The best restaurants and rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam has a rich and ancient culinary tradition. Ho Chi Minh City is one of the gastronomical centers of Vietnam. With its many street food vendors and restaurants combined with rooftop bar. the city has seen the rise of a more diversified dining scene that goes beyond the traditional Vietnamese staples. We take a new look at some of best restaurants in town.

1. The Deck Saigon

The Deck is the only restaurant of its kind to sit on the banks of the Saigon River. 15 minutes away from downtown Saigon, it can be reached by land or by boat (the restaurant can organize for a boat to come and pick up guests from the city center). Visitors can dine on the elegant and cozy outdoor wooden deck.

Over the years, the elegant restaurant has been praised and awarded as one of Asia’s finest restaurants. Executive Chefs Cao Lam Gia and Adrian Scott have designed a menu featuring contemporary pan-Asian fusion cuisine with an emphasis placed on simplicity. The best local and imported produce is sourced, including meat from New Zealand, seafood flown in from Phu Quoc Island and vegetables from Da Lat. Due to its unique location, The Deck is perfect for romantic dinners or for a lavish brunch with family and friends.

Address: 38 Nguyen U Di, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

2. CHIC restaurant and rooftop bar of Bay Hotel

CHIC restaurant of Bay Hotel offers relaxed elegance infused with Asian cuisine and creative flavors. The restaurant will bring scarification for the food aficionados with dishes made by Singapore style where is considered as Asian’s newest culinary capital.

The restaurant aims with not only a special dining experience but also a meal heightened with flavor fusions that are unexpected and executed perfectly by the best chef who brings a belief to guests. Buffet Breakfast is always prepared to serve guests from 6.00am to 10.30am every day, especially, all-day dining is start 12.00am to 11pm with special food as Vietnamese Fresh Spring Roll with its signatures are prawn, chicken and julienne of vegetables; Beef Pho is made of Traditional northern Vietnamese rice noodles served with beef ball and strip loin, beansprouts, mint leaves in a rich beefy broth; Vietnamese King Prawn Noodle includes Egg noodles in rich prawn broth with fresh Vietnamese king prawns, sliced fish cake and beansprouts, etc.

Address: 7 Ngo Van Nam, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

3. La Villa French Restaurant

Tucked-away in a small street in District 2, La Villa French Restaurant is an escape from the noise and buzz of the city. Located in a sumptuous colonial-style villa, the restaurant serves authentic fine French cuisine. Visitors can choose to dine in the refined indoor area or in the calm garden by the pool, surrounded by exotic flowers. Both the chef and staff are extremely welcoming and go the extra mile to create both a peaceful and unforgettable experience. The French chef creates a daily lunch menu using fresh and local ingredients. Dinner offers both a la carte and set menus. To top it off, La Villa has a wide range of French wines available.

Address: 14 Ngo Quang Huy, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

4. Monsoon Restaurant

Monsoon is a rare find in Ho Chi Minh city, not many other restaurants serve five authentic regional cuisines – Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Myanmarunder one roof. Owned by a Thai national, who has lived and traveled extensively in all five countries, Monsoon was born from a passion to bring to the aromas and flavours of each unique gastronomic tradition to Vietnam.

The menu is divided by country, it includes an affordable set lunch option, and recently a Thai buffet has become available on Sundays. Aiming to be more than just a restaurant, the venue regularly hosts art exhibitions featuring emerging and established Thai artists, with the desire to create a platform for creative minds from both countries to meet and exchange ideas. Thai cooking classes will also be available in the near future. Set in a French colonial villa with a charming courtyard, Monsoon is a multi-sensory experience where food, history and art blend.

Address: Cao Ba Nha, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

5. Pizza 4P’s

Pizza 4P’s is considered the best pizza in town, even by Italians. This says a lot about the delicious pizzas that this modern and understated establishment serves. However, it is more than just an Italian restaurant. Pizza 4P’s offers Japanese-Italian fusion food by respecting both culinary cultures. The technique for preparing the dough and the sauce follows the Neapolitan tradition.

They import Italian meats like parma ham and make their own cheeses (including buffalo mozzarella, a rarity in Saigon). Alongside the Italian classics such as margherita, the restaurant serves creative Japanese sashimi pizza, Vietnamese four-flower pizza and teriyaki chicken pizza. Their take on this rustic fare is truly an experience that will not disappoint.

Address: 8/15 Le Thanh Ton, District.1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

6. Shri Restaurant & Lounge

Worth a visit for the stunning view alone, Shri Restaurant & Lounge is located on top of the Center Tower. Its floor-to-ceiling windows offer an unparalleled view of Saigon’s skyline from nearly every table at the restaurant. Frangipani trees, water features, and the general open-air feel make for a perfect place to relax after a long day exploring the city. You’ll find contemporary home-cooked European dishes with a twist of Asian flavors on the menu. The venue also features a spacious lounge and bar where some of the best cocktails in town are served.

Address: Level 23, Center Tower, 72 -74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

7. Skewers Restaurant

Award-winning restaurant Skewers is a long-lasting presence in the dining scene of Ho Chi Minh City. Opened by self-taught chef Tristan Ngo, Skewers serves down-to-earth Mediterranean food. The rich menu focuses on the quality and texture of the ingredients. As its name suggests, the excellent food at this chic bistro does indeed come on skewers. A range of dishes are barbecued in an open-air kitchen ─ the lamb kabobs are superb. Favorites include the classic moussaka and baked Moroccan sea bass, as well as creative options such as vodka-flamed beef tenderloin dipped in honey, on skewers.

Address: 9 Thái Văn Lung, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

8. Trinh Restaurant

Although Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have their own, distinct culinary traditions, Hue is considered to be the capital of Vietnamese traditional food. Hue’s dishes are strongly influenced by the last royal dynasty in Vietnam. Trinh Restaurant specializes in popular Hue delicacies that have been passed on through families for generations.

Among the most popular fares are bún bò Huế (spicy beef noodles) and bánh khoái (open-flour pancake filled with pork, shrimps and vegetables). The lovely decorated restaurant has a homey, warm and elegant feel. Popular among locals, the tucked-away restaurant is both a journey through one of the best national cuisines, and a perfect spot to mingle with locals and experience the buzz of an authentic cafe away from the tourist areas.

Address: 41/5 Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Thank you for reading this article, if you want to know more the best rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City or some good places to relax at night in this city. Click here. 

Have a good tour around Ho Chi Minh City!