For this, our list of the best cocktail bars in Ho Chi Minh City, we sought out unique, and mostly independent cocktail bars – those hidden gems that provide a refuge from Saigon’s intense heat, and hustle and bustle. And, along the way, we discovered a plush hotel lounge, a speakeasy echoing Saigon’s sassy ’60s and a secretive bar hidden behind an ATM. And lots more.

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How We Chose The Best Cocktail Bars In Ho Chi Minh City

Everything is biased, of course. As for us at The Dot Magazine, we tend towards the smaller, independent cocktail bars in Ho Chi Minh City. Preferably, something dark, or subterranean. Or both. 

Another essential criteria – with this and all our lists – is that we’ve actually been there. That may sound obvious. But lots of these lists that clutter the Internet have been cobbled together with a Google search. Not ours. 

Whilst there, we tend to go for well-made classics – it’s usually a quick indicator of the quality of the place. But, really, we’re open to anything, and anywhere. 

So, in this list, there’s a hotel lounge, a MICHELIN-starred ode to Saigon’s swinging ‘60s, a bar hidden behind an ATM machine, and lots more. 

And we’ve grouped the best cocktail bars in Ho Chi Minh City by District, focusing on three – District 1, Binh Thanh and Thao Dien. For us, they’re the epicenters of cocktail culture in Ho Chi Minh City, although as the city develops, cocktail bars reach further and further out from downtown. And we’ve attempted to put places in close proximity next to each other, in case you want to bar hop. 

The Best Cocktail Bars In Ho Chi Minh City

And so, this comprehensive, first-hand approach ensures our list represents the truly exceptional cocktail bars that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer, catering to a range of tastes and preferences. And we’ll revisit it regularly to keep it up to date (although it’s always worth checking online for opening hours and updates). 

The Best Cocktail Bars In District 1

2 Lam Son

Also known as Martini Bar, 2 Lam Son is Park Hyatt Saigon’s illustrious cocktail bar. 

While it’s a real forerunner in Saigon’s cocktail scene – and the place to go when there really wasn’t anywhere to go to get a good Martini – it’s stayed relevant through the regular arrival of esteemed guests from around the world. 

They invited Nicolas from The Clumsies in Greece back in 2018. And, respectfully, they kept cocktails from special guests like Nicolas on the menu, in a special section dedicated to former guests. 

And more recently the who’s who of the best in the business to arrive has included Giacomo from Paradiso Barcelona, no.1 in the world at the time, and Jean Trinh from Alquemico, voted the best bar in South America at the World’s 50 Best Bars held in Singapore last year shortly after his visit. David Hovězák, from London’s Tayer + Elementary, and no.8 at the same World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 event, just dropped by for a guest shift too.

But any night of the week, it’s a party. There’s the floor-to-ceiling windows that frame hectic Hai Ba Trung Street outside, there are conspiratorial sofas in booths around the side, and a rectangular cocktail bar with counter seats in the middle – perfect for people watching or for striking up random conversations. 

Dot Bar

Dot Bar (Floor 3, 75 Hai Ba Trung, District 1) is another spot on the move. Le Ngoc Minh and the team started out as a speakeasy in the rickety old block on Nguyen Thiep serving cocktail inspired by the city right on their doorstep.

They gathered lots of accolades along the way, voted Best Bar 2022, and #5 in The B.A.R. Awards Best Bars 2023. There have been personal successes too, because, perhaps more than any other bar, Dot Bar has always thrown down when it’s been cocktail competition time. Trung Vang, for example, won World Class Vietnam propelled by the belief of his Dot Bar team.

Now, Dot Bar has moved to a much bigger location. Interestingly, they’re right next to Xu Bar, a genuine original in Saigon’s cocktail bar scene.

But for Dot Bar, take the elevator up in the next-door building, and discover this cavernous new space, where they’ve stuck to the same homespun philosophy of serving drinks inspired by Vietnamese flavors. After all, the neon behind the bar still reminds the team to ‘Stay True.’

Layla – Eatery & Bar

Layla – Eatery & Bar (2nd Floor, 63 Dong Du, District 1) now spreads across the ramshackle block on downtown Dong Du street, cannibalizing the neighboring apartments and turning them into a space for a pool table, and a large lounge full of soft furnishings, and a large smoking terrace outside. 

This is large-scale Saigon mixology. And it’s the perfect place for just about any occasion, a first date or after work decompress with your colleagues. 

At the 11-meter bar, eight of the team pump out cocktails, wines, and elevated bar snacks with well-drilled ease. 

Admittedly, the co-founder and ‘alcohol pharmacist’ and his right-hand-woman, ‘tipsy mentor’ Grace Zhang, and the team have been pumped by the arrival of their cocktails-on-tap program, with fun concoctions like their Pop My Cherry that’s topped off with raspberry air foam, or the Ant No Hard With This Margarita, with orange curaçao, overripe mango cordial, roasted bell pepper oil, and a line of spicy ant salt around the rim of the glass. 

Mizuwari Social Club 

Thanh Tung is one of Saigon’s originals – so much so we gathered Tung and two other OGs, Richie Fawcett, Hajime Tadano, for a shoot and interview back in 2020 to talk about the evolution of the bar scene. As former bar manager at Chill Skybar, and beverage manager at Qui – Cuisine & Mixology, Thanh Tung has played a major part in the growth of cocktail culture here. 

Added to that is his former role as brand ambassador for Beam Suntory, all of which is tangible at Mizuwari (39 Ly Tu Trong, District 1). 

It’s a downtown District 1 cocktail bar in a prime location, on the corner of Hai Ba Trung and Ly Tu Trong, with a balcony to take in the chaos. Inside, it’s cultured Japanese cool. Naturally, there’s shelves full of Suntory spirits, perfectly made classics, and lots of highballs. 

Stir – Modern Classic Cocktail 

A genuine game changer thanks to its local-mindedness, Stir – Modern Classic Cocktail opened 3 years ago, as cocktail culture was booming. 

