Internationally acclaimed restaurant & rooftop bar – lakefront in fashionable district of Hanoi
November 10th, 2015
Update December 2017: Don’s Bistro has closed
Prominent among Hanoi’s finest dining destinations since opening in 2009, Don’s Tay Ho offers exceptional dining and casual social experiences on the waterfront of Hanoi’s increasingly fashionable West Lake (Tay Ho) neighbourhood. Under the direction of internationally acclaimed chef-owner Donald Berger, Don’s Tay Ho delivers a refined dining experience with an extensive menu that encompasses Western, Vietnamese and pan-Asian cuisines, while the famous rooftop Oyster Bar beckons with its lake vistas, well-executed cocktails and nightly live jazz. Set within a remodeled four level lakefront residence with panoramic views, Don’s Tay Ho deftly blends a variety of experiences on each floor – casual drinks and bar snacks – stylish dining across two floors with consummate renditions of international cuisines – and vibrant rooftop cocktails and music. Widely popular, Don’s Tay Ho attracts both a discerning local and expat clientele, plus a good number of well-informed visitors.
Decor Exploiting its prized lakefront setting, full height glass facades on each floor of the extensively reconstructed building capture the uninterrupted lake views, day and night. Dining room interiors are decorated with a contemporary Chinoiserie-chic aesthetic with rich timber furniture highlighted with bold turquoise soft furnishings. The open-air rooftop Oyster Bar exudes a casual, laid-back vibe, with black rattan bar stools standing along the full-length glass countertop offering superb lake vistas. Other spaces within the 4 levels include an elegant private dining room, intimate cigar lounge, and open terraces adjoining each dining room.
Cuisine Heading up the kitchen, high-profile local executive chef Nguyen Van Tu works with Canadian founder Donald Berger to create an approachable menu that offers selections of contemporary Vietnamese, pan-Asian, and Western cuisines cooked with fresh seasonal ingredients and accomplished technique. The recipient of numerous international and local restaurant awards, menu specialities include Prime US and Japanese Kobe beef; fresh truffles in season; and fresh local and imported seafood. The expansive menu also offers wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and authentic Vietnamese dishes, while the Weekend Brunch Menu is a favourite with locals.
Beverages An impressive wine list, personally curated by Donald Berger, features an extensive assemblage of premium wines from both top European labels and leading New World wineries. And at the bars, aged single malt whiskies can be complemented with selections from a collection of rare Cuban cigars, while a concise list of well-executed classic cocktails is supplemented with a wide variety of fresh fruit mocktails, beers and premium spirits.
Don’s Tay Ho is open daily, with the Dining Rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors serving lunch and dinner, while the ground floor Bar offers drinks and pizzas until midnight. At the rooftop Oyster Bar the sunset cocktails are always popular, while an all-day bistro menu is available from midday, and live jazz music is featured nightly in season. Check the Facebook Page for updates on special promotions and events. An elegant private room and other spaces offer attractive options for corporate or private events and celebrations.
