STIR Modern Classic Cocktail – A Ranked Speakeasy in District 1

Quick facts

📍 Address: 1st floor, alley 136 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
🕒 Opening hours: 16:30 – 01:30 daily (per Tatler Asia; some sources list 18:00–02:00 – confirm before you go)
🍸 Style: speakeasy, modern-classic cocktails, Vietnamese ingredients
🏆 Awards: Tatler Best Vietnam – Bar of the Year 2026; Asia’s 50 Best Bars #84 (2026), #61 (2025), #58 (2024)
🎟️ Book through Vibes Saigon: 0966 877 714 (Zalo/WhatsApp), free of charge

STIR – Modern Classic Cocktail is the name Saigon’s cocktail crowd has talked about most over the past two years, and 2026 was its breakout year: Tatler named STIR Bar of the Year for Vietnam and put it into the Tatler Best 100 Bars Asia-Pacific list. Before that, STIR spent three consecutive years in the extended list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars – #58 (2024), #61 (2025) and #84 (2026).

The bar occupies the first floor of an old house in alley 136 Le Thanh Ton, a few minutes on foot from Ben Thanh Market. This is not a bar you stumble into: you have to know the address, walk into the alley and climb the stairs. Everything below is cross-checked against Tatler Asia, the En Primeur Club venue file and 2026 price surveys – opening hours, the room, signature cocktails, reference prices and how to book.

Why STIR keeps coming up in 2026

Three awards in a single year is unusual for a cocktail bar in Vietnam:

• Tatler Best Vietnam: Bar of the Year 2026 – the top prize for a Vietnamese bar in the Tatler system.
• Tatler Best 100 Bars Asia-Pacific 2026 – the region’s leading bar list.
• Tatler Best 20 Vietnam 2026 – the country’s top 20 dining and drinking destinations.
• Asia’s 50 Best Bars: #58 (2024), #61 (2025), #84 in the 51–100 extended list (2026).
• Top 500 Bars: #223 worldwide (2025).

For a small room, holding a place on these lists for three straight years says the drinks are consistently good rather than a one-off publicity spike. The trade-off is that weekends and guest-shift nights are usually full – booking ahead is the only way to be sure of a seat.

The room: a 1970s Saigon speakeasy

STIR goes full speakeasy: no big sign on the street, entry through the alley, a small and dimly lit room inside. The exposed brick walls are original to the old house, paired with Indochine-leaning furniture and modern stainless-steel details – warm yellow light and jazz at a volume that lets you talk.

That layout has two practical consequences worth knowing before you arrive:

• Few seats. The bar suits groups of 2–6; larger groups should call ahead so the team can arrange the room.
• The atmosphere is built for conversation. This is not a place to party – the volume allows normal conversation, which makes it good for dates, client meetings or a solo seat at the bar.

The cocktail list: Vietnamese ingredients, classic technique

STIR’s philosophy is to put Vietnamese produce and food culture into classic cocktails. The drinks officially featured:

• Xoi Mit – the signature most often mentioned: jackfruit, jasmine, glutinous rice and peated Scotch. The smoke of the whisky against jackfruit and sticky rice is a combination you will not find easily elsewhere.
• Nuoc Mia Highball – a highball built on sugarcane juice, light and easy, good for people starting out.
• Bowl of Enlightenment – noted by En Primeur Club as a drink regulars order often.
• Guava Tea? and Northern Central – two more from the bar’s recommendation list, working with guava and central-Vietnam ingredients.

The menu changes with the season, so the list above may differ when you arrive. If it is your first visit, the quickest route is to tell the bartender your taste (strong or light, fruity or herbal, whisky or gin) and let them choose – that is how most regulars order.

Prices and what to budget

STIR does not publish a text price list on official channels. The one reliable figure is a 2026 survey by Novotel Saigon Centre, which recorded roughly 250,000 – 350,000 VND per cocktail. En Primeur Club puts average spend at 20–30 USD per guest.

Because the menu rotates and prices can be adjusted, treat these as a reference range rather than a fixed price list. For the exact figure on the night you go, message +84 966 877 714.

Booking and practical notes for STIR

• Book ahead, especially Friday and Saturday. The room is small and the 2026 awards pushed demand up sharply. Book through the Vibes Saigon hotline +84 966 877 714 or the official stir.saigon page.
• The address is easy to get wrong: go into alley 136 Le Thanh Ton and up to the first floor. If it is your first time, arrive a few minutes early – the alley is easy to miss.
• Parking: the alley is narrow, so park in the car parks around Ben Thanh Market or take a Grab.
• Dress code: smart casual. This is a speakeasy cocktail bar, not a club – neat is enough.
• Large groups: for more than 6 guests, give 1–2 days’ notice so the bar can hold the right area.

Frequently Asked Questions about STIR Modern Classic Cocktail

Where is STIR?

1st floor, alley 136 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City – a few minutes on foot from Ben Thanh Market. Walk into the alley and go up to the first floor.

What time does STIR open?

According to Tatler Asia, the bar opens 16:30–01:30 daily. Some sources list 18:00–02:00, so call ahead if you plan to arrive right at opening.

What awards has STIR won?

In 2026 the bar took Tatler Best Vietnam – Bar of the Year, entered the Tatler Best 100 Bars Asia-Pacific and the Tatler Best 20 Vietnam. It previously appeared in Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2024 (#58), 2025 (#61) and 2026 (#84, extended list).

How much is a cocktail at STIR?

A 2026 survey by Novotel Saigon Centre recorded about 250,000–350,000 VND per drink. The bar does not publish a text price list and the menu rotates, so ask for the exact price on +84 966 877 714.

What should I order at STIR?

On a first visit, order Xoi Mit – the signature with jackfruit, jasmine, glutinous rice and peated Scotch. For something lighter, take the Nuoc Mia Highball. Alternatively describe your taste and let the bartender choose.

Do I need to book STIR?

Yes, especially at weekends and on guest-shift nights. The room is small and capacity is limited. Booking through Vibes Saigon is free and confirmed within minutes.

Is STIR good for large groups?

The bar works best for groups of 2–6. For more than 6 guests, give 1–2 days’ notice so the team can arrange seating.

STIR – Modern Classic Cocktail on the first floor of alley 136 Le Thanh Ton, District 1: Tatler Vietnam’s Bar of the Year 2026, Asia’s 50 Best Bars #84 (2026). Signature Xoi Mit, open 16:30–01:30, cocktails around 250,000–350,000 VND. Free table booking on +84 966 877 714.

Building a District 1 evening around it

STIR sits in the middle of District 1, so it connects easily to the rest of an evening: a cocktail at STIR at 18:00, dinner around Ben Thanh Market, then a rooftop or a club.

The Iron Bank Cocktail Vault · Social Club Rooftop Bar · Blank Lounge Landmark 81 · Zion Sky Lounge · Saigon nightlife map · Vietnam nightlife top list · Free table booking

Sources: Tatler Asia (STIR page), En Primeur Club (venue file, updated 28/09/2026), Novotel Saigon Centre blog (2026 price survey). Hours and awards checked October 2026.