10pm Curfew Rejected by City
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have rejected a proposal to ban sales of beer and wine after 10pm — not surprisingly, as it would destroy the local economy. This is despite growing issues policing the streets after dark and dealing with drink driving.
Around the Clock
New York is described as the city that never sleeps. But how does Saigon compare? Stephanie Cantrell heads out to find the best that 24-hour Saigon has to offer.
Bars & Nightclubs
2 Lam Son (Martini Bar)
TOP-END INTERNATIONAL
Park Hyatt, 2 Lam Son, Q1, Tel: 3824 1234
4pm to 1am. Fridays and Saturday until 2am.
Contemporary international décor blends seamlessly with local themes to create the most lavish but tastefully designed bar in the city. It may mean you have to pay five-star prices – the cocktails here go for over VND200,000 – but the monied-up punters still come in their droves. Easy listening, dance-style music plays over the sound system while drinks go from a range of Martini-base cocktails through to spirits by the bottle and 15 wines by the glass.
Amber Room
LOUNGE BAR
First Floor, 59 Dong Du, Q1, Tel: 6291 3686
3pm to midnight
A small but atmospheric, living-room style London meets New York lounge opposite the Sheraton Hotel. Has chilled out tunes during the late afternoon and more funky vibes at night. A pleasant meeting place for the latest cocktails, a good coffee and a glass of wine. Also has an extensive champagne list with probably the largest offering of champagnes by the glass available in town. Holds regular events.
America Discotheque
TECHNO / HIP HOP
Windsor Plaza Hotel, 18 An Duong Vuong, Q5
Tel: 3833 6688
9pm to late
Once the largest nightclub in Vietnam, this 2000-capacity venue is located in the An Dong Plaza complex in District 5. Pumping out 30,000 watts of sound, this club also possesses one of the loudest nightclub sound systems in the city. A popular nightspot for the local and Viet Kieu crowd, with resident and guest DJs playing thumping dance and techno tunes and a separate room for those who prefer hip hop and R&B. Expect to pay the usual nightclub prices for drinks, but look out for the regular specials on bottles of spirits.
Apocalypse Now
MIXED POP MUSIC / NIGHTCLUB
2C Thi Sach, Q1, Tel: 3825 6124
7pm to 2am
One of the oldest nightclubs in Saigon, the foreigner orientated Apo nonetheless draws in a healthy mix of tourists, expats and locals who intermingle on the club’s two floors and outdoor terrace every night of the week. Now charging a VND150,000 entrance fee on Fridays and Saturdays (which includes a free drink), the DJs here cater to the more populist side of music. Cue mainstream hits by the Black Eyed Peas, Usher and golden oldies by Wham!, Bon Jovi and even The Smiths (on occasion!). A place for singles to meet singles and lonely hearts to get less lonely.
Blue Gecko
AUSTRALIAN / SPORT
31 Ly Tu Trong, Q1, Tel: 3824 3483
4.30pm to midnight
Although run by a Vietnamese couple, this boozy, outback-themed sports pub just off the main drag is quintessentially Australian. The down-to-earth atmosphere is added to by a great pool table, darts and all the live sports, with a particular focus (not surprisingly) on Aussie Rules and Rugby. Also shows the Premier League. One of the longest running watering holes in town.
Boudoir Lounge
Saigon Sofitel Plaza, 17 Le Duan, Q1
Tel: 3824 1555
7am to 1am
AC WI-FI DJ
Composed of The Conservatory, a daylight-drenched loft area, The Salon, a plush living room with baroque and exotic accents, The Cigar Room and The Library, with its sleek champagne tasting counter, the Boudoir Lounge is a haven for executives and lounge adepts alike. Live International DJs perform Fridays and Saturdays. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and evening bouchées.
Cloud 9
LOUNGE BAR & TERRACE
6th & 7th Floor, 2bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, Q3 Tel: 0948 343399
5.30pm to late
Set above Gloria Jean’s just behind Diamond Plaza, this two-floor venue with an upstairs terrace and garden space comes from the same people who created Velvet. It marks the latest trend in Vietnamese bars — stylish, comfortable decor, an extensive wine menu to complement the cocktails and top-shelf spirits, and music played at a volume still conducive to conversation. A place to be seen.
