Ha Noi Social Club a peaceful oasis calm

Oasis of calm: Cafe-goers relax amid the peaceful surrounds. — VNS Photos Richard Henderson Menu highlight: The pumpkin and lentil salad is one of many dishes that explode with fresh Vietnamese produce. The Ha Noi Social Club Add: 6 Hoi Vu St, Hoan Kiem Dist, Ha Noi Tel: 04-39382117 Average cost: VND100,000 (US$5) Comment: Simple international cuisine at its peak.

After only a few months, the Ha Noi Social Club has gained a reputation for wholesome, high-quality fare with a relaxed atmosphere.

It is the latest in a series of hip new expat-oriented eateries that have sprouted throughout the capital in recent months.

Located at 6 Hoi Vu, a small alley running parallel to the Old Quarter artery of Hang Bong, the cafe is hidden enough to filter the tourist traffic, but easily accessible by car, motorbike or on foot.

The menu is diverse despite its size and offers modern cafe cuisine of an international scope, which come to life with fresh Vietnamese produce.

Perfecting classic dishes from around the world is the ethos behind the menu, and you'll no doubt find some of your favourites here.

The menu has reasonably priced items, from a gourmet twist on the American burger to an experimental Malay-style satay roti, just over VND100,000.

Other menu highlights include the pumpkin and lentil salad at VND80,000, which joins a list of salad options, and the hearty lentil pasta, which lives up to its name and sits in the same price range.

Vegetarians are well catered for throughout the menu, which is itself evolving with new additions popping up sporadically as the cafe goes from strength to strength.

Another drawcard for the cafe is the relatively inexpensive price list, especially on vegetarian items, with the average price of a main dish falling at around VND100,000.

The drinks menu operates under the same principles of simplicity and quality, with excellent juices, coffee and a good selection of alcohol options.

Boasting a new espresso machine, the Ha Noi Social Club has created a buzz among expats for using fresh milk in lattes and cappuccinos, and for training baristas in western-style coffee.

Fresh milk isn't always offered and sometimes the UHT variety being the only available. Though it may dismay coffee purists, when demand stabilises, this will no doubt be fixed.

Vietnamese coffee is on the menu too, including the famous egg coffee, and joins lime juice as the two local specialities available.

Another crowd-pleaser on on the drinks list is the ice-filled slushie, available in mango, lime and mint or passion fruit, and both refreshing and full of fruit.

The alcohol consists of a simple variety of local and imported beers and a short list of foreign wines and spirits.

There are four varieties each of white and red wine from Chile, France and Australia. All are offered by the glass or bottle and, like the food, moderately priced compared to similar venues in Ha Noi.

The cafe's Australian creator John, an engineer by day, can occasionally be found manning the coffee machine or helping staff. He has attempted to bring a cosmopolitan edge to Ha Noi's established cafe scene.

The Social Club has been created in the mould of trendy cafes in John's former home of Melbourne and wouldn't be out of place in Brooklyn or the Bastille area in Paris.

The airy design forms a calm, lounge-like interior with old sofas and simple, sleek wooden chairs, which give the feel of a kitsch vintage shop.

A lot of energy has been put into the cafe's design and the rooms are full of little quirks. Miniature ceramic cloggs acting as vases on each table and second-hand board games adorning wall shelves cement the trendy vibe.

A giant glass panel acts as the main doorway and affirms the light and open feel to the main room, but has caught some patrons unaware, and the occasional dong of a head slapping the surface can be heard.

The seating area is spread over the ground and first floors, the latter offering an intimate space for a meal, and the former a breezy spot to perch and join in the atmosphere.

The place is also suitable for large groups, with a long table downstairs, and a wealth of space upstairs.

Laptops and iPads speckle the room, as several regulars have made the cafe their quasi-office, benefiting from the free wifi.

The cafe is not open on Mondays, and runs from 8am to 11pm, although the staff are flexible with closing times.

The real strength of the cafe is the atmosphere John and his team have created, an aspect too easily overlooked by similar establishments. A delicate balance of design, service, clientele and of course, the cuisine set Ha Noi Social Club a part from the rest.

There have been a number of improvements since the cafe first opened. The quality of service and food, as well as the Social Club itself have grown in popularity.

