Da Nang restaurant and bar guide
Banh Beo is a delicious Da Nang speciality
With nearly a million inhabitants, Da Nang has plenty of eating options, though few are geared to foreigners so you may need to use your phrase book to get by. Almost every street has both street stalls selling single dishes and local eateries serving up a range of rice dishes. For a concentration of such places, take a wander down Nguyen Chi Thanh.
It’s not surprising, given Da Nang’s seaside location, that seafood is in big demand, and several restaurants specialize in such dishes, especially along the beachfront at My Khe Beach. There’s also something of a café culture in Da Nang, and many of these places serve delicious pastries. Pastries and baguettes can also be found at several bakeries near the north end of Phan Chu Trinh.
Recommended Da Nang restaurants
Apsara (Vietnamese): Da Nang’s poshest restaurant, which specializes in seafood but offers a good range of other options, is very good value considering the elegant Cham-style décor and the traditional music accompaniment to dinner. 222 Tran Phu, tel: +84 (0)511 356 1409. $$
Bread of Life (International): The American-influenced menu here features dishes like burgers, pizzas and home-made pies, making it an appealing place if you’re in the mood for comfort food. Staff are deaf and proceeds go towards assistance for the deaf of Da Nang. 215 Tran Phu, tel: +84 (0)511 389 3446. $$
Kim Do (Chinese): This is a typical no-frills Chinese restaurant, where all the effort goes into producing tasty dishes and none goes into the décor. Portions of stir-fries and soups may small, but at these prices you can afford a second dish. 180 Tran Phu, tel: +84(0)511 382 1846. $
Le Bambino (International): This is the sort of place you expect to stumble upon in Hanoi’s Old Quarter or somewhere in Saigon, but in Dan Nang it’s a real find. The cosy furnishings create a relaxing ambience, and the tempting menu features items like fish fillet in cream and mushroom and tagliatelle carbonara. There’s a good range of wines on offer, with prices just over US 2 a glass. 122/11 Quang Trung, tel: +84(0)511 389 6386. $$
Price guide
$ – dishes under $3; quart of beer $1; whiskey shot $1.50;cocktails $2
$$ – dishes $3-10; quart of beer $1.50; whiskey shot $2; cocktails $2.50
$$$ – dishes $10-20; quart of beer $2; whiskey shot $2.50; cocktails $3
$$$$ – dishes over $20; quart of beer $3; whiskey shot $4; cocktails $5
Da Nang bars and nightlife
While nightlife in Da Nang doesn’t compare at all with Saigon or Hanoi, there are a few welcoming bars where you can settle in and enjoy a chat with local expats. While you’re there, check out the local brews – Da Nang Export and Biere de la Rue.
Christie’s Cool Spot: If you’re hungry, head for the upstairs restaurant, but the main pull of this place is its gregarious downstairs bar, where a mix of expats and tourists sound off on the issues of the day. There’s a small book exchange as well. 112 Tran Phu, tel: +84(0)511 382 4040. $$