Fuse
TECHNO / DANCE / HIP-HOP
3A Ton Duc Thang, Q1, Tel: 0919 206461
fuse.club@yahoo.com
7pm to late
One of the smaller nightclubs to grace Saigon, the neon-lit Fuse is popular with the young, fashionable and affluent Vietnamese set. Blaring techno and dance music envelopes the dance floor as large fruit platters and bottles of whiskey and cognac are consumed. A lack of space means this place gets packed easily, especially on the weekends, so look to arrive relatively early to grab a table. Even better, book in advance.
Gossip
HARD TECHNO
79 Tran Hung Dao, Q1, Tel: 3824 2525
8.30pm to 2.30am
This Singaporean-run super club, located in the Dai Nam hotel, is just as popular with the locals as it is with the foreigners. A friendly, communal atmosphere and attentive service helps Gossip to stand out from its contemporaries. As expected, tinnitus-inducing levels of techno and house music blare throughout the two-tiered club with a large, raised dancefloor that fills out instantly. ‘Dress to impress’ is the nature of the clientele here so don’t turn up in shorts and flip-flops. The entrance fee is VND120,000.
Ice Blue
EXPAT BAR / DARTS
54 Dong Khoi, Q1, Tel: 3822 2664
3pm to 1am
Despite its slightly run down veneer and smoky but lively atmosphere, Ice Blue remains a popular haunt for many of the city’s older expats as well as a not–so–regular crowd of tourists. Known for its amicable service and lively, beer-drinking ambience, this long-running waterhole is also famed for its darting prowess, with two well set-up dart boards claiming pride of place.
La Habana
CUBAN
6 Cao Ba Quat, Q1 Tel: 3829 5180
10am to 1am
If it's mojitos and well-mixed cocktails you want, spiced up with nightly live music and a Latin atmosphere, La Habana is the place. Run by a Chinese-German couple, this attractive, long-running Cuban bar and restaurant is one of the few watering holes in the Thai Van Lung / Le Thanh Ton area to serve up a regular dose of all things live. Also has HB beer on tap, an excellent food menu and weekly salsa classes.
Lavish
DANCE / HIP-HOP
5/8 Nguyen Sieu, Q1, Tel: 0933 998389
9pm to late
With its illusory and decorative style, shisha pipes, eye-catching laser displays, and impressive DJ sets, Lavish is a prime place to both unwind and live it up on the weekends. The hanging chandeliers and red velvet curtains exude a luxurious vibe that’s also reflected in the drinks prices. However, on Ladies’ Night every Tuesday from 8.30pm to 11pm, ladies can enjoy two free drinks such as cocktails, beers and soft drinks.
Lush
PROGRESSIVE / MAINSTREAM
2 Ly Tu Trong, Q1
5pm to late
With its downstairs tear-shaped bar and lounge-style seating running right up to the bar space, Lush may not have a dedicated dance floor. But when it comes to all things progressive, this often controversial venue remains one of the city’s leading lights. Overseas DJs, ladies’ nights on Tuesdays and a cosmopolitan clientele merge seamlessly with the red velvet and cartoon-style decor to create one of the city’s iconic bars. Also has a more chilled bar space out back.
Purple Jade
1st Floor, InterContinental Asiana Saigon, crn. of Hai Ba Trung & Le Duan, Q1
Tel: 3520 9099
www.intercontinental.com/saigon
Purple Jade is a great place to catch up with friends or business partners or simply just to relax and enjoy great drinks. If you find yourself being overly particular about your choice of tipple, pull yourself together and ask the bartender for a cold beer with a shot of good liquor on the side.
Slate
COCKTAIL / LOUNGE BAR
3rd Floor, Moevenpick Hotel, 253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan. Tel: 3844 9222
5pm to 1am
Located opposite Centrepoint, Slate takes its name from the dark grey tiling covering the floor. Merging black and silver with turquoise, and with touches like semi-private sofa beds, the offerings here include over 30 martini cocktails, a barbecue menu and perhaps one of the most contemporary yet tasteful watering holes in town
The Drunken Duck
SPORT / SHOOTER BAR
58 Ton That Thiep, Q1
Tel: 3915 2853
4pm to late
A shooter bar, with over 15 down–in–one cocktails on the menu boasting names like Aquackalypse Now and The Duckinator, this striking, subtly lit space has a downstairs pool table, a long wooden bar and an upstairs lounge with a large, pull-down projector screen. The watering hole also shows live sport on the weekends courtesy of three flatscreen TVs. Try the shooter challenge and get a t-shirt and your name and time engraved on the wall. Also has a reasonable bar menu.
