Secret Wines shop and Lounge — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

A Hidden Gem with a Touch of “Je Ne Sais Quoi”…!!!

Dining at Secret Wines is like uncovering a well-kept secret—one that surprises and delights with every detail. Tucked away and quietly confident, the place exudes a charm that’s hard to pin down, a subtle je ne sais quoi that lingers long after the last sip of wine.

Our evening was graced with a beautifully curated menu by the talented Chef Guillaume. It began with a delicate asparagus soup crowned with tender Hokkaido scallop, an elegant opening act. This was followed by perfectly crisp Akra de morue, and a bold yet refined pairing of bone marrow with escargots de Bourgogne. The pièce de résistance was a Grade 5 beef, cooked to absolute perfection, accompanied by a duo of mushroom and pepper sauces, rich, earthy, and entirely satisfying.

Of course, no experience at Secret Wines would be complete without the masterful wine pairings by Jean-Luc, a true wine buff with an extraordinary palate. He introduced us to some remarkable selections…. Like the expressive “L’Impatiente” and the elegant “L’Élégante” Vézelay (vintage 2019) from Domaine La Croix Montjoie, and the unforgettable Seul en Scène by François Villard—each wine a perfect counterpart to the dishes, enhancing and elevating every flavor.

Secret Wines isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an experience. One that whispers instead of shouts, surprises instead of flaunts, and leaves you thinking about your next visit the moment you step out the door.

I debated long and hard about posting this review, mostly because I wanted to keep this place my little secret. But alas, that wouldn’t be fair to the wizards behind the food and wine...

Secret Wine Shop had been on my list for a while, so I was excited to finally try it. We visited right after dining at Lupin, so naturally, comparisons were inevitable.

The food at SWB was undeniably good—flavors were well-balanced, and the ingredients were fresh. But while it was enjoyable, it didn’t have that “wow” factor that makes a meal truly memorable. The plating, too, felt like it could use a bit more finesse to match the elevated price point.

Service-wise, the boss was attentive, but the experience took a bit of a turn when he engaged in long conversations in French with our French-speaking friends. Even though he speaks English and my friends made efforts to switch back, he kept the conversation in French, which left the rest of us feeling a little sidelined. It was a small but noticeable factor that made the evening feel less welcoming than it could have been.

Price-wise, SWB sits on the higher end—noticeably pricier than Lupin. While it delivers good food and wine, I can’t say it left a strong enough impression to justify the cost, especially compared to Lupin, which offered a more well-rounded experience.

Overall, Secret Wine Shop was a nice experience, but if I had to choose, Lupin...

My wife and I went to this place on a recommendation from a long time local expat friend and had one of our best dining experiences in Vietnam. It’s located at the quiet end of a narrow street full of boisterous beer joints. Don’t worry, once you get inside you’ll be rewarded with a very romantic and cozy setting. The menu is reminiscent of a good French bistro, and they offer an impressive selection of wines by the bottle, as well as a limited but excellent wines by the glass. We started out with the day’s special of fresh oysters from Nha Trang, accompanied by a crisp sparkling wine, both of which were delicious. Taking cues from our very friendly and knowledgeable Executive Chef Joel, we followed that with perfectly wine-paired courses of French crayfish bisque, tuna tartare and absolutely luscious wagyu ribeye bourguignon, finishing with some wonderful French cheese. Since we were the only customers on a quiet post-Tét holiday night, we had a chance to talk extensively with Joel about French food and wine. Altogether, this was our most memorable meal in our 6-week...