Saigon never truly sleeps, right? Now, our always-on metropolis has a drinking and dining scene waking up to wine (and lots more). From a rooftop wine bar named after ‘a short nap,’ to a hot dog cart bringing Vancouver street cred to Binh Thanh, these are Ho Chi Minh City’s latest wave of bars and restaurants, best experienced with a wine glass in one hand and a hot dog in the other.
Saigon never truly sleeps, right? Now, our always-on metropolis has a drinking and dining scene waking up to wine (and lots more). From a rooftop wine bar named after ‘a short nap,’ to a hot dog cart bringing Vancouver street cred to Binh Thanh, these are Ho Chi Minh City’s latest wave of bars and restaurants, best experienced with a wine glass in one hand and a hot dog in the other.These are places with stories — spaces where Spanish boldness crashes into Vietnamese soul, where Japanese mixologists transform tea into liquid art, and where former Tokyo apartment dwellers recreate their cramped-but-perfect dinner parties for a whole new city. Some blur the lines between bar and art gallery, others between kitchen and living room.
The Best New Bars And Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
Whether you’re chasing four-hour slow-cooked pork cheeks in a Thao Dien garden that “doesn’t want to be called a wine bar,” hunting down Tokyo-level cocktails hidden above a convenience store, or discovering why truffles are having their democratic moment in District 1, these spots represent Ho Chi Minh City’s dining scene at its most creative and confident.
So wake up! These places are too good to sleep on.
ÔMM Mixology
There’s two massive bows attached to the wall next to a country cottage cabinet. An ant, projected onto the back bar, shuffles around, as the bartender acquiesces into making us a Martini. He’d much rather be making one of ÔMM’s Tea Cocktails – beverages created by Shuzo Nagumo, who’s been described as “equal parts chef, chemist, and cocktailer.” Nagumo’s approach transforms food flavors into spirits using modern techniques like distillation and cold brewing — creating what he calls cocktails “full of emotions, like stories told through taste.”
Still, the Vesper Martini is enlivening, a hint of grapefruit bitters animating it like that arty ant projection. And the Tea Cocktail that comes next, a Roasted Newton Fizz, is refreshing without losing its complexity.
Named after a Tien Cookie melody, ÔMM positions itself as cocktail-bar-meets-art-exhibition — a place where “taste buds are tantalized with art and emotions.”
For a serious cocktail contender, the location might catch guests off guard. The address, the 1st floor at 63 Ho Tung Mau in District 1, is sandwiched between a GS25 and Muscle Bar Saigon. But it’s worth seeking out. Shuzo Nagumo is the Japanese mixologist behind six Tokyo bars and an Asia’s 50 Best Bars alumni.
For their opening event, they also brought in 2-Michelin-starred chef Syrco Bakker (Pure C, Syrco BASE in Bali) for a “crossover between contemporary mixology and culinary art.” The menu was kept secret to let guests “discover their own emotions alone” — because “the best embrace is the wordless one.”
This is a cocktail bar built around connection, creativity, and quality, with serious local talent interpreting drinks that aim to be more than just alcohol in a glass. The focus on storytelling through flavor, combined with Nagumo’s technique-driven approach and the artistic space design, signals ÔMM wants to be Saigon’s answer to Tokyo’s more conceptual cocktail bars. And they might be right.
In short: Savor some tastebud tantalization downtown at ÔMM.
Where: 1st Floor, 63 Ho Tung Mau, District 1
Somme Wine Bar
The team behind Somme originally named their rooftop wine bar after ‘sommelier’ — only to discover later that ‘somme’ in French means ‘a short nap.’ Perfect coincidence. After all, this is a spot designed as an urban retreat.
Perched atop The Nexx building in District 3, just 300 meters from Turtle Lake, Somme offers something increasingly rare in Saigon — actual breathing room. The large glass panels reflect the bustling streets below while you sink into deliberately oversized furniture created with some serious lounging. It’s close enough to feel the city’s pulse, distant enough to forget your inbox.
The space captures that sweet spot between intimate and airy, with soft golden lighting and tree-lined street views that make you want to order just one more glass. And then another one.
Their curated wine selection spans classics to curious new discoveries, catering to Vietnam’s evolving wine scene — no longer just old-world preferences and male-dominated tastings, but a broader, more adventurous drinking culture.
What’s coming next elevates the concept beyond just wine. They’re rolling out a food menu specifically designed for wine pairing, transforming Somme from a drinking spot into a full dining experience where you can “sip, snack, and savor every moment.”
The location choice — downtown but distinctly local District 3 rather than expat-heavy District 1 — signals their confidence in Saigon’s growing wine appetite. It’s not about wine snobbery; it’s about creating space for wine lovers who want quality without pretension. And who can resist? Another wine please, garçon!
In short: Somme is a wine-soaked urban retreat in Saigon’s District 3.
