Located on Nha Chung street (Hoan Kiem district), 99/81 Coffee and Wine Tapas attracts a large number of tourists thanks to its space covered with green trees, giving the feeling of a "fairytale garden" in the heart of the ancient town.
The restaurant consists of 4 spacious floors, each floor is designed in its own style but still maintains overall harmony with warm colors, rustic interior and many green trees. The space has a Mediterranean feel, combining the liberality of nature and sophistication in the arrangement.
Floors 1, 2 and 4 serve drinks, coffee and dishes with Spanish flavor. Meanwhile, the 3rd floor is arranged like a hidden bar operating from 6 pm to 1 am with alcoholic beverages. According to the name of the restaurant, "Tapas" is a famous traditional appetizer of the Spanish, but the menu here has been modified to better suit the taste of Vietnamese people.
According to records, the 4th floor is the area chosen by many diners to check-in, especially in autumn when Hanoi's weather is mild. The open balcony is covered with green trees and fresh flowers, in front are lush crape myrtle trees. From here, visitors can sip drinks while admiring Hanoi streets and the Grand Cathedral from above.
Mr. Do Manh Cuong - the shop owner said that the idea of opening the shop came from his love for plants after living and working in Canada, a place with a culture close to nature.
The top floor has an area of about 120m2, but I only keep about 20% as rooms, and the rest is almost entirely for green trees and gardens. I love trees and want to bring the feeling of nature into the heart of the city," he shared.
According to Mr. Cuong, taking care of trees in Northern weather conditions is not simple at all. Many types of trees he loves cannot adapt to hot weather over 40 degrees Celsius in the summer when planted in pots. However, the sophistication in maintaining green space has created a unique feature for this coffee shop.
The cafe space also left many impressions on young customers. Ngoc Anh (19 years old) said that what she loves is not only green trees or beautiful photo angles but also the feeling of tranquility in the Old Quarter.
Every time the bell of the Grand Cathedral rings, the space here brings a very special feeling, both peaceful and a bit solemn," she said.
Meanwhile, Thu Trang (26 years old), a regular customer of the restaurant, often chooses to sit in the balcony area to work or relax after work.
I like the most the open balcony, without using glass doors, so it is very airy. Green trees are covered everywhere, so sitting for a long time still feels comfortable and relaxed," Thu Trang shared.
Not only attracting domestic customers, the restaurant is also sought after by many international tourists. A group of Malaysian tourists said they accidentally learned about the restaurant through Google Maps when they came to Vietnam to participate in the triathlon tournament in Tam Chuc.
The restaurant is very beautiful, rustic and has many flowers. We are particularly impressed with the architecture of the Hanoi Cathedral because in Malaysia there are not many high-rise buildings with such unique architecture," a female tourist shared.
Stefano and Katya - two young tourists from Milan (Italy) - also praised the space and drinks here during their three-week cross-Vietnam trip.
I just drank one of the best egg coffees ever. In Italy, we have a very strong coffee culture with Espresso or Cappuccino. Usually when traveling abroad, I find it quite difficult to drink coffee elsewhere, but Vietnamese coffee is really delicious," Stefano shared.
According to the shop owner, opening a coffee shop is entirely from the desire to bring customers a feeling of freshness and tranquility as if they are in a peaceful countryside. The contrast between the crowded streets below and the green space on the upper floor is also what makes many tourists come here.
Currently, the price at the restaurant ranges from about 100,000 - 200,000 VND/person. However, because the 4th floor is designed with an open space and no air conditioning, in the summer, many diners often choose to sit on lower floors to avoid the heat.
