The Alley Cocktail Bar & Kitchen — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

This bar was previously on my "Best Bars in Saigon" list, but after I finally got around to visiting, I choose to remove it.

I went in a few months ago with a friend on a slow night and ordered 2 whiskey (neat) drinks. At the end we paid our bills separately. I was trying to be cost-conscious this night, so I made very clear about my order.

After the 2 drinks, I checked the bill and saw that I had been overcharged around 300k more than the menu price. I was very very clear about what I ordered and when the check came, the (young) bartender acted like he didn't understand.

It took me a few seconds of debating whether to let it go or to say something, but then I decided to ask for a manager... Upon asking, the (female) manager had actually been standing behind myself and my friend the whole time listening to our conversation with the bartender regarding the bill, but didn't say anything.

The manager ended up refunding the extra money, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth.

Ive been in the bar industry for 15yrs, so I can usually feel when and if I am being taken advantage of and this is exactly how I felt at this moment.

I would consider revisiting and revising my review under the right...

I had a nice relaxing time at the Alley. The AC was strong and the prices were good!

Come between 5-8 pm to get half off all drinks and food on the menu that have an asterisk.

I ordered a mojito and a daiquiri. The mojito was a little different than what I'm used to but it was fine. I liked the daiquiri more. It was not thick, blended, and sugary but rather light and still sweet.

I also had the chicken wings and the fried calamari. Chicken wings were fresh and hot but a little bland - maybe could use some salt. The calamari had a nice batter to it, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I saw someone order the salmon and that came in 5 bite size pieces. I'd probably give that a try next time.

The staff all spoke English and were friendly 😀

It wasn't too busy when I got there at 7:20 - about 3 customers - I was told it usually gets busy after 9. I left shortly before 9 and there were about 8 people at that time.

There were 2 vat tax charges on my bill - an 8% vat tax and another 10% vat tax. Not sure what they are specifically, may just be an additional tax and tip the Alley charges by...

Alley is a seemingly hidden gem tucked away in the heart of busy district 1 with a full house reveals itself behind a thick and heavy curtain. Yet once sipped their drinks, you would really hope the place remains hidden.

Our group ordered 1 whiskey sour, which was not sour at all but tolerable, especially after waiting 30 mins for it. The 2 old fashioneds, however, in my friends' own words - "straight up rubbing alcohol with a touch of orange zest".

We asked the waitress if they could help us to make the old fashioned a bit lighter. Without even asking the bartender, she immediately told us the bartender has 10+ years of experience so the drinks were supposed to be like that. She offered us an unopened can of club soda so we could dilute the drinks ourselves.

Highly recommended for those who wanna try out Saigon's unique cocktail...