The Word Ha Noi

World famous jazz pianist Niels Lan Doky, born to a Vietnamese father and Danish mother, will perform in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this month.

The British Business Group Vietnam (BBGV) will host their Christmas bash on Friday Dec. 2 at the Hanoi Hilton Opera.

Kicking off at 6pm, the event costs VND400,000 for BBGV members and VND600,000 for non-members, and includes free-flow cocktails and drinks, Christmas canapés, charity raffle prizes and live entertainment.

To register for the Christmas Cocktails in Hanoi, contact Nga at bbgvhanoi@bbgv.org or call 04 6794 0945. The Hilton Hanoi Opera is at 1 Le Thanh Tong, Hoan Kiem, Hoan Kiem

Piano rock / baroque Hanoi-based duo Bread & Circus will be headlining at Cine Sessions on Wednesday Nov. 30.

Au Lac House
13 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3933 3533
A well-executed restoration project that has turned a prominent French building into a fine dining venue that lacks the gaudiness of others. Stylish fans and wall lights sit nicely with the 1920s ambiance. Mains range from VND150,000 to VND300,000.

Barbeque Chicken Street
Ly Van Phuc, Ba Dinh
A small lane off Nguyen Thai Hoc turns into BBQ central after around 6pm. Many entreaties to “sit please” as you pass the slew of stalls. The last one on the right is particularly friendly and good. Grilled chicken or ribs with sweet sauce, sweet potatoes, even grilled bread.

Bia Minh
7 Dinh Liet, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3934 5323
Really as much a beer hall as it is a restaurant, Bia Minh has a range of cheap Vietnamese dishes – can’t go wrong with the fried rice for VND35,000 – as well as Western fare such as sandwiches and attempt at a pizza. Second floor balcony offers a relaxing view of the busy area.

Bun Bo Nam Bo
67 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3923 0701
According to many, the best Bun Bo Nam Bo in the city. Usually quite packed, it’s really just a hall with long metal tables. The large portions the southern specialty – white bun noodles and beef, herbs, peanuts – comes quickly. Maybe not HCMC standards, but as close as you’ll get here.

Bun Cha Hang Manh
1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem
Just North of Hang Bong and the last house on the right is this popular bun cha place known for its large portions and deep-fried crab spring rolls. Prices are more expensive than elsewhere, with the average (but very large) portion of bun cha costing around VND30,000, with the meat is barbecued to a T.

Cha Ca La Vong
107 Nguyen Truong To, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3823 9875
A fish restaurant long popular with tour groups serving the unique kind of grilled fish made famous on Cha Ca Street. Excellent bun bo and a good setting also make it a great place to head with a bunch of friends.

Chim Sao
65 Ngo Hue, Hai Ba Trung
Tel: 3976 0633
Long-running Vietnamese restaurant often packed to the brim with locals as well as foreigners wanting to feast on the slightly more upmarket fare. Reproduction and antique furniture fill the downstairs area, while the upstairs follows the sit-on-the-floor concept increasingly popular in Hanoi.

Club Opera Novel
17 TrangTien, HoanKiem,
Tel: 39728001
An upscale restaurant near the Opera House with a luxurious first floor lounge that is a perfect spot for a midday coffee or evening drink with close friends. The modern French interior, coupled with about 70 Vietnamese dishes and a nice selection of wines make this restaurant a classy choice in the heart of HoanKiem District.

Com Chay
79A Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3942 4140
Straight down the road from the train station, tucked away in a maze-like series of alleys is one of Hanoi’s bestknown vegetarian restaurant. Prices range between VND60,000 and VND150,000 for large portions of tofu and fake meat-based dishes. A popular spot for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

Doan Xom Chao Ca
213 Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3829 5281
Perhaps some of the best chao ca in the city. This rice porridge with fish is garnished with healthy amounts of dill and other herbs, and, if you choose, strips of fried bread. The fish has no bones, unlike some other stalls that sell the same thing, and the porridge is close to the consistency of grits. One bowl is VND30,000. Beer is VND20,000.

Ha Bo Tung Xeo
64 Dao Tan, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3766 4480
Maybe not the most inviting joint, looks-wise, but the pseudo Vietnamese food here is unique and has a great reputation. Specializing in barbeque and spring rolls, this is one of those places where meat is cooked on the table. Good cold beer and rice liquor.

