The Haflington — Restaurant in Hà Nội

The Haflington – A Hidden Cocktail Museum in Hanoi

📍 Location & Access: Located at 94 Hàng Mã, Hoàn Kiếm, The Haflington is tucked away behind a narrow hallway and up two flights of stairs. Getting there feels like venturing through a hidden maze—an experience in itself—until you arrive at a cozy and stylish oasis.

⏰ Opening Hours: Open daily from 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

🍸 Drinks & Menu: • The cocktail menu is expertly crafted with a focus on spirit-forward, vintage-style drinks. Expect both classics like Sherry Cobblers and Manhattans, as well as inventive modern mixes like the Rabbit Habit (mezcal, carrot juice, cinnamon syrup) and Anti Scurvy (tequila, lime, vitamin C cordial). • Most drinks are priced around 300,000–350,000 VND (~$14)—reasonable for the high quality and sophisticated atmosphere.

🏛️ Ambience & Vibe: • The interior feels like a private museum: polished wood, old books, fossils, and even a dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling. • Lighting is soft and warm, creating a cozy, peaceful mood—very different from the loud, crowded bar scene typical of Hanoi. • There are several secluded nooks ideal for private conversations or solo unwinding with a good drink.

🏆 Accolades: • Ranked #47 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, and notably the first Vietnamese bar ever to make it into the top 50. • Widely praised for being a “light-filled oasis of calm” offering a truly refined cocktail experience.

📋 Tips & Highlights: • Be sure to try their seasonal drinks like Scorching Heat—a customer favorite. • If you prefer less sweetness, feel free to ask; the staff are friendly and happy to adjust flavors to your taste.

✅ Summary: • Space: Vintage and museum-like with “wow” details like fossils and a dinosaur skeleton. • Cocktails: Elegant, creative, and balanced; most drinks cost ~300–350k VND. • Best Time to Visit: After 3 PM for a peaceful, relaxing evening. • Great For: Dates, deep talks, solo sipping, or a quiet night...

If you are a cocktail aficionado, you MUST put Halflington on your list. First, the space itself is absolutely stunning: it's like exploring a tropical museum with animal bones hanging from the ceiling and spot lighting that highlights the exhibits on display. The mood is elegant but still fun -- it's a great spot for a date or a group of friends to get together and have some drinks. It wasn't loud but wasn't quiet so you could easily make conversation without straining.

The menu was extensive -- there was something for everyone! A solid selection of original cocktails gives way to modern classics and a section titled "unusual". We loved the original cocktails on menu -- most are on the sweeter side -- but really had a great time in the "unusual" section. Cocktails here were twists on classics: our absolute favorite was the Jack Rose twist (traditionally made with Applejack) that had been made with Calvados, a much more complex apple spirit that made it tart and bright. This is definitely a place that I could come back to enjoy the originals but I would also explore their extensive selection of classics -- and, like most places, the bartenders are happy to make something off menu after you've explored their offerings.

Service was attentive and the salty bar snacks we ordered complemented the drinks well. The space was very full by 930PM, so I would recommend making a reservation if you can plan ahead. As others have noted, the entrance is slightly hidden but the host standing near a small passage on the street should give you a clue.

This was one of the highlights of our time in Hanoi -- if you are a cocktail enthusiast or appreciate interesting spaces, put this one your list. This is a place that...

Come back to edit my review from 5 down to 1 star because the experience I had during the last two visits was very disappointing. Drinks were very sloppy at such high price. The last straw was bad service from a very strange waiter and bartender was very unprofessional too. No service mind and he thought he was being charming but he was just rude, he definitely couldn’t read the room and ruined my whole night. The female supervisor and server were good but I didn’t see them anymore. I literally had to ask the waiter to leave my table alone because his communication skill was horrible. Still leave my previous comment below as this might just have been my very personal experience, others might still have a great time at this establishment.

Visited the place after a year and their updated menu looked so well made but the content was just nonsense pretty stories featuring typical overpriced mixed drinks.

They used to make really great cocktails but during my several recent visits the quality has definitely gone down (not bad, just quite mediocre with tiny portion compared to the price).

Upstairs and downstairs service was day and night. I was stuffed in a corner downstairs looking at the wall when i first arrived, busy getting bitten by mosquitoes and I couldn’t get any of the staff’s attention. It was only when I moved upstairs that I was greeted by the supervisor/manager, had a staff came talk me through the menu specials and was offered a snack while waiting for my drinks.

The decor, the ambiance and the music were still great and one of the best in Hanoi so still giving them 5* but they really need to up their game to catch up with the price...