The "motorbikes x whisky" space that a Cong Caphe co-founder took on next
At 20 Hai Ba Trung Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter, an incongruous space has appeared. "The Picker" is a whisky bar newly created by Trung Edward, a co-founder of Cong Caphe, which operates across Vietnam.
Step inside and polished vintage Triumph, BMW, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles greet you. Aircraft instruments and sporting-goods artifacts fill the walls, unfolding a space that could be called a "living museum warehouse."
The team lineup: Vietnamese food-and-beverage veterans come together
Four key figures were involved in launching The Picker.
| Name | Role | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Do Quoc Khanh | Operator | Store operations lead |
| Toan | Visionary | Founder of Tach Space and Sharetea |
| Trung Edward | Co-founder | A launch member of Cong Caphe and Te Bar |
| Nguyen Minh Khanh | Whisky connoisseur | Leads curation and selection |
The fusion of whisky and "motorhead"
The backbone of the beverage menu is a whisky collection carefully selected by Nguyen Minh Khanh. Flight menus spanning the regions of Scotland, Ireland, Japan, and America are on offer. Classic cocktails are also served with a precision described as "meticulously crafted."
The BGM is rock and pop from the '60s and '70s. Several intimate, dimly lit small rooms (nooks) are set up, and a space where old-school collectors gather and converse has arisen naturally.
Recommended ways to enjoy
- Feel the differences of origin through a whisky flight (a tasting of three or four kinds)
- Ask the bartender to recommend a classic cocktail
- Drink while gazing at the motorbikes from a courtyard seat
- Enjoy conversation with vintage bike owners
Reactions on social media and in the press
- "So this is what happens when the Cong Caphe people do a bar. The world-building is on another level." (The Dot Magazine article)
- "A hideaway for whisky lovers. Go while there are still few tourists." (Instagram food blogger)
- "An Old Fashioned drunk next to the Triumph in the courtyard, is there a better location than this?" (Facebook post)
Access guide for Japanese travelers
A prime location, a five-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake.Fairmont HanoiIt's right by, too. Open daily from 3 p.m., so you can use it for an afternoon cafe visit too.
As a way to spend a Hanoi night,Workshop14the route of having one modernist cocktail before moving on to The Picker lets you experience the forefront of Hanoi's bar scene in a single evening.Hanoi's cocktail culture.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 20 Hai Ba Trung, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi |
| Hours | 3 p.m. to late night |
| Budget | One whisky about 150,000 to 400,000 VND (about 880 to 2,350 yen) |
| Access | A five-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake |
| Concept | Retro steampunk x vintage motorbikes x whisky |
| SNS | Instagram / Facebook: @thepicker_vietnam |
Hanoi's Old Quarter nightlife diversifies
There was a time when a Hanoi night meant only the bia hoi of Ta Hien Street. But with Workshop14's modernist cocktails, ZAO's fun dining, and The Picker's whisky, world-standard dining experiences have begun to cluster around the Old Quarter.
Just as Cong Caphe spread cafe culture across Vietnam, there's every chance The Picker could become the starting point of whisky culture.
Summary: a secret base in Hanoi that opens at 3 p.m.
Bike lovers, whisky lovers, or simply people who "want to drink in a cool space." The Picker answers all of them. After a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, the best strategy is to enter right at the 3 p.m. opening and secure a courtyard seat. That first drink while gazing at the motorbikes will be an exceptional time.
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