If you are looking for a unique coffee space in the heart of Hanoi, especially in Tay Ho area, I will introduce to you right now - Treeami can be a quite interesting choice. The location of the shop is very prime, right on the West Lake, one of the most expensive areas in Hanoi, so don't be surprised when the prices here are somewhat higher than other coffee shops. This land is not for those with limited budgets, because the prices here are quite high compared to the general level. The cheapest cup of tea or coffee costs about 3 dollars, and the average price of drinks ranges from 4 dollars, 3-4 times more expensive than shops in other areas. However, what you pay here is not just the drink but the experience of the space, service and prime location by West Lake.
About the space and design:
Treeami impressed me at first sight with its rustic and natural design style. However, the special thing that I noticed is that the shop does not have too many trees as its name suggests, but instead, the space is mainly made of black wood. The outside of the shop looks like a large birdcage, with black wooden frames creating a feeling that is both modern and unique. This structure gives the space a different beauty compared to other cafes around West Lake, and at first sight, I was attracted by this uniqueness.
The shop has three floors, and each floor offers a different experience. If you want to go to the second floor, there are two options: one is to go inside by climbing the brick stairs, a rather traditional way, and the other is to go outside through the wooden stairs. The wooden stairs are not very spacious and quite dark, so if you are not careful, you can easily slip and fall. However, going through this wooden staircase brings a feeling of nostalgia and closeness to nature. These stairs are made of wood and trees, creating a very special, intimate space but also a bit unsafe if you are not careful.
The outdoor space is spacious and airy with large wooden frames, but because there is no roof, if it rains, you will easily get wet. This sometimes makes me feel uncomfortable. One thing to note is that the outdoor space also has a bit of an unpleasant musty smell due to the humidity in the air and the surrounding wood. However, the indoor space is very clean, built like a normal cafe, with no strange smells. So if you do not like the outdoor space, you can choose to sit indoors.
The cafe divides the space into many small rooms, with separate compartments, providing privacy for each guest. Although each compartment is quite small, it is very quiet and suitable for those who want to find a private corner. This may be the reason why Treeami has become a favorite destination for couples. They can sit in a small room, relax and chat without being disturbed by people around. The cafe also rents blankets if you want to lie down and relax in a separate space, they do not rent bedrooms, it is simply a place for couples to sit, I think couples can easily spend $ 6 to buy 2 cups of water to have their own space, I don't know how to describe it, but in normal cafes you only have a place to sit, but here you have a place to lie down and a blanket. Although I did not try the experience of sleeping in a room compartment, I heard that it is an interesting experience for those who like privacy and relaxation.
About drinks:
As for drinks, Treeami has nothing too special. I tried a cup of Ami milk tea – which is also the shop’s signature – but it tasted just average. This cup of milk tea costs about $3, not too cheap but not too expensive compared to the space and service you get. If you are expecting a unique or special milk tea flavor, you might be a bit disappointed because it is just a normal milk tea, like the ones you can find in many other places. The shop also has some other types of tea but I did not find any difference or uniqueness in the drinks. As I expected, they do not focus on the drinks here but mainly on the space and service. It can be said that if you come to Treeami just to enjoy the drinks, it will feel a bit of a waste, because the price does not really match the quality of the drinks. However, it cannot be denied that the space and service here are the highlights. I noticed that couples really like to come here, they choose dark corners to sit and chat, relax, or even lie down in small rooms to enjoy private space. If you go alone like me, it will feel a bit wasteful not to be able to enjoy all these separate corners, but sitting in a bright corner, looking out to West Lake is also a great experience. I chose a bright corner to sit and enjoy a cup of Ami milk tea, the space here is very peaceful and has a beautiful view of West Lake, creating a feeling of relaxation and comfort when sitting alone. So if you go with your lover, come here, it is quite interesting with this style of dark cafe or you can be like me, choose a corner opposite the lake to feel relaxed. 😂