2 Lam Son is nudging 10 years old, a testament to its fine drinks and service. Better known as Martini Bar and part of the five-star Park Hyatt Saigon, 2 Lam Son has two cocktails that shouldn’t be missed on a night out in Saigon.
The Vietnamese Flower Tea (VND390,000) is worth dusting off the dinner jacket for with its heady vapours of Hennessy VSOP, three kinds of tea and a glob of honey then left to soak and infuse for 24 hours with a lotus flower.
It’s served warm, so the floral aromas of the cognac and tea (lotus, jasmine and artichoke) infusion tend to shoot right up your nose.
If you’re looking to feel alive again after a shitty week, there’s no question the Vietnamese Flower Tea is for you
The drink comes served with star anise and an assortment of things scattered about on a tile, but it’s the drink that’s the real star here.
If you’re looking to feel alive again after a shitty week, there’s no question the Vietnamese Flower Tea is for you. It’s smooth and light despite its complex aroma.
Undertones of sweetness come through from the honey so it doesn’t burn. The legs running down the inside of the glass are thick and viscous. This is the definition of a gentleman’s drink and a most fitting one for 2 Lam Son’s new Indochina concept.
The other must-have at 2 Lam Son is the Saigon Coffee Martini (VND310,000). This one is well worth breaking your midday coffee curfew for, with Belvedere vodka, Kahlua and Vietnamese coffee floating upon a shot of condensed milk topped with a half-inch fluffy head of ‘homemade’ coconut foam.
It’s inspiration comes from that most ubiquitous of Vietnamese drinks, the ca phe sua da
Served in a champagne coupe, the Saigon Coffee Martini is a drink that looks similar to a Guinness, while that small dollop of condensed milk settled on the bottom is a dead giveaway that its inspiration comes from that most ubiquitous of Vietnamese drinks, the ca phe sua da.
The smell of the coconut is one thing but when it’s stirred, the cocktail’s bouquet is truly let loose – stunning. The mixture feels thick and rich to the spoon, but to the palate it’s the opposite, gentle and smooth. The coffee doesn’t overpower the coconut, it’s not too sweet nor too creamy. This drink is impressive. Looking back over my notes, I read, “If only I could bathe in it!”
Arrive early to grab the best seat at the bar and wait for the beautiful people to file in on the stroke of 9pm when the DJ arrives.
The downside?
Nothing much really. 2 Lam Son can be expensive, especially compared to other bars in town, but their happy hour is one of the best around with 51% off cocktails. You won’t be disappointed.
2 Lam Son is on the Ground Floor of the Park Hyatt Saigon at 2 Lam Son Square, Q1, HCMC.
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