Cafe Giảng

Cafe Giảng is a small cafe at 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân in Hanoi's Old Quarter, in northern Vietnam. It was founded by the man credited with inventing cà phê trứng, egg coffee, in 1946, when a shortage of fresh milk in Hanoi led to the use of whipped egg yolk as a substitute. The drink is made by whisking egg yolk with sugar and condensed milk into a thick, custard-like foam, which is poured over strong Vietnamese coffee. It is often served in a cup set in a small bowl of hot water to keep it warm. The flavour is sweet, creamy and rich, closer to a dessert than a regular coffee. Signature drinks are the cà phê trứng, the cà phê nâu (brown coffee with condensed milk) and the sữa chua cà phê, coffee with yoghurt. The cafe is reached through a narrow entrance on Nguyễn Hữu Huân, and the interior is small, historic and cosy. Seating is close together, often on low stools or simple chairs, and the room is quiet to moderately busy. There is no dress code and the mood is relaxed and unhurried. Prices are low, with a typical order costing about 35,000 to 60,000 VND per person, and there is no wine programme, as the menu focuses on coffee, tea and a few simple drinks. The cafe is open daily from 7AM to 10PM, and it works for a morning start or an evening stop. Reservations are not needed, but seating is limited and can fill at peak times, so a short wait for a table is possible on busy afternoons. Visitors often combine a visit with a walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, which is close by, or compare the drink with the egg coffee served at other cafes in the Old Quarter. Because the entrance is narrow and easy to miss, visitors sometimes look for signs at street level before entering.