Highway4
3 Hang Tre, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3926 4200
54 Mai Hac De, Hai Ba Trung
Tel: 3976 2647
575 Kim Ma, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3771 6372
With four locations around the Hanoi area, Highway4 aims to give a complete dining experience, an opportunity to enjoy an extensive introduction to Vietnamese food and drink in a truly traditional setting. The extensive menu reflects the abundant cultures of the mountainous region of northern Vietnam, fused with international cuisines.

KiTi Restaurant
38 Hang Hom, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3928 7241
www.kitirestaurant.com
This small, comfortably designed restaurant offers a weekend set menu to die for. The Kiti special seafood spring rolls, grilled beef in green pepper sauce and tiger shrimp in black bean sauce get many mouths watering. Also features western fare such as steaks, salads and chips

La Coopérative
46 An Duong, Tay Ho
Tel: 3716 6401
www.hoptacxa.net
A rustic, bare-brick and wooden beam look is centre to this eatery and drinking house run by the same people behind Chim Sao. Has a downstairs wine cellar-style dining area, an upstairs room for private functions and a separate, sit-on-the-floor rice wine area. Serves up both Vietnamese and French fare.

La Restaurant
25 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3928 8933
Comfortable surroundings, quality ingredients, a good selection of wines by the glass and a creative menu that mixes Vietnamese and western cuisine. Unfussy, well prepared food in a warm, intimate atmosphere makes this restaurant a popular choice.

La Verticale
19 Ngo Van So, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3944 6317
www.verticale-hanoi.com
This restaurant southwest of Hoan Kiem Lake features a blend of Vietnamese and international cuisine. Top-end prices reflect high quality dining on a splendid rooftop terrace. Presentation is superb, the bread is delicious, the decor is elegant and the staff very accommodating.
 
Pho Cuon Cha Ngan
10 Mac Dinh Chi, Tay Ho
In an area known for pho cuon, the dish of grilled beef wrapped in white rice noodle pancakes, this is one of the better ones. There are many versions of the dish, including one that is deep fried, with meat on top. Fried corn is also quite tasty.

Quan An Ngon
18 Phan Boi Chau, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3942 8162
Well-known establishment featuring the cuisine of rural Vietnam. Street food style minus the grungy setting means it often plays host to tourists. Always packed, Ngon is ideal for large groups as prices are cheap and the variety is massive.

Quan Hai San Ngon
199A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho
Elegant seafood restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Grilled okra, clams, salads and seafood rice cooked in clay pots are popular choices. An outside fountain and an ornate Asian pond in the front yard makes for a calm atmospheric meal. Mains range from around VND150,000.

Truc Lam Trai
39 Le Ngoc Han, Hai Ba Trung
Tel: 3278 1848
Newer restaurant that has made Hanoi a little easier on vegetarians. Serves a number of fake meat dishes that don’t lack in taste. Portions are large and soups also come highly recommended. You can get away with lunch for 1 for under VND60,000.

Viet Kitchen
24c Ba Trieu, Hoan Kiem
A menu that puts a little modern twist on traditional Vietnamese recipes, the specialty here is seafood. Eat your meal in the pleasant courtyard of an old colonial building. Full bar with good wine list. Entrees start at VND80,000.

Wild Lotus
55A Nguyen Du, Hai Ba Trung
Tel: 3943 9342
www.wildlotus.com.vn
Subdued lighting, warm colours and great decor, all mixed in with lotus flowers, help create the ambience for one of the city’s best-known Vietnamese restaurants. Popular with a mix of tourists and middle-class Vietnamese, prices are a little on the steep side and the cuisine is all about subtle flavours, great for many, but not for those obsessed with the sharper tastes of Hanoi street food. Nonetheless, a good selection of vegetarian dishes and certainly a place to experience.

Xoi Phuong
35 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3934 1950
A little corner stall that specialises in bowls of sticky rice with your choice of toppings, such as chicken, dried, benito-like fish and eggs. This place is open until the early hours, and a filling bowl of the stuff should cost around VND20,000. Beer is about the same price.

Angelina’s
15 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3826 6919
Self-styled Italian steakhouse-cum-nightclub in the Sofitel Metropole. Plastic chandeliers, industrial-style shelving, techno spun by a female DJ, amiable staff and an all-Italian wine list make up the mix, although location and five-star hotel status yank prices to some of the highest in town. One of the few top-end bars in Hanoi.

Avalon
73 Cau Go, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3926 0801
Occupying the top three floors of one of the taller buildings on the northernmost edge of Hoan Kiem, this café and lounge allows for fantastic views of the lake. Chic, well designed interior, as well as an airy rooftop balcony. Wide selection of cocktails and a food menu that is vegetarian friendly.

