Longer Than a Summer

one of the best hidden bars in hanoi. almost couldn’t find it. but a local must’ve known we were looking for it and guided us to the stairs. something about the blue door and ringing a door knob to invite us in intrigues me. and it’s super dark- almost pitch black, that i found myself reaching out for one side of the wall as we went through a short hallway. i think the best part is finally making it through this dark hallway- the vibe immediately set the tone for the night. it’s quite and intimate. the type you sip and enjoy the drink with good company and good conversation kept to almost a whisper. it’s not a place where you LOL, carry on and party and disturb other people’s space, which is rather a relief from obnoxious guest who are clueless to how to behave in a place like this. great vibe and drinks, the service was phenomenal. there is no menu. they curate the drink according to how you like your drink.

There’s a dress code: please dont wear shorts, slippers, flip-flops or sport wear. They only accept cash or bank transfer. There’s no menu. Pls respect the space so talk softly and no wifi so talk to each other. We enjoyed ourselves here and the music. We went at 6pm so we have the space to ourselves. They introduced us to Vietnamese music and bands but at 730pm, they will start to dim the lights and play jazz music. Though it is not easy to find, we truly enjoyed our time here. Fantastic drinks and conversation with the bartenders. We will definitely be back again when back in Hanoi.

One of the most special bars I have ever visited, very worth the search. Bartenders were lovely and the music was excellent, this is a place I will always remember.

Weirdly, this bar accepts cash only or a bank transfer but the bank transfer doesn’t work unless you have a Vietnamese bank account. Certainly in the back-and-forth to make a reservation at this fine establishment the cash only policy should be mentioned so patrons come prepared… otherwise lovely space equal to that of the owners other space which is a eclectic jazz club thank you, New York Times

This place is cooler than I’ll ever be. The whole experience - hard to find, hard to hate. Classic cocktails and classic cool only. They have a rule against influencer douchebags that have their flash and loud mouths on. Love it. No sandals and shorts. Spiff up for the occasion, ya drongo.

The drinks here are made with a level of care unseen at normal or even more high end bars. The vibe is delicate and rich. Enjoy some laid back jazz or blues with quiet company. Blissful.

One of the most well crafted experiences for a cocktail bar in Hanoi. Inspired by the elegant and private speakeasy scene in Japan. Well executed and worth visiting.

I felt talked down to by the bartender/main guy there..and that massively took away from the experience.  If there is a dresscode and I am not following that feel free to turn me away from the door. inviting me in and then lecturing me is not cool. The bar is dark, unfamiliar to me, yet the host walked behind me so I had no choice to walk with a light on the phone. tripping over in a bar isnt cool. It brought me back to a time when the headmaster was giving a dressing down to me. if not for the person who brought me here I would have walked right out.. He had 5 bottles, and he serves them till they are over and then opens the next, an interesting concept but all from independent bottlers, so you dont quite know what is being served. expect for the cask it was aged/finished in. Initially he kept insisting I am arab, thats irrelevant, you ve invited me in, that not how you treat a guest. when I told him a think or two about whisky, his demeanour changed and he quickly took his leave from me. such a shame!