Mui Ne restaurant and bar guide
Fresh seafood on Mui Ne beach cannot be beaten
There’s hardly a resort or hotel along the 10kms beach strip that doesn’t have its own restaurant and bar, and all welcome non-residents to eat. This means there is no shortage of places to eat, and with a cosmopolitan, up-market clientele, it’s not surprising that menus range from standard Vietnamese to fusion and all types of international cuisine.
Some places really go to town with the ambience factor, featuring traditional music, furnishings and décor and staff in traditional dress. However, there are also several basic places that serve up delicious food in a no-frills setting.
Recommended Mui Ne restaurants and dining
Champa (French): Located on a delightful terrace at the exclusive Coco Beach Resort, this place serves up top-quality French cuisine, and the well-mannered staff are superbly attentive. 58 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, tel: +84 (0)62 384 7111. $$$
Forest (Viet/International): Choose between a lush garden with bamboo water music in the background and the interior decked out with minority crafts. The menu features lots of seafood and exotic dishes like crocodile. 67 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, tel: +84 (0)62 384 7589. $$$
Hoang Vu (Vietnamese): Set more or less in the middle of the beach strip, this is a good choice when you want a cheap change from the hotel. Attractive décor, appealing items on the menu and attentive staff combine to make eating here a pleasurable experience. 121 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, tel: +84 (0)62 384 7525. $$
Travel tip
A word of warning if you elect to eat a seafood barbecue. Prices are not always advertised, so it’s a good idea to check how much you’re going to pay for that lobster before you eat it and pay three times what you expected.
Ngoc Suong (Vietnamese/seafood): Part of a nationwide chain preparing some mouth-watering seafood dishes in classy settings. This one enjoys a superb seafront setting. 94 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, tel: +84 (0)62 384 7515. $$
Lam Tong (Viet/International): Everything is simple about this seafront eatery except for the food, which comes as a delight as prices are so cheap. The ideal spot to get a filling lunch and dinner, sink a few beers, and people watch (92 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. No phone) $
Smoky House (International/barbecue): When you’re in the mood for a big plate of barbecued ribs, prawns or steak, head on down to Smoky’s. You’ll realize where the name comes from when they bring out your order to sizzle beside you. (125 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. No phone) $$
Price guide
$ – dishes under $3; quart of beer $1; whiskey shot $1.50;cocktails $2
$$ – dishes $3-10; quart of beer $1.50; whiskey shot $2; cocktails $2.50
$$$ – dishes $10-20; quart of beer $2; whiskey shot $2.50; cocktails $3
$$$$ – dishes over $20; quart of beer $3; whiskey shot $4; cocktails $5
Mui Ne bars and nightlife
Although Mui Ne’s nightlife cannot compare with the wild scenes in Nha Trang, the existence of a predominantly young clientele has spawned a budding bar scene after dark. Below we list some of Mui Ne’s best.
Gecko: This lounge bar wouldn’t be out of place in Milan or Paris, and certainly draws in plenty of visitors to check out its vast array of cocktails and smoothies. 51 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, tel: +84 (0)62 374 1033. $$
Guava: This lively surfer bar has a classier atmosphere than most of its beach shack competitors and stays open late with sundowner cocktails and ambient music. 55 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, tel: +84 (0)62) 741 246. $$