The Library
Ground Floor, InterContinental Asiana Saigon, crn. of Hai Ba Trung & Le Duan, Q1
Tel: 3520 9099
www.intercontinental.com/saigon
The Library recaptures the romance of a bygone era, offering a sophisticated all-day snack menu of exquisite delicacies devised by Executive Chef Rolando Manesco. From 2.30pm to 5pm, the Library’s nostalgic afternoon tea is served, comprising of an array of fresh-cut sandwiches, light bites and platters.
Vasco’s
EVENT / PARTY VENUE
The Square, 74/7D Hai Ba Trung, Q1
Tel: 3824 2888
4pm to 12pm (weekdays). Open late on weekends.
A paragon downtown party venue popular with expats and tourists that showcases a range of events from DJ nights through to cover bands and live music from overseas. Has a downstairs terrace area with a separate aircon room and two upstairs bars together with a stage for gigs and much more. Snack menu includes burgers, sandwiches, skewers and some of the best pizzas in town.
Velvet
DANCE / HIP-HOP
26 Ho Huan Nghiep, Q1
Tel: 3822 2262
velvet.bar.saigon@gmail.com
8.30pm to midnight
You will be hard pressed to find another club as extravagantly furnished and uber trendy as Velvet. It’s of no wonder then that most of its clientele are exceptionally well-dressed socialites, celebrities and fashionistas. As a result this venue has carved itself a reputation as being the place to be and to be seen. Has a ladies night every Wednesday.
Restobars
Ala Mezon
JAPANESE / FRENCH
10 Chu Minh Trinh, Q1, Tel: 6291 0447
alamezon.vn@gmail.com
11.30am to 1am
A restobar where France meets Japan, this innovative and bold four-floor venue mixes Gallic flair with all the nuances of the Land of the Rising Sun. With lime green in the stairwells, maroon on the ground floor and orange moving up to the subtly lit top-floor terrace, the bar areas and dining spaces are complemented by two games rooms for playing board games, Wii and X-Box. The menu encompasses the same eclectic mix, with ika kappa maki sitting next to baked clams gratinee and beef carpaccio. A bit of something for everyone.
Allez Boo
INTERNATIONAL / RESTOBAR
195 Pham Ngu Lao, Q1, Tel: 6291 5424
info@allezboo.com
24 hours
Summery, Ibiza-style beats rock through this recently refurbished Backpackers’ Area icon, mixing in with the bamboo-style décor, deep red walls and ethnic minority upholstery and place settings. Serving a mixture of Thai and western cuisine (from VND80,000 to VND140,000 a dish), the late-night party atmosphere is bolstered by the first-floor DJ pumping out tunes into the early hours.
Alibi
INTERNATIONAL / PAN-ASIAN FUSION
5 Nguyen Sieu, Q1, Tel: 3825 6257
10am to late daily
Swathed in deep red and with dark wooden lightbox panelling, the addition of black and white Saigon street-scene photos gives this three-storey restobar an atmosphere of an upscale, sleek equivalent in New York or London. Choose between the shared-table downstairs bar area or the more traditional upstairs seating and a menu that blends small fusion cuisine style plates with larger mains and excellent gourmet pizza.
Amor
RESTOBAR AND CLUB
35-37 Ngo Duc Ke, Q1
11am to 3am
Located in the heart of the city, AMOR’s two floors offers up a variety of choices: The first floor restobar is an open-plan casual dining and socializing venue with the kitchen and bar open from 11am till 2am. The menu dishes up a range of delights from snacks and bar food to gourmet grills at astonishingly good value. On the second floor the nightclub pumps out hip hop and R&B beats with fabulous scratching from their resident DJs from 9pm - 3am. Pole Dancing, MCs, regular promotions and special offers keep the crowd buzzing and the atmosphere jumping until early in the morning!