Bamboo Bar
15 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3826 6919
Inside the Metropole Hotel, the bar offers a poolside bamboo canopy and sophisticated cocktails. Perfect daytime spot to while away a few hours and get away from the ceaseless honking of Hanoi into an environment that is reminiscent of Indochine.

Daluva Wine
33 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho
Tel: 3718 5831
www.daluva.com
A popular hang-out for expats and trendy Vietnamese in the up-and-coming Xuan Dieu area on West Lake. This bar and restaurant offers casual dining with a classy twist, as well as wine, tapas, events and attractive décor. Additional services include catering, BBQ rentals, playroom, kids menu, takeaway and local delivery.

Derry’s
63 Truc Bach, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3715 0614
Often referred to as the ‘other’ Irish pub in Hanoi, this pleasant multi-storey bar has a great view over Truc Bach Lake, perfect to look out onto when you’re sipping away at Guinness or Jameson’s. Has an Irish-based food menu mixed in with a few Singaporean favourites as well as the full range of Irish beers and spirits. If you’re in the mood for something different, ask the bar about their home made liquors.

Dragonfly
15 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem
www.dragonfly.vn
This new location of the old favourite now features more space and atmosphere. Weekly nights include Russian Night on Wednesday and Ladies’ Night on Sunday. Cheap drinks and popular cocktail specials keep this venue busy.

Ete
95 Giang Van Minh, Dong Da
Tel: 7675 1331
ete_bar@yahoo.com
This tall, narrow café recently just got a sleek red and white make over and offers customers an airy space in which to enjoy excellent margaritas and tasty western fare. Popular with French expats, this is one of the best bars situated outside of the Old Quarter. Good selection of imported beers.

Easy Rider
55 Ma May, Hoan Kiem
A huge live music venue, billiards hall and nightclub smack bang in the middle of the Old Quarter. Pumping sound system, live rock room, a private VIP space and hookahs upstairs. Available to rent for functions.

Face Club
6 Hang Bai, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3627 00595
A dance club that used to be known as Loop. It has the same sleek interior, with colored lasers, a capable sound system and an adequately sized dance floor. Music runs the range from house to hip-hop to trance. Shisha pipes available.

Factory
11A BaoKhanh, HoanKiem
Set above street level over countless floors of bar and seating areas, this sophisticated but tastefully designed venue is adorned with a selection of gargantuan man-and-the-machine artwork, all set upon bare-brick walls. The work of artist Le Quang Ha, headless statues, a concrete and empty wine bottle bar and stage and an upstairs sheesha lounge and terrace make up the mix. Reasonable drinks prices are accompanied by regular live music.

Finnegan’s Irish Pub
16A Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3828 9065
finneganirishpub@yahoo.com.vn
A grungy, backpacker-friendly Irish pub that also doubles as an eatery specializing in Irish stews and pints of Guinness. Occasionally hosts local rock and roll cover bands in the early evening. A good venue for the live sport.

Fusion
25 Truc Bach, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3715 3004
www.fusion.vn
Three-storey Middle-Eastern styled lounge selling shisha and playing host to regular bellydance events and live music. Guests flock here for the great kebabs, Pakistani cuisine and reasonably priced drinks.

Funky Buddha
2 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3292 7614
Jumping on the neon bandwagon rather than being truly ‘funky’, this L-shaped bar provides a welcome alternative to the standard late-nite fare on Ta Hien. A DJ spins a mixture of techno and house, drinks remain cheap and a nightclub atmosphere pervades all. Halida starts at VND30,000 and mixers hit VND50,000.

Hair of the Dog
27 Hang Giay, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3292 1387
As the name implies, this dive bar is, erm, a real dive. Decorated in deep red and with an upstairs pool table area, badly crafted graffiti and a damp smell as well as cheap beer and a food menu are part of the game. Not a place to bring your first date.

Half Man, Half Noodle
62 Dao Duy Tu, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3926 1943
Popular expat watering hole with late hours, mellow vibes and a second floor games room with billiards, darts and other attractions. Serves western, Asian and Arabic food.

Halle Club
64 Nguyen Du, Hai Ba Trung
Tel: 3942 1745
Large-scale Vietnamese style nightclub, quite easy to spot from outside at night. Booths and tables surrounding a central stage are serviced by courteous, attractive girls, quick to light your cigarette and give you a dose of PR. The bass-heavy music is a perfect backdrop for the scantily clad dancing girls on stage. Not a place for good conversation.

