a pre-dinner drink or make a light meal of the tapas (order many as they are rather small). An upstairs dining area provides room for more serious eaters, the menu features more substantial dishes with Mediterranean accents.

Cafe Z

Popular with young Hanoians, this bar's main attraction is live music. Comfortable seating is set on three levels, surrounding a well-lit stage area where classical and vocal combos perform thrice weekly. Jazz on Fridays is the crowd puller (9p-11p), with cocktail prices rising to the occasion an extra thirty percent. Eight pool tables are situated away from the stage and can be hired by the hour for just USD1.50. If you are hungry, Vietnamese food is served.

Paris Deli

Upwardly mobile Hanoians will tell you of this café's ideal location opposite the Opera House at the heart of Hanoi's cultural center. Tourists, still looking for the main post office, may offer advice on the wide variety of sinh to (iced juice) and pastries available as they sink their third cup of coffee. Be sure to check the prices when you walk in, as you may be a little taken aback when you come to pay the bill.

Tamarind Café

When you are hot, sweaty and tired of running from postcard sellers, a fresh fruit juice and a friendly face are all you need. The Tamarind Cafe supplies some of the best fresh fruit juices and good sandwiches in the Old Quarter. Healthy breakfasts and vegetarian meals are on the menu for backpackers who need a break from the busy streets. The cafe is painted in bright oranges and yellows and is refreshingly simple and comfortable. Also, check out the other Tamarind Cafe location at the MBK Center 5F, 5Th Food Avenue, BTS

Mama Rosa

Italian-trained local chefs operate this small restaurant and bar. The menu is extensive and includes a wide selection of pizzas, pastas and Italian entrees. The design is pleasant with two floors and classic red gingham tablecloths. Located around the corner from the fountain near Hoan Kiem Lake this quiet eatery makes a good quiet meeting point. It is worth paying Mama's slightly higher prices for the strong air-conditioning and well stocked bar.

San Ho Seafood Restaurant

This is one of the most famous seafood restaurants in Hanoi. This beautiful transformation of a French villa into a restaurant features lemon walls and classic French-tiled floors. The restaurant has fresh seafood from Nha Trang Beach flown in every morning, and the large aquariums that line the walls create a very fresh and fishy feel. The set seafood lunch starts at low prices while dinner prices increase dramatically. For excellent seafood this is one of the best, but be warned, the Australian wine may hurt your wallet.

Pho Bien Seafood

As you enter, an enormous crayfish wiggles its antennae at you. Likewise all the other occupants of the tanks to the side of this eatery welcome you in their own way. Hanoi's latest seafood restaurant is a favorite with locals and serves fresh seafood that you can choose yourself from the members of your welcoming party. The restaurant has a comfortably open design with bamboo blinds and potted plants. It is far from ostentatious and a good choice for business meals. Call for the restaurant timings before you head to enjoy the seafood.