Boat House
AUSTRALIAN / INTERNATIONAL
40 Lily Road, An Phu Superior Compound, Thao Dien, Q2
7.30am to 11pm daily
The river plays a big role in this spacious restrobar in An Phu on the banks of Saigon's river. The menu offers seasonal dishes that include share plates, mains, classics and desserts along with a hearty breakfast menu and kids menu. Boat House caters for small to large functions, with three areas to choose from within an ideal private setting. Also provides occasional live music, mini festivals and various themed events.
Bootleg DJ Café
MINIMALIST CAFÉ BAR
9 Le Thanh Ton, Q1. Tel: 0907 609202
dorutudose@gmail.com
9.30am to 1am
Swathed in greys, cream and dull brown, this bar and café has the feel of an underground-style watering hole, the type you may find in London or New York. Run by a well-known, locally based DJ, the decks and mixing board take centre stage here, with a range of turntablists taking to the stand at night. Also a good place to hang out during the day — the Mediterranean-influenced food menu includes crostini, salads, pastas and a good selection of breakfast fare. Does takeaway Lavazza coffee.
Boston Sports Bar
INTERNATIONAL / RESTOBAR
28/4 Bui Vien, Q1, Tel: 6656 6338
bostonpizzavn@gmail.com
24 hours
This inviting, all-hours-god-sends multi-storey restobar with its rectangular, bare-brick bar area is the only place in the Backpackers’ District showing all the live sport. And here we certainly mean the word ALL. TV screens are everywhere. Also in the mix is the coldest aircon in town, reasonable (although slightly pricey) pub food and friendly female staff.
Buddha Bar
INTERNATIONAL
7 Thao Dien, Q2
3pm to 12am daily
Tucked away in An Phu, this long-standing establishment provides great food and drinks at reasonable prices. With a long bar, pool table, darts, live sports, good music, and friendly staff, it’s easy to relax and have a good time. A variety of cuisine is offered, from beef pies and burgers to beef tenderloin, spare ribs and Swiss-style fondue. Quiz night on Wednesdays, ladies night on Tuesdays and live music every first Friday of the month.
Bread & Butter
INTERNATIONAL / COMFORT FOOD
40/24 Bui Vien, Q1, Tel: 3836 8452
11.30am to 2pm, 5pm to midnight. Closed Mondays.
A miniscule, two-floor restobar with a homely, slightly rustic feel that is the only place in town pushing the excellent, Hue-brewed Huda beer, always served cold. A free book exchange, an everyone-knows-your-name kind of atmosphere and mains from tuna steak and bangers and mash through to burgers, schnitzels, burritos and sarnies make up the formula here. Does a popular roast from 5.30pm every Sunday.
Crazy Buffalo
INTERNATIONAL / RESTOBAR
212 De Tham, Q1, Tel: 3836 9946
24 hours
This hard-to-miss Backpackers’ Area restobar, terrace and nightclub declares itself loud and bold with its massive, snorting buffalo signage, a symbol that has undoubtedly appeared in thousands of photos of Saigon. A daytime happy hour, pizza, pasta, Asian cuisine and international mains make up the mix, with the beats pumping on the first floor until late.
Go2
INTERNATIONAL / RESTOBAR
187 De Tham, Q1, Tel: 3836 9575
24 hours
A corner location, retro, slightly grungy décor, banging indie and popular rock tunes downstairs, never ending drunkenness and late-night partying make Go2 one of the watering hole destinations in the Backpackers’ Area. Popular with tourists and expats searching for late-night drinking and dancing options, the food menu includes Thai, Vietnamese and western cuisine with mains costing between VND75,000 and VND110,000. DJs bang out the beats upstairs until late.
Hard Rock Café
AMERICAN / LIVE MUSIC
Kumho Asiana Plaza, 39 Le Duan, Q1
Tel: 6291 7595
11am to midnight
The rock memorabilia, cowboy-like, rock-centred American food menu and branded décor at the Saigon version of this international branded café provide for one of the city’s few, medium capacity downtown music venues. The nightly live music is accompanied by a pricey (for Saigon) food menu that includes burgers, hickory-smoked BBQ ribs, fajitas, sandwiches and salads. Puts on regular events – check their website for details.
