Enter the land of One Piece pirates
To - Hidden Bar officially opened on December 25, 2020, and is the "brainchild" of Mr. Lam Huu Tho, an anime lover, especially the legendary One Piece series. However, instead of "covering" the bar with images of Luffy and his teammates, Mr. Tho chose to mix more colors from other anime series such as Naruto, creating a multi-layered, lively but not boring space.
The name “To” comes from the Japaneseized name similar to the owner’s name Tho, which is easy to pronounce and has its own personality. The word “To” is also stylized into the shape of a cocktail glass, suggesting from the name itself the creative combination of popular culture and the art of mixing.
The name and logo of the restaurant are based on the Japanese pronunciation of the restaurant owner, Mr. Lam Huu Tho.
Entering the shop, the first feeling is being overwhelmed by the anime world displayed before your eyes. From the stairs going up is a wall like a black and white manga page with familiar drawings of One Piece. The room on the right has a large mural interwoven with overlapping anime drawings like a stream of compressed memories. Opposite is a wall divided into wooden panels creating five picture frames.
Anime characters appear on the walls of the shop
The room on the left is the bar, where One Piece character models are arranged as a reminder of Luffy and his teammates' adventures. In another corner, paintings and a few small models of Itachi - a beloved character in Naruto - also appear as separate dots in the manga-themed space. These details help every anime fan who comes here to find a little bit of their own favorite world.
Models of characters from One Piece and Naruto make the space more lively.
According to Mr. Lam Huu Tho, visitors to To - Hidden Bar are not only young people, but also middle-aged and international tourists. No matter where they come from or what generation they belong to, what they have in common is their love for anime, especially One Piece. They come here to immerse themselves in their favorite space, take photos next to familiar models, chat with like-minded people, or quietly watch movie scenes shown through a small projector at the bar. A seemingly small world, but connecting anime-loving hearts from everywhere, without boundaries or age limits.
Many customers coming to the restaurant, including foreign customers, are fans of the famous anime series One Piece.
When manga comes to real life, “devil fruits” become cocktails
Not only the space, but also the drink menu of To Hidden Bar makes people surprised. Instead of the traditional presentation, the menu here is designed like a manga, making each order like opening a new chapter. This unique idea was proposed by Mr. Tho himself, then commented on and perfected by the staff. A German guest was so fascinated by the menu that the restaurant gave it to him as a souvenir.
The 3 anime characters in the main menu are the 3 employees of the restaurant.
And if the menu were a comic book, then “Nika Nika No Mi” would be one of the most memorable chapters. Inspired by the devil fruit that Luffy (the main character) ate in One Piece, this cocktail is a mixture of many types of alcohol, with a smoky white color that simulates Gear 5 state. The main flavor is sweet, with a strong alcohol flavor, a little sour and bitter aftertaste. It is not just a drink, but also like a fan art that can be enjoyed with the taste buds, the imagination is mixed in every sip.
The cocktail was inspired by the "devil fruit" of the main character Luffy in One Piece.
Unique and random drinks that are one of a kind
Another dish that makes many people hesitant but still curious is “Meruem Golden Ant”, a cocktail made from Ta Gin, Chilli Liqueur and a few Gia Lai golden ants. The spicy taste combined with the strange feeling of the ants sprinkled in the glass makes this a drink that challenges the courage of the bar.
To Hidden Bar is located at the beginning of the Japanese quarter, in Saigon ward - a place with a large number of international visitors. Therefore, instead of only serving familiar foreign wines, the restaurant also includes traditional Vietnamese wines such as banana wine, rice wine, Cai River wine on the menu... It is not simply a choice of flavors, it is also a way for the owner to tell customers the story of Vietnam through smell, taste, and emotion. Each cocktail is like a postcard sent from Saigon, with soul, identity, a bit of surprise and the warmth that Vietnamese people give to friends far away.
Not stopping there, the staff also created improvised cocktails with unexpected ingredients such as fish sauce, shrimp paste, fresh chili... Even during Tet, they designed a three-course menu including braised pork, banh xeo and pickled onions, recreating the entire Tet feast in the form of a trio of cocktails. These dishes are not on the fixed menu, but have become a "legend" passed on by word of mouth among guests as a highlight that cannot be found anywhere else.
Some improvised cocktails are made by the bartender from cooking spices.
A hidden gem corner to chill with impressive views of Ba Son bridge
Located on the second floor of a convenience store on Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Nghe Ward, To - Hidden Bar opens from 6pm to 2am. Overlooking the brightly lit Ba Son Bridge, the bar is like a secret stop in the middle of the city, reserved for those looking for a gentle silence after a long day.
Glass windows with views of Ba Son Bridge
The space is not too large, with only three employees, but it is this "few people" that makes this place cozy like a familiar room. The staff are not only bartenders, but also storytellers, listeners and sharers. Customers can ask them to play an old song, show a favorite episode, order a cocktail mixed with their own inspiration... then just let yourself go, quietly watching time slow down in the heart of the city that never sleeps.
Through the glass, there are drops of rain, the blurred headlights on the road, and the quiet flow of people in the hustle and bustle of life. In that space, each guest coming to To Hidden Bar seems to enter another world - where they can be themselves, relive their childhood with familiar cartoons, be quiet, be listened to and be understood.
View of the night view from To - Hidden Bar
To Hidden Bar is not just a bar. It is a “gateway” between reality and the anime world, where childhood memories blend with the current alcohol. Here, people can get drunk on cocktails and on memories. In the heart of always-hurried Saigon, this little corner is a true hidden gem, for those who still keep a part of their childhood in their hearts and those who are looking for a private place to slow down.