Where: Floor 11, The Nexx Building, 32 Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3
Thirty 59
“Thirty 59 is your friend’s living room,” Manu begins. “Meets creative studio!” his co-founder Trà interjects. “If your friend happened to have a dangerously good playlist game, a rotating wine lineup, and a garden where candles glow and classic films roll quietly across the wall,” Manu adds, warming to the conversation.
They’re also partners of GOODHOOD AGENCY, a community-driven marketing studio all about neighborhood-first storytelling — using gastronomy in its broadest sense to connect art, culture, and community.
That journey begins here, at Thirty 59, “which is one of those stories.”
Like Manu and Trà themselves, the wine bar brings together Spanish boldness and Vietnamese soul. Through food, wine, music, and design, they’ve crafted a place that invites people to feel, share, and stay, intoxicated by the feeling of the familiar tinged with the unexpected.
In fact, they don’t even want to define themselves as a wine bar at all. “We’re definitely not your average wine bar,” Trà continues. “We look to places in Bali, Bangkok, and NYC more than traditional wine bars,” Manu elaborates.
They blur boundaries between bar, kitchen, studio, and gathering space — moving easily between roles as host, curator, friend, and collaborator. Every bottle they pour has a backstory, sourced from small, passionate producers who share their values.
The space itself reflects this fluidity. Tucked away in Thảo Điền — which they describe simply as “HOME” — Thirty 59 occupies multiple levels that shift with the day’s rhythm. The garden feels perfect on breezy summer nights, the indoor area cozy when rain falls, the second floor homey and intimate, the balcony offering that “there but not quite” sensation, and the rooftop where “you can almost touch the clouds.”
Their menu embodies what they call “shared flavor, shared story” — Vietnamese familiarity filtered through Spanish-style sharing. Think cá trứng with crispy pancetta, where humble Vietnamese street snacks meet Spanish fried anchovies, or their Cure & Pickles cold cut board featuring Lomo and duck prosciutto with tomato bread — Saigon soul meeting European heritage.
But the real magic happens in their philosophy: “Ye Lo Que Hay – It is what it is.” It’s more than a phrase; it’s how they operate. They embrace what’s in front of them without overthinking, finding beauty in the unplanned, letting the night write itself.
Whether you’re after afternoon glow or nighttime pulse, it always begins the same way — with a glass of their house-crafted vermouth, because in Spain, that’s how aperitivo starts. From there, maybe four-hour slow-cooked pork cheeks or grilled entraña with smoked chimichurri, depending on the vibe, the mood, the night.
It’s this combination of intentional curation and spontaneous energy that sets Thirty 59 apart from Saigon’s wine bar boom. They’re not chasing trends or copying formats — they’re creating a rhythm you slip into naturally, a place where misfits, dreamers, and doers gather to feel genuinely at home.
In Short: It is what it is at the anti-wine-bar-wine-bar Thirty 59.
Where: 30 Street 59, Thao Dien
Truffle & Co.
The ‘black diamond of European cuisine’ has moved to Saigon’s District 1. And, as a hapless tourist, discombobulated on Mac Thi Bui Street, Truffle & Co. would make a welcome sight – sumptuous steaks, plentiful pizzas, all served as the aromas of truffle waft through the air.
In fact, Chef Yel’s Mediterranean passion project is democratizing luxury dining, making the rare and refined truffle accessible across three locations — from Phu My Hung’s family-friendly suburbia, now to the bustling heart of District 1.
What sets Truffle & Co. apart isn’t just their commitment to incorporating truffles into virtually every dish on the menu, but their philosophy that “joy should be shared.” This isn’t about exclusivity for the sake of it — it’s about bringing high-end cuisine to reasonable price points, making the extraordinary earthily aromatic experience of truffles available to curious diners rather than just the ultra-wealthy.
Their newest Mac Thi Buoi branch captures this ethos perfectly. Tucked into a “quiet and poetic” corner of District 1, the second-floor windows offer street-watching opportunities while you dive into their Truffle Wagyu Carpaccio or signature Truffle Rigatoni. It’s the kind of spot where you can walk to Bach Dang Wharf for sunset views after your meal, or stroll to pedestrian Nguyen Hue to digest your Truffle Steak Diane.
Chef Yel’s ethos — “stay true to the craft, trust the quiet details, and never compromise on the essence of flavor” — shows in every carefully considered dish. This isn’t about chasing trends or Instagram moments (although there’s plenty of those). It’s about honoring an ingredient that’s captured imaginations from ancient Roman feasts to modern films like “The Truffle Hunters,” treating each service as a tribute to what Chef Yel calls “magic, memory, and craft.”
The bottom line is that Truffle & Co. is making luxury approachable without sacrificing quality — turning the mystique of truffles into something you can tune into on a Tuesday night in Saigon.
In Short: In deep truffle on downtown Mac Thi Bui Street.