Hoa Vien Brauhaus
CZECH BREWHOUSE
28Bis Mac Dinh Chi, Q1, Tel: 3829 0585
8am to midnight
Set in the same building as the Czech Consulate and decorated in wood panelling and brass finishing, this enormous Czech-styled bierkeller popular with stout burghers from both the local and expatriate communities was the first microbrewery in town (1995) and remains one of the best. The excellent home–brewed Hoavener beer, which comes in dark, red or blonde, is served out of huge steins and is complemented by a food menu that mixes Vietnamese fare with Central European staples such as schnitzels, wurst and much more.
Hog’s Breath Café
AUSTRALIAN / INTERNATIONAL
Ground Floor, Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Hai Trieu, Q1
Tel: 3915 6006
11am to midnight
The first Vietnam branch of the well-known Australian chain, Hog’s Breath mixes hearty cuisine such as pizzas, burgers, salads and prime rib steaks with a bar-like Australian sports atmosphere. Decked out in dark wooden furnishings with a long, easy-to-prop-yourself-up-at bar space, also has an outdoor on-the-street terrace, a mainly new world wine list and a large selection of both local and imported beers.
La Fenetre Soleil
JAPANESE / VIETNAMESE
2nd Floor, 44 Ly Tu Trong, Q1
Tel: 3824 5994
10am to midnight
Bare brick walls, art-deco repro furniture and a parlour-like elegance that brings with it all the glamour of old Saigon puts La Fenetre Soleil in a class of its own. Serving up a range of cocktails, imported beer, coffee and smoothies together with a Japanese-Vietnamese fusion menu, atmosphere and the slightly-off-the-main-drag location makes this a great spot to while away those afternoon hours or catch a night-time drink. Does a set lunch menu from 11.30am to 2pm.
Latin Cafe Bar and Restaurant
INTERNATIONAL
17 Dong Du, Q1,
Tel: 3827 9095
10am to midnight
This cozy slither of a two–storey venue is one of the few down-to-earth watering holes left in downtown Saigon. Offering a great dining area upstairs and easy-on-the-eye bare brick décor throughout, the menu includes tapas, salads, pasta and sandwiches and mains such as roast chicken with pomery mustard and bangers and mash. Also has flatscreen TVs for the sport and a general, laid-back but amiable atmosphere.
Le Pub
INTERNATIONAL / RESTOBAR
175/22 Pham Ngu Lao, Q1, Tel: 3837 7679
9am to 1am daily
Swathed in deep red with dark wooden seating and attractive, art-themed décor, Le Pub remains one of the best restobars in the Backpackers’ Area thanks to its friendly service, good atmosphere and tasty international and Vietnamese cuisine. Prices are reasonable, too. Shows the live sport, has a Tuesday night pub quiz and also runs daily specials on drinks.
Long Phi
FRENCH / RESTOBAR
#003 / 207 Bui Vien, Q1, Tel: 3837 2704
6pm to very late, Tuesday to Sunday
Now in its third incarnation, the French-run Long Phi has been serving the Backpacker’s Area since the late 1990s and has swathes of mainly Gallic regulars to prop up the bar. Not to say that this place only caters for the French community – far from it. But Ricard and other similar fare including the excellent cuisine (sold until the early hours) are very much in evidence here. Occasional live music.
Minh Kha Café (K Café)
FRENCH BISTRO
28 Do Quang Dau, Q1, Tel: 0903 852956 (Paulo)
kcafesaigon@yahoo.com
A French-style bistro and restaurant all in one, this Backpacker Area mainstay attracts a regular clientele made up of Gallic expats, tourists and more. An excellent food menu – think all things French – backs up the long bar area perfect for sipping on a Ricard or a beer or two. Daily specials board and French sports live on TV.
Mogambo
PAN-AMERICAN / TEX-MEX
50 Pasteur, Q1, Tel: 3825 1311
mogambo@saigonnet.vn
9am to 11pm daily
Known for their American-styled burgers, steaks and Tex-Mex, the two-storey Mogambo claims pride of place as one of the city’s longest running restobars. A well-known expat meeting spot, Savannah-esque, bamboo décor and booth seating make up the mix together with a pleasant bar space. Dishes run from fajitas and burritos through to chicken cordon bleu, pies, the coronary bypass burger, salad, soup, gumbos and spare ribs.
