PlanetEye

Puku Cafe
60 Hang Trong

Food:

Puku is small upstairs cafe set in an old French style house. Known for its relaxed atmosphere and great food, it's generally frequented by expats and young Vietnamese.

On the menu you'll find a good mix of sandwiches, pasta's, salads, "bangers and mash" along with other tasty western style dishes. Be sure to check out the daily specials board near the front door!

The fruit shakes are fresh, coffee hot and the freshly baked cakes and muffins are a nice way to finish!

Cost:

Most mains run from around 40 - 60,000vnd while drinks will cost you anywhere from 15 - 40,000vnd.

Fav Food:

For me, the open grilled sandwiches are always a winner with the kids! The "Weka Toasties" with bacon, tomato and plenty of melted cheese are a nice treat.

The salads and bangers and mash are always fresh and hit the spot. Wash it all down with a fresh fruit shake or a piping hot cafe latte!

Out of 10:

10/10

The Good Oil:

Puku can be a little hard to find, you need to walk into a small entrance (or corridor) and then head upstairs. It's a great meeting spot and popular with workers at lunch.

Very chilled and relaxed, Puku often have local art work on show and also offer free WiFi.  

Where:

Mediterraneo Restaurant
23 Nha Tho Street, Hanoi (near St. Joseph Cathedral.)

Food:

Mediterraneo is as Italian as you can get! Owned and managed by an Italian the food is authentic, freshly cooked and hits the spot every time. There is a full range pasta, meats, cheese/breads and of course pizza!

Desserts are well worth writing home about to! Try the apple crumble with ice cream!

If you're up for a nice bottle of wine or an ice cold beer to wash it down with, the selection is wide and varied.

Cost:

While it not the cheapest place to eat, it is actually quite reasonably priced. Most starters go around $4 - $8USD while mains will set you back a little more. The wines prices vary greatly depending on your choose and beers, fruit shakes and soft drinks are just a few dollars each.

Fav Food:

With freshly made pasta and authentic cooking you will hard pressed to find a bad option here. The seafood pasta, fungi pizza and apple crumble took my fancy during our visit, all of which was washed down with few icy cold tiger beers!

Out of 10:

10/10

The Good Oil:

Mediterraneo is one of those places' that's worth its weight in gold after spending a few weeks on the road traveling. The service was fantastic and the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

The two story restaurant has indoor seating while if you quick you can grab one of the 3 tables set up on the 2nd floor balcony overlooking Nha Tho Street and St. Joseph Cathedral. All in all this is a great place!

Chim Sao, 65 Ngo Hue, Hanoi

Food/Drink

Chim Sao has a great menu covering all your favorite Vietnamese dishes, along with these you will also find a good selection of foods from the local Ethnic Minority Groups of the north.

To wash down this great food, you can choose between icy cold beers, freshly made juices or some traditional Vietnamese fire water, know as rice wine! Some are made with fruit, some with plants while others contain animal matter (and more!). Which ever you choose it's sure to knock your socks off!

Seating at Chim Sao is on the floor, so it's not the greatest spot for those with dodgy knees!

Cost

Most meals run from 25,000VND all the way up to 200,000VND.

Drinks are also quite cheap, with rice wine going for only a few dollars.

Fav Food

Everything at Chim Sao is good. I'm a big fan of the Seafood Hotpot along with the Claypot Fish in Carmel Sauce. For the adventurous folks try some of the local Rice Wines and Ethnic Minority foods.

Besure to check out the specials board!

Out of 10

10/10

The Good Oil

Owned by a French/Vietnamese couple, Chim Sao is a great place to catch up with friends, enjoy good food and taste the local wine. The owners are also right into the local Art scene so you will often find exhibitions from Vietnamese artists'.

While the staff speak little, if no English, menu's written in English make life easy for one and all. It's also very popular with young Vietnamese and Expats, so get in early.

Hanoi's Old Quarter can get a little tiring with all noise, horns, sellers, traffic......! So it's always nice to find a place to chill out and relax with a coffee and something tastey to eat.

