Taking over Asia's bar scene just six months after opening
Workshop14 in the West Lake (Tay Ho) area of Hanoi won the Campari One To Watch Award at "Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025." Ranking 83rd, it has left a powerful impact on Vietnam's bar scene.
What's remarkable is that the award came just six months after opening. The bar, launched jointly by architect Hieu Long, bartender Richard McDonogh, hospitality lead Cuong Nguyen, and bar manager Linh Winnie, calls itself "Hanoi's 14th craft village."
A location on the site of a 12th-century princess's palace
The land where Workshop14 stands is where Princess Tu Hoa of the Ly dynasty (12th century) had her palace and raised silkworms for court garments. Located as part of the 13 traditional craft villages that supported Hanoi's ancient city, the intent to carry on that history as the "14th village" is embedded in the shop's name.
The entrance is a traditional wooden gate. Pass through it and a space completely cut off from the city's noise opens up. Architect Hieu Long renovated the existing atelier in just three months, adding steel-reinforced beams and a skylight to achieve an interior that is minimal yet open.
The four layers of spatial design
| Layer | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Waterfront | Terrace seats facing the West Lake waterside |
| Garden | A courtyard area surrounded by greenery |
| Veranda | A semi-outdoor transitional space |
| Interior | A bar counter with light streaming through a skylight |
Signature cocktails and modernist techniques
Beverage director Richard McDonough processes local ingredients with lab-grade precision. He grinds pineapple down to 5 microns with a rotor-stator homogenizer, and "Barry Galdi," combining Campari and mezcal, has been a signature item since opening.
The espresso martini "Is One Un Oeuff?," inspired by Vietnamese egg coffee, alsoCafe Giang's egg coffeehits home for those who know egg coffee. The non-alcoholic "Thick Skinned" (pomelo × hojicha) boasts the fourth-most popularity, opening the door to non-drinkers too.
A list of notable cocktails
| Cocktail name | Base | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Barry Galdi | Campari + mezcal | Pineapple ground to 5 microns, a silky mouthfeel |
| Can’t Stand The Heat | Tequila-based | A spicy strawberry margarita variation |
| Don’t Panic | Gin-based | A Vietnamese interpretation of the Negroni |
| Is One Un Oeuff? | Espresso | Egg coffee × martini |
| Thick Skinned (non-alcoholic) | Pomelo + hojicha | Alcohol-free, fourth in popularity |
Reactions on social media and in the press
- "When you come to Hanoi, you'll want to visit every night. Apparently there was a student who came five days in a row." (The World’s 50 Best article)
- "The fact that the ’a’ on the door got stolen and they haven't fixed it is the coolest." (Instagram story)
- "98% of customers are local. It's great that it's not a tourist bar." (Facebook post)
A practical guide for Japanese travelers
About 20 minutes by Grab from Hoan Kiem Lake.Fairmont HanoiIf you're staying in, it's within 15 minutes by taxi. The West Lake area gets lively from evening, so arriving around 7 p.m. is best.
Hanoi's cocktail sceneis maturing rapidly, and Workshop14 is at its forefront.the railway café streetIt's also an idea to plan West Lake bar-hopping as a set with it.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 6 Ngo 5 Tuy Hoa, Tay Ho, Hanoi |
| Hours | Evening to late night (check Instagram for details) |
| Budget | About 200,000–300,000 VND per cocktail (about 1,180–1,760 yen) |
| Access | About 20 minutes by Grab from Hoan Kiem Lake |
| Awards | Campari One To Watch Award 2025 / Asia’s 50 Best Bars, 83rd |
| SNS | Instagram / Facebook: @workshop14.hanoi |
Vietnam's bar scene shows no sign of slowing
Ho Chi Minh City already had several bars ranked in Asia’s 50 Best Bars, but a win from Hanoi is a new trend. Workshop14's success is also proof that Hanoi's dining scene is evolving from a "city of pho" to a "city of cocktails."
Summary: A drink on a West Lake princess's land
On the land where a 12th-century princess raised silkworms, you drink a cocktail of pineapple ground to 5 microns. Even across all of Asia, there are few places where history and technology meet at this distance. If you pick just one place for a Hanoi night, we strongly recommend Workshop14.
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