Dramatic, stimulating and, at times, a little chaotic, the allure of Vietnam’s largest city wastes no time in gripping you, and once it does, it won’t let go.
The non-stop buzz of Ho Chi Minh’s streets is addictive, offering something new and exciting at every twist and turn. Amongst it all, a plethora of world-class cocktail joints and a new generation of innovative mixologists adding another exciting layer to the city’s already famous nightlife.
However, with many of Ho Chi Minh’s best drinking dens hidden away in old, seemingly dilapidated or still semi-residential apartment blocks, finding them isn’t always a straightforward task.
To help you on your way, here are some of Ho Chi Minh’s best hidden cocktail bars to visit if you’re planning a trip…
A couple of twists and turns away from Ho Chi Minh Square, Lost Drink and Chill is more comparable to an impressive stately home thanks to its immense high ceilings, striking arches and a cascading balcony that overlooks the theatrics of the bar.
Popular with both locals and tourists, the bar stools are prime spot for anyone wanting to be swept up in the the infectious frenzy of Friday night Ho Chi Minh, while hidden little nooks in an the adjoining room provide a more laid-back setting for those who prefer to take it all in from afar.
As the name suggests, Refined’s interior is sleek and stripped back, employing aged floorboards and polished dark woods that blend beautifully with lashings of deep emerald marble and textiles.
By day, when the space doubles up as a coffee shop, the room captures natural light quite wonderfully, making it a great spot to work or catch up with friends. After dark, though, chandeliers and spotlights bring out the bar’s moodier, brooding side, transforming it into an opulent cocktail haven.
Even the menus are slick, coming in vintage magazine format, with a gorgeous double-page spread dedicated to each expertly crafted drink, which for the record, are equally as impressive.
Emme House certainly does a fantastic job of keeping itself hidden, accessible via the street below, through an unmarked, narrow apartment entrance that will 100% have you questioning whether the place actually exists. Once you eventually discover the right building, head up a couple of flights of stairs and you’ll find a small note, accompanied by a bell which you can ring to get in.
The bar’s concept, and name, is inspired by the different stages of love, with handwritten poems scattered around its walls. Elegant and incredibly intimate, drinks are lovingly prepared for all to see by a long communal table that fills the majority of the room, while a vintage record player murmurs away in the background.
If most bars on this list so far have been somewhat understated, then The Iron Bank is definitely a change of pace. Its eccentricity begins at the entrance, which is an old-fashioned vault door, and continues inside where the team has done a stellar job of capturing the essence of a mediaeval era castle.
Gothic fixtures and concrete walls are dimly illuminated by flickering candlelight to create an atmosphere that somehow strikes a balance between grand and over the top while being cosy and inviting all the same.
The menu is split into two sections: Old Money, where you’ll find your staple Old Fashioneds, Negronis and Martinis, and New Money, which is filled with a variety of forward-thinking signature concoctions crafted by the super-friendly bar team.
Conveniently located in the same apartment block as both Memento and Refined, Snuffbox immediately feels like everything a proper speakeasy should be. Step through a metal shutter and slightly battered-looking wooden door and be immersed in a 1920s-style prohibition lounge, littered with Gatsby-esque art deco motifs and patterns.
Cocktails are prepared meticulously and with elite precision, making them a fitting accompaniment to the bar’s painfully stylish backdrop.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Mon 30 Sep 2024
Located on the top floor of a 130-year-old apartment complex, Memento’s entrance is concealed behind a false bookshelf and four flights of stairs — a climb which is worth every last step.
Inside, chic, nature-inspired pastel hues, worn vintage furniture and retro bric-a-brac transports guests to a place which feels worlds away from the chaos of Ho Chi Minh’s financial district which rumbles beneath.
Pick from an in-depth menu of classics and signatures, or, and we wholeheartedly recommend this, tell the bar team what sort of flavours you like, and let them create something completely bespoke to suit your taste.