Tadioto Cafe, Hanoi - review by Rusty Compass
Hanoi | nightlife guide

Independent reviews and recommendations by Rusty Compass. No advertorial, no paid placements and no sponsored content.

Tadioto Cafe, Hanoi

| 04 Nov 2014
  • 15 of 18

Map

Map
Tadioto Cafe, Hanoi
24 Tong Dan St, Hanoi
04 668 09124
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Map

Price guide: $$

Our rating
04 Nov 2014

We've lost count of how many times Tadioto's moved. In the latest incarnation, owner Nguyen Qui Duc, has absconded from Hanoi's arty backblocks and planted himself in the heart of the city's French Quarter - with the historic Metropole Hotel, the Opera House, the State Bank and the US Ambassador’s residence as neighbours.

Note: The information provided in this review was correct at time of publishing but may change. For final clarification please check with the relevant service

Since relocating from the US to Hanoi in 2006, Nguyen Qui Duc has made a name for himself as a creator of atmospheric spaces for art, conversation and a quiet drink. His simple approach is again on display in yet another incarnation of Tadioto - his fourth or sixth location, depending on who you speak to.

It may be his finest space yet.



Duc's one of these people that knows how to put all the bits together to make a space feel good. And he's done a fantastic job here.

But design isn't Duc's only trick. He's also an author.

His book, Where the Ashes Are, is a personal account of the ordeal his family experienced during the Vietnam War and after. It's the only treatment of this subject from this perspective that I'm aware of.
 


Duc's father was the most senior official in the South Vietnamese Government captured by the communists during the 1968 Tet Offensive. At the time of his capture, he was the leading civilian official in the Danang and Hue region. The family was spending Vietnamese New Year at what is now the La Residence Hotel Hue when the father was taken. He was held for the next 12 years. The rest of the family fled to the US.

I spoke with Duc in 2013 in his Zone 9 rendition of Tadioto - before it was unceremoniously shut down along with the whole wonderful Zone 9 arts and entertainment precinct. Check out this video.




Since arriving in Hanoi, Duc has become something of a patron of the local art scene and Tadioto provides a base for local artists to meet. It also hosts regular events. But the bar is friendly and worth passing through on any night.

Pop in during the day for a quiet coffee and a snack or drop by for a drink at night and check out what's happening.


Duc's even made a concession to non-smokers this time around. There are non-smoking areas in the new Tadioto.

Mark Bowyer
Mark Bowyer is the founder and publisher of Rusty Compass.
Support Rusty Compass
Rusty Compass is an independent travel guide. We’re focused on providing you with quality, unbiased, travel information. That means we don't receive payments in exchange for listings and mostly pay our own way. We’d like tourism to be a positive economic, environmental and cultural force and we believe travellers deserve disclosure from publishers. Spread the word about Rusty Compass, and if you're in Saigon, pop in to The Old Compass Cafe and say hi. It’s our home right downtown on Pasteur St. You can also check out our unique tours of Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney at www.oldcompasstravel.com Make a financial contribution using the link below. Even small amounts make a difference. Thanks and travel well!

  • 15 of 18

There are no comments yet.