Stir – Modern Classic Cocktail followed the speakeasy trend, but added a menu in Vietnamese, including an unmissable Truffle Martini and lots of concoctions inspired by the flavors of the streets outside. And former World Class Vietnam winner and Bartender of the Year at the B.A.R. Awards Thep Dinh, and partner and DIAGEO brand ambassador Lam Duc Anh gathered a team of talented young Vietnamese bartenders to serve them up in a suitably secretive location right beside Bến Thành Market. 

Enigma Mansion 

First opened in the fabled Refinery Courtyard, Enigma was a cocktail bar reimagined as a post-apocalyptic space library. But it was quickly on the move after a year. 

The new, refined location, Enigma Mansion (5H Ton Duc Thang, District 1), has a large phoenix suspended from the ceiling – a metaphor for the bar’s dazzling rebirth – and lots of exposed brickwork and mirrors. 

The young team, in snazzy salmon-colored waistcoats, led by Vu Ngoc, including Thong Hoai and Loan Nguyen, serves up his World Class Tanqueray Challenge winning Cluster of Citrus, with Tanqueray No. 10, Vietnamese basil kumquat oleo and orange tonic.  

And there’s lots of other technically astute concoctions, inspired by Vietnam’s terroir, like their Culantro, with Bourbon Whiskey, culantro distillate, coffee dough, amaro, yuzushu, and Ben Tre chocolate wax. 

Firkin 

Firkin Bar (located at 20 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1) is the quintessential spot for enjoying a Martini, or any classic, in fact. 

They’ve always had a historian’s eye for classic cocktails – exemplified by their current series of ‘remastered classics’ like Jean-Paul Bourguignon’s Japanese Slipper, that gets a radical upgrade with Japanese miso fat-washed gin, Yuzu, and a handmade vacuum-infused fig and melon liqueur, or their take on Ramón “Monchito” Marrero’s Piña Colada that includes Firkin’s clarified artisan house-made coconut and cacao liqueur.

The ambience is transformative too. Stepping through its unassuming entrance and ascending the stairs is like being transported into a scene from Mad Men. 

Perhaps it’s the vintage posters adorning the walls, or the dimly lit, speakeasy ambiance that sets the scene. Much like that iconic show, Firkin Bar is a magnet for professionals from the surrounding office buildings, drawn by its timeless charm…and their 30% discount during happy hour from 6-8PM daily.

The Triệu Institute

Staying on the same street, The Triệu Institute (10 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1) is a chic downtown cocktail bar where, outside, two antique elephants linger below red arches, and inside, a narrow entrance reveals a surprisingly immersive space, set across two floors.

Fittingly, for a place named after one of Vietnam’s fiercest heroines, there’s a feisty, mostly female team.

And they extend regular invites for local ladies like Brita Hoang Quyen, one half of the popular bartending couple Quyen & Nam Station, and award-winning bartender, Julie Nguyen, from Bangkok’s Opium Bar.

There are international guests too, like Angel Ji from Triptyk Malaysia and Chef Tuệ Nguyễn, AKA Twaydabae as part of their Female Icon series — because The Triệu Institute, as well as being a showcase for Lady Triệu Gin, also serves delicious dishes inspired by the same botanicals.

Kohei’s Bar

At Kohei’s Bar (151 Dong Khoi, District 1, on the left as you enter the arcade), Kohei Yamamoto regales guests with wild stories of bartending during the decadent Shanghai economic boom era, during which he managed renowned bars such as Y’s Table Bar and Kitchen, el COCTEL, el Ocho, and Bikini.

His tenure at el COCTEL was particularly transformative, marking the beginning of his collaboration with Chef Willy Trullàs Moreno, also known as El Willy. This partnership eventually led him to Saigon, where he now works alongside Willy’s partners on the Saigon Tomatito project, housed within his namesake bar, Kohei’s.

Visitors to Kohei’s are treated to Martinis served in icy, copper-colored goblets to ensure they remain chilled. The ambience is enhanced with tall stools at the counter, cozy sofas, an impressive selection of cigars, and what Kohei describes as “Japanese attention to detail in your living room,” creating an inviting experience which will probably have you ordering one for the road…more than once.

BAR SON

Probably more of a lounge – the team originally dubbed it ‘vibe dining’ – BAR SON (3C Ton Duc Thang, District 1) at Le Méridien Saigon makes the list for its elevated cocktail program, the most recent of which takes Vietnam as its inspiration. 

BAR SON feels like it has soaked in its surroundings. A few blocks from the zoo and botanical gardens and a stone’s throw from the riverfront, BAR SON is a tropical oasis, with a contemporary-botanical style that incorporates bespoke wallpaper imprinted with tropical flora and fauna, and lots of lush greenery. 

Somehow, the large space feels intimate, wherever you sat – at the bar to watch the mixologists at work, or in the sunken lounge nodding to the DJ. 

Satisfyingly, the drinks were unerringly brilliant. The breathtakingly feminine Red Dragon, in its long stemmed glass, with gin, berries, and a hint of basil. Or their more macho Ananas Old Fashioned, with its blend of spiced- and coconut-rum, and some pineapple-infused whiskey, that’s as tropical as the BAR SON decor. 

But the new menu is Bar Manager Chester and the team unleashing their creativity. “It definitely feels like now is the time to exhibit some new ideas,” Chester told us recently. “And that’s driven by a deep understanding of ingredients, as well as classic cocktails, and also what the customers want.”

BAR SON’s new six-drink Vietnam-inspired signature cocktail menu, begins with Gift Of The God, in the spiritual hills and highlands around Sapa, and continues on to B.n.W. in the far south, beyond Saigon. It’s a good excuse for more visits to BAR SON.

Vesper Gourmet Lounge

It was the American writer James Thurber who said: “One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not enough.” He clearly hadn’t been to Vesper Gourmet Lounge (The Landmark Building, 5B Ton Duc Thang, District 1). The Martinis are so dangerously voluminous they might have also inspired Kendrick to write ‘Swimming Pools’ and the lines “I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it, pool full of liquor I’ma dive in it.”