O Brien’s
IRISH BAR / INTERNATIONAL
74/A3 Hai Ba Trung, Q1, Tel: 3829 3198
11am to 1am. Sundays 4pm to 1am
One the city’s longest serving bars, this well-ordered, two-storey Irish-themed watering hole sports a copper-topped bar area, bare-brick walls, dark wooden seating and good service to boot. Known for its excellent food menu, the international fare includes Irish stew, Cajun chicken, panini merguez, tasty pizzas, comfort pub grub and the to-die-for zesty beef roll-ups. Also has a great selection of whiskeys and an upstairs pool table.
Pacharan
SPANISH / EUROPEAN
97 Hai Ba Trung, Q1, Tel: 3825 6924
Legs of Iberian ham hang from the ceiling in the downstairs bar at this multi-storey, Spanish-styled tapas and bodegas. Decorated in tile-like, impressionist rounded reds, yellows and oranges, Pacharan’s location, regular live music and its ability to show its customers a good time have made it one of the mainstays of the downtown wining and dining scene. The food menu includes tapas, paella, larger mains and an extensive, Iberian wine list.
Peaches
INTERNATIONAL / CURRY PUB
S57-1 Sky Garden 2, Phu My Hung, Q7
Tel: 5410 0999
10am to 11pm
A Saigon South favourite, Peaches is located in the square area between Sky Garden 2 and Sky Garden 3. A spacious, attractive restobar with comfortable, lounge-style seating and a bar area, this watering hole mixes three beers on tap and a large screen for the live sports with a pan-Asian curry menu. Including anything from Sri Lankan chicken curry through to beef rending, fish head curry and mutton vindaloo, the majority of the dishes cost under VND100,000. A perfect accompaniment to the beer.
Phatty’s
AUSTRALIAN / SPORTS BAR
46–48 Ton That Thiep, Q1, Tel: 3821 0796
9am to midnight
Taking over from where the original Café Latin finally failed, the attractive Phatty’s has become the Australian-themed sports bar with its myriad of large screens and beer-guzzling but homely atmosphere. Showing all the live sport — from international cricket through to Aussie Rules, Rugby and even the occasional soccer (football) game — the punters also have access to an excellent pub grub menu taking in anything from hot dogs, sandwiches and burgers through to excellent grill options, pizzas and international mains.
Qing
WINE BAR / ASIAN FUSION CUISINE
110 Pasteur, Q1, Tel: 3915 2979
Saigon’s first wine bar, this slither of a place mixes dark brown and maroon décor with bar-style seating and comfortable dining areas out front and at the back. An extensive new and old world wine list is, of course, part of the offering, as is an awesome pan-Asian fusion menu boasting Asian tapas (from VND85,000), international fusion mains (from VND185,000) and gourmet, creatively topped pizzas. Has a highly rated massage parlour upstairs.
Sandals
MEDITERRANEAN / INTERNATIONAL
93 Hai Ba Trung, Q1, Tel: 3827 5198
7am to 12am
Creative, international-influenced Mediterranean cuisine is the focus at this airy, Buddha-inspired, sandalwood coloured restobar that is part of the Sailing Club chain in Mui Ne and Nha Trang. With a downstairs bar area, two floors of dining space and an upstairs terrace-cum-lounge bar, Sandals provides a pleasant, more laid back alternative to the standard nightlife and dining scene in downtown Saigon. Has a range of specials and happy hours on offer.
Sheridan’s Irish Pub
IRISH / MUSIC PUB
17/13 Le Thanh Ton, Q1, Tel: 3823 0793
8am to midnight
All the charm of a traditional, booth-like, leather upholstered Irish pub with Celtic-themed décor and old family photos to match. Has nightly live music from 8pm and also does some of the best home–style pub grub in town with Irish stew and Irish breakfasts making an appearance together with more international fare. Has a large upstairs space as well as a separate smoking room while Guinness and a good range of Irish whiskeys completing the Emerald Isle theme. Probably the only genuine pub in Saigon.
Spotted Cow
INTERNATIONAL / RESTOBAR
111 Bui Vien, Q1, Tel: 3920 7670
spottedcow@alfrescosgroup.com
11am to 12pm daily
Part of the Al Fresco’s Group, the original Spotted Cow bar was on Hai Ba Trung in Hanoi, a few doors down from the country’s first Al Fresco’s. Now revived and transformed into a full-on sports bar with Friesian black and white spots to match, this friendly watering hole has a good food menu to match – think pasta, pizza, burgers, baguettes and international comfort food mains. A range of happy hours and darts make up the mix.
