Xofa Cafe — Restaurant in Hà Nội

Had a great experience at Xofa. After spending a few days cafe hopping in Hanoi, I would say that Xofa has a more cosmopolitan, classy vibe. It seems to cater to a more worldly crowd in expats and travelers, rather than local students and shutterbugs.

This entire area is in a walking only area. (which means motorbikes also drive in, in Hanoi) Can be quite hard to spot the frontage of this cafe. Initially missed it entirely, very nearly left without entering, very glad we didn't miss it.

While cafe photo-worthiness was not in any way neglected, the furnishings do not appear to be created solely for that purpose, the way it is in many Hanoi cafes, but seem functional as well.

Place has a cozy, relaxing vibe, inviting customers to lean back, chill out, lounge around. We were the first customers seated at top floor. Perfect for a rainy day, quiet and serene.

The cafe serves both Vietnamese and European menu. Each item on the menu was consistently high quality. (or perhaps just suited Singapore tastes more) We had Croissant with Poached Egg, Beef Burger, Oolong Tea with fresh mango, bubble and salted foam, a curious Hot Chocolate, and a fragrant hot Long Black.

Service staff was very attentive, patient, helpful and adequately conversant in English. Helped us took couple photos during and after our meal. We also enjoyed the bookshelves for travelers to exchange books, as well as the section on seedlings posted with little...

To be honest I have high expectations here but I was disappointed when I came here a few days ago. First, when I arrive the staff ask if I have a reservations or not and I said I don't so they ask if I would like to sit inside or outside. I said inside and they just point me to go inside and no one was telling me where to sit until I turn around and ask where should I be seated and they said any table is fine. So I sat myself near the cashier. There was no server indoor and nobody bring me the menu until 20 minutes after I sat down. I order the crepe cake and it was not how I expected it to be. It's a little rubbery and a little chewy for a crepe cake. Later on, when we were sitting down and everyone got their drinks, the waiter didn't check on any tables until they call for. Our water were empty and we have to ask 2-3 times before they refill for us. We have a voucher and gave it to the server, after we receive the receipt we were looking for the voucher discount in the bill and the bill doesn't say anything so we thought that they didn't gave us the discount from the voucher so we have to ask the server if they have used the voucher we gave them. The server then explain that it's written under "VAT" and VAT just mean tax so we were confused. If the server had told us beforehand that the discount would be under a certain title we wouldn't have...

I popped by this café during the early hours, and honestly, it’s such a unique spot. They’re open 24/7, which is perfect if you’re a night owl. During the day, parking can be tricky — you’ll probably need to leave your bike or motorbike on the street outside. Luckily, if you visit late at night, you can park right in front of the café, and the staff are super helpful about covering any small parking fees.

Drinks are around 80k VND on average, VAT included, and while it’s not the cheapest, the quality makes it feel fair, especially since the café mainly caters to international visitors. They also serve a variety of other snacks and light bites, so it’s not just about the coffee.

A little heads up: this isn’t the place if you want to study or write. The lighting is quite dim, so unless you bring your own reading lamp, it’s really more about chilling, socializing, or just soaking in the late-night vibe.

Bottom line: A cozy, late-night haven in Hanoi for caffeine lovers and night owls, but don’t expect a bright study...