Bánh Căn 51

Bánh căn 51 is an excellent option for an unpolished local experience, complete with sidewalk seating on low plastic chairs. The 'banh can' are their main attraction: fried rice flower cakes that come topped with shrimp, meat, fried egg and/or greens, to be dipped in sweet chilli sauce. This one is among Nha Trang's most popular locations, but 'banh can' are served throughout town.

• Address:

  24 Tô Hiến Thành, Tân Lập, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 989 689 348

• Opening hours:

  Daily 10:30am–11pm

Lac Canh Restaurant

Known for its grill-it-yourself beef barbecue (each table is equipped with a tiny grill of its own), Lac Canh is near-universally beloved by locals and the lucky few tourists who discover it. There is still plenty on the menu even if you choose to skip the DIY grill: flavourful noodles, seafood dishes, and more. Prices are very reasonable.

• Address:

  44 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Xương Huân, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3821 391

LIVIN

Hip to the bone, LIVIN is a restaurant, hangout, co-working space and designer souvenir shop all at once. Beer is the only Vietnamese item on the menu (albeit the crafts they serve are very good), and it's all American-style in the food department: burgers, BBQ ribs, mac n' cheese, tacos, quesadillas, and more, plus exceptional set assortments for larger groups. The on-site shop sells cool souvenirs designed by independent Vietnamese artists.

• Web:

  https://livincollective.tumblr.com

• Address:

  5a Ngô Thời Nhiệm, Tân Lập, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 918 638 349

• Opening hours:

  Daily 9am–11pm

Mix Greek Restaurant

This might be, quite possibly, the best Greek restaurant in the entire country. Have what everyone is having: a grilled meats assortment served on huge sharing platters, with several types of protein plus pita bread, a few sauces, and a side of Greek salad (there is more on the menu, including a few vegetarian options). We recommend you arrive early, as word of the restaurant is now well land truly out, and a line forms easily.

• Address:

  181 Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, Tân Lập, Nha Tran

• Phone:

  +84 359 459 197

• Opening hours:

  Thu–Tue 11am–9:30pm

Sailing Club

The Sailing Club is a local institution in its own right, a nearly round-the-clock entertainment venue that effortlessly oscillates between a casual beach café, upscale restaurant, and lively nightlife hot spot. Evenings often see the Sailing Club host performances of different kinds, from live music to fire shows on the beach.

• Web:

  https://sailingclubnhatrang.com

• Address:

  72-74 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3524 628

Louisiane Brewhouse

This often crowded bar and restaurant has a few unique selling points: its own craft brewery (patrons rave about the passion fruit beer), beach location, a varied menu of Vietnamese and Western specialities, and – best of all – a full-on outdoor pool, complete with mattressed sun beds. Live music is played on some evenings. It's a local nightlife staple.

• Web:

  https://www.louisianebrewhouse.com.vn

• Address:

  Lô 29 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3521 948

Night Market

Vendors set up shop along Tran Phu Road every afternoon to compete for tourists' attention with wares such as cheap clothing, jewellery, accessories, and traditional souvenirs en masse – if you haggle, you'll likely get a substantial discount. Some stalls sell street food.

• Address:

  Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang

Sailing Club

The Sailing Club is a local institution in its own right, a nearly round-the-clock entertainment venue that effortlessly oscillates between a casual beach café, upscale restaurant, and lively nightlife hot spot. Evenings often see the Sailing Club host performances of different kinds, from live music to fire shows on the beach.

• Address:

  72-74 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3524 628

Skylight

This spectacular rooftop beach club with the world's tallest lighthouse (151 metres above ground), a panoramic Skywalk, an upscale fusion restaurant and an open-air pool on level 43 is Nha Trang's ultimate resort vacation hot spot. There is a fee to enter (cheaper if you arrive before 8pm), which includes a free welcome drink.

• Web:

  https://skylightnhatrang.com

• Address:

  Premier Havana, 38 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3528 988

Water Puppet Theater

For a memorable night of cultural immersion, visit an evening show at the Nha Trang Water Puppet Theatre. Water puppetry as an art form originated in northern Vietnam as early as the 11th century and is kept alive by a small number of enthusiasts. Although production value is no match to that of bigger cities, the show itself feels thought out and intimate thanks to the smaller performance room. The show is narrated in Vietnamese, but the visual emphasis and engaging subject matter – folk tales and legends – make it easy to follow if you don't speak the language.

• Address:

  46 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang

Alpaca Homestyle Cafe

This wholesome little Western-style cafe serves great locally-sourced coffee, plus a wide selection of food that seems to be getting consistently positive reviews; they do everything from breakfasts to Mexican, Vietnamese, and even Russian.

• Address:

  0/1B Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, Lộc Thọ, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 98 869 80 68

An Cafe

An Cafe is the perfect getaway from Nha Trang's heat: the seating area is fully shaded, and the part furthest away from the entrance is air-conditioned; a koi pond and dim lighting add a vague zen quality to the atmosphere. They mostly serve coffee and chilled drinks, but food is also available during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours.

• Address:

  40 Đường Lê Đại Hành, Tân Lập, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3510 588

• More info:

  Another location at 24 Nguyễn Trung Trực

Runam Bistro

Everything about Runam appears thought out down to the smallest detail: the carefully curated 'hip vintage' interior features enormous paper cranes hanging down from the ceiling, and their coffee comes exclusively from Vietnamese farms in the Central Highlands area, roasted in accordance with the highest Italian standards. With long opening hours, a pretty wide selection of both local and international dishes, and a central location across from the beach, Runam is genuinely difficult to find fault with.

• Web:

  https://caferunam.com

• Address:

  32-34 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3523 186

Sailing Club

The Sailing Club is a local institution in its own right, a nearly round-the-clock entertainment venue that effortlessly oscillates between casual beach cafe, upscale restaurant, and lively nightlife hot spot. Evenings often see the Sailing Club host performances of different kinds, from live music to fire shows on the beach.

• Address:

  72-74 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3524 628