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10 Best Bars in Hanoi for Creative Cocktails and Inspiring Menus

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2 months ago

Flaming cocktails, drinks inspired by the streets of Hanoi, and bars considered some of the best in Asia – they might even give cocktail bars in Hong Kong a run for their money. Come and get your drink on at some of the best bars in Hanoi

Imaginative, vibey, trendy, and even rooftop bars with mesmerizing city views, this list will leave you feeling extra thirsty — pun intended. 

Living in Hanoi for six years, when I first arrived I really struggled to find amazing bars that level up to the bars in, say Bangkok, New York, and London. Honestly, the number of times I had to settle for a bar which stocked low-quality liquor or fake booze at that, I cannot tell you (not to mention the awful hangovers that followed as a result). 

But luckily that’s all changed over the years, and these spots are banging. And you best believe they use premium liquor only. I’ll cheers to that! 

Travel tip: Hanoi is ridiculously affordable. If you do stumble across a local bar where cocktails and drinks prices seem too good to be true, best you check the labels and what spirits you’re actually drinking. If you’re anything like me, I am quite the fussy drinker, but for good reason. 

Hanoi’s best bars

1. The Haflington – Award winners of the best bar in Hanoi (confirmed)

Walking down an unassuming alleyway, the last thing you’d expect to find is one of Asia’s 50th-best bars

Prepare to be dazzled by The Haflington, a speakeasy gentlemen’s style bar that feels like somewhere in South America circa the 1950s. In actual fact, it takes inspiration from some of the most famous museums around Europe — different continents, I know, but when you catch sight of the interiors, you’ll understand my thinking. All in all, it exudes a very magical and mystical vibe; some drinks even look like potions

There are two floors to cocktail it up, and drinks are full of flair and imagination. The menu is titled ‘a museum of cocktails,’ and ranges from classic tipples to modern concoctions. If there’s one drink to try it’s got to be the flaming (yup, it’s literally on fire) Forest Americano. Feel the fantasy in the air when ordering drinks like ‘Silver Lining,’ ‘Moonlit Elixir,’ and ‘Sipping Stars.’

2. Gallery Bespoke Cocktail Bar – “Where cocktails meet art”

If you love a cocktail bar where mixologists whip up drinks for you based on your personal preferences, then Gallery Bespoke Cocktail Bar is the place to be. So if you think about it, you’ll never have the same drink twice. 

As ambient as ever, the interiors are warm and moody, and the main wall is dripping in poster frames from floor to ceiling, making for an epic photo backdrop. There’s always live music to amp up the mood, too. 

A lot of thought goes into the cocktails, and the presentation is out of this world. For example, Level 333 is a spooky recreation of a dead man’s feast, but in drink form, and the rim of the glass is topped with tomatoes, smoked cheese, and nuts. Or, there’s a cocktail on fire looking like lava exploding from the glass. It is epically theatrical – and I’m a big fan.     

3. Tannin Wine Bar – Premium champers, vino and prosecco  

With a selection of more than 500 wines and champagnes to choose from, Tannin Wine Bar focuses on vinos and bubbles more so than cocktails — but hey, some drinkers prefer the simplicity of an excellent glass of wine over drinks made with all sorts of booze. However, if you are in the mood for hardtack, they only use premium spirits. There are also classic aperitifs like the Spritz.

Open from 4 pm, don’t miss Happy Hour which runs daily until 7 pm. There’s also a private on-site wine cellar. There’s a reason one it’s one of the best bars in Hanoi for wine-drinkers.

Expect bottles from top wine-producing countries like France, South Africa, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the USA. Also, for all our champagne snobs, in case you were wondering, yes, their champagne DOES hail from France/the Champagne region. It is real champers, not “bubbly.” There’s also prosecco straight from Italia

4. Funtasia Cocktail & WineBar – Whimsical and romantic 

It feels as if you’ve stepped onto the pages of an olden-day fantasy novel at Funtasia Cocktail & Wine Bar. Monarch butterflies are pinned in thick frames with dried botanicals alongside it, neon signage brightens the moss-green walls, and red velvet sofas overlook A-frame “windows” of painted scenes. 

A lovely spot for couples, the names of the cocktails are really romantic. ‘Cloudy Confection,’ ‘Rouge Romance,’ ‘Peachy Illusion’ — how dreamy do they sound?!

Funtasia also hosts loads of cool events, where drinking games and DJs are all part of the fun, and they often have guest mixologists taking over the show. No wonder it’s one of the best bars in Hanoi. 

5. ZODIAC – Mixology And Wine – For inventive cocktails

To be dead honest, I’d come here just for the name. I’m all about the zodiac (Miss. Libra over here). Anyhow, with a name like ZODIAC you can expect a bit of mysticism, especially on the drinks front. 

