Drinking & Healing
Quan 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Bar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Book with PearlThe Read
Spirits-forward drinks
Price
$1–10per person
Why go
Drinking & Healing is a serious District 1 cocktail pick for travellers who want a drinks-first stop with regional recognition, not a casual all-purpose lounge. It is better for dates or small groups than large, flexible gatherings, and it makes more sense as a planned stop than an improvised fallback.
About Drinking & Healing
Drinking & Healing is a Ho Chi Minh City bar with a clear point of recognition at #99 on World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars in 2024. Beyond that accolade and a smart-casual dress code, the record here is limited, so planning should stay simple and avoid assumptions about menu format, food service, seating, prices, or hours.
A better fit for a recognition-led bar shortlist
The strongest reason to consider Drinking & Healing is its 2024 World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #99 recognition. That makes it relevant for travellers and locals building a Ho Chi Minh City bar shortlist around noted venues, while the lack of detail means it should not be treated here as a confirmed restaurant alternative, lounge, or specific drinks-format destination.
For broader planning across the city, use the Ho Chi Minh City bars guide, then pair the night with the Ho Chi Minh City restaurants guide or the Ho Chi Minh City hotels guide if the evening needs a tighter route.
Book it with the details in mind
The practical guidance is direct: dress smart casual, treat the 2024 #99 Asia's Best Bars listing as the main hook, and confirm everything else directly before you go.
That makes Drinking & Healing easiest to recommend for people who are comfortable planning around a recognized Ho Chi Minh City venue and checking the latest details themselves.
Planning details
- Location
- Lầu 2, 25 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000
- Reservations
- Book on the venue's website
- Website
- drinkinghealing.com
- Phone
- +84 934 110 110
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Drinking & Healing sits upstairs from Ho Chi Minh City's frenetic street level and cultivates a deliberately measured atmosphere. The climb to the second floor signals a transition into a quieter, more refined room where concept and craft steer the experience. The bar emphasizes ingredient-led, concept-driven cocktails rather than volume-oriented nightlife, and its inclusion on Asia's 50 Best Bars highlights a level of regional recognition and seriousness. The result is a contemporary, sophisticated spot that feels like a calm, design-aware refuge from the city's rush: an intimate, low-noise environment for focused cocktail drinking.
Best For
This is a bar for evenings when the drink itself is the point: considered cocktails, a calm setting and a sense of occasion. Drinking & Healing sits within the city’s premium cocktail tier, and its inclusion in Asia's 50 Best makes it worth travelling for, suiting special nights out and travel-minded visitors seeking craft-led bars. Because it sits on the second floor and requires a deliberate arrival, it also works well for date nights and late-night cocktails when you want to leave street-level bustle behind and settle into a quieter, focused drinking experience.
Ordering Tips
Expect a craft-forward cocktail program and menus that prioritize concept and ingredients beyond standard imports. Ask the bartender about house signatures or the thought behind a cocktail if you want the clearest expression of the bar’s program. Allow a little extra time to reach the second-floor space.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dark and warm industrial space with exposed brick walls, dim lighting, and old-school hip-hop beats creating a chill, relaxed atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Speakeasy
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Old School Hip Hop
Signature Pours
- Peanut cocktail
- Pandan leaf infused cocktail
- Old Fashioned
- Gin cocktail
- Matcha cocktail
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- Lầu 2, 25 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000
Planning details
Location
Lầu 2, 25 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if you cannot get in
Try Not A Bar if the goal is another bar-led night without the same pressure around planning. For a group that needs a more predictable lounge setting, The Long Lounge is the safer backup.
Bar context
How it compares in Ho Chi Minh City
Choose Drinking & Healing when the priority is a focused cocktail bar with stronger destination appeal. My House HCMC is the safer cross-shop for readers who want a more relaxed local-feeling night, while Octo Tapas Restobar makes more sense when food needs to carry equal weight with drinks.
For booking ease and a broader crowd, The Long @ Times Square and The Long Lounge are more forgiving choices, especially if the group includes guests who want a hotel-lounge format. Drinking & Healing is the sharper pick for cocktail-focused drinkers, but it is less flexible for larger plans.
Not A Bar is the better alternate if the goal is a bar-led night without committing to the same level of booking pressure. If the group is small and the night is built around drinks, Drinking & Healing is the one to try first; if the plan needs food, space, or an easier fallback, pick one of the peers instead.
Explore Ho Chi Minh City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Drinking & Healing guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Drinking & Healing
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking & Healing | Ho Chi Minh City | 2024 Asia's 50 Best Bars · #99 |
| My House HCMC | Ho Chi Minh City | No published awards |
| Octo Tapas Restobar | Ho Chi Minh City | No published awards |
| Not A Bar | Ho Chi Minh City | No published awards |
| The Long @ Times Square | Ho Chi Minh City | No published awards |
| The Long Lounge | Ho Chi Minh City | No published awards |
How Drinking & Healing Ho Chi Minh City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation at Drinking & Healing?
Because Drinking & Healing was listed at #99 on World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars in 2024, it is sensible to check directly before visiting, especially for busier nights. Not A Bar and My House HCMC may also be worth comparing when planning a night out.
Is Drinking & Healing good for a date?
Octo Tapas Restobar and The Long Lounge are other options to consider.
What's the crowd like at Drinking & Healing?
The clearest confirmed point is that Drinking & Healing was ranked #99 on World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars in 2024. If you are choosing between venues such as Not A Bar and Octo Tapas Restobar, compare current details directly before deciding.