This is not by way of complaint. Quite the opposite. Vesper Gourmet Lounge is the perfect place to decompress after work. The only risk is that by the third Martini all your plans for the evening might get cancelled. There are $1 oysters at the weekend, and lots of pastas and small plates of quesadillas and cold cuts to soak up some of the beverages.

Summer Experiment 

Summer Experiment felt like a game changer when it opened in 2019, five years after Layla, from the same team. 

That’s because while lots of new bars were styled as generic speakeasies, Summer Experiment (2nd Floor, 77-79 Ly Tu Trong, District 1) was a conceptual space with a garden outside and fun, but savvy, and often sustainable cocktails served in watering cans. 

The Saigon craft cocktail bar presented a vibrant, refreshing menu filled with an array of enticing elixirs and exquisite craft cocktails. “Here, it’s summer all year round,” the team told us when we dropped by.

There are something like 30 creative cocktails, and six ‘mood starters,’ like their explode-in-the-mouth watermelon shots, 16 classic cocktails, and 3 mocktails to choose from. And downstairs, these days, is COI, one of Saigon’s coolest jazz bars, in case you’re ready to stagger down a floor. 

The Loser

Not far from Summer Experiment is The Loser. But this speakeasy is at the other end of the emotional spectrum from its summer-time-all-the-time neighbor, because, asks The Loser (95B Ly Tu Trong, District 1, “aren’t we all losers sometimes?”

It’s artsy introspection, glorifying in the kind of creative navel-gazing best done with a cocktail in hand, even though the neon sign outside attempts to jolt guests out of their own head (preferably long enough to order another drink). “Over thinking kills your happiness,” it reads. 

The dilapidated building adds to the atmosphere. And so does the moody live music Thursdays to Saturdays. 

Dashingly handsome head bartender and co-owner Tran Dai Thinh is usually on hand with a poetic analogy of the city and the cocktails it inspires. “Sometimes Saigon’s sunny, and sometimes the skies are cloudy and it’s dry; sometimes it’s cloudy and wet…just like a Martini – a drink that’s simple and complex all at the same time,” he once told us. 

Instincts Cocktail Bar 

We’re instinctively drawn to alleys like this – a gated side street off the chaotic Bùng Binh Phù Đổng, the roundabout where six Saigon tributaries meet. There’s always surprises, like the vegan gelato shop Thanh Glado Vegan Ice Cream. And there’s the usual reclusive mix of home stays, cafes and clothing stores.

But we’re here for the cocktails. The modernist Instincts Cocktail Bar (6/1 Cach Mang Thang 8, District 1), is right at the beginning of the alley, entered past a wall of graffiti and outdoor seating lined with empty bottles and, weirdly, a watering can.

Inside, it’s suitably dark, and the Vesper Martini suitably cold.

The space is roughly split in half. At the back there’s a lounge area, and the bar with counter seating is up front.

There bartenders Johnnie, Mita and Michael, contentedly go about their mixology business, occasionally striking up conversation, preferably while you sip on one of their otherworldly signatures, which are conversation starters too.

There’s the Karma Never Loses An Address, with deacon mango, vermouth, grape shrub, and clarified passionfruit. Or the Black Sheep, which appears to have a monkey’s brain-shaped garnish on the top.

The contrast couldn’t be much stronger, as you come blinking back out onto Cach Mang Thang 8.

Vintage Culture Saigon

Vinyl culture has caught on in Saigon. Finally.

The region has vibrant cocktail bars as vinyl listening rooms, like Modern Day Culture in Bangkok. Hong Kong even has an Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant, Mono, that spins the owners extensive jazz-heavy record collection.

Vintage Culture Saigon is more focused on modern day hip hop. There’s Wu-Tang and MF Doom albums on the shelves. But really, on the decks anything goes from 90s pop to Vietnamese indie, depending on the night. You can even take in your favorite record for a spin and get a cocktail in return.

Critically, of course, the drinks are delicious.

Vintage Culture Saigon’s ‘Greatest Hits’ menu features music-themed cocktails like their Stairway To Heaven, an aromatic, jasmine-scented with some silkiness from pandan. Or there’s their light and fruity Hotel California. But remember to drink responsibly, or you just might have to “stop for the night.”

Yugen Bar 

Hopefully Yugen Bar isn’t feeling too lonely. Hybrid Saigon moved into the alley nearby for a short period, before relocating. 

But, you suspect, Yugen Bar (95/34 Le Thi Rieng) barely looks up long enough from its cocktails to notice. That’s because this is a place in endless pursuit of cocktail perfectionism. And Yugen Bar comes as close to it as any of the cocktail bars in Ho Chi Minh City listed here. 

Yugen itself is down a long alley, not far from the backpacker part of District 1, but the bar rewards the intrepid with a space as sophisticated as its drinks. 

Even the design reflects the idea of perfection – with a circular space and a long wooden counter, and Japanese-style mixology applied to an extensive menu of classic cocktails. 

The Gin House

The Gin House was on the move recently, from it’s original location off Nguyen Trai a short trip across town to Ton That Tung Street, also in District 1. The movers would have had to have taken great care of the inventory, because The Gin House (25/19 Ton That Tung, District 1) can confidently claim to have the second largest collection of gins in Southeast Asia, behind only Atlas in Singapore.

It’s fun just gazing at the shelves, where there’s sloe gins, pink gins, rhubarb gins and lots of limited editions. Naturally, that means the team are also proficient in gin-based cocktails, so Negronis, Martinis and Gimlets are all reliably good at The Gin House. And so too is the atmosphere, with regular live music in a homely space.

The Pi 

Like its eponymous mathematical constant, The Pi defies logic. 

On the surface it’s a small, simple neighborhood cocktail bar. But founder Chun has imbued it with punching-above-its-weight brilliance, like the creative, spirit-forward cocktail menu, featuring their complex Spirit Mine, with premium vermouth, smokey Ardbeg 10, and a tonka and anise schnapp, or their Ultimate Martini, with smoky Mezcal as its base spirit, and some Calvados and Chartreuse.

