Habakuk

Habakuk is two places in one. By day it is a specialty coffee shop serving single-origin brews and a short brunch menu, and in the evening it becomes a modern bistro with a concise European menu shaped by Mediterranean influences. It is listed as a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide Vietnam, an unusual distinction for a place that is also a daytime coffee shop.

It is also easy to miss. The café is tucked away in a narrow lane, Alley 4, off Phan Huy Chu Street in Hoan Kiem, and the Michelin Guide's advice is to look for its blue back-lit signs. Finding it is part of the appeal, and once inside you are well away from the traffic of the main streets.

For coffee lovers, the draw is the single-origin coffee, a different experience from the strong, sweet Vietnamese coffee and egg coffee served in the city's traditional cafés. If you have been drinking iced coffee with condensed milk all week, a single-origin cup here makes an interesting comparison. The brunch menu is small, so it is best for a relaxed late breakfast rather than a big meal.

In the evening the focus shifts to food. The Michelin inspectors describe dishes that are confidently crafted, beautifully presented and rich in flavour, with warm and attentive service, and recommend the homemade pasta, which comes in versions to suit meat eaters, seafood lovers and vegetarians. With a short menu, it is easy to order quickly and focus on the cooking.

Habakuk is open every day from 8am to 10.30pm, according to the Michelin Guide, so it works for a morning coffee, a working break in the afternoon or dinner. Cards are accepted and the room is air-conditioned, which is welcome in summer. For dinner, call ahead on +84 389 682 892 to check availability. It suits solo travellers and couples, and anyone who wants a break from street food without moving far from the centre.

Phan Huy Chu Street is in Hoan Kiem district, so a visit pairs easily with sightseeing in the centre or an evening walk by Hoan Kiem Lake.