No trip would be complete without discovering the unique cuisine of the land you set foot on. Rich in cultural identity and quintessential in gastronomy, Hanoi deserves to be a favorite culinary destination in Asia.

Out of 10 restaurants in this year’s list of Best Fine Dining Restaurants, six are located in Hanoi. Let’s join The Hanoi Times to discover the restaurants below.

French Grill

The restaurant serves an extensive menu of classic French cuisine with a local twist. Photo: JW Marriott Hanoi

Ranked first among the 2021 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Award for Top Fine Dining Restaurants in Vietnam, the French Grill restaurant serves high-end French cuisine.

Its menu features delightful French specialties, including Seared Foie Gras, Classic Caviar, and Premium Steak, priced around VND1.500.000 (US$65) per person. Diners will be amazed at dishes crafted to perfection before their eyes in the largest open kitchen in town or at the Chef's Table. The restaurant has also a wide selection of wines, perfectly paired with any serving dishes.

“It was the first time we visited French Grill, and they made an amazing anniversary dinner. We’d been welcomed at the entrance, prepared a nice view. The snow crab was a really good starter at the beginning, Monkfish and Slow-cooked short rib were extremely delicious,” said Lassiar R, a member of TripAdvisor community.

Captain Skybar & Restaurant

The bar-cum-restaurant is perfect for a romantic dinner with loved ones. Photo: TripAdvisor.com

Located in Hoan Kiem District, the rooftop bar-cum-restaurant offers a great view over Hoan Kiem Lake. The price for a fast-food French-style dinner ranges from VND116,000 ($5) to VND348,000 ($15).

“I must say I didn’t expect that I would have found a place so good that I returned here three times in a week. The outbreak of Covid-19 around the world didn’t encourage me to go out and look for hidden street food places (my favorites in Hanoi) ... therefore, I headed here,” commented a traveler from Geneva, Switzerland on TripAdvisor.

According to him, the restaurant is classy and perfect for couples, since it offers a romantic view over the lake. He stated that having dinner here is a little bit pricey in comparison with other food stalls in the Old Quarter Area, “but still extremely reasonable for the level of quality,” he stated. 

Cloud Nine Restaurant

The restaurant has 360-degree views across Hanoi's rooftops, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Red River. Photo: La Siesta Premium Hang Be

This tiny but elegant restaurant is in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter Area, serving Vietnamese cuisine with a variety of vegan options. Its special diets menu features Vegetarian-Friendly Choices, Vegan Options, and Gluten-Free Options.  

Having visited the place in March 2020, AndyGB, a traveler from Midlands UK said that the restaurant is a quiet retreat from the noise of Hanoi city. It is located on the ninth floor of La Siesta hotel with a great view of Hanoi’s bustling trading streets. The decor is also in black but unlike the rest of the hotel, large windows give the restaurant a feel of freshness and airiness. The food and service are also excellent that definitely makes a visit worth your time and money.

The price for a meal ranges from VND116,000 ($5) to VND2,300,000 ($99.7) (with a bottle of premium wine). The restaurant is located on the rooftop of the La Siesta Premium Hotel in Hang Be Street, Hanoi.

Stellar Steakhouse

The steakhouse is a popular premium meat lover’s club in Hanoi. Photo: InterContinental Landmark 72

The fine-dining restaurant offers good steaks that pair well with a wide selection of import wines from Chile, France, and the US. Price for a luxurious dinner here ranges from VND1,000,000 ($43) to VND2,000,000 ($86.7).

“They have the greatest steak in town. I tried their famous Tomahawk and it was phenomenal. The staffs were extremely friendly and take care of even a very small detail,” said Anh Bui from Hanoi. The restaurant is located on the 62nd floor therefore the view is glamorous especially in the evening. Bui highly recommends this place and he insists to come back again soon when the restaurant reopened after the temporary curfew. 

Twilight Sky Bar and Restaurant

This is one of the best spots in Hanoi to enjoy drinks as the sun sets over Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo: TripAdvisor.com

As you may have guessed from its name, the Twilight Sky Bar and Restaurant is another nice bar-cum-restaurant with a great view over Hoan Kiem Lake.  

Apart from international fast-food-style cuisine, the bar-cum-restaurant also provides customers with vegan options. They also offer ‘Happy hours’ that last for two hours daily with a discount on cocktails (at only VND90,000 or $2) and beer (at VND40,000 or $1.7). “The views of the lakes and the rooftops and buildings are insane. You can watch the sunset and fully relax and switch off. We loved the twilight bar as all the staff was so lovely, the service was excellent they were warm and pleasant,” wrote a young couple from Malaysia who spent their honeymoon in Vietnam in March 2020.

Hemispheres Steak & Seafood Grill

The restaurant takes diners on a dining adventure around the world through an exclusive food and wine menu. Photo: Sheraton Hanoi Hotel

Being ranked 9th out of 10 in the list of Top Fine Dining Restaurants in Vietnam by TripAdvisor, the restaurant has made an impressive effort in creating a special dining experience for diners since its reopening in December 2020. The menu is inspired by delicacies from four different hemispheres, which means diners will have a chance to discover a variety of typical dishes from all around the world. The dishes made from fresh and organic ingredients prepared by the most talented chefs from Sheraton Hotel are expected to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.

The restaurant offers over 60 choices with highlights of imported beef steak & seafood (priced from VND580,000 or $25 to VND2,300,000 or $100) as well as professional services, stunning views, and cozy ambiance.

“Nothing can express how impressed I am by a new menu of Hemisphere. The new adventure with great food made with passion, the decoration of plates. The staff is very enthusiastic, they explain the story of each dish we have on the table,” according to Hannah, a member of the TripAdvisor community from Hanoi.