Add to that the regular roster of regional and international guest bartenders coming through: father-daughter team, Jan and Noa, from The Pharmacy Bar in Belgium, Lolita and Josh from JungleBird in Kuala Lumpur, and Bryan and Giselle from Employees Only Singapore. The American comedian Eric Andre even called in recently. That’s reach. 

The Pi is in a neighborhood with a surprising abundance of great bars and things to eat. Bánh Mì Bảy Hổ is down the street and so is [A] Specialty Coffee. And Bánh Cuốn Tây Hồ is at the end of the street. There’s Du Bar opposite The Pi, the pharmacy-themed Apothecary around the corner, and 96B Cafe & Roastery around there too. There’s even a pool hall across from The Pi. But amongst all that, The Pi still stands out. 

Du Bar 

Du Bar is heaven sent. Or, more accurately, heavenly scented. The bar, a sophisticated space right opposite The Pi, takes its sensory inspiration from perfumes. 

But the sound of the piano fills the space as often as the scent of sweet fragrances. 

And this Saigon cocktail bar takes a very neighborly approach to its guest shifts, inviting over Nguyen Minh Tam, from Tre Dining and Xào Xạc Bar, and Tran Dai Thinh from The Loser, or Chef Nguyen Minh Duc from Nous Dine for their second anniversary. 

Apothecary 

Apothecary was another breath of fresh air when it opened. This was a highly-stylized vintage pharmacist’s store, with period surgical lamps and display cabinets, and the table of the elements on the wall. 

And at one end there’s a massive stuffed ostrich.

Apothecary (12 Phan Liem) opened in a quaint shophouse with nondescript gray walls and peeling paint, with its grill half-closed, at number 12 Phan Liem. A glimpse through the grill revealed a pink neon light accentuating delicate steel lettering that spell out ‘Apothecary.’ 

Stepping through the door, you’re transported into a cocktail bar transformed into a laboratory of libations – creative cocktails cultivated after esteemed chemists and scientists in history, like The Dmitri Mendaleav, which takes its name from the Russian chemist and inventor, with white rum, mia lau kumquat cordial, pandan and a handmade soda. Or there’s the Charles Darwin, with Alfonso Gran Reserva XO Brandy, Benedictine, beetroot cordial, Angostura Bitters, cacao and a mushroom shiitake garnish. 

Which all adds up to escapism in its purest form. 

And Apothecary completed the triple-header neighborhood bar hop with The Pi and Du Bar all a very short walk away. 

Baron Bar 

The Japanese foodie, Cherie, who we interviewed back at the start of 2022 explained it well, when we asked her to choose her favorite bar. “I’m choosing Baron Bar,” she replied in an instant. “It’s not especially fancy, but it’s very cozy. And their cocktails are so good. Try the ones they make with Vietnamese coffee.” Or, we might add, any classic. 

Diagonally opposite Wink Hotel Saigon Centre, on the corner of Nguyen Binh Khiem and Nguyen Van Thu Streets, the warmly lit interior of Baron Bar (38 Nguyen Binh Khiem) gives it the air of Edward Hopper’s ‘Nighthawks.’ 

Inside, and seated at the 8-seat counter, it’s precision Japanese-style mixology, or a dram of their extensive collection of whiskies, with lots of simple but delicious bar snacks to pair with the drinks, like cheese and cold cuts. 

Ministry Of Men

Not far away, at the community-minded SOFITEL Saigon Plaza, is Ministry Of Men (17 Le Duan, District 1). 

It’s a gentleman’s club-style cocktail bar beside the men’s grooming and styling salon, House Of Barbaard. 

There are theatrical red curtains, and a room with a roaring fake fire and chesterfield sofas. But, despite the name, there’s a hospitable welcome to all genders. 

And, after a moment you notice that the walls full of pictures of illustrious gentlemen actually have lots of women on there too, So, there’s Queen Elizabeth and Audrey Hepburn alongside Michael Caine and Mohammed Ali. 

The team is suitably diverse as well, led by Kata Simon, the B.A.R. Awards Bar Icon Of The Year for 2023, and with brilliant young bartenders like Bao, the former I-Bartender competition winner – especially reassuring since Kata’s in Hanoi most of the time now running the new Ministry Of Men there.

PK Maltroom 

The whisky bar, PK Maltroom, is a cocktail bar in another very hip part of Saigon’s District 1. Nearby is Esta Restaurant and Å by T.U.N.G, two restaurants that have elevated fine dining in the city. Conversely, PK Maltroom (8A Dang Tat, District 1) is reassuringly timeless – a bit like its neighbor, the ever-popular family-style restaurant Cuc Gach Quan – with co-owner and former opera singer, Khanh, imagining the space as a mini-opera house, where the curated bottles of whisky are the talent. 

In fact, PK Maltroom boasts Vietnam’s most extensive whisky collection, with shelves brimming and hidden treasures tucked away in cupboards, not intended for sale. 

Located in Saigon’s District 1 Tan Dinh Ward, PK Maltroom thrives in a burgeoning bar and dining enclave amidst low-rise residential buildings. 

Renowned for its meticulous curation – even Khanh crafts a morning playlist while enjoying his first coffee – and flawless classic cocktails, PK Maltroom is esteemed as a cultured neighborhood watering hole and an after-hours haunt for industry insiders in Tan Dinh Ward’s evolving landscape.

The ATM Cocktail Bar & Kitchen

The entrance to The ATM Cocktail Bar & Kitchen (27/10 Nguyen Binh Khiem, District 1) really does look like an ATM machine. 

You can picture hapless tourists attempting to make a withdrawal and disappearing into this cavernous space, only to emerge hours later slightly inebriated with a full stomach from ATM’s bar and kitchen. 

“Actually, the misdirection doesn’t end there,” founder Tan Pham reminded us in 2022. “There’s two doors either side of the fake ATM – one leads to the bathroom and the other to the bar. We’ve had a lot of confused customers.”

At least The ATM Cocktail Bar & Kitchen is at the end of a sleepy alley, which cuts down on the chances passersby will attempt to slide in their bank card. 

