Tranquil Books & Coffee - 19 Cao Bá Quát — Restaurant in Hà Nội

Completely Regret Stepping Into This Place This is not just a bad café — it’s a full-on disaster posing as a place of business. I came in expecting a normal experience and left wondering how this place even survives.

First and foremost, the staff’s attitude is unacceptable. I made the mistake of bringing in a small snack. Instead of handling it like any reasonable café — with a simple reminder — I was publicly told to move and sent off to a pathetic little space in the back that looked like it was meant for storage or trash bins. Honestly, it felt like being shoved in a kennel. I've never been treated with such pettiness over something so minor.

If your team can’t manage a basic conversation without making guests feel like criminals, then close the place down. This isn’t how you run a café — it’s how you ruin one.

And don’t get me started on the seating situation. The chairs are so low you feel like a toddler at a grown-up’s table, and the tables are unstable and visibly damaged. One leg on mine was bent like it had been through a fight and lost. It’s impossible to sit and relax here — the entire setup feels like a bad joke.

As for the ambience? There is none. It’s all fake aesthetic and no soul. The lighting is off, the layout is confusing, and the atmosphere is cold and awkward. It’s like someone threw together random furniture in a rush and hoped no one would notice.

Then we get to the prices — an absolute insult. 60,000 VND per drink, and for what? You’re not paying for quality, you’re paying to be disrespected while sitting on crooked furniture with bad lighting and worse service. The drinks themselves were forgettable. You could go to any random corner shop and have a better experience for half the price.

It’s clear this place doesn’t understand the first thing about hospitality. No effort to make customers feel welcome, no care for comfort, no awareness that cafés are supposed to be relaxing and friendly. Instead, I felt like an inconvenience from the moment I arrived.

To sum it up: this place should be avoided at all costs. Poor service, overpriced drinks, broken furniture, and an atmosphere that feels more like a waiting room in purgatory than any kind of café.

I’ve been to dozens of cafés in the city and this one easily ranks at the bottom. If you’re considering coming here, don’t. Just don’t.

1 star — and only because 0 stars...

One of the Worst Café Experiences I’ve Ever Had I rarely leave reviews, but this experience was so bad I couldn't stay silent. From start to finish, it was a complete letdown — and borderline insulting.

First off, the staff attitude was shocking. I brought in a small snack, unaware that outside food wasn’t allowed. A simple, polite reminder would’ve been enough. Instead, I was told to get up and finish my food in a tiny, isolated corner in the back that felt more like a dog cage than part of a café. It was humiliating and completely unnecessary.

Customer service 101: you treat people with respect. A quick explanation and a note to be mindful next time would’ve been fine. But this place seems more interested in power-tripping than customer satisfaction.

Then there’s the environment — which is just bad. The tables are small and unstable, with crooked legs. The chairs are so low they’ll mess up your posture after 10 minutes. Anyone thinking of coming here to study or work should seriously reconsider. This place clearly wasn’t designed for human comfort.

The ambience adds nothing. It’s disorganized, noisy, and lacks any real vibe. Some areas feel dim and cluttered, like someone started decorating and gave up halfway. It doesn’t feel cozy, stylish, or even intentional — just a messy, awkward setup.

Now let’s talk about the prices. Drinks cost an average of 60,000 VND, which is fine — if the quality and experience matched. But here, the drinks were average at best, the service was cold, and the seating felt like a punishment. For that price, you’re better off almost anywhere else.

What’s worst is that the place seems to lack any understanding of hospitality. A café is supposed to be inviting, not judgmental. It should make you want to stay, not leave as fast as possible. But here, I felt unwelcome, uncomfortable, and disappointed at every turn.

Overall, this place left a terrible impression. Whether you’re looking for a place to work, relax, or just enjoy a drink, there are far better options in the city. Avoid this spot unless you're okay with overpriced drinks, uncomfortable furniture, and staff that treat you like a problem instead of a guest.

1 star....

Hello, nice to meet you. Thank you so much for being here. I am studying and improving my English. Even though I am Vietnamese and Hanoian also, my shares are all in English. If you find my mistake, please let me know that. I'm so grateful.

Coming home this time, I dropped in Tranquil Books & Coffee the 4th store in Ha Noi. Nice & Friendly Staffs (like usual) About price: From 40.000đ to 75.000đ Opening time: 8AM - 22PM I came here with my little bro, our drinks with the rate of 10: Sunny Kombucha (ginger sauce): 7/10 Caramel Macchiato (Hot) 7/10 Pour Over (Hot) 7/10 Early morning or evening is the best time to feel the atmosphere here. I usually order a hot Bourbon Chocolate if I come here in the evening. They also have croissant, cinnamon roll, homemade cookies,…. You can try some if you want, I haven't tried them yet so I have no comment on this. Save and share to your partner/ your friends this place. You can share with me about your experience in the comments section, just feel free. I am looking for all the comments from everyone. Follow me for more...