TNH

This little breath of fresh air in the form of an indie-rock bar will make the hairs of your permanently homesick, culture-shocked expatriate neck stand on end. What a funky, cozy little spot, just the right size, kind of like your old apartment in Paris or New York that you'll never ever forget. Nice canvases on the walls, absurdly tasteful touches like string banisters between ceiling and stone staircase, and decorative white pebbles in the washroom sink. Tadioto also boasts nice house drink specials, like that little thimbleful of tart apple thing that came across the bar, gratis, the other night. And nice bar staff, the kind of guys that one would, I think, ideally, befriend and know by name.

Attention to detail is the single most common element lacking amongst the vast majority of businesses in Hanoi. When you stumble into an establishment that "gets it", it's a thing of beauty.

Tadioto "gets it".

Teetering on the edge of pretentiousness, but somehow managing to create a superbly comfortable and inviting space, Tadioto oozes coolness from every single nook and cranny. It's all in the small details. The funky little pieces of art placed here and there. The exposed brick and old lumber. Bizarre, yet perfectly fitting design choices everywhere you look. The cracked wooden spoon in your cup of coffee. Perfect lighting. And of course, the music.

It all adds up, creating an environment like no other in Hanoi.

I don’t really know how to classify Tadioto. In a sense it is similar to a lot of cafes in Hanoi. People call it a bar, but it is not really designed to facilitate interaction between different tables. It has an intimacy that feels more appropriate for two people or a group of close friends. And yet for me it also feels oddly similar to the bohemian bars in Barrio Brasil in Santiago, Chile. It could be the diverse clientele here that gave me that impression. You have the young artsy students, but you also have older folks here and they all seem to belong to the place. It’s not like certain places where people can look out of place if they don’t belong to the majority. However you want to call this place, it’s a great spot for a drink and to meet your friends. There should be more places like this in Hanoi.

Where does one begin a review of such a bar that differs from all the rest? Forget Mao's, forget Dragonfly and all those so called hip places to hang out. This bar is not in the Old Quarter so for the masses, they probably won't ever find the street. But for those who are a little bit more discerning, then I recommend a short trip down to Trieu Viet Vuong Street and have a look at what Tadioto has to offer. You will not be disappointed as you will get a very warm welcome from the owner Duc and an atmosphere that is not really comparable to many places in Hanoi. The place is brimming with character and has so much charm and appeal that I am just unable to put it into words. All I can say is go and check the place out for yourself and you will see exactly what I am talking about.
Be careful when trying to find the place, it does not have a sign out front so just check for the number.

Really cool bar. A tad on the expensive side but otherwise nice looking, good drinks, and good tunes (sometimes a rarity here as i'm sure you've noticed!)

Also - look out for the psychedelic neon spinning picture of Ho Chi near the bar...Maybe the most epic thing i have seen in vietnam so far. I'd have one in my bedroom if i knew i wouldn't spend 8 hours staring at it rather than going to sleep...