Inside, it’s a sumptuously classic speakeasy – dimly lit, with solid classics and charismatic bartenders. There’s a 50% off daily happy hour too, from 5PM-8PM and live music Friday and Saturday. 

But for a change of scene, from Tan and the team, there’s the nearby The Liquid House, focused on their passion for spirits to wine. And, in the same block, there’s Tre Eatery & Bar which was inspired by the trips to Japan Tan has taken.

House Of Merlin – Cocktail Bar & Eatery 

House Of Merlin Cocktail Bar (178/1 Pasteur, District 1) is another magical space – the clue is in the name! – in an outstanding location. A short distance from the tourist frenzy of Ngon Restaurant, on Pasteur Street, or Secret Garden in the alley right beside that, House Of Merlin Cocktail Bar shares a yard with Angel’s Share (more on that later). 

Inside is an atmospheric space that takes some surprisingly steampunk inspirations from 19th-century industrial aesthetics.

It feels grand the moment you come to the imposing wooden door, amplified by the suspended model of the cosmos hanging from the ceiling and the timeless wooden fittings. The drinks, by Trần Hào and the team, like their smokey Ancient Land, evoke a bygone era too. 

Angels’ Share

Right opposite is Angels’ Share, a wonderfully refined whisky bar with a dramatically stepped ceiling that reflects the name – the ‘angel’s share’ is the whisky lost to evaporation when it’s aging in the barrel. 

You can almost imagine it disappearing up into the roof. 

And true to the name, Angels’ Share really is for whisky lovers. There are rare bottles on the back bar and shelves – a bottle of Glenglassaugh 30YO Billy Walker and a bottle of Archives Laphroaig 2001 – and the signature cocktails are all built on a base of Bourbon, Rye Whisky or Scotch. 

There’s an occasional begruding omission that other spirits exist, as with the rum-based Jungle Bird on their classics menu. But mostly, it’s Penicillins, Whisky Sours and Manhattans. 

Tipsy Department 

Like lots of these bars, the raison dêtre is right there in the name. Saigon’s Tipsy Department comes from Lam Duong, the boundary-breaking founder of Hybrid, which remarkably appeared in Asia’s 50 Best Bars extended 51-100 list in 2021 despite its off-the-beaten path location in beachside Nha Trang. 

Buoyed by its success, he returned to Saigon to open Hybrid here too. Currently, that bar is on the move from its location off Le Thi Rieng Street. But there’s plenty to keep Lam and head bartender Campari Bartender Vietnam Competition 2019 winner Nguyen Huu Phu busy here.

All the molecular modernist gadgetry has been brushed aside for an in-your-face menu of cheap drinks, shots, and cocktails on tap, and some bawdy bar snacks. That attitude is reflected in the dive bar decor, with lots of goofy 80s and 90s pop references.  

Aviation Chamber 

In the same alley as The Liquid House and Tre Eatery & Bar, Aviation Chamber (12T3 Nguyen Thi Ninh Khai, District 1) is a homely treasure. There are antique table lamps and old wooden cabinets, and assorted throw-back bric-à-brac, that give this cocktail bar in Ho Chi Minh City a cosy feeling.

Even the menus are works of art.

Each of the four leather bound, hand-drawn tomes “which took about four months to make” start off with a message from the Aviation Chamber team. “May your cup be filled with peace,” it says. It is, and it’s filled with some credible cocktails too, like their faintly smoky Dark Manhattan or their tropical take on an Old Fashioned. Each one is carefully sketched, and, flipping through the menu, there are dried flowers and sachets of spices and matcha affixed to the pages.

Cocktails aside, Aviation Chamber has an impressive collection of bottles – around 500 the team estimate. There’s an entire cabinet of absinthe at the end of the bar, and they’re currently hosting rum month, with tasting flights, and a collector’s book where you get a stamp for trying a taster or two of their Hampden 8, or their Indelible 11, that earn prizes at the end of the month.

Aviation Chamber moved to this location six months ago. But it feels right at home already. And so will you if you drop by.

Lost & Found

Tyler Maurice Kooy’s Lost & Found (19/6 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1) is upstairs in the old block as you head down this atmospheric alley. Inside Lost & Found, it’s equally characterful with retro-patterned upholstery and period floor tiles.

Lost & Found was inspired by a time when “linen suits were de rigueur and five o’clock follies were the weekday standard.” And Tyler and the team whip up eminently affordable throw-back classics (Martinis for VND 130K that are “stirred not shaken of course”) with lots of locally-inspired signatures, like the 1,2,3, yo! that’s a twist on the Dark & Stormy.

Rabbit Hole 

From the same team, and the predecessor to Angels’ Share, Rabbit Hole (138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1), as the name suggests, is a subterranean speakeasy right opposite the Reunification Palace, in thrall to the surrealist works of Rene Magritte, and the equally mind-bending Alice’s Adventures by Lewis Carroll. 

Rabbit Hole is a surprisingly large space, with an L-shaped bar at one end. Behind, the lounge-area has booth seating and central tables, and a piano at one end where the music regularly strikes up. 

Like its sister bar, Angels’ Share, which is only a short walk away, the array of bottles behind the bar is bedazzling – only here they’re more eclectic, reaching way beyond only whisky, although there’s lots of that too. 

Mixologist turned bar manager Kiddy Kawaii is there ensuring the classics and the avant garde signatures are up to scratch. And there’s a regular roster of guest shifts to keep things interesting, like Yi-Che Liao of Moonrock, and Ethan Liu and Lola Lau from Hope & Sesame.

Drinking & Healing 

We all need a little healing sometimes, and, contrary to doctors’ orders, alcohol is an effective medicine. Drinking & Healing’s ‘Healers,’ the bar’s name for its mixologists-as-therapists, are on hand here to dispense some remedies. 

Drinking & Healing (25 Ho Tung Mau, District 1) emerged alongside the first wave of speakeasies, playing a pivotal role in popularizing cocktail culture within the city. 

Fast forward a few years, and Drinking & Healing now draws a bustling crowd every evening. Housed within a historic building that boasts over 150 years of heritage, D&H occupies the top floor. 