Located in the heart of the Old Quarter and on the 1st floor away from the traffic, is Culi Cafe. With plenty of space and comfy lounges to laze about on, it's a great spot to eat, drink, read and generally enjoy some quietness! Culi also offers free Wi Fi for all, so bring the laptop.

The cafe is Western Managed and owned, it is also the booking office for Wide Eyed Tours where you can book tours, tickets and get "Free honest tourist info".

On the menu you find mainly western food, with limited Vietnamese choices. For those hunting for a hearty breakfast, try the "Big Breakie" which includes bacon, eggs, sausage, baked beans, hash brown, tomatoes and toast! They also do a great fruit salad with yogart or honey! 

If your looking a lunch/dinner, you have a choice of pizza's, burgers, fish & chips, bangers and mash, sandwhiches, salad and much more.

Thickshakes, smoothies, Italian Coffee, ice cold beer and cocktails "that will knock you over" (their words!) are available.

Culi Cafe also sell a funky range of Propaganda T-Shirts and posters.

Open from 8am - 11pm, Culi is a great find, under the cafe on the ground floor (at the entrance) is a laundry mat, so you can have your washing done (from 50,000vnd per load), enjoy a burger and sip on a cocktail!

Does it get any better......................!

Culi Cafe

40 Luong Ngoc Quyen Street, Hanoi

Web - www.wideeyedtours.com 

Email - info @ wideeyedtours.com

Moca Cafe - 14 Nha Tho Street (near St Joseph Church)

Phone: 825 6334 

Food/Drink: Moca Cafe has a huge and great menu with plenty of choice. There is a large range Vietnamese foods if you want local or if you are after something a little different perhaps try some Indian! There is also a large choice of western foods from Hambugers to Lamb Chops. Daily specials are shown above the service area.

If you want to start the day with a hearty breakfast, try the Moca Brekkie - bake beans and delicious bacon with toast and grilled tomatoe!!

The coffee, fruit shakes and house beer (Red Beer) are all fantastic.

Cost: Most of the mains go for around 60,000 - 160,000VND ($4 - $10USD). 

Fruit shakes, beers and coffee's start at the $1USD mark (16,000VND) and go up.

Fav Food/Drink: You can't go wrong here, all the food is fab!

Having eaten a few meals here, I have always enjoyed my meal whether it is Vietnamese, Indian or the tender Australian Rib Eye! 

A Cafe Latte or a large Red Beer is always good to wash down you meal!

Out of 10: 10/10 for food, service and atmosphere. 

Good Oil: Moca Cafe is a great place to eat. It's very popular with expats and local business people to meet friends/associates for a coffee and chat. Always busy, the atmosphere is relaxed and chilled. 

Tip - sit at the front and enjoy the view onto the street. Morning, afternoon or night, it's a great place to people watch and enjoy a drink!

Highway 4 - 4 Hang Tre   Street, Hanoi.

Website - www.highway4.com

Food: Vietnamese dishes, including many traditional dishes from Ethnic Minority Groups. Highway 4 also specializes in Fruit Wines and Rice Wines.

Cost: Great prices, with most dishes go for around 40 – 80,000VND (2.50 – 5USD). Some less, some more! Plenty of choice for the Veggo’s!

Fav Food: All of it!

The Highway 4 Fish Spring Rolls are well worth writing home about and don’t leave with out trying the Seafood Hotpot!

And as for the wine, well let’s just say, “I’ll have another……ummm Apple Wine and a Plum one!”

Out of 10: 10/10

The Good Oil: As I live in Hanoi, I have been to Highway 4 many times. It’s just a great place to go eat, drink, chat and laugh.

Downstairs you can dine with table and chairs or head upstairs where you can sit on the floor. There is also an outdoor area for those who like the fresh air.

Always busy with locals, expats and travelers, Highway 4 is a must for anyone visiting Hanoi. There really isn’t anything else to say!

Go there………….!