The weather in Hanoi can be quite gloomy for long stretches of the year, especially when fog combines with pollution.
This makes clear-sky days something to appreciate fully. One of the best ways to enjoy them is by having a drink at a rooftop bar with a view of the city.
View of Hanoi’s West Lake from Pan Pacific Hotel
Fortunately, Hanoi offers plenty of great options for this. I’d even say it’s a must-do experience if you’re visiting the city—weather permitting—since it’s hard for non-locals to grasp the immensity of this 8-million-inhabitant city from street level alone.
This article lists spots that we have personally tried and liked.
Please note that these venues were primarily selected for their ability to offer a great “rooftop experience,” which means we gave more weight to the setting than to other factors. For example, if you’re looking for the best cocktails or craft beers in the city, this isn’t the article for you.
Luckily, I’ve covered those topics in dedicated articles:
Huong enjoying a cocktail at The Summit Bar, Pan Pacific Hotel
The Pan Pacific (formerly Sofitel Plaza) is a 5-star hotel, and this influences much of the experience you’ll have here, from pricing to service.
I often feel that 5-star venues can be interchangeable, but the Summit Bar has one BIG advantage: the view! For the past 15 years, this has consistently been one of my top choices for watching a sunset in Hanoi.
There are many places offering a high viewpoint of the city, but the Pan Pacific overlooks both West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, which makes it particularly special.
The Summit Bar balcony overlooking both Truc Bach Lake and West Lake
We like:
The stunning view over both Westlake and Trúc Bạch lake
For years, nearly all rooftop bars in the Old Quarter sat in the same bracket: pleasant 3 or 4-star hotels with a view and perhaps a happy hour. Nothing special at the top end.
That changed in mid-2026 with the Fairmont Hanoi, the first ultra-luxury hotel of the Fairmont brand in Vietnam, operated by Accor.
Pool Terrace & Bar sits on the top floor with a great view of Hoan Kiem Lake and the roofs of the Old Quarter, which will further improve when the park under construction below is finished. The space is wide and open, with a Mediterranean feel. The infinity pool along one side is reserved for hotel guests for now. Prices are on the upper end, but this is to be expected considering the quality of service and the location.
The cocktail menu is particularly notable as it is built entirely on Vietnamese street food flavours. We particularly liked the “Tào phớ”, with white rum, ginger liqueur, soy milk and pandan-jasmine essence. Give it a try.
As mentioned above, there are plenty of mid-range rooftop bars in the Old Quarter situated on top of 4-star hotels, offering similar atmosphere. This made it hard to choose among them.
After trying a good number of these spots, perhaps the one we like most is Moonlight, located on top of La Siesta Classic.
The view is, of course, quite good – otherwise, it wouldn’t have made this list – but what stood out to us was the friendly and professional team, the unique design of the bar, and the great value during Happy Hour.
Moonlight Sky bar
What we like:
The unique, spacious design
Great value Happy Hour: Buy 1, Get 1 from 5 pm to 8 pm
Lighthouse Sky Bar is another favorite of ours in the Old Quarter, located on the 10th floor of La Siesta Premium Hotel. It’s part of the same group as the previously mentioned La Siesta Classic, meaning you can expect a relatively similar experience.
What we like:
Spacious and airy design with a great sunset view
Happy Hour with house wine at 110k and other discounts on beer, cocktails, and mixed drinks, from 5 – 6:30 PM daily
One last recommendation if you are looking for a mid-range rooftop bar in the Old Quarter.
Located on the rooftop of La Sinfonia Del Rey Hotel on Hang Dau Street, this is arguably one of the best spots to view Hoan Kiem Lake, especially at sunset.
We tried two signature cocktails – the “Ba Dinh” (a sweet-and-sour gin-based drink) and the “Dong Da” (a richer whiskey-based option) – priced at around 200k VND each during Happy Hour. While they might not quite measure up to those at Fairmont Pool Terrace & Bar mentioned above, or other top-tier cocktail bars we recommend you to try in Hanoi, they are still quite good compared to most other rooftop bars.
Signature cocktail Ba Đình & Đống Đa – Terraço Sky Bar
What we like:
The great view of Hoan Kiem Lake
Happy Hour: 30% off cocktails, beer and mixed drinks daily from 5 PM to 7 PM.
General Information:
Address: Rooftop of La Sinfonia Del Rey Hotel, 33-35 P. Hàng Dầu, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
At first glance, this place might seem like a strange addition to this list. It’s true that Republic isn’t technically a rooftop bar—it offers only a nice terrace with a view of West Lake.
The reason I wanted to include Republic is that it provides one of the best Western-style pub experiences in the area.
You’ll find an extensive menu featuring all the comfort food classics, along with multiple beers on tap, including craft options. All major sports events are also broadcast indoors on multiple screens. It’s no surprise that this spot has long been a favorite among the expat community.
A Must-Try at La Republique – The Schnitzel
What we like:
The complete package for a Western-style pub experience
Schnitzel deal on Tuesdays & Wednesdays: A big schnitzel + 1 free beer for 250K
We initially didn’t plan to include this place on the list located on the top of Lotte Tower (272 meters), as our experience there wasn’t particularly memorable.
It’s true that this is the highest sky bar in the city, but it feels like the place relies heavily on its reputation. That being said, nothing about it is particularly bad, and I wouldn’t call it a tourist trap.
Overall, the Top of Hanoi is still an acceptable option if you’re in the area, and standing on the city’s second tallest building is an experience in itself.
What we like:
The chance to stand (almost) on top of Hanoi (Landmark72 is the city’s tallest building but doesn’t have a true Sky Bar).
I wanted this list to include several options beyond the immediate surroundings of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. If you are in Ba Đình area and looking for a drink with a view, Bar Đình Rooftop Lounge is a decent option. Its main draw is the view over West Lake, particularly around sunset. The downside is a fairly unremarkable drinks menu, and the happy-hour offer is limited to 30% off from 4:30 to 7 pm.
Address: 13th floor, Le Jardin Haute Couture Hotel, 105 Nguyễn Trường Tộ, Ba Đình
As a Frenchman living in Vietnam for 15 years, Loïc has an endless passion for craft beer, pizza and bánh đa trộn. He brings to Ẩm Thực Hiện Đại not only many years of experience in building websites and creating content, but also a foreigner's perspective on a Vietnam that is constantly innovating and developing.