Here, two intimate neon-lit smoking terraces offer patrons a chance to soak in the spectacular views of the Bitexco Tower up close. 

“At Drinking & Healing, we specialize in herbal infusions and elixirs, ingredients for drinks that are guaranteed to restore your health and vitality,” the team told us back in 2022. “And at our expansive bar, the ‘Healers’, our team of bartenders, are on hand to listen and then uplift your mood with a bespoke cocktail.”

Once they have, you might want to go and explore. It’s a fascinating area, a low-rise Ward minutes from the downtown chaos of District 1. You really could spend a whole evening wandering around here.

Madam Kew

When Madam Kew (37bis Ky Con, District 1) opened in 2020, it created quite a buzz. Co-owner Fabian Salvi fittingly described it as an “immersive opium-den-turned-bar with crafted cocktails and collectables.” 

Positioned above the ever-popular Quince and serving as a pre- or post-dinner location, it’s also a destination bar in its own rights, with ornate Chinoise design in a dimly lit space. 

The bar features counter seating and booths on the main floor, with more secluded seating upstairs for discreet gatherings. They also offer modern Chinese dishes that predominantly feature vegetarian ingredients. A standout menu item is their eggplant mapo tofu, where the whipped tofu envelops a flavorful mix of spicy shiitake mushrooms and eggplant.

And, like many of the best cocktail bars in Ho Chi Minh, listed here, entering Madam Kew whisks you out of this industrial end of Saigon’s District 1 to a dreamlike place where you could linger for hours. 

Plugs 

Plugs embodies the essence of a classic speakeasy. There’s  the elongated wooden bar, luxurious sofas, a piano, and walls adorned with retro art and prints. 

Tucked away in the shadowy end of Yersin Street, Plugs (11 Yerson, District 1) offers an escape into the bygone era. As you approach, the bar is a beacon of warmth. Dat Thanh Luu, the visionary behind Plugs and a Bacardi Ambassador, believes firmly in the power of cocktails to uplift spirits. 

He has curated an exceptional menu divided into four intriguing sections: classics, modern classics, twisted classics, and signatures, each paying homage to timeless sophistication while embracing innovation. “In a world overrun by fleeting trends, we anchor ourselves in the timeless,” he told us when they opened two years ago.

The menu takes you on a journey starting with the Spumoni, a blend of bitter and refreshing flavors, followed by the Killer in Red, a concoction of sweet floral notes. The Evening offers a creative take on the Vesper Martini, leading finally to the Plugroni, a signature twist that epitomizes the bar’s inventive spirit.

You might want to venture upstairs too, to discover a secluded dining room that doubles as a poker room, offering a private haven for those in the know.

419.Center – Cocktails Bar

419.Center is another bar in Nguyen Thai Binh Ward of downtown District 1. You enter through a case of cameras, in the back room of a small cafe in this old courtyard, which is as tricky to locate as it sounds. There’s usually a person or two in the cafe, looking out for stray guests who will usher you in to 419.Center (158/6 Nguyen Cong Tru, District 1).

Inside, it’s another surprisingly large venue, with a strong Japanese aesthetic, that spreads over two floors. Mostly, the action happens around the downstairs bar, where the team turn out on-point cocktails, and lots of highballs and house sake, signature cocktails (try their Coldcut Negroni with brie-infused Mezcal), and izakaya classics to go with them – hunky skewers and juicy karaage.

The Arth

Phileas Fogg would have admired The Arth’s attention to period details. Entering the space, on the first floor, you can’t quite comprehend how The Arth (1st Floor, 222 Nguyen Cong Tru, District 1) could be so big, with its high ceiling and mezzanine. 

Then there’s the exquisite art deco back bar, the skylight perfect for stargazing, and the prominent railway station clock on the opposite wall. 

Situated in the burgeoning Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, The Arth offers live music, featuring the soothing sounds of a saxophone, and serves up classic cocktails that complement the era-evoking decor.

Nhau Nhau

The Hong Kong-based designer Sean Dix reimagined this space in the tube house above Anan Restaurant as a jade tiled tribute to the golden age of swinging Saigon rock and soul. You can still order from the MICHELIN-star Anan menu, but the real stars at Nhau Nhau (89 Ton That Dam, District 1) are the cocktails.

 

The proprietor, Peter Cuong Franklin, the B.A.R. Awards Restaurant Icon Of The Year 2023, and Finn, the chatty bartender, are usually to be found there tinkering with local spirits, like their shot of Rượu Bàu Đá, a rice wine from Quy Nhon, served with a friend cricket and some homemade chili sauce. 

The coconut worm shots are rightly (in)famous too, with the chubby grubs caramelized and served atop a rum-based shot. For the less adventurous, any of the signatures will do – a Phở Cocktail with a smoking piece of cinnamon and star anise on the top, or Nhau Nhau’s Tamarind Whisky Sour. 

BOO SG Cocktail Bar 

BOO SG Cocktail bar is in the same characterful, downtown wet market. Watch out for the sign as you pass by the market’s vegetable and fruit stalls. 

At BOO SG Cocktail Bar (119 Ton That Dam, District 1) former World Class Vietnam winner, The Vinh, takes an ingredient-centric approach to the drinks – incorporating produce like seaweed from Nha Trang, or persimmons from Dalat. 

But, naturally for a World Class winner – a competition in which the exacting final round requires the skillful and speedy production of classic cocktails drawn at random – at BOO SG Cocktail Bar, the Classic Martini and house Negroni are as much of a draw.

Snuffbox

“Join us if you can find us,” Snuffbox’s socials tease. The do have a point. This old apartment block doesn’t look like much from the outside. But inside is a confederation of indie cafes and arty spaces.

There’s My House, for example, a unique loft concept bar, and there’s Snuffbox (14 Ton That Dam, District 1) too, one of the first speakeasies in town, which opened in late 2015.

Step inside, and you’re transported to the opulence of the Gatsby era. The ambiance is complemented by classic jazz-era cocktails such as Mint Juleps and Dry Martinis. Additionally, the venue comes alive with regular live music on Fridays, and Saturdays.

