Located in a white villa in the Thao Dien area, the city's busiest expat hub, La Villa Restaurant is one of the most famous French restaurants in the city.
Designed in the style of a French manor, the restaurant, which opened in 2011, is surrounded by greenery and has outdoor space near a swimming pool where guests can enjoy their meal.
The interior has a touch of French design, with white walls, grey curtains, chandeliers and art.
For the Christmas festive season, the restaurant has a special menu priced at VND3.69 million ($157) per adult and VND2.79 million per child, excluding drinks. Guests can sample signature dishes prepared by chef-owner Thierry Mounon, such as Hokkaido scallops with warm sashimi, French duck and red port foie gras terrine.
The restaurant is located at 14 Ngo Quang Huy Street opposite the An Phu Market in the Thao Dien area, Thu Duc City.
The seven venues were recommended by readers on VnExpress International's Facebook page. The most liked recommendations were selected.
The East West Brewing Co. opened in January 2016 and is one of Vietnam’s first microbreweries serving fresh handcrafted beer along with a wide range of Asian and Western food.
With transparent glass windows, guests can enjoy beer and food while watching the bustling scene outside along one of the city’s busiest shopping streets.
In addition to craft beers made onsite, the restaurant also offers a wide selection of Asian and Western dishes such as goat cheese salad, smoked goat ribs, spicy garlic shrimp and baked cheese.
The restaurant is located at 181 Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1.
Clay Saigon Restaurant stands along the Saigon River.
Its interior design mainly uses eco-friendly materials such as ceramics, wood and rattan. The restaurant is surrounded by coconut trees and its perch beside the river offers diners fresh air and a cool atmosphere.
The menu created by executive chef Benoit Leloup features dishes such as Salmon tataki, French oysters, black cod marinated in XO sauce as well as octopus marinated in a Korean BBQ sauce, topped off with chorizo and Sriracha kaffir lime sauce.
The restaurant is at 18 No. 6 Street in Thao Dien.
Nestled on a quiet street in the Thao Dien area, 86 Proof Whiskey Bar is no longer a strange name for expats in HCMC.
Occupying the ground floor of a two-story house, the bar is designed like a small pub with bartenders ensconced inside a small bar. And it has an outdoor space where guests can dine al fresco with friends.
The restaurant is located at 109 Xuan Thuy Street in the Thao Dien area. It’s open from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m.
The Mechanic Eatery & Bar, on the second floor of a building on Le Lai Street in District 1 near the iconic Ben Thanh Market, takes inspiration from industrial sites with its grey walls, wooden floors, and exposed pipes.
The small balcony and window offer views of the bustling downtown street.
In addition to cocktails and wine, the bar also features caffeinated drinks like beetroot latte and cold brew coffee with a salty caramel sauce. Drink prices range from VND55,000-180,000.
The snail burger is the highlight of the bar, in addition to poke bowls and pasta
Just a 15-minute drive from the downtown area, Equis Mixology occupies a small space and is not easy for first-comers to find.
It has an open bar lounge where guests can watch bartenders meticulously prepare drinks.
The bar is at 85/6D Pham Viet Chanh Street, Binh Thanh District.
Chanh Bistro Rooftop Saigon offers one of the best vantage points for enjoying the city’s urban nightlife.
With lots of trees and plants on the rooftop, the bar offers an open and cool space that stands out from other bars in the heart of the city.
The venue mainly serves Western cuisine with dishes like tender and juicy lamb shank, pan-fried foie gras, linguine scampi and chocolate fondant.
The bar is at 215 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Thanh Ward.
