Despite the relative absence of skyscrapers in the city center, Hanoians have a special love for rooftop bars. The weather does not always cooperate, but the capital offers plenty of options for those who enjoy sipping a cold drink while relaxing and taking in the city from above, especially at sunset, as we do.
Until now, most of those bars in the Old Quarter did not belong to the high-end segment. That changed with the opening of the Pool Terrace & Bar at the five-star Fairmont Hotel in mid-2026.
Read more: Best Rooftop Bars in Hanoi: A Personal Selection by a Local
The Space
Pool Terrace & Bar sits on the top floor of the Fairmont Hanoi, the first ultra-luxury hotel of the Fairmont brand in Vietnam. It is run by Accor and opened in early 2026. The location could hardly be better: the heart of Hoan Kiem District, with views over Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. It will get better still when the park under construction opens and connects the hotel directly to the lake.
Next to the bar is an infinity pool, reserved for hotel guests for now. The overall space is wide and open, with a Mediterranean feel. Few rooftops in central Hanoi offer this combination of scale, view and design.
On the Menu
Pool Terrace & Bar is a luxury bar, and the menu says so. It is mostly about premium drinks, with sophisticated light bites alongside: canapés, grilled skewers, desserts.
Since September 2026 there is also a champagne menu built in partnership with Moët & Chandon, with signature champagne cocktails and champagne and food pairings from 2,800,000 VND per person. That is the experience we were invited to try.
Champagne is always great but the cocktails are what truly held our attention. Most luxury hotel bars in Hanoi have left us cold on this front. Here the signature menu is genuinely interesting. It was created by Liam Nguyen, a Canadian-Vietnamese bartender named among the most talented at the 2025 World Class Canada competition. He took his inspiration from Vietnamese street food.
Following his recommendations and explanations, we tried these cocktails:
- Peach-Orange-Lemongrass Tea, with gin, peach liqueur and green tea. Refreshing and light, for anyone who orders a Spritz in summer.
- Tào phớ, with white rum, ginger liqueur, soy milk and pandan-jasmine essence. Smooth and velvety. It was the one that impressed both Huong and me, because it really does catch the soul of the dessert.
- Black Bean Dessert, with vodka, vanilla-infused liqueur, black beans, lotus seeds and coconut foam. Another Vietnamese twist, for those who like their cocktails sweet and rich but still balanced.
Prices start at 120k++ for a beer, 360k++ for a glass of wine and 450k++ for a signature cocktail. That is clearly on the higher end but nothing shocking for a rooftop with this location, this setting and this view.
Weekly Events
Having recently opened, Pool Terrace & Bar is currently hosting “Cloud 9 – Beats above Hanoi” event with live DJ from 8PM every Friday and Saturday. Be sure to make a reservation to secure your seating.
Elsewhere in the Hotel
The rooftop is far from the hotel’s only ambition.
Two floors down, on level 2, YY Bar specializes in cocktails, with live soul and R&B four nights a week. The Vietnamese restaurant, Tran Dynasty, is run by celebrity chef Luke Nguyen and takes a contemporary line on Vietnamese cooking. Alongside them the hotel also has Bacco for Italian, Hiryu for Japanese and 10 Central, the lobby café.
Useful Info
- Address: Pool Terrace & Bar – Rooftop of Fairmont Hanoi Hotel, No. 10 Tran Nguyen Han, Hoan Kiem
- Opening hours (guests aged 16 and over):
16:00 – 23:00 | Sunday to Thursday
16:00 – 02:00 | Friday & Saturday - Website: https://www.fairmonthanoi.com
- Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tAvGnwRWutpwnXzJ6
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoolTerraceBarHanoi
*Some of the main pages from the food and drink menu. Click an image to enlarge.
*This is a post written in partnership with Fairmont; however, all information shared reflects our genuine impressions of the location.
