At Hôtel des Arts Saigon, guests get to experience the elegance of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh) when it was the centre of French colonial rule over Indochina. (Image by Hôtel des Arts Saigon – MGallery.)
The name Hôtel des Arts Saigon says it all. This art-focused hotel is a member of the Accor MGallery portfolio, a curated collection of 120 boutique hotels and resorts, including one-of-a-kind properties with intriguing stories to tell.
The property is designed to invite guests on an exciting and nostalgic journey through Saigon during the French Indochina era. An elegant and refined setting is created through nuances like antique decorative art and paintings, authentic fabric prints, and ornate oriental detailing.
Hôtel des Arts Saigon is perfectly located within walking distance of several tourist attractions in Vietnam’s economic powerhouse city, Ho Chi Minh. Visit the stately Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Book Street, and the grand colonial structures of the Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Michelin menu
Hôtel des Arts Saigon set out to be a destination property, not only for its guests but also for those seeking unique dining and drinking experiences.
While the hotel has been open for a decade, its signature dining experience on the panoramic 23rd floor, The Albion by Kirk Westaway, under the stewardship of the London-based Michelin-star chef, was only recently introduced. Westaway also operates JAAN by Kirk Westaway in Singapore.
My dégustation dinner, paired with wines, began at the adjoining and refined bar. The Champagne Soirée between 5:30pm and 7:30pm was a welcoming treat, coupled with a one-for-one promotion on the Pommery Royal Brut Champagne. I also discovered that between 9:30pm and 11:30pm daily, cocktails with a British rock music theme from the 1980s to 1990s are poured.
The Albion’s menu is unashamedly British but with a contemporary twist, incorporating the finest ingredients and stunning plating. My eight-course menu, paired with five wines and a calamansi cocktail, was brimming with twists and turns and unexpected flavours. Westaway’s organic hen’s egg is a masterful dish that blends simple English dining traditions with a contemporary and playful presentation.
Under the guidance of Chef Chris, the team reimagines and elevates British classics. The Albion tomato, with burrata, Da Lat heirloom tomatoes, and basil-orange sorbet, is another standout.
Tyler, the restaurant’s sommelier, pairs dishes with wines such as the Pommery Champagne, Clos Henri Pinot Noir, and Louis Jadot Chardonnay. The restaurant is open daily from 5:30pm to 11:30pm.
The Sunday brunch here is also one of the city’s most indulgent weekend dining experiences. It involves tableside theatre, overflowing seafood platters, meticulously crafted mains, sumptuous desserts, and a free flow of Champagne from noon to 4pm.
Social hours
Hôtel des Arts Saigon is also home to one of the city’s most happening bars, the Social Club Above Saigon, perched on the hotel’s lofty and open 24th floor. This bar is also highly recommended for guests who aren’t staying at the hotel. Drinks and bar snacks are served, while the elevated city views are most impressive.
Try signature cocktails such as Soursop Soul with Des Arts Gin, made with kumquat, house-made soursop purée, and cinnamon, offering a dreamy escape to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The sweetness of the soursop melds wonderfully with the citrus notes of the kumquat. The gin used in this cocktail is specifically made in western Vietnam for the hotel.
Other highlighted beverages are some 20 single-malt whiskies, including the Mortlach 18 Year Old, offered by the glass or bottle. Craft beers, wines, bar snacks (truffle fries and popcorn chicken), happy-hour prices (50% off from 5pm to 8pm), and mocktails ensure patrons have an atmospheric evening.
Breakfast buffet
Saigon Kitchen is the hotel’s invigorating all-day dining venue, although after a substantive breakfast here, I couldn’t eat much more for the whole day. Buffet lunches are also served here every day, and buffet dinners are available on Friday and Saturday nights only.
Restive rooms
The rooms are classic in design to offer a timeless ambience. Oak tile parquetry features in rooms that are cream in colour. My room was a corner unit with windows on two sides to enable panoramic views over the tree-lined streets below.
In most cases, rooms set themselves apart from other hotels in their detailing. The features that captured my attention were a pillow menu (seven different types in addition to the more-than-functional ones already there), fast complimentary Wi-Fi, Appelles toiletries, a most comfortable bed, and a good work desk. The nightcap menu also offers hot chocolate, Champagne by the glass accompanied by chocolate-dipped strawberries, whisky, and Cognac by the glass.
Sections of the bathroom are open plan, partly extending into the sleeping area. The grey-marble shower and toilet are positioned behind doors, but the sink is located in the room with a wraparound curtain for privacy.
Public spaces
The hotel lobby is discreet, and well-trained staff quickly deal with any matters that arise. Three lifts serve the hotel and deliver guests to their rooms, with the all-day restaurant on level two, the 24-hour gym and the spa on level three, the Sky Lounge on level 22, The Albion on level 23, and the Social Club and pool on level 24.
Café des Beaux-Arts, located just off the lobby, offers a place to meet and a venue to admire a small selection of the owner’s contemporary art collection. Large windows open onto tropical gardens and allow light in. Afternoon tea is served here from 2:30pm to 5pm.
Level 24 is shared by the infinity pool, sundeck, and the Social Club. Despite the sun rising around 6am, I enjoyed having the rooftop pool all to myself in the morning. It gets a little crowded later in the day, especially when patrons start arriving for happy hour drinks at the adjoining sunset bar.
My time at the Hôtel des Arts Saigon was way too short. I wish I could have stayed longer, read novels such as The Quiet American or The Lover, and dined one more time at The Albion. I guess that’s more reason for returning to Ho Chi Minh City. This is made easier knowing that AirAsia flies to the city several times a day from Kuala Lumpur, with the flight taking only 90 minutes.
Hôtel des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection
Address: 76-78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, District 3, 70000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Phone: +84 28 3989 8888