Ho Guom Xanh Club
32 Le Thai To, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3828 8806
One of the older, more well-known Vietnamese nightclubs in the city, but not a dance club. Dozens of tall tables fill the large room and liquor sold by the bottle is mindfully poured by the abundant, smiling, mostly female staff. Here you can watch the girls dance on a stage complete with elevating platforms and live DJs. A place to be seen.

Infinity
12 Cho Gao, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3928 3869
New decked-out Vietnamese-style café-cum-bar. It may look like a night spot, but is also open during the day, and serves good soups, appetizers and snacks starting around VND30,000. Beer from VND25,000.

Irish Wolfhound
4 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hoan Kiem
Pleasant, open-fronted Old Quarter bar that sits you on the street while having the feel of an Irish watering hole. Cheap beer and a food menu add to the mix.

J.A.F.A.
Ciputra International City, Tay Ho
Tel: 3758 2400
One of the larger and more comfortable bars in Hanoi, J.A.F.A. is a great place for drinking cocktails by the pool. The beverages are not the cheapest, but this is made up for by service and ambiance. They also have a full menu featuring familiar western dishes such as pizza and cheeseburgers and cater for large parties or dinner functions. Offer periodic buffets and drink specials.

Jaspa's Lounge
23C Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3938 6555
www.alfrescosgroup.com

Formerly known as Jo Jo’s, this attractive space is first and foremost a wine bar serving up tasty, western-style fusion cuisine in an elegant setting. Black sofa chairs line the interior, providing the perfect place to park up and chow down. Part of the Al Fresco’s Group.

Jewel of the Delta
Chuong Duong Do, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 01273 066880
www.jewelofthedelta.com
Now the city has one more bar on a boat. Although it docks in the same area as Solace, this one actually moves. Regularly hosting special events, they offer a number of scheduled and private sunset cruises. Sunday has a two-and-a-half hour BBQ cruise. Also has an aircon shisha room. Call for more info.

La Scala
671 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3761 6812
A rarity in Hanoi: a bar with frequent musical events including salsa and reggae nights. On the east side of Westlake, the rooftop also offers splendid views of the city. A night spot for dinner, drinking and, if the crowd is there, dancing.

Le Pub
9 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho/25 Hang Be, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3926 2104
An eye-catching bar located in the heart of the old quarter. Decked out in bright maroon and furnished with dark wooden tables, benches and chairs, the relaxed atmosphere, solid menu and arguably the coldest beers in town causes Le Pub to draw a consistent expat crowd.

Lighthouse (Phuc Tan)
51 Phuc Tan, Hoan Kiem
Out-of-the-way grunge bar and nightclub with a back patio facing the banks of the Red River. Often open late, dance music tends to fills the air and its famous spotlight gives this venue its name. The closest you'll come to an all nighter.

Mao’s Red Lounge
7 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 3926 3104
This two-floored Bohemian looking bar is one of the go-to spots for anyone looking to quench their thirst in the Old Quarter. Run by the affable Mao, one of the faces of Hanoi’s bar scene, think super-cheap Halida beer, cheap mixers and you’ll get the idea. Open late.

May Pub
2 Nam Ngu, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 0917 897630
A curving neon sign marks the small entrance to May Pub, which stands on the corner of Nam Ngu and Phan Boi Chau. The pub hosts a laid-back bar atmosphere with old Hollywood photographs, free billiards and darts and low-key live music. The menu combines traditional cocktails with offerings like Russian string cheese — a late-night brew and dairy fix. Wednesday and Friday nights are Buy One Get One Free for ladies.

Model Club
45 Hang Bai, HoanKiem
A typical Hanoi-style night club with a difference – the models. Regular shows feature young Hanoian fashion designers and the even younger models who strut their stuff down the catwalk. Great if you like eye candy and something to look at while you down your top-shelf spirits.

Matador
41 Hang Giay, Ba Dinh
A Filipino-style band, exposed brickwork, bright lights, wagon wheel tables and a nominal Latino-cum-Wild-West theme make this place a popular spirit drinking and people watching spot with Hanoians. Bottles of the top shelf stuff go for between VND1million and VND2million while the food menu does the standard ‘thuc an nhanh’ range for VND79,000 a dish.

