HOW Café (Láng Hạ) - Address: 7A, Lane 57 Láng Hạ, Đống Đa, Hanoi

Following the instant success of its first branch near Trấn Vũ Lake, HOW Café has recently unveiled its second location at Láng Hạ, sporting a significantly revamped look. Eager to splurge after the end of social distancing measures, TopListCafe has arranged an immediate visit.

Location

Finding the address at 7A, alley 57 Lang Ha might seem straightforward in your mind. Simply follow Lang Ha Street, locate alley 57, and turn in; however, reality proves to be more challenging.

Front view of HOW Café Lang Ha.

Yet, the quest to discover 7A alley 57 Lang Ha is far more arduous than anticipated.

Do not assume that following house numbers sequentially from 1 to 7 will lead you there. This area is divided into zones A and B, with numerous intersections between alleys. After wandering around aimlessly, it took asking a nearby vendor to discern the elusive Zone A.

Certainly, there have been many instances where the street vendor has encountered similar inquiries, so she swiftly assumes, 'You must be heading to cafe 7A, right?' and proceeds to give directions.

Here's a helpful tip to navigate directly to HOW Cafe without needing to ask: Upon entering 57 Lang Ha, walk along the edge of the office building on the main street, then immediately turn right at the first alley. Continue straight ahead, and you'll spot HOW Café as you pay attention to the house numbers.

Ambiance

Overall Impression

Initially, the scene from outside HOW Cafe isn't particularly unique, featuring familiar elements like a small courtyard with seating and a predominantly brown color scheme. The outside view is nearly 100% obscured by the office building, offering little of note.

However, on that gloomy morning, the outside view may not appear as vibrant as seen in previous photos. It's upon entering the cafe, ordering, and selecting a spot that the more noteworthy aspects become apparent, undoubtedly enticing one to return many times over.

Firstly, despite being only a building away from the main road, the atmosphere at HOW Café remains tranquil and pleasant, especially during the cool autumn weather.

Furthermore, if you arrive early and prefer outdoor seating, it's advisable to opt for the wooden bench section, leaning against the glass door of the bar counter (see photo above) instead of the folding chairs in the courtyard. In doing so, you'll have more space for comfort and enjoy the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee from inside.

Close-up of the interior coffee-making area.

Decor & Interior

HOW Café is thoughtfully and logically designed, with space divided into 2 floors catering to different purposes and customer needs. The decor and design styles also vary slightly.

Specifically, the first floor exudes a gentle, comfortable, and minimalist ambiance, primarily utilizing natural light from the skylight, incorporating warm tones as the main color scheme, and featuring a few accessories such as small mirrors, abstract patterned paintings, lamps, and numerous plants.

On the other hand, the second floor pays significantly more attention to lighting (both the lighting system and natural sunlight from windows), stone-clad walls and abundant glass (enhancing the spacious and bright feel), more diverse tables and chairs, and carefully curated artwork to reflect the brand's style while fostering creativity.

A corner workspace is highly favored by many at HOW Cafe Lang Ha.

Overview of the communal space on the second floor.

Therefore, it's understandable why the second floor of HOW Cafe is always a familiar destination for those who come to concentrate on studying or working.

Another advantage of HOW Cafe is the meticulous care taken to ensure the cleanliness and freshness of the restroom, without any lingering unpleasant odors. The handwashing area outside the second-floor restroom is also impressive, with mirrors and lighting that exude a refreshing scent at a glance.

Service Quality

Beverages

The menu at the cafe is quite diverse, offering traditional coffee, specialty coffee, both machine and hand-brewed, cold brews, tea, and a few other options such as chocolate, orange/lemon juice. Prices range from 35,000 to 65,000 VND. You can view the detailed menu here.

Although I paid attention to the highlighted dishes, I still opted for HOW Coffee - the special cold brew of HOW House - because I quite like Cold Brew in general, and also wanted to see how a coffee named after the cafe itself would fare in terms of quality.

Result: The coffee essence shines with a pleasing reddish-brown color, indicating that this bean batch has been excellently brewed and prepared. The glass and two spherical ice cubes resemble the serving style of pubs - quite unique and fresh compared to many other cafes.

For baristas who overlook the careful process of brewing and preparing cold brew, the coffee's flavor may be slightly tainted with a certain degree of bitterness. However, this is absolutely not the case at HOW Cafe.

Although the cup may seem small, the amount of coffee inside is immense, both in quantity and quality, well worth the price of 55,000 VND. Unless you have enough leisure time to sit and enjoy it on the spot, it's advisable to ask the staff for a takeaway paper cup to avoid wasting any.

Music & Wi-Fi

I managed to visit HOW Cafe before heading to work, right when the cafe had just opened so the staff were still preparing, and the music hadn't been turned on yet.

The Wi-Fi is fast and strong, coupled with the bustling images of customers visiting and working, so even if it's full of users, the speed doesn't seem to decrease.

Service

All 4 staff members present at the cafe were friendly and attentive to the guests. Despite ample parking space (as I was the first customer of the day), they still proactively offered to assist with parking.

When asked to switch to a paper cup for convenience in holding the unfinished coffee, the staff also inquired about feedback on the quality and taste of the drinks at the cafe. Additionally, even though it wasn't crowded, there was no phenomenon of staff congregating and chatting loudly as if at home. Overall, the service attitude was very pleasing and there was nothing to complain about.

Whether you're looking for a relaxed chill spot or racing against a deadline, HOW Cafe Lang Ha will surely not disappoint you.

Don't forget to save the quick and easy directions to the cafe shared above, and share this post with friends to lock in a relaxing get-together in the beautiful autumn weather of Hanoi!

Posted by: Hoa Nguyen

Keywords: HOW Cafe (Lang Ha) - No. 7A, Alley 57 Lang Ha, Dong Da, Hanoi