2 Best Bars in Hanoi, Vietnam

Background Illustration for Nightlife

Hanoi has enough bars and clubs to keep you busy. They range from low-key drinking venues to more pleasant spots with extensive wine lists to raucous places where loud house music and cheap drinks keep dancers on the floor. Because many ventures are short-lived—Hanoi's nightclubs are curiously prone to electrical fires and other mysterious disasters—it is wise to call ahead when possible. For something a bit more casual, head to one of the cafés or bars in Old Quarter, where rooftop lounges, cocktail bars, and the popular bia hoi beer corner cluster about in a historical setting. Upscale hotels tend to have swanky bars of their own with live jazz to accompany a dry martini. For a mellow vibe and drinks with a view, you can go to waterfront bars near West Lake. Head into town early for happy hour since most joints close by midnight.

Furbrew

Tay Ho District

The beer alone is worth the trip but it’s the employees that make this bar truly special. They are passionate not only about the beer, but about customer service as well. There are always 8 to 10 beers on tap, but the brewers have created more than 50 different varieties since they opened. The pho beer has a taste profile similar to that of a spiced Christmas ale back home, and the bar is big enough to host your whole party.

The Bottle Shop

Sister bar to Standing Bar, The Bottle Shop serves a dizzying array of bottled craft beers from Vietnam and beyond. There are a couple of pub benches at the front and a cozy beer yard out back that's popular with expats, especially on warm weekend afternoons.