The Hammond 

Opening its doors last October, stepping into The Hammond (279 Hoang Sa, District 1) transports you to a bygone era reminiscent of your grandfather’s favorite drinking spot. 

The establishment is furnished with soft, brown leather sofas offering cozy seating arrangements, while an eclectic mix of lamps, a model sailboat atop an intriguing antique trunk, and a grand gramophone set the scene with a vintage ambiance. 

However, the highlight remains the selection of spirits, each showcased on the backlit bar as a treasured artifact, making the libations the centerpiece of The Hammond’s allure. The large terrace overlooking the canal is an atmospheric spot to sip on a cocktail too. 

The Best Cocktail Bars In Binh Thanh District

The Hermit 

Despite only being 27, Conor Nguyen has an impressive list of achievements under his belt. After all, he’s renowned for his work as the author of Vietnam’s revered bartending guide, Cau Chuyen Cocktail. 

Additionally, Conor is the proud owner and creator of The Hermit (47 Pham Viet Chanh, Binh Thanh), a cozy cocktail bar located in Saigon’s trendy Pham Viet Chanh neighborhood. Beyond his professional successes, Conor’s exceptional maturity shines through, portraying him as a person with an old soul. And a menu of well-balanced cocktails that take inspiration from The Tarot Deck. 

He’s often on hand to perform Tarot readings at the bar – the name of which, The Hermit, derives from The Hermit card found in a traditional arcana tarot deck. ‘

And each of the 12 cocktails featured on the signature menu is symbolic of a Tarot card. For instance, The Empress, characterized by a flowing red cape in its card, is crafted from a whole watermelon: its sweet, crimson juice is combined with tequila and soda, the green skin is dried for the salt rim, and the rind is pickled for a zesty garnish. The Lovers cocktail is naturally sweet, boasting tropical notes of pineapple, banana, and dark chocolate, while The Moon cocktail shines in golden hues with brandy, honey, and salted egg yolk.

Tủ Bar

Tủ Bar could be gimmicky. After all, you enter through a wardrobe. But as you pass from the alley outside, and between the hanging jackets, and take the intrepid step through the back of the wardrobe, it’s quickly clear that this bar is serious. 

Perhaps it first hits you when the perfume applied to the hanging clothes in the wardrobe hits your nose. It’s the kind of small detail that’s replicated in the cultured cocktails served by Toan and the team. 

Each drink comes with an elaborately plated snack – because peanuts are so passé – like scallops with caviar, or tempura burdock, and the drinks, like their Connaught Bar-inspired Martini, are masterful. 

Plus, although this may not be for everyone, at this Saigon cocktail bar you can smoke. Fortunately, the space and the ventilation keep the space as fresh and fragrant as the clothes in the wardrobe.

Birdy Bar

It’s refreshing that in an age of social media marketing, Birdy Bar (80 Pham Viet Chanh, Binh Thanh) really doesn’t give a f*ck. They’ve rebuffed our requests for interviews in the past. And we admire them for it. This small, neighborhood bar really couldn’t seat many more people than it already does. 

Birdy Bar’s proprietor Ken is often around, sipping on a Negroni with a few friends. And so, it seems, is half of the population of the nearby City Garden apartments. 

Given the chance, Ken might describe Birdy as a cozy eight-seat neighborhood counter bar, located between a street noodle stall and a local coffee shop, serving classic beverages to a soundtrack of vintage and contemporary tunes.

The other elements of Birdy Bar’s recipe are simple too. Take a happy hour that starts at 2PM and ends at 8PM, when there’s 30% off all cocktails. And add that to an already affordable and extensive menu of drinks that includes everything from Bloody Marys (120K) to New York Sours (160K), with wine and beer, and sake and shochu too. Add some nice benches outside to watch the inebriated tripping between the bars of Pham Viet Chanh, and you have the perfect neighborhood hangout. 

Legato 

Legato Bar (126 Pham Viet Chanh, Binh Thanh) is a find. You wouldn’t expect to discover such a refined cocktail bar at this ramshackle end of Pham Viet Chanh. But here it is, minding its own business and unselfconsciously nodding away to live jazz music (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9PM) punctuated by the sound of a cocktail shaker now and again. 

With its wide open window and small yard outside, you might hear the music as you walk down the alley. It’s worth following the sound. 

Inside, the ambience is homely. There’s an island-style counter where you can get up close and personal with the bartenders, and another room where the music happens. On the shelves is a mix of jazz records, arty books, and bottles of Laphroag and Michters – as Legato serves up single malts and bourbon as happily as their classic cocktails. 

The Best Cocktail Bars In District 2

86 Proof Whiskey Bar 

Since they swapped sides of the street, and opened up the terrace at the Thao Dien Street end of Xuan Thuy, 86 Proof Whiskey Bar (109 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien) has become the defacto spot for sundowners. The happy hour from 4PM to 7PM helps, and so does the impeccable sense of hospitality.

86 Proof Whiskey Bar describes itself, with some justification, as unpretentiously boujee, with a similarly backed-up claim to serve the city’s best Whiskey Sour – from a menu of 9 different sours. 

There are some delectable signatures too, like their Lady Marmalade, with Four Pillars Spiced Negroni, orange marmalade, yuzu sake, lychee liqueur, and a sprig of rosemary. Or there’s their equally aromatic vodka-based Lemongrass Ginger Martini. And the whiskey menu is extensive to say the least, staggering joyfully from Speyside and the Highlands of Scotland to the foothills of the Himalayas – well, Port John’s uses barley from the north of India but it’s distilled and matured in Goa.

Mámi Cocktails – Kitchen & Bar

A few doors away from 86 Proof, and from the same team, Mámi Cocktails – Kitchen & Bar (97A Xuan Thuy) is a joyful expression of modern Thao Dien. 

At Mámi Cocktails, guests, whether gathered around the lively open kitchen or seated in the upstairs area, or on the row of seats out  front, are promised an atmosphere brimming with energy, friendly and attentive service, delectable tapas – including specialties like king fish ceviche tostada and croquetas stuffed with manchego cheese – and exceptional cocktails. 

