Joma Bakery Cafe – A Coffee Lover's Paradise in Hanoi!

Hanoi . 2013 . Aug 10

The edited version of this post first appeared as a featured article in the Dec 2013 Issue of Asean Tripper Magazine. Based in Bangkok, Thailand, AseanTripper combines news, opinions, fictions, documentaries about newly discovered and lesser-known travel destinations, travel related activities, and cultural movements in the 10 South East Asia countries. 

This post is part of our Hanoi 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

Step into Joma Bakery Cafe and expect to be tantalized by the rich and flavourful aroma of coffee all around you. It is a delightful haven for coffee lovers, and a great retreat from the hustle of downtown Hanoi. What sets Joma apart from the others is its chic and modern shop front amid the local flavours of other shops. Add on the unique fact that it serves North American coffee instead of the ubiquitous Vietnamese coffee all around Hanoi and you have a winner in hand.

First set up as Healthy and Fresh Bakery in 1996 in Vientiane Laos, the cafe has since been renamed as Joma Bakery Cafe in 2004, an acronym of its owners' names Jonathan & Jocelyn Blair (JO) and Michael & Areerat Harder (MA). Jonathan, Jocelyn, and Michael are from British Columbia, Canada. Areerat is from Bangkok, Thailand. Today, Joma Bakery Cafe has six cafes across Asia, including two in Hanoi, Vietnam and is still looking to expand within Asia. Its outlet at the Old Quarters of Hanoi was established in 2011 and is located at 22 Ly Quoc Su in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District, a short walk away from St Joseph Cathedral.

For java addicts who find themselves in need of a caffeine fix, Joma Bakery Cafe is no doubt the place to seek out. Travellers who need a quiet sanctuary to relax will find solace in the cosy environment of Joma Bakery Cafe. In fact, it is one of those few cafes in the Old Quarters which offers air-conditioning in their shop, a welcome respite especially in the summer months of Hanoi.

Sun-lovers, fret not! Joma Bakery Cafe also offers outdoor sittings in their sprawling premises – a perfect place to sit back and unwind with that great novel in hand.

Joma Bakery Cafe brews up a storm in a cup. The owners of Joma Bakery Cafe take great pride in brewing a good cup of coffee, choosing the best organic Arabica coffee beans grown in the lush forests of southern Laos and freshly roasted by a skillful roastmaster. Coupled with the expertise of their carefully trained baristas, the result is a full-bodied and flavourful cup of coffee, which miraculously leaves no strong aftertaste. Each cup of coffee is unique and gives its drinker an extraordinary experience. It is thus not a surprise that many satisfied customers, including ourselves, return back for more.

Joma Bakery Cafe offers so much more than coffee. Non-coffee drinkers can find a fine selection of tea, fruit juice and milk shakes here. Other than its excellent range of breakfast sets, cakes and pastries, the cafe also whips up a remarkable assortment of delicious sandwiches, salads, quiche, pizzas, and for dessert, their own home-made ice-cream.

True to its mandate of using the best and freshest ingredients, the food at Joma Bakery Cafe is simply delectable. Most note-worthy is their banana cake, a simple yet delightful concoction, and an item not to be missed. In fact, as a testimony to its popularity with customers, it is usually sold out every day. Equally wonderful are their freshly made soups made with the freshest ingredients, either sourced from abroad or purchased locally. For those with a sweet tooth, top off your meal with Joma's home-made gourmet ice-cream. They feature exotic flavours such as peanut butter and almond latte, and even include flavours with a local touch such as coconut.

For coffee lovers who find themselves at the Old Quarters of Hanoi, a trip to Joma Bakery Cafe is not to be missed. Its popularity with travellers and locals is testament to the exceptional quality of coffee and food served.

Contact Details

Joma Bakery Cafe
#22 Ly Quoc Su,
(Near the St. Joseph Cathedral)
Hoan Kiem District
Tel: (+84-4) 3747 3388
Open Daily from 7AM-7PM

The edited version of this post first appeared as a featured Spa article in the Dec 2013 Issue of Asean Tripper Magazine. 


Based in Bangkok, Thailand, AseanTripper combines news, opinions, fictions, documentaries about newly discovered and lesser-known travel destinations, travel related activities, and cultural movements in the 10 South East Asia countries. 

This post is part of our Hanoi 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

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