Where: 36 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Mita 274
The name says it all: Mita 2-7-4 was Hung and Lien’s cramped Tokyo apartment address in Ebisu. Their tiny space became a weekend sanctuary of home-cooked meals, late-night conversations, and friends lingering until the last train was long gone.
Four years after settling in Saigon, they’ve recreated that intimate Tokyo energy in a space that feels like Japanese minimalism meets French casual refinement, all sprinkled with homely goodness.
.Hung brings half a lifetime of Japan experience and deep sake expertise, while Lien’s French education adds natural aesthetic sensibility. Together, they’ve built something that’s part of a broader movement — alongside places like MOWE in Saigon, MAU and ZAO in Hanoi — catering to younger Vietnamese creatives craving authenticity over polish, stories over perfection.
Their approach to natural wines and artisanal sakes is refreshingly unpretentious: “be relaxed about rules.” These aren’t products, they’re personalities, they insist — sometimes wild, sometimes delicate, always expressive of place and maker.
A single sake might smell like green apple one moment, dried apricot the next. That unpredictability is the point.
What sets Mita 274 apart is the depth of expertise without the intimidation factor. In-house sake sommeliers guide you through flavors and stories you won’t encounter elsewhere, while bi-weekly guided tastings explore everything from ancient brewing methods to experimental newcomers.
Their list includes rare, limited-release sakes you can’t find anywhere else in the city — sometimes not even in Japan. The food menu, rich in umami, is designed specifically to complement their sake and natural wine selection, from grilled sake-kasu fish to savory monkfish liver. It’s cuisine built around the drinks rather than the other way around.
Where: 135/19 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Binh Thanh
In short: Mita 274 is serious sake expertize and zero pretension in a house party setting.
Contact: Instagram
HAI TÔ BAR
HAI TÔ BAR is a heady mix of Mekong Delta culture and contemporary craft. The bar transforms traditional Vietnamese flavors into boundary-pushing cocktails that tell stories with every sip. Think fish sauce Martinis, durian cloud layers, and handcrafted fruit wines that capture the soul of Southern Vietnam.
The space itself is a love letter to the Delta — wooden barge-inspired design, flowing water elements, and golden light that transports you straight to the riverbanks. But this isn’t just aesthetic theater. Every cocktail features fresh, local Mekong fruits and traditional ingredients that most bars wouldn’t dare touch. The result? Drinks that surprise, delight, and educate all at once.
HAI TÔ BAR holds its cultural authenticity close, and pairs it with serious cocktail craft. On Don Ca Tai Tu nights, traditional Vietnamese music fills the space while bartenders shake drinks infused with giac fruit wine, chum ruot, and other regional specialties. It’s immersive hospitality that makes you feel like an honored guest in a Delta family home — if that home happened to serve the most innovative Vietnamese cocktails in the city.
Where:49B Huynh Man Dat, Binh Thanh
In short: Mekong Delta culture meets contemporary craft.
Contact: Instagram
JAPADOG
Never let it be said that our lists are elitist. As evidence, we’re rounding out with Japadog, a hot dog street food cart. Cart culture is simultaneously in Vietnam’s DNA, and underserved at the foodie foreground of cart culture. Maybe Ben Nghe Street Food Market captures some of its energy – which is why it’s always busy. Anyway, enter Canada’s cult street food phenomenon making its Asian debut in Binh Thanh District. JAPADOG — the Vancouver-born fusion of Japanese flavors and North American hot dog culture — opens its first Vietnam location in May 2025, bringing two decades of sidewalk success to Ho Chi Minh City’s expanding street food scene.
The concept started in 2005 when a Japanese founder and his wife set up a single food cart on Vancouver’s downtown sidewalks. Twenty years later, they’re operating four restaurants and seven food truck locations across Vancouver, two Toronto spots, and one Santa Monica Pier outpost. The formula? Japanese-style toppings upon signature hot dogs for what they call “a unique combination of eastern and western tastes.”
Their featured items read like a true cultural mashup: Terimayo (pork sausage with teriyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise), Wagyu hot dogs, and Shaked fries (fries mixed with Japanese seasonings and flavor powders). The menu extends beyond dogs with matcha parfait using authentic matcha powder imported from Japan.
The 97 Nguyen Gia Tri location represents JAPADOG’s bet that Vietnam’s dynamic food scene is ready for their brand of fusion street food. It’s a concept that’s attracted celebrity attention across North America, banking on the appeal of familiar comfort food elevated with umami-rich Japanese ingredients.
And JAPADOG’s two-decade track record suggests they understand how to make unlikely flavor combinations work on busy sidewalks. They’re certainly not dogged by doubts.
Where: 97 Nguyen Gia Tri, Binh Thanh
In short: A bite better than its bark at JAPADOG’s first street food cart in Vietnam.
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