These creations boldly defy the low ABV trend, featuring concoctions such as the fiery Hypeball with mezcal, chili, and cantaloupe, or the Bushmills-based, fig-infused Notorious F.I.G. Moreover, the generous four-hour happy hour, running daily from 4-8PM, offers the perfect opportunity to savor these and many other delights.

Con Voi

Con Voi is another bar that feels like it could only exist in Thao Dien. It’s a neighborhood spot close to the omakase music room, Kanpai, on the central side street of Ngo Quang Huy. Or, as they put it, “a homegrown bar for your late night drinks.” Which is fitting as they reluctantly only close at 2AM on the weekends. 

The modest matt black exterior conceals Con Voi’s collectors approach to its stock of gins, with South Australian 23rd Street Gin and handcrafted Italian Aqua Luce in its elegant jade-colored glass bottle. 

Racha Room 

Although Racha Room (105-107 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien) has retreated from its first location in District 1, it’s right at home here on Xuan Thuy. 

There’s the iconic graffiti elephant on the wall, and the same balance of Thai and Asian cuisine – bao buns stuffed with chargrilled beef and stir-fried spicy frog legs – and craft cocktails, like their riff on the Margarita, their Racha Senorita, or their tropically attuned Lady Luck, with Lady Trieu Contemporary Gin, and lots of fruitiness from ambarella and calamansi. 

The 1800 tequila marries with a spice-infused red wine in this Margarita riff, and a little pizzazz of laab spice powder to rim the glass transforms the drink into a captivating elixir!

Dram Bar

Dram Bar is a dapper spot, above Thao Dien’s Stoker Woodfired Grill & Bar (there’s another Stoker in District 1 in case you’re downtown and hungry).

You could happily gulp down a cut of dry-aged beef and a glass of wine or two at Stoker, and then head upstairs for a nightcap. But Dram Bar (2 Dang Huu Pho, District 2), is a destination in its own rights, offering an intimate experience and some classy cocktails.

And Dram Bar (and Stoker) which is from the same team as Firkin, offers a similar inviting atmosphere.

It also shares the same commitment to the era of sophisticated speakeasies, only this time they’ve taken the vibe to Saigon’s expat enclave of Thao Dien. Guests are welcomed by a cozy horseshoe-shaped bar, where the team, this time, have taken on ‘forgotten classics’ – a nice counterpoint to the remastered classics at Firkin. So, drinks include their Burnt Fuselage, a rich, balanced bygone beverage based on cognac and Grand Marnier.

There’s a pool table and chess sets, but mostly, all eyes are on the mixology.

Lost Birds 

True to its evocative name, Lost Birds Cocktail Bar, you might have become disoriented at this end of Xuan Thuy a year or two ago. Now, it’s a walking street on the weekend, with rooftop bars, pizzerias and beer clubs. 

On this lively strip is Lost Birds. This cocktail bar is a haven for those seeking refuge. It’s discreetly nestled among the Thao Dien’s urban landscape which is amplified by the dive bar design. The walls are crumbling and there’s an industrial, warehouse-like vibe, something like a dimly lit bar in Berlin.

Instead of a traditional backbar, bottles are strung along the bar’s outer edge. And, in the center, the bartenders masterfully craft what might be the city’s best Negroni. 

ASMR 

The name ASMR is not only a nod to the sensory experience it aims to evoke but also cleverly reflects the diverse segments of the cocktail menu. As the team told us when they first opened, “A stands for acid, featuring cocktails with sour and fermented notes; S for sweet and sour, introducing flavors like honey, chocolate, and citrus; M for molecular, showcasing cocktails with foam, bubbles, and smoke; and R for rich, including drinks made with milk, oils, and butter.”

It’s another tenacious cocktail bar in Thao Dien. 

Designed with minimalism in mind, the space features a central counter surrounded by seating on three sides, complemented by a handful of tables scattered throughout. However, simplicity does not detract from the bar’s core mission: to offer warm hospitality alongside exquisite cocktails.

ASMR distinguishes itself as a creative cocktail bar where modern mixology techniques come to life. Guests can expect to enjoy their innovative drinks in a cozy atmosphere, all set to a compelling, occasionally banging, soundtrack.

Xào Xạc Bar

Helmed by Tam Nguyen, one of the city’s most esteemed bartenders, Xào Xạc Bar (39/5 Street 59, Thao Dien), seamlessly blends into its verdant garden surroundings. 

This establishment features a radiant, green, glass terrarium bar, complemented by wooden furnishings. 

Embracing sustainability, the menu highlights local and seasonal herbs and fruits, enhancing the dining experience with freshness. The green oasis, adorned with blooming flowers and fruit trees, not only beautifies the space but also serves as a haven for bees and insects within the urban landscape of Thao Dien which is developing at a dizzying pace.

What You Should Look For In The Best Bars In Ho Chi Minh City

Preferences are very personal. But certain considerations are universal. Budget is one of them.

These days some Saigon cocktail bars are premium priced. At the higher end expect to pay around $15 USD for a drink. But, in this list we’ve included lots of happy hours, when drinks, as with Layla’s happy hour, are only VND 99K, or around $4 USD. And the drinks at a Ho Chi Minh cocktail bar like 86 Proof, are only slightly more expensive during their happy hour. 

The occasion is also relevant. Lots of these bars are dark and seductive, like Tủ Bar, lending themselves to dates or private conversations. Others are reliably rowdy – like Drinking & Healing or Tipsy Department – perfect for a catch-up with old friends or for a late-night last drink before heading home. 

Finally, drink preferences can be an important factor when choosing the best bars in Ho Chi Minh City. Prefer a well-made classic? Then try somewhere with Japanese attention to detail – say Yugen or Baron Bar. Want to explore the outer limits of modern mixology? Then try Enigma Mansion or Hybrid (once it’s found a new home). Want to have a refined night sampling rare spirits? Then PK Maltroom, Aviation Chamber or Angels’ Share would all suffice.