Pubs and bars in Da Nang, Vietnam

The commercial centre for central Vietnam, Da Nang is becoming a popular tourist centre, a trend that looks like continuing given the large number of resorts and hotels being built on the coastal road between Da Nang and the cultural attraction that is Hoi An old town. As one would thus expect, many bars and restaurants are opening, some serving quite decent beer. The selection below should provide a good starting point for most beer drinkers.

Fatfish, 439 Tran Hung Dao

The highlight of this excellent riverside restaurant is the selection of beers from the Pasteur Street Brewing Company, a craft beer producer in Ho Chi Minh City. There are normally three of its beers available on draught and a sample platter can be ordered to try all three. The three-storey restaurant is brightly lit with the ground floor having a bar area and some food tables. On the middle floor, the open kitchen lets diners see their meals being produced as they enjoy the view over the river. It is also a very short walk from the Dragon Bridge, which is worth seeing at 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays when it breathes fire, literally.

Waterfront, 150 Bach Dang

This two-storey restaurant and bar on the riverside has balcony tables upstairs that provide a nice view over the water. The downstairs is more like an ordinary bar with tables and chairs spread around as well as seating at the bar itself. There are four or five draught beers available, including the Jasmine IPA from Pasteur Street Brewing and the pale ale from Platinum Beverages. A reasonable range of bottled beers fills up the menu; worth sampling are a couple of craft beers from the USA.

Luna Pub, 9A Tran Phu

One street back from the riverside, this place is definitely worth tracking down. Open plan and wide open onto the street, this converted warehouse’s most unusual feature is the orange lorry cab – go see for yourself. The back of the bar is the food preparation area – a range of Italian pizza and pasta dishes are on offer – and the bar itself runs down one side. Draught beers include Pasteur Street Jasmine IPA and Platinum Pale Ale, plus there is a good selection of craft bottled beers from Europe and the USA.

Tulip Restaurant, 174 Duong 2 Thang 9

This restaurant brews its own beer – two Czech style beers, the first being Bia Vang Tiep, a cloudy, reasonably hopped pilsner. The second is the Bia Tiep Den, a dark beer, lightly hopped with a hint of chocolate. There is a wide range of food in a mix of Asian and European styles with everything from seafood, beef, pork and chicken to frog, pigeon and rabbit.

Draft Beer, 99 Vo Nguyen Giap, My An

Really three bars in one, with the upstairs Guns n’ Roses bar probably the best of the bunch. Despite the name, the draught beer selection is fairly limited with the likes of Tiger, Heineken and Red Rock rescued slightly by the Gauden Schwarzbier. The pub actually scores on its bottled range with Chimay, Duvel and Leffe from Belgium and Hofbräuhaus from Germany. A pool table and table football are tucked around the corner by the loo. The bar also has another outlet on the riverside at 2 Thang 9, Hoa Curong Nam, Hai Chau.

Wang’s Pub, 84 Ho Xuan Huong

This chilled open-air locals’ pub butts onto the main road. Basic seating around tables produces a simple but atmospheric bar. Paintings of insects and other wild life on white walls provide décor. The beer list is fairly limited with local Hada and Larue joining Tiger, Heineken and Corona. They also do cocktails, spirits and a wide range of soft drinks.

Other bars in Da Nang

There are, of course, many other pubs in Da Nang, some pretty good. For example, the riverside road that contains Waterfront hosts more bars, Bamboo Bar 2 particularly standing out for those that like to watch sport and enjoy friendly staff.

If you visit Draught Beer near the seaside, walk a little further north for the Breeze Bar in The Village and the Sailing Bar, both of which provide the opportunity to drink while watching the sea lap up on the beach. And on the opposite side of the road to Wang’s Pub, a bit further east is Somewhere Else, a nice friendly relaxed pub with a pool table.