Noc View
19th Floor, 671 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3761 6812
Boasting one of the best views of West Lake, the sky-high bar has a regular rotating cast of DJs and musicians. The indoor room has a large stage and can easily fit 150 people. There are two outdoor spaces, too - one covered, the other open air. A lot of dancing, including salsa, happens here and prices for drinks and the barbecue are standard.

Nutz
The Sheraton Hotel, 11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho
Tel: 3719 9000
Busy nightclub located in the Sheraton Hotel popular with locals and Asian expats. The Lamborghini owners’ club of Hanoi make their base here alongside the capital’s glitterati. Dance the night away in the arms of Vietnam’s rich and famous and possibly a hostess girl or two as well, if that’s your kind of thing.

Pilsner Urquell
10 Nguyen Bieu, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3734 2288

Modeled after a brewery, bar and bowling alley in the Czech Republic, Pilsner Urquell has an old Europe feel — particularly in the private rooms lined with glass beer mugs, thick cuts of dark wood furniture and semi-circular booths. With the UN-meeting-of-a-menu, customers can choose from goose, noodles, fried apples, an assortment of cheeses and several other options. Perfect location for big group gatherings.

Polite Pub
5 Bao Khanh, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 4825 0959
This long running venue is one of the few remaining bars on Bao Khanh, once known as Pub Street. Offers its large expat clientele the comforts of home. Roasted peanuts, football and beer provide welcome distractions from the Vietnamese Women’s Pool Champion working behind the bar. Not a place for hustlers.

PUKU
16/18 Tong DuyTan, Ba Dinh
Now open 24 hours with a bar, this expat and local 'go-to' certainly belongs in the "bars" section as well as the "cafes" listings. Look out for live music events like the open mic nights as well as other shindigs to keep the loyal following occupied.

Q Pub
61 Luong Ngoc Quyen, HoanKiem
Tel: 0915 381180/ 0989 894545
qpubhanoi@gmail.com
A glitzy but spacious basement nightclub and bar focusing on the market preferring to buy their spirits by the bottle. High bar tables, attractive hostesses and nightly DJs playing a mixture of trance and house make up the mix.

R & R Tavern
10 Tho Nhuom, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 6295 8215
www.rockandrolltavern-hanoi.com
Recently relocated, this airy and spacious bar and restaurant is the newest incarnation of one of Hanoi’s true nightlife institutions. Weekly events, excellent pub grub and live music pull in the crowds and keep the regulars coming back.

Red River Tea Room
LAKESIDE WATERING HOLE
25 Duong Ven Ho Tay, Tay Ho
WIFI NS
Monday to Friday, 2pm to 11.30pm. Weekends open from 11am
Located on the lakeside road just below Xuan Dieu and close to the entrance to The Sheraton, this quiet, casual pub offers up a variety of beer, wine and mixed drinks, juice, tea, Nespresso coffee and espresso and milkshakes, all with a nice view of West Lake. Non-smoking indoors, Red River Tea Room is a welcome addition to the area.

Relax Bar
68 Quan Su, Hoan Kiem
Long running drinking haunt popular with older expats. A place to mix business with pleasure, Relax Bar offers just what its title suggests, although you’ll have to go off site to really drive the experience home.

Relax II
36 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem
Brightly lit, this recently renovated sequel to the first Relax Bar provides nightly live music and spirits by the bottle, although the main attraction seems to be the ladies, whose main attraction seems to be the tips they can get from customers.

Rooftop Bar
19th Floor, Pacific Place, 83B Ly ThuongKiet, HoanKiem
Tel: 3946 1901
therooftop@vnn.vn
If location counts for anything, then here it is spectacular. With 270-degree views over the whole of the city, the up-on-high theme of the Rooftop is used to its full. The bar is pretty cool, too, with bare brick, sofa-style seating, glass fronted wine displays and a private room out back for more intimate drinking. Also does day-time office lunches, coffee and good bar food.

Roots
2 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hoan Kiem
rootsbarhanoi@hotmail.com
In the heart of the Old Quarter, this is Hanoi’s premier venue for reggae, salsa, Caribbean and African music. Popular with the French expat crowd. Open late.

Sandbox Lounge
12 PhanHuyIch, BaDinh
Tel: 3927 5708
www.sandboxlounge.com
An elegant, upscale venue that aims to combine a passion for wine with live music, the arts and conversation in the company of friends. Has live music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8.30pm that includes styles such as blues, ballads and jazz.

