Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [77]
The following are all marked on the map "Eating and Drinking: Central Ho Chi Minh".
Blue Gekko 31 Ly Tu Trong. Expat hangout offering pub atmosphere with pool, darts and sports TV. Happy hour is 5–7.30pm, but at other times drinks are pricey. 5pm–late.
Café Latin 25 Dong Du. Trendy (and pricey) bar-restaurant with stylish metallic decor and designer furniture. Its international menu and screenings of worldwide sports and films makes this an expats’ favourite. Latin music on Fri nights. 10am–midnight.
Fashion TV 21–27 Ton Thap Thiep. You’ll have to dress up to look the part at this cavernous place on trendy Ton That Thiep. Wide range of cocktails and wines, plus several international dishes on the menu that looks like a fashion magazine. 10am–midnight.
Ice Blue 54 Dong Khoi. Traditional English pub-style bar, with a dartboard, a friendly atmosphere and a range of international beers; 4–8pm is happy hour. 4pm–late.
La Fenetre Soleil 1st floor, 135 Le Thanh Ton (entrance at 125 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia). Once you’ve solved the puzzle of how to enter this place, it’s happily worth discovering. Functioning as a chill-out café (see "") during the day, this little gem turns its hand to mixing cocktails in the evenings. Wed is swing dancing night. 11.30am–midnight.
La Habana 6 Cao Ba Quat. A touch of Cuba in Saigon in the form of a cosy bar serving a good range of beers and cocktails as well as Spanish food and tapas. Good Latin music too. 11am–late.
Le Caprice 15th floor, Landmark Building, 5b Ton Duc Thang. A pricey and stylish restaurant, but it’s worth splashing out on an expensive cocktail to enjoy the view along the river. 11am–2pm & 3–10.30pm.
O’Briens Factory 74 a2 Hai Ba Trung. O’Briens Factory isn’t a world away from a smart London pub, and is popular with expats for its good atmosphere, well-stocked bar and comforting Western menu. Happy hour 3–7pm (except Sun). 11am–late.
Pacharan 97 Hai Ba Trung. Smart, three-floored Spanish place just behind the Municpal Theatre, serving tapas and a wide range of drinks. Live music some nights. 10am–late.
Panorama Level 32–33, Saigon Trade Centre, 37 Ton Duc Thang. An aptly named bar worth visiting for the view alone. Look down on the tiny Notre Dame Cathedral and Caravelle Hotel, and a sweeping bend in the Saigon River while enjoying a predictably high-priced drink. 9am–midnight.
Q Bar 7 Cong Tuong, Lam Son Square. Located under the Municipal Theatre, facing the Caravelle Hotel, this leading bar attracts the city’s fashion-conscious to its stylish bars and alcoves. Cocktails around 90,000đ, beers around 50,000đ. 5pm–late.
Qing 31 Dong Du. Stylish wine bar just across from the Sheraton with relaxing ambience, several types of wine by the glass, fusion food and Asian tapas. 8am–late.
Rooftop Garden Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hué. A drink amidst the fairy-lit topiary and clumsy model animals of the Rex terrace is still de rigueur on a trip to the city. 7am–late.
Saigon–Saigon Rooftop Bar Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son Square. Romantic views of the city and nightly live music in a stylish ambience more than compensate for the pricey drinks list in this lofty (10th floor) hotel bar. Popular with local expats. 9am–midnight.
Sax n’ Art 28 Le Loi. Slick jazz club with mellow sounds from various performers, neat decor and pricey drinks. 5pm–midnight.
Sheridan’s Irish House 17/13 Le Thanh Ton. DJs spin tunes every night in this cosy bar which also has an extensive menu. 8am–late.
Underground Basement of Lucky Plaza, 69 Dong Khoi. The ideal location, along with 20,000đ happy-hour beers (9am–9pm), a pool table and a good range of Western food on the menu, makes this place perpetually busy. 9am–midnight.
Vascos 74/7d Hai Ba Trung. Live bands on Fri and DJs on Sat, plus a good range of food at this hip bar set back from the main road. 11am–midnight.
Wild Horse 8a1/d1 Thai Van Lung. Saloon-type place specializing in steaks and international dishes. Live music too. 10am–2pm & 4pm–midnight.
Ho Chi Minh City and around | Drinking, nightlife and entertainment | Bars and pubs