Polite & Co

Polite & Co is one of Hanoi’s true institutions – a bar that feels like it’s been here forever, quietly pouring great drinks while the Old Quarter pulses just outside. Open since the mid-1990s and formerly known as Polite Pub, it’s widely regarded as Hanoi’s oldest dedicated cocktail bar and a pioneer of the city’s pub culture. Step in from the narrow Ngõ Bảo Khánh alley and the energy of Hoàn Kiếm Lake instantly fades. Inside, the room is long, warm and intimate: dark wood panelling, a polished bar running almost the full length of the space, leather stools, framed movie stills and portraits, soft lamplight and high shelves stacked with bottles. The aesthetic deliberately nods to 1920s gentleman’s clubs and speakeasies – think old-world charm rather than themed cosplay. Music is a big part of the experience. On many evenings you’ll hear jazz and swing setting a laid-back, grown-up mood; at other times DJs ease the room into a livelier vibe without turning it into a full-on club. The bar draws a mixed crowd of locals, expats, travellers and a strong LGBTQ+ following, helped by its reputation on queer nightlife guides and its location close to Golden Cock bar. The real star, though, is the drinks list. Polite & Co is very much a cocktail and whisky bar. The menu covers well-executed classics (Negronis, Old Fashioneds, Martinis, Sours) alongside a rotating collection of signatures that riff on Vietnamese flavours – think floral, fruity and herb-driven combinations inspired by Hanoi street life. One of their best-known drinks, “The Street Vendor”, weaves local fruit and floral notes with gin as a nod to the city’s pavement culture. If you’re into whisky, the back bar is especially strong: a broad selection of Scotch, Japanese and other world whiskies, plus gins and other premium spirits lined up on floor-to-ceiling shelves behind the bar. Craft beer and wine round things out, but this is first and foremost a place for cocktails, spirit-forward drinks and slow sipping, not buckets or beer pong. Service is generally polished and friendly. Table service is the norm; staff are happy to walk you through the menu, build something off-menu based on your preferences, or make recommendations for a “first Hanoi cocktail bar” stop. Many nights there are happy-hour deals or themed evenings – from Old Fashioned specials to DJ nights – which are usually announced on their social channels. The space itself is not huge, and they tend to keep numbers controlled so it never feels packed to the point of discomfort. Couples gravitate towards the softer corner seating for date nights, while solo drinkers and small groups often claim spots along the bar to watch the bartenders at work. Being just a minute or two’s walk from Hoàn Kiếm Lake also makes it ideal as a pre- or post-dinner stop when you’re exploring the Old Quarter. Overall, Polite & Co is best thought of as Hanoi’s “classic cocktail house”: old-school atmosphere, serious but not stuffy drinks, and a timeless style that has aged far better than many newer bars trying to emulate the same speakeasy vibe.