Papaya Papa – Rooftop Restaurant, Bar & Club Ho Chi Minh City — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Papaya Papa was for me a story of ecology mixed with astronomy. YES, ecology - mixed with astronomy. Why? Contaminated stars.

Stars that could have been 3, stained by unexpected twists that brought them down a notch to 2. From 4 to 3. From five to four.

Food: it was actually quite good, and not without a certain degree of sophistication. But - it was in portions reminiscent, together with the size of the crowd they were being served to, of that scene from the Pianist where six starving people share a single tiny caramel (was it perhaps our organization's fault? Time will tell, and stars might be restored)

Service: friendly, hard working. But - apparently not fully aware of the agreement we had taken with the establishment. That created some unnecessary friction with some of the fieriest representatives of our organization (not yours truly, believe it or not).

Atmosphere: elegant, greatly positioned rooftop. But - I, and a dear friend of mine (you, lover of poodles and caps, I am talking to you 😉) share an aversion for one shareholder of this otherwise glamorous location. Moody people will be moody, and - ALAS - another star goes down.

So here we are, environmentally conscious observers of ratings, mildly intoxicated and looking at the stars with hope for the future but an eye on the past, on the papayas we didn't get to eat, on the papas we luckily didn't...

This swanky rooftop bar and restaurant has only been open for a couple of weeks, but it’s already a top spot for events and celebrations. The city skyline views make for a perfect backdrop.

The atmosphere is stylish yet cozy with warm lighting and lush, modern decor with a mid-century vibe. The crowd is a fun mix of people, which makes the place feel lively and diverse.

I’ve already been here three times since the opening tried a good chunk of their small but punchy menu. Every dish so far has been spot on. To me, it stands out even among the best of Saigon’s fine dining, with fusion dishes that lean toward Mediterranean flavors. Cocktails are expertly crafted. Music ranges from electronic to hip hop to big band swing, keeping the vibe fresh.

If you're looking for a great place to celebrate or just have a night out, Papaya Papa is a must-visit. Not to mention, it’s extremely...

We made a reservation at the bar (since the rule is reservation only) but were told upon arrival that it’s full and have to check for an available seat ourselves. After a while, a waitress guided us to an available table. 5 minutes later another waitress came to our table to let us know that the table has been reserved, and unless we spend a minimum of 3 million VND, we have to leave when new guests arrive. I don’t know how you handle reservations but here’s a piece of advice. First, when a customer calls you, look around and let them know it’s full when it’s full so they can decide if it’s still worth coming or not. If it’s not full at that time, respect the reservation and ensure a seat is available upon the customer’s arrival. Second, don’t offer a table with no conditions and then change your mind 5 minutes later. Thankfully, we got up and left without...