The best French restaurants in Hanoi

There might come a time when you feel like you crave something else than Vietnamese food, or just want to try new dishes. Traveling in Hanoi opens up a world of cuisine from different corners of the world, and the French kitchen is especially popular here. Whether you’re in the mood for a big brunch or a late afternoon dinner, you’ll find lots of French restaurants here that will satisfy your cravings. Read on to find the best French restaurants in Hanoi.

1. Green Tangerine Restaurant Hanoi

Address: 48 Hàng Bè, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

What used to be a 1920s French villa has now been turned into one of the best restaurants in Hanoi. Green Tangerine offers authentic Vietnamese and French haute cuisine in a calm and beautiful setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Some of their specialties include duck breast carpaccio in red fruit dressing and roasted pigeon marinated in coffee. The food there is never dull, delightful to look at and incredibly tasteful. This restaurant won’t disappoint.

2. French Grill at JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi

Address: 8 Đỗ Đức Dục, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

As the name explains it, it’s a restaurant which serves excellent French delicacies along with premium wines that will go perfectly with your food. The restaurant is inside the luxurious 5 star resort JW Marriott Hotel and has a huge open kitchen. Visitors can also opt for a private dining room with a seafood bar and a semi-private one. The French Grill is sophisticated, elegant, luxurious and serves some spectacular French food.

3. La Badiane

Address: 10 Nam Ngư, Cửa Nam, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Many visitors who come here claim this is one of the best restaurants that can be found in the entire country. La Badiane has not only been recommended by The New York Times but is also rated as one of the Top 500 restaurants in Asia by the Miele Guide and has gotten Certificates of Excellence by Tripadvisor 5 times. Safe to say, it’s a restaurant with a very good reputation. The quality of the food is nothing but excellent, the atmosphere is top notch and the international food they’re serving will melt in your mouth. To make your experience even more pleasant, they have live classical music concerts every Wednesday, so make sure to reserve a table then. It’s a must if you like French food.

4. A la folie, Hanoi

Address: 11b Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Trúc Bạch Ba Đình Hà Nội, Vietnam

In 2016 this restaurant got the Certificate of Excellence by Tripadvisor, which is proof that people who came here were very pleased. And it’s not hard to see why. Both the ambiance and the food is excellent, the prices are not as pricey as many other French restaurants, and it’s situated in a nice location with a beautiful view over West lake. It’s tucked away in a quiet street in the Old Quarter in a cool and relaxing space.

5. O’Douceurs

Address: 91 Trần Hưng Đạo, Cửa Nam, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

This cute little French café is the perfect place to go to when you have a sweet tooth. Filled with delicious French pastries such as eclairs and lemon meringue, this café is a hit amongst both locals, travelers and expats. Because who doesn’t love dessert? If you’re craving for something savory, they also serve lighter meals such as ‘banh mi’, a Vietnamese style baguette, omelette and different salads. But it’s for the desserts that most people come here for.

6. Colette’s 32 Wine Bar & Bistro

Address: 57 Bùi Thị Xuân, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

Colette’s is a must for all wine lovers. Not only do they have an incredible wine selection, you can also grab a bite to eat there. The food is super tasty and there’s also a list that helps you pair your food with the wine that goes well with it. This place gets full quickly so make sure to either make a reservation or come here a bit earlier, before things get busy.

Don’t forget to apply for a Vietnam visa in good time before entering the country. You can either get a Visa on Arrival or E-Visa, which you apply for online, or you can go to your nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate and apply with them.