The Jewellery Quarter cafe, hailed as the “best” for coffee and matcha, will be expanding into a new, bigger homeTranquil 1992 Coffee Shop in the Jewellery Quarter is expanding to a new premises in September 2025. Pictured: New shop on Hall Street(Image: Naomi de Souza / BirminghamLive)

A Birmingham coffee house hailed by customers as “charming” and the “best” for its unique drinks is expanding.

Tranquil 1992 opened its doors on Vyse Street in the Jewellery Quarter in December 2023 and quickly won praise for its velvety matchas, and signature egg coffees.

The Vietnamese drinks house has become a staple of the Jewellery Quarter, known for pumping out steaming coffee drinks made with in-house butter roasted beans to a background of mid-century jazz.

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Last week when Tranquil’s familiar logo went up in the window of the former Nails Bab Salon on Hall Street, residents were left wondering what the neighbourhood independent had planned.

Popular salon Nails Bab, which manicured the nails of singer Jorja Smith, closed in December 2024 and the unit has stood empty ever since. As curiosity around the prime Jewellery Quarter spot builds, BirminghamLive met with Tranquil 1992 owner Thang Nguyen to find out more.

Inside Tranquil 1992 Coffee Shop in the Jewellery Quarter which is expanding to a new premises in September 2025(Image: Thang Nguyen)

Thang, 33, revealed to us that he plans to move Tranquil’s coffee operation into its new Hall Street premises by September as he has outgrown his ten-seat Vyse Street location.

However, he confirmed he will be keeping the Vyse Street location and turning it into a wine bar.

“My main business will still be coffee – the wine bar is my passion project,” said Thang.

On his decision to run two sites, he explained: “We need a bigger space, especially in winter people say they want to bring their whole family.

“They like sitting in and the vibes we offer.”

He explained he wants to keep the “cosy and intimate” feeling of his Vyse Street location for the new wine bar, and will eventually offer jazz performances, display more art pieces and serve Vietnamese charcuterie boards and snacks.

“It will be quirky, I am in contact with local drinks suppliers, it will be something you can’t get in Coop or Tesco!” he said.

As for his new Hall Street shop, it is just the carpentry left before its planned opening in September and the aim is for a big airy space, with seating for 28 people, more than doubling its capacity.

Inside Tranquil 1992 Coffee Shop in the Jewellery Quarter which is expanding to a new premises in September 2025. Pictured: Owner Thang Nguyen(Image: Thang Nguyen)

Drinks at Tranquil don’t come cheap – an espresso will set you back £4, white coffee £5.65, to more complex drinks like egg coffee costing £6.10, coconut coffee £5.85, salted matcha latte £5.95.

But Thang says it is the process involved, and sees the big names as competition: “Winter is difficult, summer is better, I would not say I sell coffee but coffee drinks.

“I see Starbucks as my competitor.

“We use robust Vietnamese beans, we roast them with butter and chocolate in the shop, we are like chefs!

“We then hand brew it, we have customers asking for beans and asking how to brew coffee at home.”

Thang worked in fashion PR in Vietnam for ten years, before landing a full scholarship to study marketing at the University of Birmingham – and he has never left.

He said: “I feel grateful to Birmingham they gave me a scholarship, there’s always a bad reputation about Birmingham but it is not bad, every city has got good and bad parts.

“My long-term dream is for Tranquil to a be a tourist destination, I have customers from London, people literally just drive here, just for egg coffee!”