Tranquil Books & Coffee - 18B Nguyễn Biểu — Restaurant in Hà Nội

I was genuinely surprised by the high ratings and glowing reviews this place has on Google, because my personal experience couldn’t have been more different.

To begin with, the entrance is tucked behind an old, rusted, seemingly abandoned building. There’s no designated scooter parking nearby, so I had to leave mine across the street. The café is located on the second floor, and getting there meant climbing a deteriorating staircase surrounded by trash and on a hot summer day, the smell was quite unpleasant.

I’ve noticed a trend of cafés setting up shop in rundown locations like this. While some younger people might find it “charming” or “indie,” I personally found it unappealing. Perhaps the rent is cheaper, but to me, it just felt grimy and poorly maintained.

Once inside, the space is small and modest. There were only a few seats on the second floor, and even fewer downstairs, all of which were already taken. The staff didn’t seem very welcoming, and we had to wait 15 minutes for our order to be prepared. That said, the smell of waffles was quite nice, and they tried to decorate the place with a piano and some vinyl records. However, the layout felt cluttered, and the overall atmosphere feels kinda messy.

What really ruined the visit, though, was what happened while we were sitting at the counter near the staff area. Two employees got into a heated argument right in front of us. A younger staff member was criticizing an older colleague for improperly cutting vegetables, and the older one fired back, saying the criticism was rude and unhelpful. They kept bickering loudly about how to cut vegetables and apples, completely ignoring the fact that customers were nearby.

After the argument, the younger staffer seemed clearly shaken and went to wash dishes, only to drop them twice, creating loud, jarring noises. Not once did any of the staff members apologize for the disturbance or acknowledge the discomfort they caused customers sitting nearby.

In short, the location was disappointing, the service was subpar, and the staff lacked professionalism. Overall, it was an unpleasant experience that left a...

Absolutely love this place. Tranquil as the name states, three floors with a rooftop, books to borrow and read, and delicous drinks. The house specials are highly recommended, coconut caramel and banana coffee. They don't serve much food compared to their smaller counterpart closer to OQ, but they do have waffles with fruits (be warned, takes nearly 40 minutes to get, but they tell you beforehand that it will take a while). The tables are small so if you plan to work, you'll need one per person, but you'll be fine if you're just there for a drink with a friend. The music playlist though... Lovely, calm, you won't even need to plug in your own music and it's not overwhelming at all. People here are recommended to speak in hushed voices as not to disturb the others, which is actually upheld. Fairy lights and desk lamps give it a cozy atmosphere too. The only annoying thing is how to get into the place, which isn't that easy if no one tells you. There's no storefront, so LOOK UP, there's a glass window with fairy lights, head that way, enter a small opening in the wall, and take the stairs up, you're nearly there. Just open the door in front of yo, you'll have to order at the counter...

I ordered Nachos at Tranquil Nguyen Bieu today at about 8:15 pm. The nachos itself were crunchy and to my liking. The sour cream sauce was perfect, while the other red pesto sauce is mid. It also took the staff maybe about 30 minutes to make my order. One of the staff member came to apologize for missing my order, and I wasn't in a rush, so it's all good. Price is on the high end, though the listed price already include taxes.

The venue itself was cozy and clean. I like that they have books on the shelves, which really gives off the retro vibe they're going for. Love the inclusion of the candles. There's chill classic music playing all the time. There's table for people going solo or with groups. Noise level was moderate, and it was easy for me to focus on my work.

Overall, good spot if you want to visit a calm and chill cafe near the...