Last weekend, we were invited to try out the Ministry Social Club in Hanoi.
This was an opportunity to experience a concept created by two Dutch men, which began to take shape in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015.
Concept
What Guido de Leeuw and Tom Goedhart started a bit less than 10 years ago has two distinct elements:
- Barbaard: A men-oriented wellness concept that includes two high-end barber shops, clothing, and cosmetics options.
- Ministry Social Club (Previously Ministry of Men): A cocktail bar concept with two branches, one in Hanoi at the Melia Hotel (the one we tried) and another in HCMC at the Sofitel Plaza.
The founders have attempted to unify both ideas under the “Dutch Heritage Excellence” umbrella.
For the Ministry Social Club venues, this translates into, according to their own words, “the ambition to revive the historical Dutch lounge renowned for elite networking and sublime cocktails”.
Venue
In Hanoi, the Ministry Social Club is located inside the centrally situated Melia Hotel. The space is organized around three key areas, each with its own personality:
- The Assembly Room: The main space featuring both a cocktail bar and a caviar and champagne bar. This is where we spent most of our time.
- The Library: A quieter, cozier space decorated with books.
- The Treasure Room: A space designed for cigar aficionados.
There is even a small private room behind the Library that can be privatized.
The overall decor of the bar leans toward the exuberant side, particularly in the main room where disco balls, chandeliers, and old painting reproductions are displayed side by side.
This lush decoration has started to attract locals looking for “cool photo spots,” which has prompted the Ministry Social Club to set up some strict rules:
- Changing clothes within the premises is prohibited.
- No flash photography.
- No photos of guests without their consent.
Drinks
While decoration is important, the essence of any bar lies in its drinks.
In this regard, the Ministry Social Club has built its menu around two main offerings: cocktails and whiskey.
Cocktails
We tried cocktails during our visit, and the Ministry Social Club aims to provide a unique touch with each one on the menu.
This is particularly true for the “Special” section of the menu, where each cocktail is designed to be a comprehensive experience, combining taste with visual elements and more.
We tried three cocktails from their “Special” menu. They enthusiastically explained the unique characteristics of each drink to us.
- The “Marie Curie” Cocktail: From the Sour family, this cocktail playfully allows you to progressively add different components to achieve the mix that suits your taste perfectly.
- The Winston Churchill: An Old Fashioned variation built as a tribute to Winston Churchill’s love of cigars.
- The Alfred Nobel: A reminder of Alfred Nobel’s most famous invention, dynamite. This spectacular addition to the “Special” menu has a few surprises in store that we won’t spoil here.
If you prefer classic cocktails, don’t worry. The Ministry Social Club has almost all of them on its menu.
Prices range from 350k++ to 390k++ for the specials and 250k++ to 290k++ for the classics.
Whiskey
This specific part of the Ministry Social Club menu has been designed to satisfy a wide range of tastes. We did not try any of the whiskey, but I have counted over 50 options on the menu, available by the glass or bottle, ranging from Irish whiskey and American whiskey to Single malt…
If you like liquors but not whiskey, the bar has you covered with a more than decent selection of gins, cognac, and rum…
Special and promos
It’s worth noting that there is a specific promotion each day of the week in addition to a membership program.
For example, when we visited on Friday evening, ladies were treated to a complimentary caviar bump.
Is this a review?
This article aims to help you understand the concept and offerings of this venue. As we were invited and did not pay for our drinks, we are not reviewing it in our usual style, which typically includes more personal judgments and opinions.
You can always count on us to be 100% transparent.