Storm P
DANISH / INTERNATIONAL
5B Nguyen Sieu, Q1, Tel: 3827 4738
10am to late
Named after a Danish cartoonist, this Saigon long-termer with its mural of Copenhagen taking up the length of one wall attracts a mix of Scandinavian and international punters, all enjoying the offerings from the well-stocked bar and the reasonably priced Danish-influenced pub grub menu. Dishes include Danish-style fried pork and meatballs, frankfurt sausages, a range of grilled fare, burgers and much more. Has three screens for the live sport and seating areas out back and upstairs.
StreetPub
INTERNATIONAL / RESTOBAR
43-45 Do Quang Dau, Q1 , Tel: 3836 8310
7am to 3am
Swathed in deep red and yellow and with armchair-style seating on the ground floor, Street Pub has an extensive western and Vietnamese food menu, all complemented by daily drinks specials. Has an upstairs pool table and lounge area, outdoor terrace seating and regular music and DJ events hosted in the main by local music collective Depskillz. Many of the staff here used to work at Le Pub.
Traders
NEW YORK/ FRENCH
76 Bis Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Q1
Tel: 3821 3556
7am to midnight
Located in the stock market area in between the canal and Ham Nghi, this funky, Wall Street-styled restobar takes the concept of its name and mixes it with an ever-changing set of deals on drinks and cuisine. With cash-obsessed, comic strip style American artwork lining the walls and a great, curved long bar, the French-influenced American food menu includes pizza, hotdogs, salads, tartines and bracket kebabs. Great concept and a good place for more than just a beer.
ViBE Billards and Lounge
LOUNGE BAR / POOL HALL
102 Suong Nguyet Anh, Q1
Tel: 3925 2599
10am to 1am
A departure from the Saigon norm, this comfortably decorated, two-floor pool and snooker lounge mixes the attractions of a lustrous contemporary lounge bar with all the mod cons together with some of the best, imported pool tables available in town. Rental is by the hour, the seven pool tables costing around VND100,000 while the upstairs, full-size snooker table costs a touch more. A great place to go simply for a drink or to shoot pool with friends.
Vino
WINE BAR / TAPAS
The Square, 74/17 Hai Ba Trung, Q1
Tel: 6299 1315
10am to 10pm daily
The terrace out front acts as a great after work drinking spot at this well-known downtown wine shop. Up to 10 wines by the glass, a range of imported beer and a selection of mini, tapas-like dishes such as albondigas, chorizo, cheese plates, antipasti, jumbo olives and garlic tiger prawns make up the selection here.
Xu Restaurant Lounge
CAFÉ / LOUNGE BAR
Ground Floor, 71-75 Hai Ba Trung, Q1
Tel: 3824 8468
11am to midnight
The downstairs café-cum-lounge bar of this iconic downtown modern Vietnamese restaurant mixes subtle lighting with contemporary artwork ands design touches, a swathe of browns, cream, maroon, sofa-style seating and deep red upholstery. Serving a range of international fare together with Vietnamese dishes throughout the day, nighttime turns this venue into an upmarket, downtown bar. Known for its cocktails and extensive wine list.
ZanZBar
INTERNATIONAL FUSION
41 Dong Du, Q1
Tel: 3822 7375
info@saigongourmetgroup
7am to 1am daily
Creative cocktails, an extensive wine list, a laid back atmosphere and a conversation-friendly bar area mix with a dining space out back and international fusion cuisine to make this one of downtown’s go-to destinations. Running the gamut from sake ‘n’ harissa marinated cod through to torchon of lamb, chicken souvlaki, a lemon pepper salmon salad, a chimichurri burger and a range of enticing desserts, the cuisine here is top-notch and the presentation excellent.
The Dirty Dozen
American writer HL Mencken once claimed that the martini was “the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet”. The origins of this invention, however, aren’t as clear as the drink itself. The most popular legend suggests it evolved from a cocktail called the Martinez, which was invented in 1862 at the Occidental hotel in San Francisco by famous American bartender Jerry “Professor” Thomas. Considered the ‘Father of American Mixology’, Thomas wrote The Bar-Tender’s Guide, the first drink book to be published in the US.