Polite & Co — Restaurant in Hà Nội

Hanoi is a city of contrasts, where ancient temples brush shoulders with bustling street vendors. So when I stumbled upon Polite & Co, tucked away on a charming side street, it felt like stepping into another world entirely.

This bar oozes atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, you're transported back to a bygone era. The dim lighting, worn leather chairs, and vintage gramophone playing jazz tunes all contribute to a sense of sophisticated nostalgia.

The bartender, a man with a mischievous glint in his eyes and a handlebar moustache that would make even Tom Selleck jealous, was an absolute delight. He wasn't just pouring drinks; he was weaving stories, recommending hidden gems in the city, and making each customer feel like a long-lost friend.

Now, onto the drinks. They were outstanding. Forget sugary cocktails loaded with artificial syrups. Here, the focus is on fresh, seasonal ingredients and classic techniques. I opted for the "Hanoi Bicycle Thief," a gin-based concoction with hints of lemongrass and ginger, and it was an absolute revelation. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the presentation was simple yet elegant.

While the prices are a bit higher than your average Hanoi bar, the experience is well worth it. It's not just about the drinks; it's about the atmosphere, the service, and the feeling of being transported to another time and place.

Here's what I loved: The intimate and nostalgic atmosphere The friendly and knowledgeable bartender The exceptional cocktails made with fresh, high-quality ingredients

A few things to keep in mind: The prices are a bit higher than average. The space is small, so it can get crowded on popular nights. Overall, Polite & Co is a hidden gem in Hanoi. If you're looking for a unique and memorable experience, I highly recommend...

Not a very pleasant first visit.

The menu was very interactive and interesting but the drinks were not impressive. Other than being too sweet I can’t explain what else is there in the cocktail. Could work on the flavours of the drink instead of sugar. Pho mojito was nothing but too sweet, it has a nice creamy texture but that was about it, nothing "pho-ish" where I could taste besides tad bit of sourness. Could have worked better on the herbs.

The drinks quality could have been bad due to the overwhelming crowd - took 30 mins for each cocktail to be ready as well. Very nice of the bartender to offer a shot of chocolate liqueur as I got a bit tired of waiting. The beautiful part of a speakeasy bar is that you get to enjoy every single drink, and the wait time is not too long. It's the exclusivity that they do not have, it's more like a pub than a cocktail bar.

Another thing that made me feel extremely uncomfortable is that they allow smoking in the premise. The music is loud like a club, it's smokey - people are smoking cigarettes and cigar. The place is not very big either - just a shoplot and to endure the amount of second hand smoke in this small little shop, it's a total killer. So this is another reason that they do not fit in the speakeasy category.

Prices are relatively higher than other cocktail bars I’ve visited too, and it does not justify the price. Or at least the two drinks i’ve had, did not justify.

However, I would love to try another time to properly be able to tell if this place is worth the time and money or not. Could give a second chance if I do return to Hanoi, but probably earlier in the day when it is not...

Been coming here ever since I moved to Vietnam 7 years ago. Absolutely love the concept. Probably my favourite designed bar ever. Artsy, but not pretentious. Dark, but not too dark, loud (although not very cool imo, but what do I know... I'm old) music, but not too loud. They got the atmosphere just right if you ask me.

Wish I could say the same about the drinks and service though. It seems to get worse every time I go here. Bartenders can't, or aren't interested in answering very basic questions about the pretty pricey drinks, waiters treat you like cattle while you're ordering 250k cocktails. Now, I'm not complaining about the price. I've worked in hospitality for 2 decades, so I know nice places come at a price, but with the money you charge, I (and I suspect most people) expect basic courtesy, politeness and knowledge. As a life-long hospitality professional myself, I would advise the management here to focus less on getting 'cool looking' kids to run your venue, and focus on getting staff with a basic sense of hospitality, and bartenders that actually have a passion for what they do, which should be tending the bar not just churn out below average drinks at a very high price while showing a very clear disdain for any interaction. That's not what our business is about. In my opinion of course.

You guys have such a prime location and amazing bar, employ some staff that can rock your venue like it should be rocked, and we all win. You can do...