The 5 best bars in Thao Dien, Saigon for 2026: live jazz, riverside, garden

Hoshiyo is at 22 Street 29, on the old An Khanh side near Tran Nao, so it is a little further from the heart of Thao Dien than the other four. The frontage gives nothing away: the way in is a lane beside a pickleball court, and from the street you would never guess what is upstairs. Only on the dining floor do the big windows open onto the river, Landmark 81 and Saigon Marina beyond, under a ceiling dotted with tiny lights; the name is Japanese for a starry night (星夜). Google Maps lists 5 PM to midnight daily, while the venue's website splits the evening into dinner from 5 PM to 10 PM and lounge from 10 PM to 1 AM, so ask about closing time if you plan to stay late. There is parking.

Evenings here run in two halves. Early on it is a Japanese dinner of sushi, sashimi, scallop chawanmushi and wagyu rolls with a violinist playing; later, according to a 2025 Trip.com feature, a DJ takes over and dancers perform, and on some nights a saxophonist plays live as well. There is no fixed published music schedule, and the Wednesday Lady Night promoted in early 2025 may since have changed. People book it for birthdays, anniversaries and even proposals, and the team will decorate the table and arrange a cake if asked ahead. When you book, ask for a seat by the glass and say whether you are coming for dinner or only for the lounge after 10 PM.

CLAY sits at 18 Street 6, at the end of a narrow lane, facing straight onto the Saigon River; it is the only place on this list where you can sit at the water's edge. According to Google Maps, where the venue keeps its own profile, it opens 3 PM to midnight every day, the earliest start in the area, so you can arrive while the sun is still up and stay on through dinner. A few older articles gave later weekend hours, until 1 AM, so double-check when you book. The whole place runs on earthenware tones: clay walls, a woven rattan ceiling, pottery and wood among palms, coconut trees and cacti, a look that earned it Design of the Year at the 2023 Vietnam Restaurant & Bar Awards (Vietcetera). Cars struggle in the lane, so a motorbike or taxi is easier.

Most people come for the food and the river. The kitchen is open and cooks over a wood fire, with Asian influences and a set menu that changes with the season; Vietcetera has mentioned black cod and beef tartare, and recent guests talk about foie gras, fish and steak. CLAY publishes no DJ line-up or music style, evenings have background music only, and one guest felt the late-night playlist missed the mark, so treat it as a place for a long, slow evening by the river rather than a party. Outdoor tables look straight at the water, with the odd barge drifting past; when it rains the outdoor area is limited and you move inside. For a riverside table at sunset, book and arrive early. Private parties and events are also taken.

Xào Xạc hides down a quiet lane. Google Maps pins it at 1 Street 47, while one guide site gives 39/5 Street 59, so let the map lead you there. From Monday to Thursday it runs 5 PM to midnight, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday it stays open an hour longer, until 1 AM. In daytime it is a café, and the evening brings out the bar list. Indoors there is a counter built like a planted glass tank under soft light; outside, a breezy tropical garden, a covered veranda with sofas and high tables, and small corners tucked behind the leaves. Cars struggle in the lane, but staff come out to help park motorbikes. Pets are welcome too: one guest who turned up with a cat found a water bowl set out for it.

This is a place to talk: no DJ, no dance floor, music kept low, and on some nights someone plays an acoustic set. The drinks revolve around herbs and flowers, and the staff behind the counter ask about your taste before they mix; a few guests found them on the sweet side, so say if you prefer things lighter. Food is simple: crispy corn fritters, fries and brownies. Now and then the bar throws a seasonal party, such as this year's adults-only Mid-Autumn celebration. As a couple, take a garden corner; for recommendations, sit at the counter; a small group should ask for a veranda sofa. Saturday is busiest around 10 PM, and without a booking a table is hard to come by.

Dram is at 2 Dang Huu Pho, right in the middle of Thao Dien, sharing its compound and street number with Stoker, a wood-fired grill restaurant, so ask for the Dram entrance when you arrive. It is open 6 PM to midnight, seven days a week. Inside it plays the speakeasy part well: low amber light, a warm, enclosed room and deep seats. Beyond the main area around the counter and the band corner, there is a separate room with a billiards table, a smoking corner set apart from everything else and a small side room for people who like curated drinks. Dang Huu Pho has plenty of side lanes, so a taxi or ride-hailing car saves you getting lost.

The main reason to come is jazz from a band playing in the room on a few nights each week. Sources disagree on which nights: one guide lists Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, another only Tuesday and Thursday, and the bar has not posted its own schedule, so if you want music, ask for that week's nights when you book. The staff behind the counter like to explain what goes into each glass and will build one to your taste; the snack people mention most is truffle fries. Expect tax and service on top of menu prices, so check the total before ordering. If you want to sit close to the band, reserve early for a jazz night, and mention it in advance if your group wants the billiards room.

Saxn'Art, often spelled Sax n' Art, is deep in alley 188 Nguyen Van Huong at house BB4; cars can get in and park, though from District 1 it is a fair trip. The club dates back to 2005, and if you see 28 Le Loi, District 1 in an older guide, that is where it used to be, not where it is now. Opening is narrow: only Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, doors at 8:30 PM and closing at 11 PM, with Monday to Thursday dark. The club's website lists shows from 9 PM to 11 PM, so arrive around 8:30 PM to settle in before the band starts. The room is dim and warm with comfortable seats and a full bar, and guests rave about the acoustics.

Each night has its own programme name. Tran Manh Tuan, born in Hanoi in 1970, a Berklee graduate who has taught at the city's conservatory, usually takes centre stage on saxophone with piano, bass and drums around him. The music runs from traditional jazz, bebop and fusion to soul, blues and Trinh Cong Son songs; October 2026, for example, has a Trinh night on Friday 23 October. Beyond the shows there are jam sessions, open mics and workshops for jazz players, and now and then an overseas guest such as the American saxophonist Antonio Hart. The website says show nights require a booking and has its own payment and cancellation terms, so ask how charges work when you reserve. International visitors especially love the way the jazz here blends Vietnamese and Asian colour.