The signature menu is inspired by Chinese mythology, specifically the ‘Five Elements of traditional Asian metaphysics,’ and is designed to represent the concept of yin and yang. The ‘Botanist’ is for gin-lovers (made with gin, pisco, and peach liqueur); ‘Highland Hues’ is for tequila fans (mezcal, coffee liqueur, and lemon juice); and the ‘Path to Zen’s’ main liquor is naked malt (made with cacao and apricot liqueurs, apple, Parmigiano cheese, and Angostura bitters).   

Also, they do special evenings like wine and cupcake pairings. I did this exact pairing at a wine farm in Cape Town, and the combo works really well! 

6. Polite & Co – Fancy schmancy whiskey lounge 

Way back in the day (I’m talking 2014) before Hanoi really blew up on the tourist scene, there were hardly any trendy bars around the town. However, Polite & Co has been around since 1995, and I frequented this bar when in the mood for an amazing glass of wine and the smooth sounds of jazz. It’s right around the corner from the Cathedral. 

Bottles and bottles of booze line the walls, gorgeous green ferns brighten up dimly lit corners, and top hats doubling as lampshades hang from the ceiling. It screams an old-school gentleman’s club, and they still host live jazz nights every Friday. There are more themed nights: Tuesdays are “Gentlemen’s Night” and Wednesdays are “Wine Day.”

Whiskey connoisseurs: this is one of the most well-known bars for excellent, top-shelf whiskey.  

7. Ne Cocktail Bar – Inspired by Vietnam 

“Never have I ever … had a pho and sticky rice cocktail before!” I’ll drink to that. 

As you’d expect, Ne Cocktail Bar is inspired by its beloved country, and cocktails aim to recreate scenes, destinations, and iconic counterparts of Vietnam — down to the last tee including the glassware and ingredients. For example, the Flaming Red City cocktail is modeled after Hai Phong near Cat Ba Island, Ha Long Bay side. The drink recreates a famous crab vermicelli noodle dish from this region, and every cup is a story. 

You can rest assured you’re in fantastic mixology hands, as Ne’s mixologists often compete in world championships, proving just why it’s one of the best bars in Hanoi!

Rooftop bars in Hanoi 

Among the list of best bars in Hanoi, there are also some jaw-dropping rooftop bars around the city. 

8. Majesty Sky Bar – For insane views over Hoan Kiem

As the stars come out to play in Hanoi, the city lights take over, but the craziness never subsides. It’s one of the things I love most about the capital. With sweeping views of busy Hoan Kiem, you feel away from the madness from atop Majesty Sky Bar, but still part of the vibe at the same time. 

Overseeing Hoan Kiem Lake, its panoramic views are a perfect vantage point for taking bird’s eye photographs above the lake — the iconic Red Bridge (the Huc Bridge) looks amazing from this angle at night. 

But enough about the vistas, down to business. The signature cocktail menu boasts drinks like the ‘Holy Grail,’ ‘Hand of Midas,’ and the ‘Sword of King Arthur.’ If you haven’t guessed it by now, these are all based on royalty and mythological characters. Along with the cocktails and wine menu, there’s also a canape and food menu if you’re hungry. 

9. Moonlight Sky Bar  – Cheers to the Long Bien Bridge 

Ma May is a legendary street within the Old Quarter, where a bulk of the hottest and busiest bars, beer hois, backpackers, and clubs are. 

Right among the heave, or rather, above it, is the famed Moonlight Sky Bar! Plus, from this vantage point, you can see one of the most iconic sites of Hanoi, the famous steel Long Bien Bridge. It was one of the first bridges in all of Vietnam erected by the French in 1899, and it’s still a masterpiece of architecture.  

An octagon-shaped bar is smack bang in the middle of the rooftop, and there’s an upper viewing platform for drinking in the raised scenery around you (and for taking photos, duh). 

Sundowner sessions mean buy-one-get-one-free and the drinks menu is made up of signature cocktails (order the Red River, named after the Red River flowing through Hanoi and below the Long Bien Bridge), beers, wine, and spirits.  

Bar-hopping tip: Headed up by the same brand behind Moonlight Sky Bar, another divine rooftop bar to visit from this group is the Lighthouse Sky Bar on Hang Be Street. It’s also in the Old Quarter.    

10. Terraço Sky Bar – For a taste of Hanoi

Not only is Terraço Sky Bar an epic rooftop bar, but this is a vibey destination if you’re in the mood for a little boogie and not up for the typical backpacking crowds of party animals who flock around the Old Quarter. 

Also overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, the cocktail list here is inspired by the essence of Hanoian culture with a playful twist. For example, the Hoan Kiem District cocktail is mixed with gin, Blue Curacao, orange marmalade, lime, egg white, and chocolate bitters. Then, there are the other signatures, all also named after the different areas of Hanoi including Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Tay Ho, and Hoang Mai

Prefer to keep things simpler? Choose from their classic cocktail or mocktail list, or go with a mixed drink instead. Sipping back on a cocktail in hand, lap up the city views from one of the best bars in Hanoi.


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