The Hudson rooms Hanoi, Vietnam

At The Hudson Rooms, located in the ultra-luxury 5-star boutique hotel Capella Hanoi in the city's French Quarter, the cocktails may get the headlines, but the food deserves top billing. The rooftop bar takes its culinary cues from the city's grand brasseries, with seafood at the heart of the menu.

French varieties of oysters, including Cadoret and Gillardeau, are served impeccably chilled with mignonette. They are among the strongest reasons to linger over dinner here. The Fulton Seafood Platter is another indulgent proposition, bringing together whole lobster, tiger prawns, Hokkaido scallop ceviche, tuna tartare, sea grapes - and, yes, oysters.

There is plenty for landlubbers, too. The menu moves into steaks and other substantial plates. Dishes like rigatoni and peri-peri chicken have earned particular praise from gourmands.


What makes the kitchen work is its balance: familiar, generous dishes are given enough polish to feel special without becoming fussy. The food is designed to accompany the bar rather than play second fiddle to it. And that may be The Hudson Rooms' biggest surprise: come for cocktails and the rooftop setting. But stay because dinner is so very worth having.