The Urban Haven (Tông Đản)

The Urban Haven is a cafe brand familiar to many, with its previous branches leaving a lasting impression, from their location to their decor. This new Tông Đản establishment is making waves with its grand scale and bold decision to open just as the temporary distancing measures ease.

Does The Urban Haven at Tông Đản truly have the allure and uniqueness to attract so much attention? Join TopListCafe on a visit to find out on a beautiful Saturday morning.

Location

Situated at either 2 Tong Dan or 5 Tran Nguyen Han (Hoan Kiem, Hanoi), securing a dual-frontage position at the intersection of these two streets, you'll grasp the magnitude of investment potential.

La Mensa's facade overlooks Tran Nguyen Han street. (Photo: La Mensa Fanpage)

The street's spaciousness and openness need no introduction. Wide sidewalks offer ample parking space. Just a few hundred meters away lie Ma May, Ly Thai To, and Hoan Kiem Lake, making it incredibly convenient for embarking on a morning stroll through the Old Quarter, accompanied by a leisurely coffee at La Mensa.

This area is meticulously adorned by the city with public landscapes, especially greenery. Coupled with the gentle autumn weather, it's hard to find a café with a cooler and more pleasant atmosphere than here.

Ambiance

Overall Impression

One word: Green!

While La Mensa's predominant color remains jade green, in the previous two locations, the exterior of the café only exhibited it on the ground floor, or in certain parts like walls, door arches, while the rest was adorned with various neutral tones. With La Mensa Tong Dan, the entire exterior is fully clad in the same color, leaving no corner untouched.

Of course, anyone passing by can't help but admire the striking exterior along the entire street corner of La Mensa, perhaps even curiously turning in to become new customers.

With a total operational space of up to 4 floors, this will undoubtedly be a destination chosen by many groups of guests for an enjoyable café experience, at the very least alleviating concerns about overcrowding and disappointment in having to find another café.

Decor & Interior

If you've visited both of La Mensa's other locations, you'll notice that the Tong Dan branch still maintains a similar decor style, exuding a clear sense of elegance, blending both modern and classical Western elements.

Except for the ground floor, which is mostly dedicated to the bar area (with just a few small outdoor tables), the spaces on the 3 upper floors are almost identically designed. All feature numerous large glass window frames opening on both sides of the facade, making ample use of natural light and offering extensive street views.

Seats along the walkways are all small, high chairs with backs, suitable for long conversations but not particularly convenient for studying due to the small table surface. If you're looking for more spacious seating, the fourth floor is the only level with a long, high table for those who need to work.

In the central area of each floor, there are cozier cushioned seating areas or sofas, prioritizing larger groups of guests or families looking to gather together at the café simultaneously.

The main wall is decorated with accessories such as clocks, mirrors, etc., in a tasteful contrast of yellow hues against jade green, creating effective focal points without being too flashy.

The only tall long table at La Mensa Tong Dan.

The outdoor balcony on the fourth floor.

Service Quality

Beverages

The drink menu at La Mensa ranges from 40,000 to 65,000 VND on average, which is reasonable considering the quality of the space and the scale of the café's investment. The selection of items is also highly diverse, ranging from traditional coffee, espresso, to smoothies, tea, juices, and pastries.

Even simple options like Vietnamese black or white coffee are only 30,000 VND, making them affordable for many.

Coffee with milk foam at La Mensa.

Perhaps café isn't La Mensa's forte, so the menu doesn't offer many creatively distinctive options beyond the usual fare. I ordered a coffee with milk foam, which, while easy to drink, didn't particularly stand out in terms of presentation or flavor.

On the other hand, the selection of teas, smoothies, and yogurts is significantly more well-crafted, so I would highly recommend opting for these instead of coffee.

Music & Wi-Fi

La Mensa's playlist is diverse, primarily featuring pop music from both English and Vietnamese artists, with a mix of soothing and upbeat tunes. However, sometimes the volume can be irregular, occasionally drowning out conversation and potentially causing discomfort for guests.

Fast and robust Wi-Fi, there's nothing to complain about.

Service

There are about 4-5 staff members on duty during the morning shift, all of whom are generally friendly and attentive to guests. They are also diligent in arranging parking and guiding seat selection, even suggesting turning on the air conditioning if necessary (despite the cool autumn weather) – a plus for their attitude.

Located in Hoan Kiem district, La Mensa Tong Dan seems to outshine the second branch on Hang Dieu Street in many aspects. It boasts a larger scale, better views, and is less noisy... So if you're a loyal customer of La Mensa, don't hesitate to make time to visit the Tong Dan branch right away.

Posted by: Thi Luyen Nguyen

Keywords: La Mensa (Tong Dan)