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Amidst countless trendy cafes, Nghê chooses its own path – slow-paced, classic, and rich in character in Hoang Mai Street, Hanoi. More than just a place to enjoy coffee, Nghê once held the memories of a family, an artistic space permeated every wall and plant, and a haven for souls seeking tranquility in the heart of the city.
Through time and change, the house has been preserved for three generations, from the great-grandparents to the maternal grandfather and his younger brother, who have kept the flame of tradition burning. Today, the fifth generation of the family continues to be connected to this place, breathing new life into it not with concrete or steel, but with art and a deep respect for the past.
The house is over 100 years old.
With a background in art, the owner – a fifth-generation member of the family – had long harbored a desire to create a unique coffee space: a place where guests could be entertained while artistic activities took place in a culturally rich setting. And as if by natural arrangement, the family's ancestral home became the ideal location to realize this space, named Nghê.
The family's old house became the ideal plot of land to realize the space named Nghê.
“The most memorable moment in the journey of transforming our ancestral home into a cafe was definitely the time we spent renovating the garden. In the early days of cleaning up, the whole family and friends rolled up their sleeves, chopping banana trees, picking leaves, shoveling sacks of branches, and cleaning every corner of the yard. It was during that time that the chaos gradually gave way to order, and the bonds between family members grew stronger, becoming a precious memory that the young owner of Nghê will cherish forever,” shared Huy Anh, the owner of Nghê cafe.
The blackboard and the simple chalk strokes
Spacious area at Nghe
The mythical creature and the artistic dot
The name "Nghê" is not simply a random choice. It's a resonance between local cultural elements and contemporary creativity. Four ancient Nghê statues stand guard in the courtyard – traditional Vietnamese mythical creatures representing majesty, intelligence, and purity. Naming the restaurant "Nghê" is to remember and honor this cultural value, while the period at the end – "Nghê." – represents a silent pause with multiple layers of meaning, an invitation to curiosity, an open space for personal perception. Some pronounce it "Nghê," others "Nghệ" – both are correct, because art has more than one interpretation.
This also reflects the spirit that the owner wants to spread: art should not be confined within rigid frameworks; it is about freedom and multifaceted perception, just like the name of the cafe suggests.
These are multi-generational family photos of the restaurant owner.
Art space at the craft center.
Unlike cafes in high-rise buildings or on busy streets, Nghê is quietly nestled in a tranquil setting, surrounded by ancient trees, climbing vines, and lush green banana trees. The spacious, airy garden, though not elaborately arranged, possesses a rustic, familiar beauty. It's the beauty of time, of fallen leaves, of moss covering the tiled roof, of heavy wooden doors bearing the weight of age—all creating a serene space, separate from the hurried pace of life outside.
Stepping into Nghê, one not only drinks coffee but also enters a space for dialogue with art. The paintings hanging everywhere, from the living room to the hallway, are not merely decorative, but are works from the personal collection of the owner's father, who has had a passion for painting since 1997.
Like a miniature art museum.
In particular, a large part of the collection consists of paintings by artist Pham Luc – a towering figure in contemporary Vietnamese art, known as the "Vietnamese Picasso". Since 2001, after a chance encounter and conversation with artist Pham Luc, the owner's father has been truly captivated by his paintings – simple yet profound works, rich in emotion and imbued with a strong national spirit. In them, images of farmers, mothers, soldiers… always appear realistic, simple, and moving.
When these artworks are placed in the space of an old house, a miracle happens between the old and the new, between the past and the present, between tradition and creativity - everything blends together in an incredibly harmonious way. Nghê is no longer just a cafe, but becomes a living art space, where every step you take reveals a slice of Vietnamese culture.
In an age of dazzling, photo-worthy cafes and modern co-working spaces, Nghê still chooses a path without flashy lights or ostentatious technology, just an old roof and paintings that tell stories. It's a place where people can come to read a book, sip a cup of freshly roasted coffee, admire an oil painting, or simply sit quietly and breathe in a peaceful afternoon. Perhaps the biggest difference here lies not in the design, but in its soul. It carries the love of a family for tradition, the passion for art of many generations, and the dream of a decent living space where beauty is cherished and shared.
