Hà Nội's coolest coffeehouses for creatives

by Bảo Ngọc

Cafes with integrated craft courses are a great option for anyone looking to de-stress on the weekend while expanding their art knowledge.

Hà Nội is home to many cafes where visitors can unwind with a drink and participate in painting classes for all skill levels. Some of our recommendations below may become your new go-tos.

Couchsurfing Cafe

A tranquil coffee shop rich in art style is hidden away in a mossy old alley in Hà Nội. The Couchsurfing Cafe was designed in an antique manner, leaning somewhat in a classic direction, to make its patrons feel at home.

Since a group of art-loving friends started the shop, the decor is first-rate. The owner personally created and crafted nearly all of the wooden, bamboo, and salvaged materials used in the tables, chairs, and wall art.

Coffee is only one of many delightful beverages available at the local cafe, which also serves fruit teas and mojitos among its large list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Couchsurfing Cafe has painting spaces with a classic design for art lovers. Photo courtesy of the cafe

This local coffee shop is an excellent location for hosting get-togethers of various kinds, including club gatherings, event planning, and assorted classes.

They host various workshops in tarot reading and painting, as well as socialising on the weekends.

In addition, there's a bookshelf and a private nook to enjoy some quiet reading time here. There's also a compilation of literature from a wide variety of fields.

Cheapie Coffee & Art

The Cheapie Coffee & Art complex on Nguyễn Huy Tự Street is a favourite hangout for many of the city's creative types.

The shop's interior is modest in size and design, with just two colours (white and beige) creating an intimate atmosphere. The business provides painting workshops every week on various topics, with instructors working morning, afternoon, and evening shifts so that you can schedule your classes around your routine.

Many art-loving young people in Hà Nội frequent Cheapie Coffee & Art, a cafe and gallery in the city's central district. Photo courtesy of the cafe

Here, you can start acrylic painting by learning the fundamentals, such as colour mixing and brush technique, all the way up to exploring more advanced topics and expressing your unique creativity.

Cheapie Art's team of dedicated, caring, and experienced teachers will assist you in confidently completing your painting.

Anyone, not just office workers, can participate in Cheapie Coffee & Art's painting workshop, including students and children.

Aside from painting, Cheapie Coffee & Art offers a variety of other fun activities, such as painting statues, crafting carpets and bags.

Mizu - Tea, coffee & snacks

Mizu - Tea, Coffee & Snacks on Tạ Quang Bửu Street is a charming little cafe with a daily painting workshop perfect for a family outing on the weekend.

The interior is bright and airy, with multiple seating options, and a white colour scheme and a veranda in the style of Japan dominate the exterior.

Mizu has a Japanese-style exterior and serves tea, coffee and snacks. On weekends, the shop often has painting, numerology and tarot classes. Photo courtesy of the cafe

In addition to its affordable menu, Mizu attracts a lot of office employees because of the weekly painting workshops it offers.

If you want to take a painting class in Mizu, you can do so any day of the week at any hour. There are many other fun things to do at Mizu, like tarot readings on Fridays and numerology on Saturdays. VNS