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:

  51 Tô Hiến Thành, Tân Lập, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 96 968 93 46

Den Long - Lanterns

One of the most popular restaurants serving Vietnamese specialities, Lanterns is an easy choice for sampling the famed 'bun ca' (fish noodles) that originate from Nha Trang, or tuck into a steaming bowl of 'pho'. For Insta-worthy photos, order the fried rice served in half a pineapple. The restaurant also prides itself on an ethical approach to proceeds: a part of the revenue goes towards supporting local youths through orphanage donations and scholarships. They even offer street food tours and cooking classes (to be booked online).

• Web:

  www.lanternsvietnam.com

• Address:

  30A Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, Tân Lập, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 2471 674

Grill Garden

Grill Garden is an exceptional find for travellers on a budget, provided they've worked up a substantial appetite. Just over $10 gets you access to a full-blown buffet of fresh seafood (fish, shrimp, multiple varieties of clam, etc.) and meats, all to be cooked on private grills installed on each table. Offerings range from familiar classics, such as tuna chunks, to more exotic varieties like frog legs, snake, and crocodile (you'll see an entire reptile being roasted on the spit most evenings). Opens for dinner only.

• Address:

  21 Biệt Thự, Lộc Thọ, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 90 807 90 77

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 Collective

Hip to the bone, LIVIN Collective 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 store sells cool souvenirs designed by independent Vietnamese artists.

• Web:

  https://livincollective.tumblr.com

• Address:

  77 Bạch Đằng, Tân Lập, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 91 863 83 49

MIX 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 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.

• Web:

  https://www.mix-restaurant.com

• Address:

  77 Hùng Vương, P, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 359 459 197

• Opening hours:

  Thurs-Tue 11am-10pm

Crazy Kim

Now here's a place to let your hair down, catch a game, play a round of pool and take advantage of the aptly named "instant idiot" promotion: all-you-can drink beer and cocktails for 3 hours straight (between $13 and $26, depending on drink types); groups of 10+ get a discount. There's a noble cause behind what may at first seem like mindless fun – part of the proceeds goes towards preventing human trafficking and child abuse.

• Address:

  19 Biệt Thự, Lộc Thọ, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 6560 570

• Opening hours:

  6-12am

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, Thành phố 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:

  Tran Phu Road, 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 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

Skylight

This spectacular rooftop beach club with the world's tallest lighthouse (at 151 metres above ground), a panoramic Skywalk, an upscale fusion restaurant and open-air pool on level 43 is Nha Trang's ultimate resort vacationer hot spot. There is a fee to enter (cheaper if you arrive before 20.00), which includes a free welcome drink. Tuesdays are Ladies' Night (women enter free of charge). You can visit the Skydeck only at a fraction of the price, between 9am and 2pm daily.

• Web:

  https://skylightnhatrang.com

• Address:

  Premier Havana, 38 Trần Phú, Lộc Thọ, Thành phố 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 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 58 352 7828

• Opening hours:

  Daily between 16.00 and 20.45

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

With its 2 locations in town, An Cafe is the perfect getaway from the 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, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 258 3510 588

• More info:

  Another location at 24 Nguyễn Trung Trực

Rainforest

This spectacular urban oasis of a cafe holds close to the promise of its name: designed in a way that imitates a rainforest (all wood, palm leaves and greenery), it features several levels of seating with private booths reminiscent of tree houses. The drink selection is extensive and ranges from coffee to smoothies, plus a decent selection of Vietnamese and Western food.

• Web:

  https://www.rainforestnt.com

• Address:

  146 Võ Trứ, Tân Lập, Thành phố Nha Trang

• Phone:

  +84 98 698 06 29

• Opening hours:

  7.00-22.00

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