5 Best Cocktail Bars in Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi’s bar scene has come a long way. For years, the city was known as the heart of Vietnam’s bia hoi culture, those sidewalk spots where a fresh beer's cost would not make you do a double-take and the seats were tiny plastic stools. But over the last few years, something shifted. Cocktail culture arrived, and it took control very quickly. Now, tucked inside old colonial buildings, hidden down narrow alleyways, and even inside a coffee shop, some of the best cocktail bars in Southeast Asia, from Hanoi, Vietnam include Polite & Co, Jigger, Ne, Mad Botanist to Ca Phe Hai Bon, are quietly doing their thing.

The drinks here aren’t just copied from London or New York menus. No, they refuse to be pretentious. Bartenders are using local ingredients, chili, coriander, soya sauce, dragon fruit, and turning them into something that feels genuinely new. Here are five best cocktail bars in Hanoi.

Best Cocktail Bars in Hanoi, Vietnam

Polite & Co

This place has been around since 1995, but not in its current form. Back then it was Polite Pub, a regular bar where people went for a beer after work. Then in 2013, the owner’s nephew stepped in. He re-did the whole space. Turned it into a whisky and cigar lounge. Later, cocktails took over.

Walk in and you’ll see dark wood, soft lights, leather chairs. Feels old but not dusty. The cocktail menu changes every six months. They keep about 25 staples and add a rotating section called the Mixology Journey. They have drinks named Lan Kwai Fong, Dim Sum, and even Jackie Chan. Local-wise, they do Hanoi-inspired stuff like the Street Vendor, which uses chrysanthemum gin. Easy to drink as it is floral and fruity.

• Address: 5B P. Bảo Khánh, Hoàn Kiếm

• Hours: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM daily

• Price Range: 140,000 – 260,000 VND (₹500 – ₹940)

• Logistics: Walk-ins welcome; reserve ahead for weekend live jazz nights

• Must-Try: The Street Vendor (chrysanthemum-infused gin).

Jigger Cocktail & Wine Bar

This one is quite new. It’s on Nam Ngu Street, squeezed between a beauty salon and a noodle shop. The building can be easily spotted as it is made of exposed brick, some neon, and wooden panels too. The style of making and serving is simple: tell a story with the drink, don’t go crazy with techniques.

The signature drink is called ‘Neighborhood.’ It’s supposed to represent Nam Ngu Street. Rum, red dragon fruit, pineapple, Thai basil, Vietnamese coriander, lime. Comes with a side of roasted peanuts. Every drink has a Vietnamese description, which is rare.

You also get a taste wheel on the menu to figure out what you like.

• Address: 59 Nam Ngư Street, Cửa Nam

• Hours: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM daily

• Price Range: 150,000 – 250,000 VND (₹540 – ₹900)

• Logistics: Easy to find via street-side signage; perfect for late-night drinks

• Must-Try: Neighborhood (rum, red dragon fruit, Thai basil, and Vietnamese coriander)

Ne Cocktailbar

The name ‘Ne’ is short for Negroni. That’s the owner’s favorite drink. They do Negronis infused with cinnamon, jasmine, chili, coffee, or cloves. This is also the one that made a pho cocktail famous. Yes, pho. The soup. They turned it into a drink. It won a competition too. Bartender named Pham Tien Tiep made it for Diageo World Class. It’s savory, herb-heavy, weirdly comforting.

Located just a short walk from the iconic Train Street, this intimate 40-seat spot places most of its guests right at the counter. It’s a highly interactive experience, if nothing on the menu catches your eye, the bartenders will happily whip up a custom drink on the spot tailored to your exact mood.

• Address: 3B Tống Duy Tân, Hàng Bông

• Hours: 7:30 PM – 2:00 AM daily

• Price Range: 100,000 – 180,000 VND (₹360 – ₹650)

• Logistics: Located just a short walk from Train Street; arrive early to secure a counter seat.

• Must-Try: The Phở Cocktail or a chili-infused Negroni

Mad Botanist

This bar is hiding in a dim sum restaurant, near St Joseph’s Cathedral. You wouldn’t find it unless someone told you. It’s all 1920s glam with palm leaves, brass fixtures, and geometric patterns. A bit much, but in a fun way.

They focus on gin. Their best seller is the Lab Inspired Gin and Tonic. Comes in nine flavors. Basil and cucumber. Cinnamon and orange peel. Each batch takes two days to make using a hot infusion siphon.

The signature cocktails change every six months. But one called Bacalao sticks around. Sweet muffin tea gin, Maraschino Luxardo, homemade roselle cordial.

• Address: 45 Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống

• Hours: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM daily

• Price Range: 150,000 – 300,000 VND (₹540 – ₹1,080)

• Logistics: Directly opposite St Joseph’s Cathedral. Enter through the ground-floor café and head up the back stairs.

• Must-Try: The Lab-Inspired G&T or Bacalao (sweet muffin tea gin and roselle cordial)

Ca Phe Hai Bon

This one breaks the rules. During the day, it’s a coffee shop. Regular people come in for an espresso, answer emails, work furiously fast on their phones. Then night hits. They bring out the cocktail shakers.

Prices are low here. A classic cocktail is 68,000 dong. A signature cocktail is 88,000 dong. Their Chili Cocktail is the star. Chili vodka, peach liqueur, raspberry puree, lemon juice. Comes with a whole fresh chili on top. The Espresso Martini is also great, which makes sense for a place that knows coffee.

• Address: 24 Bà Triệu, Tràng Tiền

• Hours: Coffee by day; Cocktails from 7:00 PM – late

• Price Range: 68,000 – 88,000 VND (₹245 – ₹320)

• Logistics: No reservations required. Incredible value for travelers seeking top-tier mixology on a budget.

• Must-Try: The Chili Cocktail (chili-infused vodka, peach liqueur, and fresh raspberry).