The Bar You Enter Through a Wardrobe: Tu Bar in Ho Chi Minh City

Down a narrow alley in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, there is an unremarkable brown wooden door.
Push it open, and you find yourself surrounded by coats hanging on a rack.
Do not panic. Keep walking. Behind the wardrobe is another door -- the real entrance.

This is Tu Bar, one of Saigon's most inventive hidden bars.

Narnia in a Wardrobe

"Tu" means wardrobe in Vietnamese. The name tells you exactly what to expect: you have to walk through one to get in.

As you brush past the coats, you catch a faint scent of perfume.
That attention to detail carries over to every drink.

The owner says the design was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia -- the story of children walking through a wardrobe into a magical world. He also drew from Gen Yamamoto, the acclaimed Tokyo bar, and the mood of Edward Hopper's painting Nighthawks.

Beyond the wardrobe, you enter a narrow space with about a dozen seats. The lighting is dim, the atmosphere intimate -- a good fit for dates or anyone who wants to drink in peace.

A Bar With No Menu

What makes Tu Bar truly different is that there is no menu.

It runs on an omakase model -- like a Japanese chef's counter where the chef decides the course. You tell the bartender your mood, your flavor preferences, and let him take it from there.

Something refreshing? Sour or sweet? Strong or mellow? The bartender crafts a cocktail just for you. Each drink comes with an elegant bite -- perhaps scallop with caviar, or burdock tempura.

It requires trust. The reward is a different experience every time.

Bartender Toan

Tu Bar was founded by bartender Pham Hong Toan.

He worked at several well-known Saigon bars, including The Alley Cocktail Bar, Rabbit Hole, and Con Voi Bar. One evening, a guest walked in and ordered a Manhattan, a Sazerac, and a Czech-style absinthe. They talked for over two hours. The next day, over lunch at Pizza 4P's, they decided to open a bar together.

Toan is particular about his Martini. Depending on his mood, he chooses between Tanqueray 10 and Gin No.3 -- the former gentle, the latter bracing. Either way, the gin is pre-frozen to minus 24 degrees Celsius.

"I want to revive forgotten classic cocktails, presented in a new way," he says of his style.

Solo Visitors Welcome

One guest shared a detail: she went to Tu Bar alone. The staff noticed and placed a stuffed teddy bear next to her for company. When she left, they called a Grab to take her home.

This kind of thoughtful service makes Tu Bar more than a bar. It is a small refuge from the city's noise.

Practical Information

Address: 160 Ngo Tat To, Phuong 22, Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: About 300,000-350,000 VND per cocktail (includes a paired snack)
Seats: Around 13-15; weekend reservations recommended
Atmosphere: Dim and private, good for dates, solo visits, or small gatherings

Note: There is no menu. Be prepared to describe your flavor preferences in English or Vietnamese.

Photo credits: The Dot Magazine, Corner

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