The cafe is an oasis of calm and an antidote for the constant throb of traffic on Ha Noi's streets. — VNS

Ha Noi Social Club a peaceful oasis calm

Oasis of calm: Cafe-goers relax amid the peaceful surrounds. — VNS Photos Richard Henderson Menu highlight: The pumpkin and lentil salad is one of many dishes that explode with fresh Vietnamese produce. The Ha Noi Social Club Add: 6 Hoi Vu St, Hoan Kiem Dist, Ha Noi Tel: 04-39382117 Average cost: VND100,000 (US$5) Comment: Simple international cuisine at its peak.

After only a few months, the Ha Noi Social Club has gained a reputation for wholesome, high-quality fare with a relaxed atmosphere.

It is the latest in a series of hip new expat-oriented eateries that have sprouted throughout the capital in recent months.

Located at 6 Hoi Vu, a small alley running parallel to the Old Quarter artery of Hang Bong, the cafe is hidden enough to filter the tourist traffic, but easily accessible by car, motorbike or on foot.

The menu is diverse despite its size and offers modern cafe cuisine of an international scope, which come to life with fresh Vietnamese produce.

Perfecting classic dishes from around the world is the ethos behind the menu, and you'll no doubt find some of your favourites here.

The menu has reasonably priced items, from a gourmet twist on the American burger to an experimental Malay-style satay roti, just over VND100,000.

Other menu highlights include the pumpkin and lentil salad at VND80,000, which joins a list of salad options, and the hearty lentil pasta, which lives up to its name and sits in the same price range.

Vegetarians are well catered for throughout the menu, which is itself evolving with new additions popping up sporadically as the cafe goes from strength to strength.

Another drawcard for the cafe is the relatively inexpensive price list, especially on vegetarian items, with the average price of a main dish falling at around VND100,000.

The drinks menu operates under the same principles of simplicity and quality, with excellent juices, coffee and a good selection of alcohol options.

Boasting a new espresso machine, the Ha Noi Social Club has created a buzz among expats for using fresh milk in lattes and cappuccinos, and for training baristas in western-style coffee.

Fresh milk isn't always offered and sometimes the UHT variety being the only available. Though it may dismay coffee purists, when demand stabilises, this will no doubt be fixed.

Vietnamese coffee is on the menu too, including the famous egg coffee, and joins lime juice as the two local specialities available.

Another crowd-pleaser on on the drinks list is the ice-filled slushie, available in mango, lime and mint or passion fruit, and both refreshing and full of fruit.

The alcohol consists of a simple variety of local and imported beers and a short list of foreign wines and spirits.

There are four varieties each of white and red wine from Chile, France and Australia. All are offered by the glass or bottle and, like the food, moderately priced compared to similar venues in Ha Noi.

The cafe's Australian creator John, an engineer by day, can occasionally be found manning the coffee machine or helping staff. He has attempted to bring a cosmopolitan edge to Ha Noi's established cafe scene.

The Social Club has been created in the mould of trendy cafes in John's former home of Melbourne and wouldn't be out of place in Brooklyn or the Bastille area in Paris.

The airy design forms a calm, lounge-like interior with old sofas and simple, sleek wooden chairs, which give the feel of a kitsch vintage shop.

A lot of energy has been put into the cafe's design and the rooms are full of little quirks. Miniature ceramic cloggs acting as vases on each table and second-hand board games adorning wall shelves cement the trendy vibe.

A giant glass panel acts as the main doorway and affirms the light and open feel to the main room, but has caught some patrons unaware, and the occasional dong of a head slapping the surface can be heard.

The seating area is spread over the ground and first floors, the latter offering an intimate space for a meal, and the former a breezy spot to perch and join in the atmosphere.

The place is also suitable for large groups, with a long table downstairs, and a wealth of space upstairs.

Laptops and iPads speckle the room, as several regulars have made the cafe their quasi-office, benefiting from the free wifi.

The cafe is not open on Mondays, and runs from 8am to 11pm, although the staff are flexible with closing times.

The real strength of the cafe is the atmosphere John and his team have created, an aspect too easily overlooked by similar establishments. A delicate balance of design, service, clientele and of course, the cuisine set Ha Noi Social Club a part from the rest.

There have been a number of improvements since the cafe first opened. The quality of service and food, as well as the Social Club itself have grown in popularity.

The cafe is an oasis of calm and an antidote for the constant throb of traffic on Ha Noi's streets. — VNS