Speakeasy · Ba Dinh · Hanoi
The Haflington
A two floor museum of a bar down a Van Mieu alley: fossils, old books, a suspended dinosaur skeleton, and the Jungle Book cocktail menu that put Hanoi on Asia's 50 Best.
The Pitch
A British Museum Down a Hanoi Alley
The Haflington opened in 2021 down an alley off Yen The in the Van Mieu quarter of Ba Dinh, and built its room like the grand museums of Western Europe: fossil cases, rows of old books, and a dinosaur skeleton suspended over the bar. Asia's 50 Best Bars ranked it number 47 in 2024, Hanoi's flag on the list.
Bar manager Thanh Cong Nguyen runs the program through The Jungle Book, an illustrated menu that moves from lesser known classics to house signatures. The alley entrance does the speakeasy work without a password gimmick.
Who would hate it? Anyone counting dong. This is Hanoi's premium room, priced accordingly.
The Room
Two Floors of Cabinet of Curiosities
Soft lighting, dark wood, and museum vitrines spread across two floors, with the skeleton as the centerpiece. Tripadvisor reviewers call it the best bar in Hanoi and warn that the room fills fast on weekends. The upstairs tables suit conversation; the counter suits watching the builds.
The Drinks
The Jungle Book, Page by Page
Signatures run about USD 12, steep for Hanoi and worth it by the consensus of Tripadvisor and Restaurant Guru reviewers, who describe the drinks as strong, smooth, and precisely built. The whisky shelf runs deep enough that Dear Whisky catalogs the bar in its Hanoi listings. Order a signature first, then let the team walk you into the lesser known classics.
The Crowd
Hanoi's Cocktail Set, Booked Out
Expect Hanoi's bar industry, traveling cocktail tourists, and date nights that planned ahead. The room gets very crowded on weekends, and reviewers consistently advise reserving a table in advance.
What regulars say:
- Asia's 50 Best Bars placed it at number 47 in 2024.
- Tripadvisor reviewers rate it the best bar in Hanoi and praise the attentive staff.
- Restaurant Guru reviews call the cocktails expertly crafted and the room worth the premium.
Who it is for:
- Cocktail travelers collecting Asia's 50 Best rooms
- A dressed up Hanoi date with theater built in
- Avoid if you want street beer prices; Standing Bar keeps it casual
The Verdict
Where It Lands
Hanoi's most complete cocktail room and the rare themed bar where the drinks outrank the decor. Book ahead, start with the Jungle Book signatures, and give the whisky shelf the second round.
Good to Know
Visit Information
Getting there: Down an alley off Yen The in Van Mieu, Ba Dinh, a short walk from the Temple of Literature and ten minutes by taxi from the Old Quarter.
Timing: Nightly from evening until late. Weekends sell out; reserve for any party larger than two.
Cost: Signatures about USD 12, whisky pours from USD 10. Cards accepted.
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