Hanoi's 10 Restaurants for Gourmands: Cultural Dining
Although Ho Chi Minh is regarded as the "best place to try" (instead of "birthplace of" as in original version) Vietnamese cuisine, Hanoi boasts rich culinary traditions that go beyond the well-known phở. Hanoi blends French, Chinese and Vietnamese gastronomies that surface in the many cafes, restaurants and street vendors present in the city. We’ve updated our list of Hanoi’s 10 best restaurants to showcase the city’s well-deserved reputation as a culinary wonderland.
Barbetta Republic
Barbetta Republic is located a stone’s throw away from theVietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, and some of the artistic and cultural vibe informs this bohemian bar and café. The grungy design and industrial interior make for a space evoking the hipster neighbourhoods of Shoreditch and Williamsburg. However, the casual Communist iconography and memorabilia make this venue unmistakably Vietnamese. The food mixes classic Vietnamese with Western favourites, and the restaurant has an extensive cocktail list.
Barbetta Republic, 34C Cao Ba Quat, Ba Đình, Hanoi, Vietnam, +84 43971 2094
Essence Cafe & Restaurant
Located on the ground floor of the Essence Hanoi Hotel, Essence Cafe & Restaurant offers authentic Vietnamese dishes in an elegant, refined setting. Featuring an exotic décor which draws on the aesthetics of both colonial Vietnam and cutting edge contemporary design, Essence Cafe & Restaurant is considered by many as one of the best restaurants in Hanoi. The dish Cha Ca La Vong – chunks of freshwater fish marinated with turmeric, galingale sauce, condiments and then grilled – is one of the signature dishes on the menu.
Essence Cafe & Restaurant, Ground floor – Essence Hanoi hotel, 22 Ta Hien street, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi,Vietnam, +84 43 9352485
The Hanoi Social Club
‘Healthy food for a healthy planet’ is the motto that drives the founders of The Hanoi Social Club. It occupies a space on ethical end of the Hanoi dining scene, with a selection of dishes that expose the potential of Vietnamese ingredients. The chefs, graduates fromKOTO and the Hoa Sua Hospitality School, serve simple but hearty food, and cultivate a rustic and nutritious gastro-cafe culture. The venue also plays host to regular concert nights, and film screenings, as well as art shows and craft and design fairs, which see the café transformed into a creative arts space and offers the creative people of Hanoi a platform on which to discuss and perform.
The Hanoi Social Club, 6 Hội Vũ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi,Vietnam, +84 4 3938 2117
La Verticale
Widely considered one of the best French restaurants in Hanoi, La Verticale is the brainchild of French chef Didier Corlou (a 5 Stars Diamond Award Chef), and confirms Corlou’s stance as a heavyweight of cuisine in his adopted homeland. Situated in a narrow 1930s villa which gives the restaurant its name, the cuisine fuses the best of French gastronomy with the ingredients and spices of Vietnamese cooking, and serves classic dishes from the traditions of both countries. The shop on the ground floor amazes diners with its apothecary-like presentation of ingredients and accompaniments, whilst dishes like clam soup infused with lemongrass and Muscovy duck with foie gras inside a baguette offer original fusion combinations.
La Verticale, 19 Ngo Van So, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi,Vietnam, +84 4 944 6317
Manzi Cafe and Art Space
Soon after opening its doors in 2012, Manzi Cafe and Art Space established itself as a great place to relax while surrounded by artworks. Nestled in a lovely French villa with a lush garden, Manzi operates as an exhibition space, a cinema, a performance hall, and a café. The rich cultural programme focuses on emerging Vietnamese and local artists and reflects the art scene of the Vietnamese capital. Whilst the food menu is somewhat limited, the coffee and snacks available make this a great spot to unwind away from the chaos of the city, and for experiencing firsthand the arts culture of Hanoi.
Manzi Cafe and Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ích, Hanoi, Vietnam, +84 43716 3397
Pots ‘n Pans
Into its second year of business, Pots ‘n Pans is the innovative restaurant born from the partnership between KOTO (a well-established non-profit organisation that offers work and training for street kids and disadvantaged youth) and Small Giants. The multi-level restaurant is located right in the centre of Hanoi, and offers Vietnamese cuisine infused with an international flair. The menu reveals a commitment to experimentation, with unique fusions and presentations which bring out the best of the Vietnamese produce. One of the signature dishes on the a la carte menu is the pan-fried foie gras with house-cured duck prosciutto, crispy black sesame brioche, mango mint chutney and beetroot puree.
Pots 'n Pans, 57 Bui Thi Xuan Street, Hanoi,Vietnam, +84 439440204/05
Restaurant Bobby Chinn
Restaurant Bobby Chinn is the creation of New Zealand chef Bobby Chinn, who is regarded as an icon of Vietnamese cuisine. His support of the national cuisine scene has gone far beyond the kitchen’s walls: he has been actively campaigning for safer food in Vietnam and has recently been appointed the country’s tourism ambassador for the European market. With several restaurants in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and in London, Chinn’s 18 years of experience in Vietnam showcase excellent regional food, from phở to fine dining. Hanoi’s Restaurant Bobby Chinn is located in Chinn’s home, and, in addition to personalising the interior of his restaurant, he also created a menu that combines the freshness for which Vietnamese food is famous with culinary influences from around the world.
Nineteen 11 Restaurant
Nineteen 11 Restaurant is found in the charming basement of the Hanoi Opera House, and takes its name from the year in which the French colonial theatre was completed. This sophisticated restaurant offers a trip back in time to the peak of colonial Vietnam. The Opera House is one of few colonial buildings remaining in Hanoi, and has become a landmark amidst the business of the city’s streets. In line with the plush interior and sophisticated atmosphere, Nineteen 11 Restaurant presents exclusive fine dining, with dishes like roasted duck cabbage salad with spicy tamarind sauce, and foie gras with mango chutney and gluhwein ginger reduction, achieving the delicate balance between the best of East and West.
Nineteen 11 Restaurant, Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam, +84 43933 4801
Millenium – Café des Arts
The three-story French restaurant brings to Hanoi’s Old Quarter a breath of fresh air with its contemporary appeal and sleek interiors. The menu features delicacies from the French modern cuisine including an all-you-can-eat buckwheat crepe party every Wednesday. Millenium – Café des Arts boasts a terrace presenting a charming glimpse of Hanoi’s streets. Besides the a la carte menu and an affordable three-course lunch set menu, the restaurant has an extensive wine list which incorporates French and international wines. Moreover, once a month it holds live jazz performances that enhance the sophisticated yet cosy charm of the venue.
Millenium – Café des Arts, 11B Ngo Bao Khanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam, + 84 904 134 490
Quan An Ngon
Quan An Ngon’s concept presents an authentic eating experience away from the street vendors. The rustic food stalls spread around the courtyard, the open-air kitchens and the big wooden tables recreate the gregarious, joyful and multi-sensory pleasures that typically denote Vietnamese eating habits. The extensive menu allows diners to sample the diversified national gastronomical differences by including fares from the three regions (North, Centre and South). Bamboo shades, scale-baskets, lanterns and silk paintings are some of the rich details that add to the ancient flavour that Quan An Ngon wants to inspire. Its popularity has led the owners to open four branches around town.
Quan An Ngon, 18 Phan Boi Chau, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam, + 84 4 39428162/63
By Silvia Buonpadre, from Theculturetrip.com
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