Seventeen Saloon
98b Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem Tel: 8946 6822
www.seventeensaloon.com.vn
Located a couple of blocks from Hanoi train station, this Wild West-themed bustling live music venue hosts local and international acts nightly. Energetic and friendly staff help make a night out at The Saloon a definite one to remember.

Solace
End of Chuong Duong Do, Hoan Kiem
solacebar@gmail.com
While the boat-on-the-river location and late-night opening hours make this infamous grunge bar a popular drinking spot, booze-induced tensions have lent it a not-so-amiable reputation. Nonetheless, with a DJ spinning tunes into the early hours, a pool table and great views across the river, Solace remains one of the few places to end up at in Hanoi. Just make sure you don’t finish up in the river.

Spy Bar
HOLE IN THE WALL / IRISH
12A Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem Tel: 2269 1107
Fronted by the affable Sean, and with Guinness, Jameson’s and a surprising amount of draught beer flowing from the taps, since its inauguration the tiny Spy Bar has managed to create a dedicated following despite its tiny size. With pictures of spies dotting the wall (both Vietnamese and international) and food delivery available from three restaurants, this is a great place to chill and shoot some well-deserved, Chuong Duong Bridge breeze.

Sunset Bar
InterContinental Westlake, 1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho
Tel: 3270 8888
Situated at a confluence of walkways leading to the outer buildings of the InterContinental, this elegant lakeside bar and lounge offers one of the most romantic scenes in the capital. As its name suggests, this a great place to watch the sun set over West Lake. Prices are five-star, but in terms of quality, the service cannot be faulted.

Tadioto
12 Truong Han Sieu, Ba Trieu
Leftfield, Indochine, contemporary and artsy, all thrown into one, the latest incarnation of Tadiotorolls together café, bar and gallery. Always with an attractive ambience and friendly service, a garden out back adds a nice touch to the space inside.

Tay Tap
100 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho
Tel: 3718 6917
www.taytap.com
Filled with wooden furnishings and a downstairs bar with two beers on tap — as well as wine, cocktails and spirits — this newcomer venue has a grill menu catering to the tastes of both East and West. For those in search of a good old-fashioned Sloppy Joe or grilled cheeses, you’ll be glad to know the kitchen is stocked to the ceiling with comfort foods.

Temple Bar
8 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem
A sort-of classy, narrow bar and nightclub always busy with locals, expats and backpackers. The weekends often see guest DJs and the dance goes on until as late as possible. The nightclub out the back has seating and a dance floor, which is refreshing.

Tet Bar
2A Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem Tel: 3926 3050
Formerly Le Maquis, Tet Bar prides itself on serving decent beer and tasty pub food. The floors in this compact, two-floored joint are separated by an intriguing spiral staircase that dominates the main room. One of Hanoi’s premiere late-night drinking spots.

The Black Pearl
57 Yen Phu, Tay Ho
A big open space with a bar, stage, dance floor and seating. Pirate ship theme but subtly done. The live music events like Under The Black Flag bring in the down-to-earth crowds on a bi-monthly basis.  

The Cheeky Quarter
1 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 0904 032829
The last building on the right before Hang Buom, The Cheeky Quarter is not just your average Old Quarter watering hole. Taking the tradition of small bars and giving it a new twist with funky décor and top tunes, it scores a double whammy with its tasty paninis (perfect for late-night munchies) and frequently changing drink specials.

The House of Son Tinh
81 XuanDieu, Tay Ho Tel: 37186377
An attractive and spacious two-floor bar, restaurant and lounge with a no smoking aircon area downstairs and a bright, casual dining space on the first floor. Home to the iconic Son Tinh rice wines (of Highway 4 fame), also stocks local and imported beers and spirits, and serves a selection of Vietnamese and pan-Asian tapas.

The Spot
47 Hang Be, HoanKiem
Comfortable, nicely decorated bar and restaurant that mixes an open front area with long benches together with a sofa-clad lounge bar and terrace out back. Draft Tiger starts at VND30,000 and the food menu focuses on quality sandwiches, salads and a small selection of mains.

The Windmill
31 Dang Tran Con, Ba Dinh
Tel: 3823 3774
This Czech-style brewery and restaurant built around a large courtyard offers a neat spot to escape the hustle of Hanoi’s streets. Good vegetarian food and tofu options coupled with great fresh beer of the light and dark varieties make it a popular spot for group dining.

Tunnel Bar
11b Bao Khanh, Hoan Kiem
Slim but stylish two-storey bar located on the bend of Bao Khanh. Colourful cocktails. DJ driven parties.