Miss Ly Cafe

Arrive outside of rush hour (prepare for a wait otherwise) at this genuine restaurant serving up traditional local specialities in a (traditionally) non-air conditioned space. The cafe enjoys a great popularity despite not being located in the old town core: no wonder, for the 'cao lau', white rose dumplings, bahn mi and spring rolls it serves up could go for much more than their price tag.

• Address:

  22 Nguyen Hue St, Hoi An

• Phone:

  +84 90 523 48 64

Morning Glory

A wildly popular, longstanding restaurant smack in the heart of Hoi An that serves up dishes most commonly eaten in central Vietnam. Special emphasis is placed on authenticity of flavours and cooking methods, plus street food dishes.

• Address:

  106 Nguyễn Thái Học, Phường Minh An, Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 235 2241 555

• Opening hours:

  Daily 10-23

Nu Eatery

Hidden in plain sight (turn right after crossing the Japanese Bridge from east to west), this compact restaurant serves up beautiful Asian Fusion cuisine without pretence, with a few imaginative takes on Vietnamese staples unique to the establishment. Come for lunch to enjoy the place nearly all to yourself. Their daughter establishment Sea Shell just off Trang Hung Dao has also gained a loyal following in recent years.

• Address:

  10A Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Minh An, Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 825 190 190

• Opening hours:

  Mon-Sat 12-21

Streets Restaurant Café

Although the excellent 'cao lau' and white rose dumplings are reasons enough to stop by, what truly makes Streets stand out is their mission. Humanitarian Neal Bermas behind the project gives disadvantaged youths a chance at doing well in life by providing extensive training, which allows them to work at Streets and then continue on into successful careers in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Dishes served are of the highest standards, and the atmosphere exceptionally inviting – one might struggle to find a table in the evenings.

• Web:

  www.streetsinternational.org

• Address:

  17 Lê Lợi, Phường Minh An, Hội An

Vy's Market Restaurant & Cooking School

Vy's is an exciting delve into Vietnamese street food, its many varieties served at several open-kitchen style indoor stands. The entire experience is carefully manicured and completely sanitary, which takes away possible worry associated with eating off the side of the roads. There are plenty of options to choose from, from 'classics' such as bahn mi to more peculiar delights such as half-hatched duck eggs, silk worm and jellyfish salad, or braised pig brain; one can even choose to have a typical local worker's meal. In the evenings, they conduct incredibly popular, great value cooking classes (sign up required).

• Web:

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vys-Market-Restaurant-and-Cooking-School/1538882503048022

• Address:

  3 Nguyễn Hoàng, Phường Minh An, Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 235 3926 926

Dive Bar

While dive bars aren't normally known to attract too many actual divers, Hoi An's Dive bar begs to differ: located on site of the Cham Islands Diving Centre, the place draws in plenty of diving enthusiasts, as well as backpackers and travellers with no particular affinity for being submerged. The back garden is supremely inviting, much like the laid-back atmosphere.

• Web:

  http://vietnamscubadiving.com/dive-bar-hoi-an/

• Address:

  88 Nguyễn Thái Học, Phường Minh An, Hội An

Hoi An Night Market

From 6 to 9 pm daily, Hoi An's Nguyen Hoang Street transforms into a 300-metre long bustling night market, unfolding underneath a myriad colourful lanterns. It's a great place to stock up on souvenirs: prices are low and can get even lower for those with haggling skills.

• Address:

  Nguyen Hoang, Hoi An

Soul Kitchen

This An Bang Beach fixture has gained popularity in recent years, not so much a restaurant, which it is by day, but more of a venue for a great night out. The key ingredients to its success are the breezy waterfront location (and a pleasantly relaxed vibe, by extension), regular live music shows, and a drink list that includes craft beers.

• Web:

  www.soulkitchen.sitew.com/#Soul.A

• Address:

  An Bang Beach, Hoi An

• Phone:

  +84 90 644 03 20

• Opening hours:

  Daily 8.00-23.00

White Marble Wine Bar

This centrally located wine bar attracts expats and tourists with its well-furnished wine list (reportedly, the most extensive in Hoi An), a relaxing evening ambience, and irresistible sharing platters (Vietnamese snacks and cheese assortments to accompany the wine).

• Web:

  https://www.facebook.com/whitemarblehoian/

• Address:

  98 Lê Lợi Street, Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 235 3911 862

Hoi An Roastery

A reliable local coffee shop chain, Hoi An Roastery is one you can safely rely on for a good cup. They offer both Italian-style and Vietnamese coffees, from potent espresso and siphon to egg-yolk coffee, plus a selection of light breakfast and lunch foods. There are seven strategic locations across town, the most popular one at Lê Lợi 47.

• Address:

  47 Lê Lợi, Minh An, Tp. Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 235 3927 727

• Opening hours:

  Daily 7am–10pm

Ly Thuong Kiet Street

Ly Thuong Kiet runs parallel to the river, a few blocks north of Hoi An's Ancient Town. The street is well-known to coffee lovers for the incredible variety of coffee shops that line it.

• Address:

  Lý Thường Kiệt, Hoi An

Mia Coffee

An expat favourite, Mia Coffee is loved for its shaded outdoor terrace, air-conditioned second floor and illy espressos prepared Italian-style (for those mornings when a traditional Vietnamese drip simply won't cut it).

• Web:

  https://miacoffee.vn

• Address:

  20 Đường Phan Bội Châu, Cẩm Châu, Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 90 555 20 61

Reaching Out Teahouse

There's beauty in every detail at Reaching Out Teahouse, from the exquisite ornate tableware to the establishment's mission: to offer employment to people with speech and hearing impediments, who make up the staff almost exclusively. Each table is served wooden blocks with various handy expressions inscribed on them (words like 'thank you' or 'bill') which aid in communication, and orders are placed by filling out a form. Guests are encouraged to keep their voices down to a whisper (or even refrain from talking entirely). The Vietnamese tea and coffee tasting sets are very reasonably priced and highly recommended; the cookie sampler can be shared by two.

• Web:

  https://reachingoutvietnam.com/teahouse/the-teahouse

• Address:

  131 Trần Phú, Phường Minh An, Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 90 521 65 53

The Espresso Station

The Espresso Station dazzles with creativity and innovation: their menu features some of the most whimsical drinks around, from their signature 'dark soul latte' with activated charcoal (which makes the drink appear black) to coffee served in frozen cubes, with hot creamy milk on the side. You can still get Vietnamese classics, such as the 'phin' drip or expertly crafted egg coffee. There's a beetroot latte for those who don't favour caffeine.

• Web:

  https://www.theespressostation.com

• Address:

  28/2 Trần Hưng Đạo, Phường Minh An, Hội An

• Phone:

  +84 90 569 11 64